For non tactical use, I prefer no switch anywhere, just a rotary ring.
if I Must have a button, I like it on the tail.
“Cop Grip” aka “Ice Pick” grip, is a Tactical hold, intended to be used for bezel strikes in CQC… with lights that have “tactical” bezels, aka DNA samplers…
when combining a flashlight with a pistol… the light should have a Tactical Tail Switch (raised button), so it can be used in a modified cigar grip… pressing the button against the knuckles of the pistol hand:
here are a few more Tactical Flashlight grips to support a pistol. They all rely on a tailswitch, and an ice pick grip.
in the past, maglites were used in an icepick grip, thumb on the switch… This made the body of the maglite into a striking baton. Now flashlights are too short to use as a baton, but the same ice pick grip works for bezel strikes.
For non tactical use with a tailswitch, I often use my index finger, instead of my thumb. And then I dont require a raised button.
For sideswitch lights hold them switch up with your palm gripping the body tube and your thumb on the button. The head of the light faces forward near the top of your hand. Like you see in pretty much every picture of someone holding a sideswitch light. This gives a secure grip with instant access to the controls with your thumb.
Sure the optimum way to hold a sideswitch light is not a “tactical” grip, but sideswitch lights aren’t “tactical” anyways.
If you want to hold your light head-down in a tactical grip, you’re better off just using a light with a tail switch.
I surmise he’s referring to holding it head high or higher which then makes a side switch awkward to operate with the thumb on top. Rotating the flash 1/4 turn to the left assuming right-handed allows the thumb to easily operate it from the side and as mentioned above rotating again puts the thumb directly under the switch. How a rear switch then somehow comes into play with a pinky IDK.
All this notwithstanding even if ya held the flash just as the manufacturer intended (switch pointing up) and way over your head then your index finger would naturally replace the thumb and the thumb would support it from underneath instead.
copcarry with side switch: pinky on switch (awkward)
and vice versa
“Why would a cop put his thumb behind a tail cap when there isn’t a switch there to begin with?”
—maybe to hold it better in case he had to bean a Bad Guy with the light (ie not for the switch)
Seems I intended to post a second reply but didn’t get around to it, or the data vampires ate it mid-send. Oh well.
Using the pinky to press the switch is not very smart. The pinky is made for scratching ears, flagging good tea and pressing Ctrl on the keyboard, not for applying force Try using your ring finger next time, it’s much easier.
I am right handed, but being ambidextrous I hold with my left and us my second finger to run the switch. I find that my left hand has better dexterity for rapid clicks on most switches. I also carry on my left side as knives are clipped into my right change pocket or normal pocket. Tailswitch lights are also easier to operate with my left hand. Once on, I tend to wrap the whole hand around the light, either left or right. I think this explains my love of larger tube lights 21700 and 26650 format.
Try using your ring finger next time, it’s much easier.
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. If I ever get crippled things may change…then I’ll come back to this thread for some inspiration.
Any other way is improper.