The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Tactics and Training

View Poll Results: Which flashlight technique do you use?
Chapman 2 4.76%
Harries 11 26.19%
Modified Harries 2 4.76%
Ayoob 0 0%
Puckett 1 2.38%
Flashlight? Technique?!? 26 61.90%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 12, 2006, 02:50 PM   #1
GLP Standard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2005
Posts: 286
Which Flashlight technique?

Just wondering which flashlight technique everyone uses? Harries, Modified Harries, Ayoob, Chapman or Pucket?
GLP Standard is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 03:15 PM   #2
pickpocket
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 570
I don't know WHY I should be surprised that there are "flashlight techniques" named after people... after all..

I don't know what these techniques are or what they entail. I have two tactical white-lights, a Surefire G2 and a Surefire Scout, and use them as such:

The Scout - which is a mounted system for a carbine - is always mounted (I put the actuator on the front grip) and usually used in a "strobing" manner in low/no light situations. Light on, sweep, light off, and repeat in a different direction from a different angle - all while moving.

The G2 - a handheld with a tailswitch - is held in the weak hand in reverse grip either at the shoulder or crossed under my shooting hand as a platform if I have the pistol out. The same "strobing" technique applies.

You got a name for those?
__________________
Semper Fi-
David Williams

"Sabah al khair -- ismee Dave, ahnee al Shayṭān"

Last edited by pickpocket; April 12, 2006 at 03:48 PM.
pickpocket is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 03:30 PM   #3
Redneckrepairs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 9, 2006
Posts: 666
had a hard time voting since the modified Harries that i was taught and used is somewhat similar to ayoobs
Redneckrepairs is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 03:43 PM   #4
Half-Price Assassin
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 23, 2005
Location: Oh
Posts: 602
i hate to admit i dont know those flash light techniques. i own two combat handgun books (authurs are E. Lawrence, and M. Ayoob), maybe i need to brush up on it. for me, i use a the GLOCK tactical Light and laser, it cost me alot, but now i can just slide it on my G22, and not have to worry about it, and i can still use my pistol and light with one hand if needed.
Half-Price Assassin is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 03:47 PM   #5
nefshooter
Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Posts: 46
lighrail
nefshooter is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 04:01 PM   #6
Charles S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 29, 2002
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 950
I did not vote. I practice all of the above and a few you did not mention.

A night combat class was very helpful in showing me the strengths and weakness of all of the above mentioned techniques.

Flashlight styles are tools to be used for individual situations, there is no prefect style, there is no tool that will work in every situation.

I highly recommend professional training if you carry a weapon at night. The course will be very enlightening, and you will quickly learn there are a lot of myths regarding fighting at night that are taught as truths.

Charles
__________________
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
Charles S is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 04:30 PM   #7
Mannlicher
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2001
Location: North Central Florida & Miami
Posts: 3,208
Flashlight 'techniques'. Well I'll be darned. Thats rich. 'Techniques'. wow
__________________
Nemo Me Impune Lacesset

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan
Mannlicher is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 04:37 PM   #8
yorec
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2000
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 2,328
I also could not vote for the very reasons Charles S mentioned.

Ditto Charles!
__________________
What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?
yorec is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 05:22 PM   #9
PPCLI 2 can.
Member
 
Join Date: April 9, 2006
Posts: 24
which one is the tactic where you hold it in your mouth?
that is the one i use
__________________
you cant have manslaughter
with out laughter
PPCLI 2 can. is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 08:46 PM   #10
Tim Burke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 17, 1999
Posts: 551
Like Erick, I have a strong side technique (Harries) a weak side technique (Rogers variant) and occasionally use the jaw index. What is the Puckett?
__________________
TB., NC
Tim Burke is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 09:17 PM   #11
Sweatnbullets
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 6, 2002
Posts: 263
The Floating Light

Some of you may have recognized that I am into fluid transitions between skillsets that are dependent upon the situation. I do not see these transitions as being overly complicated or complex. To me, they fit into the KISS principle, but more importantly, they cover all of my bases. Keeping it simple is important, but I see being being well rounded and versatile as being just as important.

My basic concept for the flashlight is the versatility of what I call the floating light. I really do not have a default flashlight technique. My technique is all situationaly dependent. The positions that I use flows from one to another seamlessly, giving me the best tool to use on each job.

The positions that are incorperated into my system are the FBI, modified FBI, neck index, centerline index, and the Harries. They all have there place and I transition through them as situations arise. I tend to keep my handgun in a one handed compressed ready. This gives me good retention and a position that I can fire from immediately.

I like the the FBI and it's modified positions due to the fact that a light source is a bullet magnent. These techniques keep the light source away from the body. If someone is to shoot at the light the chances of a solid hit are reduced dramatically. I really like this for searching, while incorporating "wanding and strobing."

Wanding is a search technique that incorporates the "light on/light off/move" principle with splashes of random, arching, light strokes. The random strokes give enough light to see an area to manuver through or to identify a threat. The strokes also make it harder for an adversary to determine your position or your direction if they do not have a visual on you already. Wanding works best in large areas.

