Why You Need A Combination and Why You Don't

What is A Flashlight Laser Combination?

A Flashlight laser combo is exactly what it sounds like. It is a flashlight and a laser in a single unit that attaches to your weapon. After sighting in the red, green or blue laser to your point of impact then it can be used in various self defense situations very effectively.

Light Laser Combo For Different Weapons

You can get laser light combo for a variety of weapons including shotguns, AR platforms, various pistols and even hunting rifles. The most common is AR platforms and handguns. The only thing you need to attach a unit is a picatinny rail. Some laser combinations only need a single cross rail to attach and larger units may need up to three rails. The larger units are, and I know I may be stating the obvious here, for the larger weapons.

Battlegrip Laser Combo - Green

Battlegrip Laser Combo - Blue

Green Laser - Flashlight Combo

Light Laser Combo for Pistols And AR 15 : Installation:

The installation process of a light laser combo is intuitive and simple. Most units you have to loosen one or two nuts, either by hand or with a set wrench that usually comes in the box, set it on the desired rail then tighten the nuts so it clamps firmly on the rail. The Main point is to feel that it clicks in firmly and there is no wobble. Even the less technical amongst us understands the benefits having “ no wobble’ on a self defense home safety device.

Flashlight Laser Combo : How To Adjust:

You can use boresights or your current optics or peep sights to sight in the laser. The light will look after itself, just make sure its pointing in the right direction. For a more detailed description on how to sight in the laser try reading the article :  How to adjust the Osprey Global Green Laser.

Light Laser Combo: Do Lumens Matter?

Everything matters when it comes to what's on your weapon. It just depends on how much it matters to you. At BuyOsprey Global we have light laser combo units with lumens from 200 lumens to 600 lumens. At 200 lumens it is more than enough to be effective. Most situations are low lit when you are going to be using your flashlight laser combo. This means that 200 lumens is going to feel like a beacon of light from the sun itself. It will both light the way and blind any assailants when pointed at their face. Think to yourself, have you ever turned a light on in the middle of the night after waking up? It felt like someone had shone a spotlight directly onto your retina. Normally you wouldn't usually react by blinking and squinting when you have a light on in your house but the contrast of darkness to light literally shocks the unprepared eye. Now imagine this with a high lumen light pointed at your face, and add to the fact that behind that light is a fully loaded weapon and a disgruntled homeowner? 200 lumens is enough to light, blind and disorientate; but if it was 500 lumens on your light laser combo, to whoever you point it at, it will feel like their face is melting off and they are facing some serious judgement for their wicked ways.

Laser Flashlight Combo ; Disorienting strobe and why we have it

This leads us to the disorienting strobe on your laser flashlight combo. Your flashlight already has the ability to blind, shock and stop your assailant, the next level is turning on the disorienting strobe. The disorienting strobe is when your flashlight flashes rapidly. You usually have a setting that you can switch to easily on your light laser combo or even on your tactical light. When you switch from bright light to a crazy flashing bright light it is the difference between a garden hose and a water cannon in terms of power and effectiveness.

The reason that this is so effective at confusing an attacker or intruder is because the brain will try and fill in the blanks between flashes. Due to your brain trying to fill in the blanks it takes longer to focus on anything and almost impossible to identify anyone. This means it will be difficult for someone on the receiving end of a 500 lumen disorienting strobe to know who is pointing the strobe at them, and even harder to aim or react to them. This gives the person behind the flashlight laser combination a superior and serious advantage.

Light Laser Combo Color Variations.

Buy Osprey Global has green and blue availabilities in the flashlight laser combos for AR platforms and green laser light combinations for pistols. The green laser will be seen quicker and clearer over the blue. This is an advantage being able to see and identify your point of impact quickly therefore getting you on target fast but it does come with some drawbacks. The major drawback is “follow-back”. This is where you can literally follow the laser back to its source, in this case the source is you holding your light laser combo and weapon. It gives away your position. Imagine a dark hall or room and you turn on a bright green laser. It becomes a beacon alerting everyone in the area where you are.

The blue on the other hand has much less “follow-Back” and is harder to decipher the origin position of its source. Nothing eliminates the follow back completely but it makes it less obvious. Blue is also ideal if you are on the red/green color blind spectrum making it easier to identify than a green laser.

After saying all this about follow back green is still a solid and favorite option here at buyospreyglobal for 2 very big reasons. It is easier to see for most people which increases speed to get on target. The second reason regarding follow back is very simple; You don't have to worry about your laser being allowed back to the source if you are already pulling the trigger.

