Carry a Flashlight?

15 Sept 08

Don't think you need to carry a flashlight? This from a student who attended an Urban Rifle/Shotgun Course with us last weekend, when the remnants of Hurricane Ike knocked out power to most in eastern OH. He is an LEO with a suburban Columbus, OH PD:

"Glad we all survived the 'Great Ohio Windstorm of 2008!'

When I arrived home after the Course, I was tired, dirty and hungry. Our power was out due to the storm, as was the case in most of the metro area. I decided to go out to eat. After showering by lamplight, I dressed, strapped on my G19, spare magazine, and a Surefire E2E.

I found a Damon's Rib Joint that still had power. The place, as expected, was jammed, but I found a seat at the bar, in a corner. I inhaled my dinner and was relaxing afterward, for the first time that day, and the power in the restaurant suddenly went out! As is the case with most franchises, the restaurant had no windows, so it was instantly pitch-black inside. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face! Two 'emergency-lights' kicked on (I'm sure the minimum required by law), but they were useless, providing a level of light so low as to be irrelevant.

Restaurant patrons panicked immediately! Many began screaming and scurrying about aimlessly, like the rats leaving the sinking ship. I stayed in my seat, watched the panic develop, and lit up my Surefire. I then flashed my tin at the bartender and assured her that I would stay until the crowd left. She breathed a sigh of relief, collected what cash was left on the bar, and was grateful for the light and company.

Nothing bad happened. Everyone eventually got out the door. I was the last to leave.

I was the only person there with any kind of flashlight! Even the bartender didn't have one. In fact, several people even asked me if I was apolice officer. I assured them that it is perfectly legal, even for non-police, to carry flashlights!"

Comment: Being suddenly, unexpectedly plunged into darkness is an eventuality that, once it happens, will never be forgotten! Only the foolishly unprepared walk around without a flashlight!

/John

EOTechs and polarizing sunglasses!

15 Sept 08

EOTech issue w/polarized sunglasses!

A student at an Urban Rifle/Shotgun Course in OH last weekend came to us with an EOTech-equipped M4. He and the rifle performed satisfactorily until we started movement/cover exercises, where he was compelled to move quickly into awkward shooting positions and engage targets at various ranges.

I suddenly heard him say, "My sight has gone blank!" Not knowing what he meant, but thinking the batteries may have gone dead, I looked over his rifle and through the EOTech. The reticle appeared regular, and brightness adjustments worked normally. I handed the rifle back to him, and, once more, he reported that he could not see a thing through the optic!

Now completely mystified, I again looked through the EOTech, and, again, everything appeared to be functioning normally. The red circle and dot were superimposed on the downrange area as I would expect to see.

After several frustrating moments, we finally figured it out!

My student was wearing polarizing sunglasses. The rear lens on the EOTech is plane-polarized, necessary for the holographic aspect to work. When my student viewed his EOTech with his head upright, everything worked normally. But, when he turned his head while acquiring an awkward position, his glasses rotated enough to conflict with the polarization of the EOTech. The result was no light coming through the optic, and the shooter thus looking at a blank screen!

The lesson here is that plane-polarized optics do not work well in combination with polarizing sunglasses.

I'm surprised we haven't seen this phenomenon before now, but the effect was stark indeed in this case. When my student changed over to clear glasses, the problem disappeared.

Something to be aware of!

/John