Like all good “craftsmen,” you should always be looking for good tools to add to your toolbox. That includes these introductory techniques and concepts for applying a rifle to a fight in altered light environments.
Most rifle fights take place inside what could be considered pistol ranges. You’ll probably be moving to cover, out of the line of fire or to get better target acquisition. Your threats may be moving for the same reasons. The fight probably won’t be what you want it to be. In fact, it could be dark, quick, ugly — did I mention dangerous?

Iron Sightsys
Most AR’s platforms currently come with a large and small aperture developed during the Vietnam era. During 18 months in country, I never saw one large aperture system mounted on a rifle.

The larger aperture is better because it allows a wider field of view and less obstruction downrange. But, it requires some work to be accurate at mid and longer ranges. The small aperture is more accurate in precision shooting and for longer ranges. The best way to use this type of sight is a proper butt placement to the shoulder and cheek weld. Then look at the sights superimposed over the threat and hit them. Only hits count.


Weapon-Mounted Lights
Although I could be accused of being a pessimist, I still stick with the concept that if it has batteries or a bulb, plan on it not working when you need it most. Moving ahead, I think if you need a flashlight for your job, you better have two. Based on your occupation, you may have to light up the threat with white light to confirm weapons and correctly identify possible suspects.

SureFire and Streamlight make the best mounted-light systems I’ve used. I have seen bulbs fail in both these systems. Then again, a light bulb in your house doesn’t last forever and neither do your automobile headlights. The issue is not if they don’t work but what will I do if they don’t work? Tools in the toolbox, remember.

Train for the rifle working but the not the flashlight and conversely, the flashlight working and not the rifle.
Weapon-mounted light systems are at the zenith of quality. Lots of folks keep adding to the market but the leaders mentioned above simply have a herd of folks following them and actual use experience.


Handheld Techniquesht
With practice and exposure, most current techniques considered handgun formats work for the rifle. Some techniques may require a slight modification based on the rifle or your upper body strength.


Crossed
Using the same technique as you would with a handgun, the crossed wrist technique contacts and supports the underside of the fore end on the rifle. The flashlight-hand elbow may be required to be slightly higher than with a handgun to help support the rifle’s weight. As with the handgun, this technique works great for everything except clearing hard right corners.

Uncrossed
Using this technique requires you to have pretty decent upper body and arm strength. You simply uncross the wrist from under the fore end of the rifle, then hold the flashlight parallel to the rifle barrel alongside the fore end.

More upper body strength is required because in reality, you’re holding the rifle with one hand. Some relief may be gained if the heel of your flashlight hand is placed under the fore end of the rifle. This is a quick fix for overexposure on right hand corners. As you approach in the crossed technique, simply uncross, minimizing your body and head as you clear a right corner. Once clear and around the corner, you can cross under the fore end and reacquire wrist contact and support for the front of the rifle.


Syringe/Syringe Supported
Upper body strength or rifle weight can impact this application too. This style requires a flashlight with a rear activation button, yet can be applied with the older style lights with pressure switches on the flashlight body. In both techniques, the strong hand and arm is holding the rifle while the opposite hand holds the light alongside the fore end of the rifle.

Magazine Well Press
This system provides a good combination of support for the rifle and the flashlight. The technique requires there either be no sling, or the sling be moved away from the underside of the rifle fore end. The strong hand holds the rifle and the flashlight is centered under the rifle with the opposite hand. Compressing the light against the front of the magazine well with pressure by the left hand activates the flashlight’s rear-mounted switch. This movement turns the light on for searching and the release of pressure turns it off. The opposite hand is helping to support the weight of the rifle.

These are some basic techniques you can add to your toolbox for personal defense with a rifle and light. Weapons lights are a very good concept and even better if they’re working when needed. The above alternate techniques may be of help should something go wrong — sometimes things do go wrong.

First published in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue of American COP.