Your weapon-mounted light can be a true force multiplier when used correctly, but it can also work against you if it’s mishandled. In a low-light scenario, activating your light sends a clear signal to everything and everyone in the area: you’re here. That’s why understanding how to control and utilize your INFORCE light effectively is essential. In other words, it is good to illuminate only what you need to, when you need to, without compromising your position.
Whether it’s mounted on your home defense firearm or your go-to hunting rig, training with your weapon light ensures you’re prepared for any low-light situation. Here are some practical drills to help you get the most out of your INFORCE light.
Why Train with Your Weapon Light?
Low-light scenarios demand fast decision-making. Your INFORCE light, whether one of the WILD pistol lights or a WML mounted to your long arm, is designed for reliability and versatility. But to truly master its features, from momentary-on to strobe and IR modes, you need hands-on experience. These drills focus on building confidence in your light-handling skills, so you’re ready when it matters.
Drills to Build Proficiency:
- Target ID and Engagement
- Purpose: Distinguish threats quickly and act decisively.
- Setup: In a dark area, have a range partner arrange targets at various distances and angles, some marked as threats and others as non-threats.
- Execution: Use your INFORCE light to illuminate targets and assess their status before engaging. Switch between momentary and constant light modes to mimic real-world conditions.
- Key Focus: Speed and accuracy in identifying targets.
In the real world, low-light scenarios require you to make split-second decisions about whether someone is a threat or an innocent bystander. Properly identifying a target before engaging is critical to avoid tragic mistakes like shooting your loved ones or your dog. Training with drills that emphasize distinguishing threats ensures you don’t just pull the trigger whenever you see a shape come into your flashlight’s hot spot and instead teach you how to control yourself. The ability to quickly toggle between momentary and constant light modes mimics real-world encounters, helping you build the muscle memory necessary to illuminate only what you need to see while minimizing your exposure.
- Movement and Light Discipline
- Purpose: Train to minimize light spill while moving tactically.
- Setup: Create a course with cover points, simulating walls, furniture, or vehicles, or use your own house. Practice with an unloaded weapon.
- Execution: Move between cover, using your INFORCE light only as needed. Practice angling the beam while in cover to illuminate threats without exposing your position.
- Key Focus: Light control and situational awareness.
Angling your weapon-mounted light correctly is critical for controlling visibility and minimizing exposure. A good example is tilting the light slightly downward or toward the edge of cover to illuminate just enough of the target area without splashing light across open spaces, which could give away your position. Conversely, a bad example would be shining the light directly into a wide area without considering angles, which not only wastes battery but also exposes you unnecessarily to potential threats. Another common mistake is letting the beam reflect off walls or shiny surfaces, which can backlight your position and compromise your tactical advantage. Proper angling ensures you maintain focus on potential threats while staying as concealed as possible.
- Reloading in the Dark
- Purpose: Maintain control during a reload in low-light scenarios.
- Setup: In the dark, begin with an empty magazine and your light in use.
- Execution: Practice tactical reloads in the dark while holding your INFORCE light. If using a rifle, focus on reloading while maintaining target illumination.
- Key Focus: Smooth, efficient handling during transitions and muscle memory.
Reloading in darkness can be one of the most stressful moments in a defensive encounter, as it temporarily leaves you vulnerable. Training to reload smoothly while maintaining light control ensures you’re never completely in the dark—literally or figuratively. This drill helps build muscle memory and coordination, so you can transition seamlessly from an empty magazine back to a ready position. In real-world situations, whether defending your home or operating in the field, the ability to reload without fumbling can be the difference between safety and danger.
Training Best Practices
- Master the Basics: Start with simple drills and progress as your skills improve.
- Replicate Reality: Incorporate movement, stress, and realistic obstacles into your training sessions.
- Inspect Your Gear: Regularly check your INFORCE light for proper function and battery life.
- Integrate Into Routine: Practice light use in conjunction with other skills, such as drawing, aiming, and moving.
Why Choose INFORCE?
INFORCE lights are engineered for reliability in the toughest conditions. Whether it’s the WILD1 for compact power or the WML White/IR Gen 3 for tactical versatility, our lights deliver when it counts. But the best gear in the world is only as effective as the person using it. Training ensures you’re ready for anything, whether at home, on the hunt, or in the field.
Check out the full lineup of INFORCE weapon lights here and start training smarter today.