Video Transcript
Introduction (00:00)
So, what I have here are the two Streamlight handhelds that we offer on our site. You've got the large Streamlight 2L-X and then you also have the 1L-1AA. I wish companies wouldn't use names like these, but whatever. So you have a larger handheld flashlight right here that boasts 500 lumens. It takes two CR123s. And the smaller one right here, that's 350 lumens with a single CR123. The batteries are inserted from the back of the light. We have a SureFire battery in this one, but they come with Streamlight batteries. Battery goes right in, tighten it down, and you're good to go.
Modes (00:39)
Now, there are three modes on this, default out of the package. With one tap of the rear cap you get high mode. If you double-tap quickly, you get strobe, which I don't really recommend for anything. If you quickly tap three times, you get the low mode that has quite a bit of battery life and allows you to do, you know, little stuff without blinding yourself. It is programmable if you want to change that. You know, keep it high beam only, or high beam and low beam and eliminate strobe completely. By default, you have all three options very easily, and they're pretty awesome flashlights for the price.
If you have any other questions, shoot us an email at [email protected].
Shooting Techniques (01:41)
So I want to show a few techniques for shooting with a handheld light. So the most optimal way of manipulating said light while using a handgun is going to be gripping it like so. Thumb will be activating the button on this Streamlight, and I'm going to be using momentary, you know, as much as I can, versus clicking for constant. Every time I am not shooting, moving, or reloading, the light will be off. I only turn the light on when I need it. And it's off all other times.
As far as technique goes for holding a light and a handgun, as you can see, I have the dilemma of not being able to hold the gun with two hands. This is where a pistol mounted light gives you a little bit of advantage because I can have both hands on the pistol, shoot a little bit faster, and have better recoil management. I know there's the whole argument of, "Oh, well, they're gonna shoot towards the light." Well, yes but no, and I can't shoot what I can't see. So I am going to have to take the risk of activating the light and potentially, yes, showing where my position is while I'm in the process of shooting.
Harries Technique (02:36)
So a couple of techniques out there. You've got the Harries technique of hooking this hand in front of the hand that is manipulating the flashlight. This looks extremely goofy, thanks to Hollywood, but actually works pretty well when it comes to controlling the handgun and having consistent rise and fall and aligning your sights. So I have a Chameleon Target out here. So as you can see, the sights are rising and falling very consistently. I can activate the light, see the target, and I'm good to go.
Jaw Index, Head Index, + Umbrella Techniques (03:11)
If I don't want to use the Harries technique, there's a few others. If you're running an iron-sighted pistol, I highly recommend this one. (You could do jaw index is one that guys like to do. The downside with this is my handgun is typically being held above where my beam is. So I'm not going to be illuminating my iron sights.) If I go for an actual head index above my ear, what this does is this allows me to actually see my iron sights, whether I have stock irons or an illuminated front sight post, like this one, or my fibers. If I'm using a fiber optic front sight post, it illuminates very brightly. So then from here, the light is going to be following wherever I look in this certain position. And then when I need to move or do whatever, I just turn the light off by depressing with my finger. And now the light is off. There's also umbrella techniques where I hold the light above, or I hold it out like so. (Shoot. Magazine. Back pocket.) And I'm set. I prefer a technique that keeps the light closer to my body, either a head index or a Harries index, as it allows me to point the light a little more effectively, where I'm looking and where I'm shooting.
Training with a Handheld Light (04:35)
Those are a few techniques for you guys. As far as shooting a handgun with a handheld light, I like to practice on a buzzer drawing from the holster and drawing my weapon light at the same time and indexing both. That's one thing you can do. Or practice with the light already out, and then on the buzzer, drawing the handgun and then taking your shots.