What makes a gun "tactical"?

[GSPV]

Or anything else for that matter? Without using the word "tactics" how do you define something as "tactical"?

From observation at the range, "tactical" means "looks military". I can't get over the guys that come to the range in BDU pants, Corcoran jump boots and a black T shirt.

 

[jscandale]

Or anything else for that matter? Without using the word "tactics" how do you define something as "tactical"?

From observation at the range, "tactical" means "looks military". I can't get over the guys that come to the range in BDU pants, Corcoran jump boots and a black T shirt.

You should see when a father brings his 12 yo son to a "tactical" match, both dressed in full battle dress and LBE. Yeah....it happened at my club. The poor kid could hardly move.

JS

 

[GSPV]

Seriously? Full battle rattle. Somebody needs to put away his GI Joe toys.

 

[NateHaler]

Tactical to me, comes to mind when I see a rifle in tough, rough finished stock, significant vertical where the hand goes, a bipod, dull finish or parkerized barrel and action, muzzle brake on a heavy barrel, protruding magazine, angular scope rings, picatinny rail, scope with larger windage and elevation knobs, scope flip-up covers, and sling studs.

Maybe read 'Marine Sniper', the book about Carlos Hathcock. Nobody was more "tactical" than he; his rifle looked like and was basically a heavy barreled deer rifle.

Tactical = bull feces

Few things in shooting look sillier dragging a bunch of bull feces gear to a so-called "tactical" match and then getting humbled by the shooter with a deer rifle setup that costs 1/3 of the other stuff, let alone the outfits, camo painted pickup truck, and write-in-the-rain notebook that some guys schlep to the match. That's their prerogative, and it's mine to roll my eyes. :

 

[BigDMT]

Maybe read 'Marine Sniper', the book about Carlos Hathcock. Nobody was more "tactical" than he; his rifle looked like and was basically a heavy barreled deer rifle.

Thats exactly what it was, just a plain jane Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 with a 8X Unertl scope. Unless you consider the 50 cal Browning machine gun he used to make the longest recorded kill shot of about 2500 yards that held until the recent war in Afghanistan.

So I suppose anybody with a Winny M70 deer rifle has a tactical weapon in their hands ;D

 

[GSPV]

OTOH, I think if the Gunny were still with us, he'd be the first to point out the shortcomings of the gear that he used.

Also, just to be nit-noid, he used an M-40, basically just a renamed 40-X in 308 with a Redfield scope, on his second tour, not the 30-06 deer rifle of his first tour.

 

[rogn]

As an aside but still germane, a few years ago an article by Mike Venturino in one of the shooting rags, mentioned his being invited to attend a "tactical" training session. The instructor requested he bring one of his lever guns. He was/is probably best known for BPCS, and cast bullet articles. His preparation for the session with his 44-40 was greeted by quiet snickers and eye rolls from the black dress toting the finest in black firearms. After the first days session the instructor remarked, " I hope you all noticed that Mr Venturino's targets have all the bullet holes in the middle". Is it necessary to say more?