Do you really need a accessory rail?

[jpuke]

I've been looking at the Springfield Operators lately, and it's made me wonder if you want (or need) a accessory rail on a handgun that would be used for home defense.  I've read that the flashlight you use should be held away from your body so as to not let the intruder know where you really are.  Is there a use for these rails for the normal population that will have no "tactical" need for one?  I like the way these guns look so I might think about getting one anyway.

[jpuke]

cknight, you make your point well, thanks for the reply.

[S.S.]

The only down-fall's I see to an accessory rail
is added expense and in some cases added bulk.
When I was a LEO There were several times that
it would have been very, VERY useful for my light
to have been attached to my weapon. Climbing
over things in warehouses for instance !
At that time several of the officers had "MODIFIED" scope-mounts
on their shotguns which held a flashlight.
Times have changed!!
Nowadays, I would choose a laser sight over a flashlight
though.  Wherever the red dot goes, so follows the bullet!
Useful if you had to fire from an awkward position.
I was recently told of  a bad situation that was stopped simply
because one of the two PERPS. saw the laser dot appear on his
"BUDDY,s" Cheek!   It had sorta' the same effect as the
Click click of a pump action shotgun being loaded. He knew
what would follow if they did not behave themselves,
and both surrendered quietly.

[paladyn]

One thing I have not looked into: How do you carry  your weapon while it has a light mounted on it? What kind of holster can handle the weapon with something attached to the rail?

[papajohn428]

If I was looking at a new gun, I'd take the one with the rail.  Anytime I'm checking open doors, etc in a building, I always need a free hand to open doors, pull back curtains, whatever.  Having the light mounted on the gun means I always have a hand free.

I also firmly believe in target identification, and a laser might show me where the bullet is going, but it doesn't tell me if the target is friend or foe.  I want to know what I'm shooting at first.  As for the light making you an easy target, if you're carrying a flashlight, while clearing a building, you're already pretty obvious!  Unless your light is shining right in the bad guys face, he already knows where you are, and holding the light in the other hand won't help you.

There are times when having the light in the off hand can be good, I think a quick-release mount is a great idea, so the light can be carried on the duty belt or in a pocket until needed.

PJ

[paladyn]

Thanks for the info. My new weapon has a rail, so I'll likely be wanting a light at some point.