Lights & Lasers

Villages Straight ShootersSeminar – June 21st, 2017

Tactical FlashLights

Selection & Use of

Tactical Flashlights

• LED Technology

– Haitz’s Law

– Lumens

– Cree

• Types of LED Lights

– Self-Defense

– Handheld

– Gun Mounted

• Design Options

• Desirable Features

• Top Brands

• Top Models

• Handheld Shooting

Techniques

• Tactical Training

LED Technology

• LED = Light Emitting Diode

• Electroluminescence

Discovered in 1907

• Visible Light LED Developed

in 1962

• 2001 – Gallium Nitride

– Blue Light

• 2012 – Hi-power LEDs

• White Light LEDs soon

followed with advances in

– Semiconductor Technology

– Optics

– Materials Science

• LED Development

Following Established

Technology Curve

LED Technology

Haitz’s Law

• Cost per lumen (lm) (unit of

useful light emitted) falls by

a factor of 10 every decade

• The amount of light

generated per LED

package increases by a

factor of 20 every decadeYear

lm/p

ac

ka

ge

Note – exponential scale

LED Technology

LED Technology

“Cree T6 LED”

• Cree, Inc.

– Founded 1987

– NC State researchers

– Discovered Silicon Carbide

(SiC) based LEDs

– Discovered how to grow

SiC crystals on silicone

substrate

• 2012 announced LED with 2x

power at same price

• Laundry list of industry firsts

• Recognized leader

• Began licensing SiC devices

for lighting applications

LED Flashlights

• Regular Flashlights

• Self-Defense Devices

• Handheld Tactical

Flashlights

• Firearm mountable

Tactical Flashlights

MagLite

Stun Gun

Flashlight

Tactical

Handheld

Mountable

Tactical

Tactical Handheld Lights

Growing Number of Quality Manufacturers

• Streamlight

• Surefire

• Solaray

• Nitecore

• Fenix

• Olight

• Outlight

Tactical Flashlight

Design Features

• Aluminum vs Polymer Body

• Rear Activation Switch

• Ability to Focus

• Firearm Mountable

• Remote Switch

• Lanyard

• Extremely Long Life

Need

Memory

Function

Good if Switch

Protrudes a Bit

Tactical Flashlight

Design Features

• Aluminum vs Polymer Body

• Rear Activation Switch

• Ability to Focus

• Firearm Mountable

• Remote Switch

• Lanyard

• Extremely Long Life

Tactical Flashlight

Design Features

• Aluminum vs Polymer Body

• Rear Activation Switch

• Ability to Focus

• Firearm Mountable

• Remote Switch

• Lanyard

• Extremely Long Life

Tactical Flashlight

Design Features

• Aluminum vs Polymer

Body

• Rear Activation Switch

• Ability to Focus

• Firearm Mountable

• Remote Switch

• Lanyard

• Extremely Long Life

Tactical Flashlight

Design Features

• Aluminum vs Polymer Body

• Rear Activation Switch

• Ability to Focus

• Firearm Mountable

• Remote Switch

• Lanyard

• Extremely Long Life

Tactical Flashlight

Operational Features

• Full On

– Multiple Light Levels

• Momentary On

• Strobe

• SOS

Tactical Flashlight

Top Flashlight Models

• Streamlight 88040 Pro Tac

• Solaray Pro ZX-2

• Nitecore EC4S

• Fenix PD35 Tac

• Olight M20-X

• Outlight A100

Tactical Flashlight

Streamlight 88040 Pro Tac

• C4 LED

• 750 Lumens

• 3 Light Modes (H,L,S)

• 2 CR123A – Non-Rechargeable

• No Momentary On

• No Lanyard

• No Gun Mount

$68

Tactical Flashlight

Solaray Pro ZX-2

• Cree T6 LED

• 1,200 Lumens

• 5 Light Modes (H,L,S,SOS)

• Focusable

• Lanyard

• Gun Mountable

• Memory

$50

Tactical Flashlight

Nitecore EC4S

• Cree XHP50 LED

• 2,150 Lumens

• Includes Holster,

Lanyard

• 8 Light Modes

• Not Mountable

• Rechargeable Only $83Side Switch

Tactical Flashlight

Fenix PD35 Tac

• Cree XP-L LED

• 1,000 Lumens

• CR123A or Recharge

• Tail Momentary On

• 6 Light Modes

• Holster, Clip $73

Tactical Flashlight

Olight M20-SX Javalot

• Cree LED

• 820 Lumens

• 4 Light Modes (H,M,L,S)– Side Switch Selectable

– Momentary On

• Tightly Focused Beam

• Gun Mountable, Lanyard $80

Tactical Flashlight

Outlight A100

• High Power LED

• 900 Lumens

• 5 Light Modes (H,M,L,S,SOS)