Laser light combinations and The Real World

Drawbacks Of Laser Light Combinations:

Laser Follow Back

Follow back is one drawback of the laser light combo. The best way to solve this problem is to ensure you are practiced and able with your weapon and attachments. There are some automatic lasers on the market that turn on when picked up by a sensor or motion. The dangerous part of this style is that if you have not recently trained with it, it is easy to turn on accidentally. Turning on a light or laser accidentally is akin to honking your horn on a stakeout or tripping over pots and pans while trying to sneak around the house. Not only is it embarrassing but a stray, uncontrolled accidental green laser or tactical flashlight could be deadly; alerting the bad guy that a good guy is on the loose. So keep it as simple as possible and make sure you can control all aspects of your weapon.

Bad Shooting Technique

Shooting with only your laser can encourage bad shooting technique. The easiest way to counter this is to practice both with the laser on and with it off. If put in a situation where you cannot use a laser your technique should still be proficient without the laser. Do not make the laser a crutch for shooting technique.

Laser Combo Tech Issues

A flashlight laser combo can be useful but you do have to zero them correctly, make sure the batteries are fresh and functioning and gives you another thing to manipulate.

Light Laser Combinations Are Useless In Sunshine

Both lasers and tactical lights are useless in midday sun situations. This isn't really a drawback because you have the light laser combo purely for when the lights go out. Just be aware of the laser flashlight combo limitations.

Three Cons To Laser Light Combo:

1. CON-Can create poor shooting technique ( practice with and without the laser combo) 
2. CON- Gives away your location ( be aware and in control at all times) 
3. CON -Needs to be practiced with and kept in working order. ( use regularly)

Laser Flashlight Combinations And The Top Reasons To Get One

Lasers Used As A Compliance Tool

There are many benefits to having a laser and a light in one unit. The benefit of a laser light combo is that it can actually stop you from having to shoot someone. If there is someone coming up your driveway late at night, you put a laser on their chest, they will put their hands in the air and identify themselves. It could be your neighbour telling you you left your lights on or some other innocent situation. Think of a laser as a warning shot without wasting bullets. It shows you are armed and serious without firing a shot. You would be amazed at how eager people are to do as they are told with a green laser on their chest.

Be Accurate From Various Shooting Positions.

With a Flashlight laser combo you can be accurate with your weapon without having perfect technique. In a stressful situation you may be put into a shooting situation you are not familiar with; one hand using a phone, crouching behind a bench or object or other tactical position. A laser allows you to shoot one handed and from some very unorthodox positions.

Identify Your Target

With a tactical light incorporated into your weapon you can light up a dark situation and identify your target before pulling the trigger. This could prevent a tragedy and it keeps you, the shooter, in charge.

Disorientate Your Target

If it has gone past the point where someone deserves a second chance. Say they have already come uninvited into your home, and remember that no one breaks into your house to do you a favor, then you are most likely in “ search and destroy mode”. You are also more likely to be in a close quarter scenario. This situation calls for a light more than a laser. The light will blind and disorientate anyone on the receiving end but it will also identify them as a stranger. The laser is less important in this situation because you aren't so much aiming but simply unloading in a general direction. If you have 15 rounds and a tactical light, that should be more than enough for most in home self defense situations.

Seven Benefits To A Flashlight Laser Combo

1. PRO- Beginners Can Point And shoot Accurately with minimum training
2. PRO- Intimidate bad guys using the laser as a compliance tool.
3. PRO- Can use the laser as a warning shot. Could prevent the need to open fire.
4. PRO-Shoot from a variety of awkward shooting positions and around corners
5. PRO-Identify Your Target
6. PRO-Disorientate your target
7. PRO- Switch easily between light or laser or both for various situations.

Light Laser Combo : Summary

No matter what variation of a flashlight laser combination you are using they can come in very handy in a quick reaction situation. It could be a green laser on a rushing hog, a light for searching your home or you could utilise both in a full self defence scenario. The light can identify targets and disorientate them, the laser can intimidate someone into submission negating the need for lethal force. No one wants to shoot anyone but even worse would be shooting the wrong person. A flashlight laser combo can help identify someone in the wrong place at the wrong time and help control a situation before it turns tragic. Just make sure you are proficient with your weapon with and without your accessories. Don’t hang your safety plans on a single battery.

If you want to look into a study done on red dots and lasers on pistols we found this article by KR training very interesting for those that want to go into the weeds on this subject.  Red Dot Study: