A handheld flashlight gives you options that a weapon-mounted light cannot. It can be used to navigate, search, and identify what is present without pointing a firearm at everything the beam illuminates.
A practical handheld-light position
In this short demonstration, Matt Landfair shows a handheld-light technique that keeps illumination available while working with a handgun. The position provides a repeatable reference, but it should be understood as one option rather than a universal solution.
Handheld-light techniques change how the shooter manages the light, handgun, sights, movement, and surrounding surfaces. A position that works well in open space may create glare near a wall or interact poorly with an optic. The ability to recognize those limitations and move deliberately to another position matters more than loyalty to a named technique.
Practice the entire task
Practice should include accessing the light consistently, illuminating before presenting the handgun, maintaining muzzle and trigger-finger discipline, and returning safely to a handheld-light-only task when a firearm is no longer justified. Low-light competence comes from applying sound principles across changing conditions—not memorizing a single pose.
Related: Low-Light Operations Knowledge Hub
Source: Handheld Technique, Primary & Secondary Resurrection (July 25, 2026).