After reviewing the new Taurus GX4XL, I received a press release that stated the availability of the Streamlight TLR-6 laser/light combo for this personal defense firearm. Sign me up! Since I am technically challenged, I wanted to see if it truly was an accessory that I could use.
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So, I requested that Taurus USA send me the TLR-6 (since you can order this combo from Taurus’ website). Ten minutes after opening the box, I had installed the gizmo onto the pistol’s trigger guard. I had to bore-sight the TLR-6’s laser, since I didn’t remember from my earlier testing at what distance the pistol’s iron sights were set. Then, it came time to do the nitty gritty work of checking the point of impact on the range.
The Streamlight TLR-6 is a weapons-mounted light that comes with or without a red laser; the one I received was the light/laser combination. The device’s manual lays out how to attach it to the front of the trigger guard. Of course, you must make doubly sure you don’t have any ammo in the gun, or even nearby, while doing this task. It’s as easy as checking your gun to make sure you don’t have any ammo in the chamber, and that the magazine is out of the gun.
Take the light/laser combo out of the box, and using the hex wrench provided, open the battery door, remove the batteries if they have been installed, and then unscrew the three small screws that hold the two sides of the system together. Pulling the sides apart reveals the inner workings and also, a slot for the front of the trigger guard. Solve the puzzle (put the trigger guard into the slot in one of the system’s halves), put the other half on and tighten the screws to clamp the TLR-6 in place below the pistol’s dust cover and in front of its trigger guard. Add the batteries, and check to make sure the light, laser or light/laser combo works.
The Streamlight comes with a bilateral push button so that you can work the device with either your left or right forefinger to press a button for the light only, laser only, or the combination.
The device comes with two CR-1/3N Lithium batteries (Go ahead, order more now if you’re going to invest in this accessory.)
Here are the specs for the Streamlight TLR-6:
Fortunately, I’m married to Dr. Gadget. It so happens he had a laser bore-sight handy for me to use, and between the two of us, we got this task done quickly, before I headed out to the range at dusk.
It’s simple enough to use this tool. Just attach the right barrel adapter for the gun’s caliber, insert it into muzzle end of the gun and turn it on. Point it in a safe direction (for firearms and laser-eye safety) at a non-reflective vertical surface the distance you want to sight-in. You’ll see a red laser dot on the surface. Then, turn on your TLR-6 laser and you’ll see a second red dot from it – hopefully, somewhere around the first red dot.
Use the hex wrench to adjust the elevation and/or windage of the second red dot so it covers the first red dot. This will give you an approximate bore sighting before you go to the range with live ammo.
The whole reason for this post is to stress the importance of figuring out how to use a light/laser combo with your gun. I already established (former review) that this personal defense gun, chambered in 9mm, is accurate and reliable, with nary a malfunction so far after hundreds of rounds of several types of ammunition.
So, if you want to enhance your low-light shooting, and especially if you feel that your eyesight needs a boost these days, you will want to add a laser/light combo. If you just add a laser, you’ll also need to learn how to work with a gun and a separate light. In this case, it’s all together.
I know that the naysayers think having a light on the muzzle end of a gun is bad juju, and that you are just asking for return fire to your lit source. Let’s emphasize the importance of knowing the target first – and in low light or in the dark, you’re going to need to shine a light on it. If you’re in a parking lot at dusk or dark, you may not have a bag, a holstered gun and that handy flashlight in hand. It’s just not practical, especially if you’ve been shopping and you’re pushing a cart.
This set-up however, makes sense. But, you must train with this set-up, and in order to train, you must make sure the point of impact is where your laser is appearing.
Sure, you just bore-sighted it, but you must check before you start carrying this gun as your self-defense with a laser/light combo. You can do this by setting a target downrange at the maximum yardage for how you’d use this gun, and for me, that’s about 7 yards.
I used a benchrest and a bag rest for the shooting. Of course, if I were to keep this pistol, I’d practice with it from its holster, as well.
After firing three shots, I could see that the point of impact lay below the big black dot on my paper plate. So, I unloaded the gun, made sure the GX4XL was clear and then, pointed it down range at my target. If you want the point of impact to go up, as I did, I needed to put the laser on the black dot (where I aimed before) and then, use that hex wrench and move the elevation down to where the bullets actually pierced the paper. This should, when you fire again, bring the laser in line with target and where you’re shooting.
Always shoot groups of at least five shots when sighting in a gun. I shot Fiocchi’s excellent Range Dynamics ammunition, in 115 grain full-metal jacket.
Learn more about the Taurus GX4XL.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
