Tacticool vs Practical

[LoadedDrum]

My 870P used to have a sidesaddle but it affects the way the gun handles too much. I tried one of those bolt on sections of rail that mount on the bottom of standard AR handguards along with a VFG but it added too much weight to a formerly sweet handling dissipator.

 

[CZ223]

If it works for you

then fine. Obviously all the toys and add ons out there were based on a percieved need by someone for some task. I can see the usefullness is just about all the add-ons out there but don't neccesarily feel compelled to buy them all. I personally feel that while an AR with an Eotech on top and a scope off to the side along with BUIS and a laser attached with vertical foregrip looks cool, "I" don't need it. If you feel that you do, great. What I am saying is this, If you feel the need to hang a light or laser or both off your shotgun, I will be the last to critisize you for it. Ask me if I feel the need to do the same, I will probaly tell you no. That is not critisizm, that is perspective.

 

[JWarren]

CZ223 wrote:

If it works for you

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

then fine. Obviously all the toys and add ons out there were based on a percieved need by someone for some task. I can see the usefullness is just about all the add-ons out there but don't neccesarily feel compelled to buy them all. I personally feel that while an AR with an Eotech on top and a scope off to the side along with BUIS and a laser attached with vertical foregrip looks cool, "I" don't need it. If you feel that you do, great. What I am saying is this, If you feel the need to hang a light or laser or both off your shotgun, I will be the last to critisize you for it. Ask me if I feel the need to do the same, I will probaly tell you no. That is not critisizm, that is perspective.

I love your attitude. That is the view I tend to adopt as well.



OPFlash wrote:

I fail to see the use for a laser on a weapon. If you have enough light to see the target it seems you would have enough light to use the sights, if only in silhouette. If you can't see the target you don't know what your laser is hitting anyway.

I agree with this assessment to a degree. Since I am one that has a laser on one rifle, I'll respond. When I've had to check on something, its been 90% of the time in not only poor light conditions but very DARK conditions. Your light only does so much no matter how you wish otherwise. In the example I used about those two persons stealing my father's boat, it was VERY dark and terrain made targeting very difficult as well. Aksing them to come back in better light conditions didn't seem to be an option.

In that situation, I could not even see my rifle, let alone its sights. Having the laser able to let me know the general direction of my point of aim WAS useful to me.

In addition, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, a laser dot on you has a tremendouse pshychological affect on people. Call it a deterence factor. Who knows... that little dot may well have prevented one of them from doing something stupid and my having to address a threat.

On a Close Quarter rifle that has specific uses and expectations, I think it is OK. I don't see much use in on on my scoped rifles however.


OPFlash wrote:

I also don't understand the usefulness of a front vertical grip on a carbine. It doesn't seem like it would enhance accuracy or rapid pointing at all to me.

I think someone in a gun mag about a year ago did an unscientific experiment that showed that vertical grips on rifles did affect accuracy-- negatively.

Still, again I mentioned that I had one on my Vector AK. I'll explain my reasoning.

As I've mentioned earlier, this isn't an "accuracy rifle." Its a Close Quarter, Defense rifle. I've tried mine without the vertical grip and with one. I DO find that it allows for better ability to "sweep" the rifle. I also feel it gives me a better grip on the forearm. But an underfolder AK is very different. If the stock is folded down-- which you are likely to have it in a close situation-- you are not just holding the forearm, but you are holding it around the folded stock. It makes your grip less comfortable and less secure.

Now, I have a decent set-up on my Vector. Because of the folding stock, I have to mount the vertical forearm a little forward of the forearm. This allows me the use of the normal forearm when the stock is extended-- or if I just want to use it. I can use the vertical, too. In addition, the vertical forearm in its position gives a wider span between my hands which "feels" better if I am using it.

I don't particularly like the look of the rifle, but I do feel it works in its role better as I have it set up.


At any rate, there it is.

-- John

 

[wally]

Rails on sub-compact handguns like the Kel-Tec PF-9 or Taurus PT-145 are when I think the tacticool crap has gone way too far.

On bigger guns I see little need for them, but whatever meets your real or imagined needs is OK with me.

--wally.

 

[Gunfixr]

I have a vertical foregrip on a couple of carbines. Before I put them on, I didn't think they served any purpose either, but after shooting a carbine with one on it, I was hooked. The hand and wrist feel much more natural to me than on a normal forearm, and it gives much more control to the front end. I will not, however, put them on my regular, bolt action acurate-type rifles, for I don't think it would help for those. For 50 or so yards, needing a quick line up, I think they are hard to beat. I also have a light on my Storm. It's set up for HD, and if I use it, I will have an instant on light without having to take one hand off the rifle. I have tried lasers, but just don't see any real use for them personally. A LEO friend, however, pointed out a real use for them on a handgun. If you are retreating from a threat, you can simply point the pistol behind you and look for the dot, as opposed to having to go backwards or try to aim over your shoulder. While the dot on the chest may be a grreat pacifier, I don't know how many BGs look at their chests while doing their deeds. If someone was looking over a weapon at me, I would be more intent on them than my own chest.

 

[mustanger98]

Well, I tried using one of those Eagle flash hiders with the H&K style front sight... Cabela's sells those and I got mine used. The problem was that I had to elevate the rear too high and it was kinda loose. I didn't like it too well and went back to the factory original front sight. I do use the brass catcher I bought at the same time, but that's not what I see being considered tacticool.

I've yet to mount a bayonet on any of my sporters or ranch rifles... that what my No.4Mk2 Enfield came with the spike bayonet. If I'd bought six or eight of those rifles when I could have, I'd have had a matching set of tent stakes. What else can us civilians use spike bayonets for.

The only sights I fool with are to mount aperture rear sights on rifles that previously didn't have one. A case in point would be my old Winchester .30-30 I bought used and it still had the old factory semi-buckhorn rear sight. That's the one I talk about that has the Lyman #2 tang sight. However, as a practical thing, I also have a Williams FP/TK mounted right now, because I plan on testing some cast lead loads for accuracy and I'll need the micrometer clicks. This is practical for me because I really don't want to have to change the elevation on the tang sight to test the loads and then have to put it back when deer season opens up in October. So for load testing, I'll use the FP/TK and leave the Lyman #2 folded down.

I have a Harris bipod. I bought it to have a steadier rest across the bench or across the hood of the truck with my Savage M11GL in .243Winchester. Thing is, shooting it across the bench, the recoil makes the rifle jump sideways and I have to re-adjust the position of the bipod's feet on the bench to get back on target. For a one shot kill, it's practical. As a substitute for sandbags on the bench, not so much.

 

[10-Ring]

I've made a few mods over the years just to be diff't...ie - added match trigger kit onto my USP 9; result: LOVE THAT GUN! Changed the pistol grips on my AR's to Ergo grips; result: I feel like I have more control & shoot them better.