Weak hand flashlight, Bezel up or down?

Descendant · April 10, 2009, 05:49 PM

Hello all,
N00b here. Been reading too many threads to mention. Have not found what I was looking for. I need to carry my tactical flashlight in my weak hand pocket. I've been trying to practice which is safest and most efficient.
Do you carry "bezel up" or "bezel down"? If I carry bezel up, I have to swivel the light to position my thumb on the end cap clickie. There seems to be a risk of dropping it. Also, if you draw it from the bezel down position it feels a little awkward. Any thoughts?

Descendant · April 10, 2009, 10:33 PM

edited/deleted:barf:

xrmattaz · April 11, 2009, 07:32 AM

I carry my Surefire flashlights bezel down.

PoorSoulInJersey · April 11, 2009, 09:19 AM

I would put it in my pocket bezel down so that when I put my hand in normally, I can pull the light out so that the light is facing down in my hand (thumb can reach the on button).

Practice it until it doesn't feel awkward anymore.

Ian0351 · April 11, 2009, 11:44 AM

Carry it bezel up. You will have to reposition it for use, but it is much easier to get a handle on the fat end in a stressful situation, and you have better control of it if you hold it at the business end. Also, this way you can use your hand to modulate the amount of light coming out, and it is better positioned for use as a club.
For reference my duty light is a 2C steel mag light, I carry it on a belt loop if I am wearing a gun belt or in my left back hip pocket if I am just out walking the dog. It makes a great off hand weapon in a knife fight and throws a lot of light.

Erik · April 11, 2009, 06:50 PM

I clip my light bezel-up, finding it faster and more certain from the pocket. (Support side front pocket.)

Lost Sheep · April 11, 2009, 08:51 PM

From your description, it appears you have the on-off switch in the end cap, away from the bezel with the light. Simplisticly worded, just to be clear.

The following advice applies only if you carry it on the same side (and at waist level) as the hand with which you will use it. If you carry it in an upper jacket pocket or sleeve pocket, it is bezel down all the way.

I recommend staying away from having to reposition the light in any way.

There are two ways you could draw the light from your pocket or a holster and not have to reverse your grasp.

If the bezel is up, start with your palm facing toward the flashlight, your wrist closer to your front and your fingers facing rearward. Awkward, yes, but you will get used to it. Put your little finger on the bezel and start forcing the light upward, gripping it with your entire little finger as it comes up, then each finger as the shaft of the flashlight is exposed.

If the bezel is down, start with your palm facing toward the flashlight, your wrist and elbow closer to your rear (hanging naturally) and your fingers facing forward. Grasp the end of the flashlight with your thumb and forefinger and draw.

After you have practised both, pick the one which is more reliable for you.

Lost Sheep

Caveat: The foregoing is not from any tactical training I have had. This is just the logic I apply. A trained LEO will probably be able to give more thoroughly vetted advice, but remember, different jurisdictions have developed different methods and some of the differences are completely arbitrary. My Maglights (3 and 4 D cells) have their on-off switches on the side.

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post. Maybe especially this post.

Do your own research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.

Lost Sheep

ChuteTheMall · April 15, 2009, 10:48 PM

Bezel down in left pocket, so when I draw it my thumb is near the switch on the back end and my little finger is near the bezel, and it's ready for a hammerfist to somebody's face. Or to shine down to light my path.

deputy tom · April 16, 2009, 05:41 PM

Old school training kicks in.We carried Maglights on our belts with the bezel up.That caused my preference for bezel up for off duty as well as nowadays retired pocket carry of smaller Surefires,etc.I would say it's personal preference but this is what works for me.YMMV.tom.

comn-cents · April 16, 2009, 05:47 PM

I have a surefire with a clip on it (much like a pocket knife) it is carried bezel up and it is very easy to deploy with my thumb on the tail switch.

