When people first start building a home defense setup, they usually ask the same question: Do I need a handheld flashlight and a separate weapon light? Traditionally, the answer has been yes. A handheld light is critical for searching, navigating, and handling situations where you don’t have or don’t want a firearm in your hand. A weapon light is just as critical when a firearm is in your hand—it lets you identify and control what’s in front of your muzzle.
The INFORCE ARC changes that conversation with its modular design. Instead of buying, training with, and maintaining two completely different lights, you can use one. The ARC works as a compact handheld light, and when mounted to a rifle or shotgun, it locks into place as a durable, high-output weapon light.
Now, let’s be realistic: you’re not going to switch the ARC from handheld to weapon-mounted mode in the middle of a burglary. That’s not the point. The advantage comes in training and preparation. At the range, you can practice with the same light you’ll use at home. If you already run a Scout-footprint light on your rifle, the ARC’s modularity allows you to swap the flashlight head onto your existing rifle body for practice, then screw it back onto the ARC’s handheld body for everyday carry, pistol classes, or non-firearm use around the house.
This means fewer purchases, less clutter in your gear bag, and more consistency across your training. When the light you carry every day is the same light you train with on your rifle, you build habits and confidence that carry over when it matters most.
Instant Identification Saves Lives
Every gun owner has imagined the nightmare scenario: you hear movement in the dark, grab your rifle, and blast the first shape that crosses your hallway. Then the light clicks on, and it isn’t an intruder at all—it’s your dog nosing around for scraps, or worse, your 13-year-old daughter’s best friend who’s at your house on a sleepover sneaking into the kitchen for a midnight snack. That’s a tragedy that no amount of courtroom defense or mental justifications will undo.
While repeated training can help avoid that outcome, there’s a simple principle that reduces the risk: don’t point your muzzle at what you haven’t identified. That’s where handheld lights come in. By carrying the INFORCE ARC in your hand during an initial search, you can positively identify what you’re looking at before ever putting a sight picture on it. Your light beam and your muzzle don’t have to be locked together—an approach that keeps everyone in your house safer.
And boy, what a light beam it is. The ARC puts out a staggering 1,400 lumens and 90,000 candelas of focused power. That’s more than just a glow to see your way through the living room—it’s enough to flood an entire room with light and give you certainty about what’s in front of you. There’s no guessing, no “maybe that’s a person, maybe it’s a pile of laundry.” You’ll know.
If what you’re illuminating turns out to be a legitimate threat, the ARC’s intensity works in your favor. With that much concentrated output, anyone on the receiving end is most likely going to be flash-blinded and disoriented, giving you a critical advantage in the seconds that follow. Identification and control all in one tool—that’s the essence of good home defense.
Built to Survive Stress
Home defense gear doesn’t live a pampered life. It gets tossed into drawers, glove compartments, safes, and gear bags. It might sit unused for months, then be called on in a moment of chaos. That’s why durability matters more than flashy specs on paper.
The INFORCE ARC is built for abuse. It’s waterproof, drop-resistant, and fully recoil-rated—which means you can slam it onto a rifle, shoot hundreds of rounds in practice, and it’ll keep shining. You don’t have to baby it, worry about a little moisture, or handle it like a fragile piece of electronics. This is a light designed for people who expect their tools to work after being shoved into a nightstand or dropped on concrete.
When the moment comes, you don’t want to wonder if your flashlight is still alive. With the ARC, you don’t have to.
Simple Controls Under Pressure
In a crisis, adrenaline spikes. Fine motor skills go out the window. That’s not theory—it’s reality, and anyone who’s trained for self-defense has felt it. The last thing you need when your heart’s pounding is a flashlight that forces you to fumble with tiny switches or confusing settings.
The ARC’s control design is deliberately simple. In handheld form, it’s ergonomic and intuitive—easy to click on, easy to control, no gimmicks. When mounted to a rifle or shotgun, it integrates seamlessly with pressure switch options, letting you activate light instantly without shifting your grip. No menus, no double-tap gymnastics, no mistakes.
That means whether you’re carrying it in your hand to check a noise or running it mounted during training at the range, the ARC’s controls work the same way: reliably, instantly, and under stress.
Training and Peace of Mind
The best gear isn’t just something you buy—it’s something you can train with. The INFORCE ARC was designed with both handheld and weapon-mounted techniques in mind.
In handheld mode, it supports common low-light shooting methods like the Harries and Rogers techniques, so you can build real-world skills instead of improvising. In mounted mode, it’s a reliable light for close-quarters training (CQB), letting you practice the same way you’d defend your home. That consistency matters.
At the end of the day, a flashlight isn’t just aluminum and glass. It’s peace of mind. The ARC gives you confidence that when the lights go out, you’ll have clarity. That you’ll identify threats instead of guessing. That your light will work when you hit the switch, not flicker or die. In short, the ARC is one less thing to second-guess in the middle of the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a handheld flashlight and a separate weapon light?
Traditionally yes: a handheld light is best for searching and identifying without a firearm, and a weapon light is for when a firearm is in your hands. The INFORCE ARC lets you consolidate both roles into one modular system for training and everyday carry while still supporting the practice of identifying first and only bringing a firearm to bear when appropriate.
How does the ARC’s modular design work?
The ARC functions as a compact handheld light but also has a removable head that locks into a weapon mount. If you already run a Scout-footprint light on your rifle, the ARC’s head can swap onto your existing rifle body for practice and then screw back onto the handheld body for everyday use.
Can I switch the ARC from handheld to weapon-mounted during a home intrusion?
No — you’re not likely to swap configurations in the middle of an incident. The real advantage is consistency in training and preparation: you use the same light for range work and everyday carry so your muscle memory and habits transfer when it matters.
Will the ARC’s beam help me identify targets?
Yes. The ARC produces 1,400 lumens and about 90,000 candelas, which is enough to flood a room for positive identification. That intensity also tends to flash-blind or disorient an aggressor, giving you seconds of control after identification.
Is the ARC durable enough for home defense and regular training?
Yes. The ARC is built to be waterproof, drop-resistant, and fully recoil-rated, so it tolerates being tossed in a drawer, carried daily, and mounted on a rifle for live-fire practice.
Are the ARC controls easy to use under stress?
Yes. The handheld body is ergonomic and simple to operate; when mounted it integrates with pressure-switch options so you can activate the light instantly without fumbling through menus or complicated taps.
How does training with the ARC improve safety and performance?
Training with the same light you carry creates consistent habits that carry into high-stress moments. The ARC supports common low-light methods (Harries and Rogers techniques) and close-quarters training, so you develop reliable identification, weapon-handling, and light-management skills.