Flashlights Part Three

by
posted on July 16, 2013
sinews.jpg (13)

Many of us have an expensive SureFire or other premium handheld light that serve as our primary light, as well as a few extra units scattered around in strategic places. We may also have some high-dollar lights mounted on the rails of our handguns, shotguns and carbines. I am sure we all devote an equal amount of time to training in low-light and no-light conditions. Well, almost equal.

But, what happens if you find yourself without these top-of-the-line lights? I am a huge fan of headlamps—they are the best thing since sliced bread for doing things at night. Don't have a headlamp? My son schooled me up on how to turn on a surprisingly bright light that emits from the back of my smartphone.

I bring this up after a person at a night self-defense pistol class asked about alternative light use. The scenario being: It's dark, you are changing a flat tire with your headlamp on, and a hostile stranger approaches.

What will you do? Turn off the headlamp as you reach for the 120-lumen SureFire with strobe function and sharpened bezel ring that you left on the console? Or will you just pull your pistol and go to work by the light of a trusty Petzl?

The bottom line is you don't want to do something for the first time if it is a life-or-death situation. I am not saying a smartphone light should be your primary, but at least try different light sources to see what could be a feasible emergency light should the need arise. You may be surprised to see how effective you can be with whatever is at hand.

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