Self-defense laser light lumens?

[kennylec]

Newbie to forum; pardon if this has been asked; I didn't see it in a search. Is there a minimum lumens you folks use for self-defense?

 

[GlassWolf]

I have a weapon mounted light that's 190 lumens if I recall, and a streamlight protac HL that's 600. Anything around 90+ lumens should be sufficient. around 200 is great. I also prefer a light with strobe, or better yet, intermittant strobe. It's blinding to the person on the other end of it.

 

[kennylec]

GlassWolf: Pardon the delay; that was very helpful. Thank you.

 

[farsidefan1]

I got a set of 3 from costco that have 500 lumens. In trying them out I found out that 500 is PLENTY.

 

[CR Williams]

Glasswolf, some FOF work with strobes have indicated that it could be as distracting to the defender as to the attacker. I was not part of the work, just read the write-up about it. And it was a while back. You might want to do some experimentation if you can to see how it works for you.

 

[BigSlick]

Glasswolf, some FOF work with strobes have indicated that it could be as distracting to the defender as to the attacker. I was not part of the work, just read the write-up about it. And it was a while back. You might want to do some experimentation if you can to see how it works for you.

I am glad someone else pointed that out. Did not know about the experiment but I arrived at the same conclusion. They are very distracting for me to use so I prefer the steady bright as hell light on a pressure pad so it can be turned on and off when needed.

 

[GlassWolf]

Glasswolf, some FOF work with strobes have indicated that it could be as distracting to the defender as to the attacker. I was not part of the work, just read the write-up about it. And it was a while back. You might want to do some experimentation if you can to see how it works for you.

I've worked in armed security and exec protection for over 20 years. I use a strobe light almost nightly. As long as you're behind the light, it really isn't distracting (at least to me) at all. I get a fantastic sight picture with a firearm using a strobe, and since mine are typically weapon mounted, I don't have to worry about dropping the light, or having it flip up in my face.
If you haven't used one extensively yourself (anyone) the best example I can offer to you without doing it first hand, is to go to youtube, and look at videos wherein the cameraman is being hit with the srobe as if he was the BG, then look at videos where they are comparing strobed tac lights, with the camera behind the light, shining it at a wall, or field, etc.. you'll see a huge difference in the effect.

 

[CR Williams]

Does that change significantly when you or the other or both of you are moving? The sight picture, that is? The write-up indicated the most variance when the engagement was of a dynamic nature.

 

[GlassWolf]

Honestly, every situation is different. I've chased a BG down a dark ally, while he was returning fire, both of us running and shooting. In situations like that, I use the light in short bursts to get a sight picture, but to avoid having the light on full time as to draw fire in my direction. If I can use a momentary switch in combination with a strobe, all the better. The truth is there is no one right answer for every situation.. it depends on how well yo know the environment, how much the strobe may or may not affect your ability to poerate and see clearly versus how much of a benefit it may or may not be to you as a force multiplier against an adversary, how dark it is where you are, if the light is your only source of illumination in the area, and so on.. do you hve backup or are you alone? Id he alone or does he have friends with guns too? Things like that. You really just have to decide in the moment what you hope will play to your best advantage.