Why not tactical?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I am getting tired of the word tactical myself. Everything is tactical anymore. I get up in the morning and put on my tactical jeans, tactical T-shirt, tactical watch, and tactical socks and tactical western boots. Then I put on my traditional snubnose revolver and go out to my tactical scooter to go visit my my tactical friends.
 
Last edited:
Well, you got tactical and tacticool, and then you also have folks sitting at computers making the calls on who and what qualifies as which --and that is just as bad.

If you've never kicked in a door or cleared a room and don't know what that rail or flashlight is for, then it probably wasn't meant for you no matter what you call it. As for me, I can nail a target just fine with an M4 and iron sights out to 600m --or with an ACOG, PEQ2A, Surefire light, and Harris bipod on an army issue KAC rail system and burst trigger, which is my preferred setup but with a 2 stage trigger instead. In fact, I'd feel a little naked with anything less. Much the way an old timer feels about his issue M14 or Garand.

You may like those blued and polished revolvers, they sure look pretty, but you'd feel pretty stupid with one in the sandbox. Likewise, I'd feel kind of stupid deer hunting with my M4. Different tools for different jobs, different strokes for different folks.

So stop worrying about what I'm doing and keep your eyes downrange. I could care less what you think about my gear anyway, I get what works for me, and tactical is just a state of mind as I taught it. You act tactical, you can't buy it, but I guess you can sell it, so go figure...
 
I can nail a target just fine with an M4 and iron sights out to 600m --or with an ACOG, PEQ2A, Surefire light, and Harris bipod on an army issue KAC rail system and burst trigger, which is my preferred setup but with a 2 stage trigger instead.
Click to expand...

Now that really sounds tactical...I think. :scrutiny:
 
Tactical has become to mean nothing more than something black, plastic and having it's price raised to make it seem better than it's non-black equivalent. Rails and the like don't make it "tactical", they make it a clothesline.
 
I'll be tactical when I darn well feel like!
WW2 was won with bolt action rifles and weapons furnished in wood. There is nothing tactical or cool about a Mosin-Nagant but it beat the Nazis in over 9000 ways to May 2'nd.
I don't teach my friends to rely upon gear or accessories to be tactical. I have told them: "You can be the most tactical, elite operative in nothing but your boxers and a scarf."
Tacticool is ugly and expensive, not to mention rather unweildy. I used to have an SVT-40 that was 4 feet long and weighed 9 pounds yet I would use it for dynamic shooting. It handled better than a dolled up AR and way 42 times more beautiful.
 
When I think "tactical" as applied to a rifle, I think synthetic stock, flash hider, and multiple optics mounts. The antithesis of a tactical rifle: wood stock, scope, and no irons.

When the word "tactical" is applied to a pistol, the only thing I think of is a Walther P22 with faux silencer and red dot.

If "tactical" has a real meaning, in the context of firearms, I'd say it describes features that are useful when your target might be shooting back. A flash hider is the quintessential tactical feature.
 
I never feel a need to trash someone else's choices in women, motorcycles, birddogs or firearms. Nice thing about living in America is the freedom of choice. If their choice is different than mine....so be it. I own no real ''Tactical" firearms altho my 1911 at one time may have been considered a tactical weapon of the era. But I have no hatred of them or their owners, nor do I fell the need to belittle them to bolster my own self esteem. A gun owner is just that, a gun owner regardless of the type of gun they own. Owning a EBR does not automatically make one a mall ninja, no more than owning a Colt revolver automatically makes one Marshall Dillon. Trash the personality and/or the intent of the owner....not the firearm.
 
Tactical has come to mean any shape, color, material that does not sit well with the poster reguardless of its utility and capability in the hands of its owner.
Yes we all know some mall ninja types and they grate me as well but to simply speak in generalities because some can see more utility in a gunlight, backup sights or camo paint job is than others is BC.
 
I never feel a need to trash someone else's choices in women, motorcycles, birddogs or firearms.
Click to expand...

that is very nice of you and I applaud the sentiment. ;)

of course if you met a Harley riding, Judge carrying, shrew marrying, poodle owner you might have to reevaluate. :what:

It is very disappointing that the gun doesn't make the man. I was hoping the Colt revolver would make me Marshall Kane. (Not that Marshall Dillon was a bad guy) :banghead:
 
I knew a young man that bought a Remington 700 30.06. He decked it all out with Flash light,tripod, a scope that was long enough to be used as a drive shaft on my f250.
Make a long story short. He went sheep hunting. After humping all that up the side of a mountain. He admitted the most important tool he had with him was his leatherman. He used it to remove all that extra junk and lighten up the rifle.
 
tac·ti·cal   /ˈtæktɪkəl/ [tak-ti-kuhl]
adjective
1. of or pertaining to tactics, especially military or naval tactics.
2. characterized by skillful tactics or adroit maneuvering or procedure: tactical movements.
3. of or pertaining to a maneuver or plan of action designed as an expedient toward gaining a desired end or temporary advantage.
4. expedient; calculated.
5. prudent; politic.
6. of, relating to, or employing tactics: a tactical error
7. (of weapons, attacks, etc) used in or supporting limited military operations: a tactical missile ; tactical bombing
8. skilful or diplomatic: a tactical manoeuvre
 
A tactical handgun is totally useless unless you have tactical shoes

http://tacboots.com/
http://www.galls.com/uniformstyle?a...key_id=22440557&promo=Yes&sourcecode=11950050

