HeyGuysWatchThis
Newly Enlightened
This is the correct answer. These guns are tough enough to hang onto in the usual fashion, and adding a light like this will make them impossible to effectively shoot.
Kel-tec CL43 -- interesting new light
- Thread starter jellydonut
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This is the correct answer. These guns are tough enough to hang onto in the usual fashion, and adding a light like this will make them impossible to effectively shoot.
HighlanderNorth
Flashlight Enthusiast
I couldnt help but notice both of ^those "issues" as well!!
But I also wonder if the light is hard mounted to the pistol there. In one picture it looks like its just slid under a clip of some sort.
Ragnar66
Enlightened
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- Nov 22, 2011
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- 340
As I cop i'd say nothing but no thanks.
El Camino
Newly Enlightened
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- Sep 12, 2012
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No way would I use this light with a gun. I'd say use a gun mounted light. This way both hands are where they need to be.
kyhunter1
Flashlight Enthusiast
Im glad to see another US manufaturer market weapon lights, but I dont like this design. I agree with most of the other comments about accidental firing and inaccuracy.
passive101
Enlightened
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- Aug 15, 2007
- Messages
- 653
I don't need this light, but my female friend who is 5,1 shoots her pf9 one handed without issues. Rule of thumb for these smaller guns is the smaller the hand (within reason) is more fingers on the grip. This is interesting, but not our style.
you could easily 2 hand grip this setup, it would simply be a different grip.
you could easily 2 hand grip this setup, it would simply be a different grip.
AnAppleSnail
Flashlight Enthusiast
Ah, my mistake was assuming that the picture showed its intended use. I stand by the comment that "Having two triggers, one that lights and one that shoots holes in things, is a bad idea for safety."
Illum
Flashaholic
Seconded, my guess is that this shot was done as such for marketing reasons, a normal shooter would have the other hand over the light's body, blocking out its view. Heres one that looks more practical [P-11 here]
I can't shoot my PF9 single handed, even with gloves.
PitchEngine said:
Also to note, the head is modular and uses the LM3405, they've also came up with a picatinny mounted light for the RFB that uses the same head, as well as the CL-42.
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For myself at least, it would mess up my recoil bounce aim...as my leverage would be different with that on the side...so, for me, I would not want it there.
I also like the option to move the light away from the weapon...as the light itself becomes a return aimpoint.
I also like the option to move the light away from the weapon...as the light itself becomes a return aimpoint.
Two triggers... One for the middle finger and one for the index finger? Lol, that is just a pills of law suits waiting to happen, very bad design... " Your Honor, I just meant to shine the light on the subject, it was the manufacturers fault!"
Just what we need...
Just what we need...
Jkeone808
Newly Enlightened
Looks pretty awkward and dangerous IMO.
Hey guys! This is my first post so I hope I don't screw it up... I was at the NRA show on Saturday and while at the kel-tec booth, I was given one of these lights. It was pretty cool to get it from them in this way. I'm a police officer and have worked two night shifts since I got it and have been carrying it as a back up to my malkoff md-2. I have been impressed by how comfortably it rides in my left leg pocket... But most of all the output this thing has. I'm the firearms instructor for my department and I'm gonna take it shooting very soon and will give a range report. I'm aware that sympathetic trigger response is a concern with this light, but the way I've been using this light in a Surefire-Rogers style grip and method, I think will produce nice results on the range. I will keep y'all posted
Shooter21
Enlightened
I'd like a Beam shot to see the beam profile. thanks
Shooter21
Enlightened
try using Photobucket to post your pics.Lets see if this works. The first photo is of my E1B (which is what the CL-43 has replaced as my backup flashlight)
The next one is of the CL-43
Hope this worked. If not I will try again. Got some more pics to upload as well.
T45
Enlightened
Sorry bout not being able to get those photos to work. I will try again using photobucket like suggested. I've been carrying this light on duty since I first posted and have been very pleased with its size and power. For something as small as it is it can throw some light pretty far. I finally got to shoot with it and found it to be functional when using a Surefire-Rogers grip. It smokes my Z2s in this application, although the Z2 is a better general purpose light. My one concern with this light is that it heats up really quickly... I don't know if this will cause damage to the LED long term. As far as availability, my partner ordered one off of Kel-Tec's website and received it quickly. He's been carrying it as his primary light on duty... As much as I like this light, I don't think I'd carry it as a primary light.
BillSWPA
Enlightened
First, some general comments on shooting a handgun with a light.
Shooting with a light is essentially a one-handed technique, regardless of the technique used. If using the Rogers/Surefire technique, Harries technique, or anything else that attempts to use the flashlight hand as a support hand, use only light pressure on the gun hand by the support hand. Light pressure will help stabilize the gun hand. However, more pressure than this will create more errors in trigger squeeze than it solves.