• 18650 Battery or 3 AAA– Rechargeable

• Lanyard

• Adjustable Focus $20

Tactical Flashlight Summary

Model LED Lumens Light

Modes

M On Mem Lnyrd Adjust

Focsg

Batt

and/or

Recharge

Gun

Mount

Cost

Streamlite C4 750 3 N N N B Only N $68

Solaray Cree T6 1,200 5 Y Y Y R Y $50

Nitecore Cree XHP 2,150 8 Y N R N $83

Fenix Cree XP-L 1,000 6 Y Y N B or R ? $73

Olight Cree 820 4 Y Y Y N B Y $80

Outlight HP 900 5 Y Y B or R N $20

Tactical Flashlights

Home Defense

• Navigation

• Identification of Threats

• Engagement of Threats

• Range of Techniques

– None Perfect

• Training & Practice

Required

Factors to Consider

• 60-80% Nighttime or Low

Light Encounters

• Hand Light vs Weapon Light

• One Handed Shooting

• Use Light Sparingly

– Night Vision

– Location Identification

Tactical Flashlights

Common Techniques

• Harries

• Chapman

• Ayoob

• Rogers

• Neck-Index

• FBI

Shooting Techniques

Harries Method

• Hands locked at wrists

• Non-shooting elbow

down

• One handed shooting

– Light & firearm together

• Do not muzzle own

hand/arm

Shooting Techniques

Harries Method

Shooting Techniques

Chapman Method

• Use with older, larger,

flashlights

– Side-mounted switch

– Difficult with small hands

• Good with isosceles stance

• Grip with thumb & forefinger

– Remaining fingers grip gun

– Arms provide isometric tension

Shooting Techniques

Chapman

Method

Shooting Techniques

Ayoob Method (Modified Chapman)

• Limited to side-mounted

switch

• Less training to master

• Isometric tension

stabilizes light & gun

• Rotate grip on light,

thumbs touching

Shooting Techniques

Ayoob

Method

Good with

MagLite

Shooting Techniques

Rogers (Surefire) Hold

• Limited to small push-button

flashlights

• Approximates two-handed

grip

• Flashlight held between

forefinger & middle finger

– Unused fingers grip gun

– Button against base of thumb

Shooting Techniques

Rogers

(Surefire)

Method

Shooting Techniques

Neck-Index Method

• Hands apart – one handed

shooting

• Good for sm & lg lights

• Illuminates target & gun

sights

• Draw fire towards

defender’s head

• Must aim gun same direction

as light

Shooting Techniques

Neck-Index

Method

Shooting Techniques

FBI Method

• Draws fire away from

defender

– Hold light slightly in

front of body

• Can be tiring with extended

use

• Can transition to Neck-Index

Critical Training

Conditions

• Night or Low Light

• One Handed Shooting

• Clear or Reload with

Light

– Lanyard Essential

• Coordinate Gun & Light

– Laser!

Preparation

• Find Method Right for

You

• Consistent Gun Location

– Spare Magazine

• Consistent Light Location

– Same as Gun

Tactical FlashlightGun Mountable• Streamlight

• Surefire

$110 – 300 lm

$121 – 800 lm (TLR-1 HL)

$299 – 600 lm

$99 – 100 lm

Shooting Techniques

Weapon Mounted Light

• Two-handed grip

• Ease of clearing or

reloading

• Muzzle “Friendly” with

loaded gun

– Potential too high to

discount

Tactical Flashlight

Gun Mounted

• Pros

– Convenient

– Light & Gun in Sync

– Modes Selectable

– Trigger finger activation

– Two Handed Shooting

– Ease of Reloading & Clearing

• Cons

–Muzzle Friendly with

Loaded Gun

–Full On to Shoot

–Gun Nose Heavy

–Location Exposed

Questions?

Lasers

Laser Optics

• History

• Brands

• Red vs Green

• Mounting Options

• Activation

• Zeroing

• Holsters

• Advantages &

Disadvantages

• Tactical Advantage

• Tactical Results

History

• Conceptualized in

1984 as a movie prop.