Tactical socks

http://www.tacticalgear4less.com/search.aspx?find=socks&gclid=CI2Zyb7GtqsCFc_D7QodMGMcug

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370497844718&hlp=false

Tactical Underwear

http://www.toughweld.com/tactical/underwear?gclid=CPOEzuzGtqsCFQi87QodC2Apzg

http://www.medalist.com/tactical_underwear.php

Tactical Wallet

http://www.amazon.com/Riot-Threads-Advanced-Tactical-Wallet/dp/B002RXMK1U

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/911-Collection/911-Collection-Simple-Wallet.html

Tactical shirts

http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=_Sd-TrmpFOSEsgLWwfRF&ved=0CIcBEPMCMAE#

http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Warrior-Wear-Tactical-Shirt-Short-Sleeve,1412,78.htm

Tactical Pants

http://tacticalpants.com/

Tactical Hats

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/tacticaltailoroperatorcap.aspx

Tactical Pens

http://www.tuffwriter.com/

Tactical Watches

http://www.specialopswatch.com/?gclid=CJ2po4nJtqsCFREX2godFzpjcA

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Accessories/Watches/Field-Ops-Watch-New-Design.html

Tactical Belt

http://www.blackhawk.com/catalog/Belts,30.htm

http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinnacle/


Tactical Bicycles

http://www.militarybikes.com/

http://www.galls.com/uniformstyle?assort=general_catalog&cat=&style=LE910

Tactical Lunchbox

http://coolstuff4u.amazonwebstore.c...src=froogle&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=froogle

Tactical ............................................
 
Tactical is a mindset, not a tool set. Labeling an item as tactical is just a marketing ploy.
 
If it wasn't for gun forums and people posting (in threads like this) on the internet then you would almost never even have this debate/complains/whatever about things being (or not being) too tactical. I think most of you are thinking into it too much.

The main reason people shoot guns at the range or in competitions is for fun. What is fun for someone may not be fun for someone else. So I am not going to hate on one way or another just because I think it is silly.
 
Actually in all seriousness, I think I'm gonna swim upstream on this topic.

If tactical is a mindset, and has nothing to do with tools, what is the term for firearms specifically made/designed/upgraded for combat use?

We can make a gun designed for the military into a gun to be used for hunting or targets by civilians by sporterizing it.

So what about the other way around? Surely, suppressors, collapsible stocks, red-dot sights, etc, have specific purposes. Namely, for use in combat with other people. So what are we doing to a weapon when we put these things on one?

Tactics are "procedures for gaining advantage." Therefore, it's possible to do something tactically. And if you can do something in a "tactical" way, then you can do something tactical to an object. In other words, modifying an object via procedures for gaining advantage. Or, if you prefer, "tacticalized." Of course... nobody prefers that.
 
We can make a gun designed for the military into a gun to be used for hunting or targets by civilians by sporterizing it.
Click to expand...

Most of the "sporting" arms today are more or less exactly the same as military arms. I'm thinking about M1 Garands, M1a's, M1911's, Mosin-Nagants, Glocks.

So what about the other way around? Surely, suppressors, collapsible stocks, red-dot sights, etc, have specific purposes. Namely, for use in combat with other people. So what are we doing to a weapon when we put these things on one?
Click to expand...

We are modifying the functionality of the weapon. It can still be used in the same fundamental manners, but the result is that it is more specialized for certain things. A "tactical" accessory can be use for things other than fighting. A suppressor can make a noisy weapon softer on the ears. A collapsible stock can be used for bringing the sight picture closer to a user's eye. A red dot sight can be used because the user dislikes the weapon's iron sights.
 
Actually in all seriousness, I think I'm gonna swim upstream on this topic.

If tactical is a mindset, and has nothing to do with tools, what is the term for firearms specifically made/designed/upgraded for combat use?

We can make a gun designed for the military into a gun to be used for hunting or targets by civilians by sporterizing it.

So what about the other way around? Surely, suppressors, collapsible stocks, red-dot sights, etc, have specific purposes. Namely, for use in combat with other people. So what are we doing to a weapon when we put these things on one?

Tactics are "procedures for gaining advantage." Therefore, it's possible to do something tactically. And if you can do something in a "tactical" way, then you can do something tactical to an object. In other words, modifying an object via procedures for gaining advantage. Or, if you prefer, "tacticalized." Of course... nobody prefers that.
Click to expand...

Pretty much all guns that you do that to are already meant for that use, you are just adding on to it what you think would enhance it's functionality. Unless you take a Mosin Nagant and add a foregrip and a AR 15 buttstock, then thats just bubba'ing it.
 
Guillermo said:
It is very disappointing that the gun doesn't make the man. I was hoping the Colt revolver would make me Marshall Kane.
Click to expand...


Sorry it was me that had to break the news to ya. But then, Marshall Kane was probably unpretentious, not a trait you can really identify with.;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
The Tactical Hat
Replies
8
Views
1K
Robert
Robert
C
  • Locked
Tactinerds of the world, unite!
Replies
10
Views
762
thumper723
T
A
  • Locked
Anyone else going through a weird anti-tactical phase?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
149
Views
9K
brassdog
B
DustyGmt
  • Locked
Are there any decent shooting dvd's........?
Replies
3
Views
293
DustyGmt
DustyGmt
H
  • Locked
Tactical Schmactical
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
Carbon_15
C
Back
Top