April 10, 2009, 05:49 PM	#1
Descendant Junior Member Join Date: April 7, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	Weak hand flashlight, Bezel up or down? Hello all, N00b here. Been reading too many threads to mention. Have not found what I was looking for. I need to carry my tactical flashlight in my weak hand pocket. I've been trying to practice which is safest and most efficient. Do you carry "bezel up" or "bezel down"? If I carry bezel up, I have to swivel the light to position my thumb on the end cap clickie. There seems to be a risk of dropping it. Also, if you draw it from the bezel down position it feels a little awkward. Any thoughts? __________________ I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering. -Steven Wright Last edited by Descendant; April 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM. Reason: thread relocated. Thank you

April 10, 2009, 10:33 PM	#2
Descendant Junior Member Join Date: April 7, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	? edited/deleted:barf: __________________ I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering. -Steven Wright Last edited by Descendant; April 11, 2009 at 12:24 PM. Reason: unnecessary

April 11, 2009, 11:44 AM	#5
Ian0351 Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 414	If you have to carry it in a pocket Carry it bezel up. You will have to reposition it for use, but it is much easier to get a handle on the fat end in a stressful situation, and you have better control of it if you hold it at the business end. Also, this way you can use your hand to modulate the amount of light coming out, and it is better positioned for use as a club. For reference my duty light is a 2C steel mag light, I carry it on a belt loop if I am wearing a gun belt or in my left back hip pocket if I am just out walking the dog. It makes a great off hand weapon in a knife fight and throws a lot of light. __________________ You can have your churches, I'll keep my guns. Just keep your hands off my paycheck and your eyes out of my backyard. Join the Libertarian Party! http://www.lp.org Semper Fidelis

April 11, 2009, 06:50 PM	#6
Erik Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: America Posts: 3,479	I clip my light bezel-up, finding it faster and more certain from the pocket. (Support side front pocket.) __________________ Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective

April 11, 2009, 08:51 PM	#7
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Depends on how you draw it From your description, it appears you have the on-off switch in the end cap, away from the bezel with the light. Simplisticly worded, just to be clear. The following advice applies only if you carry it on the same side (and at waist level) as the hand with which you will use it. If you carry it in an upper jacket pocket or sleeve pocket, it is bezel down all the way. I recommend staying away from having to reposition the light in any way. There are two ways you could draw the light from your pocket or a holster and not have to reverse your grasp. If the bezel is up, start with your palm facing toward the flashlight, your wrist closer to your front and your fingers facing rearward. Awkward, yes, but you will get used to it. Put your little finger on the bezel and start forcing the light upward, gripping it with your entire little finger as it comes up, then each finger as the shaft of the flashlight is exposed. If the bezel is down, start with your palm facing toward the flashlight, your wrist and elbow closer to your rear (hanging naturally) and your fingers facing forward. Grasp the end of the flashlight with your thumb and forefinger and draw. After you have practised both, pick the one which is more reliable for you. Lost Sheep Caveat: The foregoing is not from any tactical training I have had. This is just the logic I apply. A trained LEO will probably be able to give more thoroughly vetted advice, but remember, different jurisdictions have developed different methods and some of the differences are completely arbitrary. My Maglights (3 and 4 D cells) have their on-off switches on the side. Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post. Maybe especially this post. Do your own research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web. Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere. Lost Sheep Last edited by Lost Sheep; April 11, 2009 at 08:58 PM.

April 11, 2009, 07:32 AM	#3
xrmattaz Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2006 Location: lovely Prescott, AZ Posts: 205	I carry my Surefire flashlights bezel down.

April 11, 2009, 09:19 AM	#4
PoorSoulInJersey Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 220	I would put it in my pocket bezel down so that when I put my hand in normally, I can pull the light out so that the light is facing down in my hand (thumb can reach the on button). Practice it until it doesn't feel awkward anymore.

April 15, 2009, 10:48 PM	#8
ChuteTheMall Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 1999 Location: Sinkholeville Swamp Posts: 228	Bezel down in left pocket, so when I draw it my thumb is near the switch on the back end and my little finger is near the bezel, and it's ready for a hammerfist to somebody's face. Or to shine down to light my path. __________________ ChuteTheMallGawdSortaMount

April 16, 2009, 05:41 PM	#9
deputy tom Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 753	Old school training kicks in.We carried Maglights on our belts with the bezel up.That caused my preference for bezel up for off duty as well as nowadays retired pocket carry of smaller Surefires,etc.I would say it's personal preference but this is what works for me.YMMV.tom. __________________ N.R.A.LIFE MEMBER Thank Goodness we're back on line. An end will come on the world, but love and music will endure. Thig crioch air an t-saoghail, ach mairidh gaol 's ceol. Old Scottish Gaelic proverb

April 16, 2009, 05:47 PM	#10
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,804	I have a surefire with a clip on it (much like a pocket knife) it is carried bezel up and it is very easy to deploy with my thumb on the tail switch.