The Streamlight M-3 on a G-19 with Dawson extension: 24 rounds of nighttime 9mm.
The invention or discovery of fire was a huge leap forward. Not only did fire create heat for warmth but it cooked food, and it provided illumination to drive off predators during the night. It was just so inconvenient. Even when contained within a lantern, fire didn’t provide much light, it was hard to direct, and the heat created a great risk of setting other things on fire.
Electricity changed all that. We now have compact and very bright illumination to guide us through the night. And Glocks, at least the third generation ones, have a rail where you can bolt that light. Many other makers are trying to catch up, using bolt-on rails and changing the machining patterns of their receivers. Glock just changed the mould and then started cranking out new frames. (As mentioned in the G-22 chapter, there are some guns that have feeding problems with lights on, but that is why you practice. If yours has that problem, upgrade to the new 11-coil springs and make it feed with the light on.)
The Streamlight company makes a light, the M3, that fits right onto a Glock 3rd gen frame. Installing it is simplicity. The crossbar is spring loaded and presses out of the way on the bevelled edge of the Glock frame. When it reaches the cross slot, it snaps in place, locking the light on. If you want to remove it, pull down on both sides of the bar (something Glock owners should be familiar with) and slide the light forward and off.
The switch is on the rear of the light, just in front of the trigger guard when the light is on. The rocker switch moves both ways, and by pressing it in one direction you have temporary on. As long as you hold the switch, the light is on. As soon as you let go, it switches off. Press the lever in the opposite direction and it clicks on and stays on. Which one you select depends on the nature of your need. As one example, if you’re searching a warehouse with your trusty canine companion, leave it on. Rover will be making enough noise that you won’t be able to hide your location. If you are doing a stealthy search, and doing everything you can to keep from disclosing your position, you’d do a quick blink-on/blink-off when you needed to see what was in a hole or behind an object.
The Streamlight M-3 on a G-19 with Dawson extension: 24 rounds of nighttime 9mm.
The M-3 fits on the light rail, and the cross bar locks it in place.
Blinking also extends the battery life, which with any modern flashlight is probably only an hour of run time. The Streamlight puts out 80 to 90 lumens (translation: brighter than you’d believe from such a small light) and runs for an hour on a pair of lithium 3-volt batteries.
If you have an older Glock, without the light rail, don’t despair. A bright and compact light such as the Sure Fire Nitrolon G2, or their brand new Nitrolon G2Z combatlight will provide an amazing amount of illumination. What you have to do is use both hands, with one holding the light and the other holding your Glock, like the Harries technique taught at Gunsite. Reach under with your left, holding the light, and place the backs of your hands together. Use your thumb to press the switch.
Just slide it back. . .
. . .until it locks in place.
The M-3 toggle switch allows either momentary on. . .
. . .or constant on.
The SureFire lights, even the small ones like this G2 and 2Z, are plenty bright.
The Sure Fire lights have a cap button with a difference. If you screw the cap all the way in it will turn on and stay on. Unscrew the cap a bit, and then use the button as a blink-on/ blink-off switch.
Using a pair of the same 3-volt lithiums as the Streamlight, the Sure Fire puts out a beam of light that you have got see to believe. Using a new reflector technology, the Sure Fire doesn’t put out a beam like other lights, with crescent-moon shaped light bars and dark bars. It puts out a solid, even cone of light. Rated at “only” 65 lumens, the Sure Fire light is much brighter to the eye than other, brighter-rated, lights, and the light is solid across its field. You can get more power in the same size as the G2, up to hundreds of lumens.
For those who want to set fire to their neighbor’s house, Sure Fire makes a light rated for 2500 lumens. Yes, 2500 – more light output than your car headlights, I think.
The Harris Technique: using the thumb to press the switch.
The Lasermax is not only compact (and red or green) but has its own rail, so installing it doesn’t prevent you from installing other lights you might already have.
Again, the batteries on the regular lights last only an hour, but batteries are cheap, and for the light you get, who cares?
Modern lights are so bright that you can count on the startle/blink reflex. In dark or near-dark conditions, the light is so bright that if you shine it in someone’s eyes without warning, he will involuntarily turn away and close his eyes. He can’t help it.
I have to admit it: I just don’t get lasers. For the time and effort spent finding the laser, I can find the sights, hit the target, and then be looking for the unfortunate target’s buddies. But people love lasers. If lasers are your bag, then look into Lasermax. They offer their latest in both red and green lasers, and the units are so compact they offer something I haven’t seen elsewhere yet: a rail on the laser. The laser is so compact that it is sort of a rail spacer, and you can mount a light below it if you want.
So you can have light or laser or both, depending on your needs or desires. Without a light the laser is so compact it will go unnoticed, but you still won’t be able to fit it into a holster. At least not unless the holster is a web-fabricated tactical thigh rig, with room to spare. 