Strobing is random, quick, bursts of light that is manipulated in both direction and angle. Strobing is best used when you are approaching a corner or a doorway that must be taken. The concept of strobing is to use the bursts in a random pattern that makes it impossible for the adversary to know where you are or where you are going. If done correctly you can "take" the corner or make entry into the door in a manner that is much more unpredictable by your adversary. If you use the old light on/light off/move without wanding and strobing, you are telegraphing your position and your movement.

http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/index.php
__________________
"Situations dictate strategy, strategy dictates tactics, tactics dictate techniques.....techniques should not dictate anything."
Roger Phillips, Owner and Operator of Fight Focused Concepts

Last edited by Sweatnbullets; April 12, 2006 at 10:36 PM.
Sweatnbullets is offline  
Old April 12, 2006, 09:26 PM   #12
GLP Standard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2005
Posts: 286
Quote:
What is the Puckett?
Hold the flashlight in your weak hand with your thumb on the tail of it (if you have a tactical tail switch) Hold your weapon in your strong hand straight out, with your eyes lined up with the sights. Your flashlight (weak hand) is held up to the side of your head, right by your eye, illuminating both your sights and your target at the same time. The idea behind this, is that if you dont have night sights, it makes it a lot easier to line your sights up opposed to using the Harries, Modified Harries, etc... where your sights are completely dark, and all you can see is your target.

Some might not like this technique, and im not sure many people have heard about it, and I didnt think I would like it at first, but its what I used to qualify, and I like it a little better than the Harries. I like the Harries because of the extra support it gives your strong hand, I like the Puckett because of the fact that it helps illuminate the sights a great deal
GLP Standard is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 01:12 AM   #13
GLP Standard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2005
Posts: 286
Where did the name SFI (Sure Fire Institute) come from? Ive never heard of the Puckett before the other day, and the guy who showed it to us was the guy who owns Sure Fire Protection Services. Just wondering if the two are related. I doubt it, but its a weird coincidence either way.
GLP Standard is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 07:23 AM   #14
SoonerBJJ
Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2006
Posts: 45
Neck/jaw index.
SoonerBJJ is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 07:28 AM   #15
stevelyn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 19, 2004
Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell
Posts: 2,655
I practice both the Harries and Rogers methods.
__________________
Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets!
http://fastersaveslives.org/

East Moose. Wear Wolf.
stevelyn is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 08:55 AM   #16
rick_reno
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 28, 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 917
What's the one called where you have a 75 lb dog on your left hand and handgun in the right?
rick_reno is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 10:04 AM   #17
HangFire83
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2006
Location: Howell, MI
Posts: 323
I never knew there were different techniques to use a flashlight. Anybody got a link to somewhere that has information on these different techniques?
__________________
" An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it."

Jeff Cooper.
HangFire83 is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 10:23 AM   #18
Denny Hansen
Staff Emeritus
 
Join Date: June 29, 2001
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Posts: 2,422
I did not vote for the same reasons given earlier. I often use four techniques depending on circumstances.

For example, the Harries works great for me most of the time and is great for rolling out from a right hand corner. Rolling out to the left just enough to expose the weapon, however, and the light will bounce back off the corner and blind you. This is for a right-handed shooter; reverse the problem for a Southpaw. Different tactical problem, different technique.

Denny
__________________
S.W.A.T. Magazine
Weapons, Training and Tactics for the Real World
Join us at TFL or at AR15.com or on Facebook
Denny Hansen is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 07:57 PM   #19
dctag
Member
 
Join Date: October 23, 2001
Location: Orem Utah
Posts: 47
Fight at Night by Andy Stanford (Paladin Press) is a good book for those who would like to learn some of the different flashlight techniques. Taking some low light classes would be even better but for 15-20 bucks the book is pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158...lance&n=283155

-David
dctag is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 09:04 PM   #20
TexiCali Slim
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 29, 2006
Location: H-E-B Tejas
Posts: 175
Rodger Rabbit

My technique is simple, if I am in danger and all I have is my Mag Light, I'll pound the BG's head untill he see's "Tweety Birds!".
If anyone is interested in my class I will teach it at 3 different locations.
1) Scaring me while I am Camping.
2) Sneaking up on me while I am walking on a trail.
3) Threataning me in a road rage situation.
__________________
If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.
-Mark Twain
Close Only Counts In Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.
TexiCali Slim is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 09:20 PM   #21
axslingerW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 8, 2005
Location: St. louis
Posts: 249
I don't know. I hold it in my weak hand,back of hands together with flach light on top. (5 cell mag with led bulb). What would that be?
axslingerW is offline  
Old April 13, 2006, 11:44 PM   #22
GLP Standard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2005
Posts: 286
^If your weak hand is brought under your strong hand, and its held next to the gun, that would be the harries
GLP Standard is offline  
Old April 15, 2006, 10:53 AM   #23
Rightwinger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 28, 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 168
Modified Harries

But I need it for only one situation. If I were to need more options I could learn more techniques.
__________________
"Appeasement reflects the hope that the crocodile will eat you last."- Winston Churchill
Rightwinger is offline  
Old April 17, 2006, 12:56 AM   #24
pangris
Member
 
Join Date: September 20, 2002
Location: Baton Rouge
Posts: 65
neck index
pangris is offline  
Old April 17, 2006, 04:14 AM   #25
Para Bellum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 7, 2005
Location: right there
Posts: 1,882
Harries

works best for me the brain-side-shifting problem didn't occur to me. But I practice a lot and compete in international contests. If you don't practice a lot, crossing hands can become a problem because your brain "corrects" it and the impulse to turn on/off the light might lead to triggering a shot.
__________________
Si vis pacem - para bellum
If you want peace - prepare for war
Para Bellum is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.12491 seconds with 11 queries