• Surefire

–Ed Reynolds

• Red Laser

• Battery in Pocket

AMT Hardballer

Longslide .45 ACP

History

Guess which

movie??

History

Laser Brands

Primary

• Crimson Trace

• LaserMax

• LaserLyte

• Viridian**

• Barska

• Streamlight

• Sightmark

Others

• Laser Genetics

• Laser Devices

• Truglo

• Armalaser

• Tuofeng

• NcStar

• Armalite

Red vs Green

Red (1984)

• First to Market

–Smaller

–Low Power

–Cooler

–State of Technology

• Ruby Base

Green (1997)

• More complex

–Larger

–Hi Power Usage

–Hot

–Required Advances in

Technology

Red vs Green

Red vs Green

1 Angstrom =

10 Nanometers

(1 nm = 1 Billionth Meter)

Red vs Green

Red (1984)

• At periphery of

visual spectrum

• Harder to see in

daylight

• Less Expensive

Green (1997)

• Technological Advances

• Easier to see day or

night

• More Expensive

• Battery usage improved

Red vs Green

Red (5mW) Green (5mW)

Mounting Options

• Accessory Rail

• Grip

• Guide Rod

• Rear Sight

• Trigger Guard

• In Combination

– Tactical Light

– Red Dot

– Scope

Accessory

Rail

Mounting Options

Guide Rod

Grip

Mounting Options

Grip

Rear Sight

Mounting Options

Laser & Red

Dot

Laser &

Light

Mounting Options

Trigger

Guard

Laser & Scope

Activation

• Side Button

– Ambidextrous

• Touch Pad

– Grip

– Finger

• ECR (Enhanced

Combat Readiness)

• Pressure Pad

• Momentary On

Zeroing

Laser & Bore Sight

Zeroing

Zeroing Options

• Two Options

–Fixed Distance

–Traditional Sights

7 Yards

Zero

Zeroing Options

• Two Options

–Parallel to Barrel

Any Distance

Zero

1.25” 1.25”

POA

POI

Holsters

• May Obsolete your

Holster(s)

– Trigger Guard

– Accessory Rail

• Current Holster OK

– Grip

– Rear Sight

– Guide Rod

• ECR – TacLoc

–Viridian

–Laser On When Gun is

Drawn

Advantages

• Quicker Target

Acquisition

• Immediate Visual

Feedback

– Improved Trigger

Control

– Improved Hold Control

BEAMSHOT BS8200S

Tri-Beam Laser Sight

for Rapid Target

Acquisition

Advantages

• Allows Immediate

Focus on Threat

–vs Front Sight

–Mitigates “Senior”

Farsightedness

• Day or Night

Advantages

• Intimidation Factor

• Accommodates shooting

from variable positions

–Cover/Concealment

• Facilitates Point Shooting

Disadvantages

Potential Problems

• Dead Battery

• Changes Balance of Gun

• New Holster

• One more item to

Remember in Crisis

• May Get Knocked Out of

Alignment

Myths

• May Reveal Position

• Crutch vs Open Sights

Tactical Results

• Improved Hits on

Target by 10+%

• Police Hits on

Target – First shot

–25%

–With Laser +300%

Value vs Price

• Cheap < $100

–Not Efficient

–Early Failure

–D/N Hold Zero

–Plastic vs Metal

–Typically <3 Stars

• Can’t Adjust

• Broke in 1 Wk

• Cost Effective $100 - $300

–“Well Made”

–All Metal

–Easily Adjustable

–Battery Lasts 5 hr

–Max Brightness 5mW

Value vs Price

CT Rail

Master

$90-

CT Laser

Guard

$168-

CT Sight

Attach.

$184

CT Laser

Grip

$184

CT Laser

Guard for

LCR $184

CT Laser

Grip

$199-CT Full

Laser Grip

$199-

Combinations

Streamlight

TLR-4

$151+

Viridian C5L

$279+LaserTac

Rechargable

$130

Summary

• Laser Sights have arrived!!– Price vs Value

– Many options• Mounting

• Combos

• Excellent Training Tools– Trigger Control

– Hold Control

– Arc of Movement

• Tactical Advantages– Target Acquisition

– Improved “Hit” Rates

– Intimidation Factor

– Improved “Point”

Shooting

– On Target from

Awkward Stance