When using a handheld light, I have come to prefer either a neck index indoors or the old FBI technique outdoors. Coming around a corner, I often prefer my gun and head high, and light low, or if my gun and head are low, the light is high. This way, I am using the same 1-hand shooting techniques I have practiced in daylight, while hopefully drawing fire away from my head by having the light in a different spot. When coming around a weak side corner, this is where I believe the Surefire Z-series lights really shine, and where this new Kel-Tec light could also shine. It is a bit awkward to come around a weak side corner with my head/gun high and light low with the light held in my fist with the tailcap switch by my thumb. Changing the grip to that of the Z-series or this new Kel-Tec light solves the problem.
If using a gun-mounted light, using a toggle switch with the weak hand thumb is safest. Although the sympathetic movement issue is real, and there has been a shooting using a middle-finger pressure pad switch with a handgun-mounted light, the use of the middle-finger pressure pad might actually be safer than trying to use the trigger finger to do more than just running the trigger, such as activating the light. Also, keep in mind that there have been many, many successes with gun-mounted lights by people of varying levels of training as compared to the number of accidental shootings.
The basic rules of gun safety still apply if using a gun-mounted light, and the muzzle should never be pointed at anything you are not willing to destroy. Depending on where you are searching and under what circumstances, a handheld light may be more appropriate. If trying to illuminate something using a gun-mounted light, it may often be best to illuminate it with the edge of the beam, keeping the muzzle in a safe direction, rather than pointing the gun at someone you might not want to shoot.
Turning to the Kel-Tec light:
This could potentially be a good light that is ruined by some dumb advertising.
Comments made above regarding the lack of wisdom of trying to use the Kel-Tec light and a handgun in one hand are entirely correct. Doing so would:
1) Make aiming and trigger squeeze more difficult.
2) Create sympathetic motion issues as described in earlier posts,
3) Cause difficulties in controlling recoil, possibly even inducing malfunctions in the gun,
4) Cause the muzzle to be pointed at anything being illuminated, and
5) Create a weak grip on the gun during a struggle to retain the gun.
Using this light in a 2-hand hold solves a lot of these problems. If you need to illuminate something you do not want to point your gun at, just separate your hands. Using the weak hand to run the light allows a normal grip with the strong hand.
Shooting with a light is essentially a one-handed technique, regardless of the technique used. If using the Rogers/Surefire technique, Harries technique, or anything else that attempts to use the flashlight hand as a support hand, use only light pressure on the gun hand by the support hand. Light pressure will help stabilize the gun hand. However, more pressure than this will create more errors in trigger squeeze than it solves.
When using a handheld light, I have come to prefer either a neck index indoors or the old FBI technique outdoors. Coming around a corner, I often prefer my gun and head high, and light low, or if my gun and head are low, the light is high. This way, I am using the same 1-hand shooting techniques I have practiced in daylight, while hopefully drawing fire away from my head by having the light in a different spot. When coming around a weak side corner, this is where I believe the Surefire Z-series lights really shine, and where this new Kel-Tec light could also shine. It is a bit awkward to come around a weak side corner with my head/gun high and light low with the light held in my fist with the tailcap switch by my thumb. Changing the grip to that of the Z-series or this new Kel-Tec light solves the problem.
If using a gun-mounted light, using a toggle switch with the weak hand thumb is safest. Although the sympathetic movement issue is real, and there has been a shooting using a middle-finger pressure pad switch with a handgun-mounted light, the use of the middle-finger pressure pad might actually be safer than trying to use the trigger finger to do more than just running the trigger, such as activating the light. Also, keep in mind that there have been many, many successes with gun-mounted lights by people of varying levels of training as compared to the number of accidental shootings.
The basic rules of gun safety still apply if using a gun-mounted light, and the muzzle should never be pointed at anything you are not willing to destroy. Depending on where you are searching and under what circumstances, a handheld light may be more appropriate. If trying to illuminate something using a gun-mounted light, it may often be best to illuminate it with the edge of the beam, keeping the muzzle in a safe direction, rather than pointing the gun at someone you might not want to shoot.
Turning to the Kel-Tec light:
This could potentially be a good light that is ruined by some dumb advertising.
Comments made above regarding the lack of wisdom of trying to use the Kel-Tec light and a handgun in one hand are entirely correct. Doing so would:
1) Make aiming and trigger squeeze more difficult.
2) Create sympathetic motion issues as described in earlier posts,
3) Cause difficulties in controlling recoil, possibly even inducing malfunctions in the gun,
4) Cause the muzzle to be pointed at anything being illuminated, and
5) Create a weak grip on the gun during a struggle to retain the gun.
Using this light in a 2-hand hold solves a lot of these problems. If you need to illuminate something you do not want to point your gun at, just separate your hands. Using the weak hand to run the light allows a normal grip with the strong hand.
