Other thoughts on "tactical" vs traditional rifle

[Sleestak]

“Tactical”….grrrrrrrrrr! Make me king for a day and I’d have that word stricken from the English language.

View attachment 578418

Given the above definition, what on God’s great, green earth could be “tactical” about an air rifle, or, for that matter, 90% of all products labeled tactical (think tactical socks, tactical underwear, etc)? Anybody here going to be clearing buildings or trenches with a tactical airgun? To be fair though, one could probably clear buildings and trenches with a suitably soiled pair of tactical underwear…

The vast majority of products with “tactical” in their title are anything but, and are nothing more than a marketing ploy making use of a word that sounds kinda cool.

If you like the tactical look, rock on, brother! But in my humble…ahem…opinion, the usefulness of guns/rifles that are truly tactical, or designed to look tactical, doesn’t carry over well to other applications such as hunting or shooting from the bench.

And don’t even get me started on the word “operator”…

Rant over.

Justin

Ugh, tell me about it... for example the endless Bearskin Tactical Hoodie commercials on YT. Between the repetition and it being touted as a "tactical hoodie" it's probably one of the most annoying commercials going. What's next? Tactical kilts?

It could be the best product in the world but I'll never buy it now out of spite and will just have to settle for "traditional hoodies"

 

[kwaping]

I really want to like the tactical but just cant seem to embrace it. But I also prefer to hunt without scopes. I like the fact that my Dragon Claw has open sights and just cant get used to hunting with a scope. Despite being in my 60s and needing glasses to read (or see this screen) My distance vision is better than ever.

Ah, the no-scope bit is telling. You just like the more raw, traditional experience. No shame in that, but also no shame in not wanting that.

This makes me think of archery. I shoot with a recurve bow, no sights. It's weak and I'm not that accurate, but I like the raw experience of it. My son, on the other hand, really enjoys his compound bow, with stabilizer and multi-pin sight. He's way more accurate and effective with it, and that's great for him.

This is why there are so many different models of airgun, and bows, and cars, and ... etc.

 

[Sleestak]

"tactical"​

I really despise this look . Reminds me of the Armed Forces , and the Karen's think your carrying a "AR" killing machine . I would bet if you set up a table in a Mall with 10 tactical guns on it AND 9 of them were Air guns , 99 percent of the people would say they are ALL AR15's military guns designed to kill .

Yes i know the tactical stock is designed to be rugged , easily exchange parts of a real "AR " and have a working gun again in the battle field .
Reminds me of when i was a kid and wanted a real looking 6 shooter cowboy gun and Daisy complied .

The only beef I really have is that they go so far out of their way to make a gun look tactical that it no longer has anything to do w actual function. And as durability goes there is nothing rugged about air guns...especially in comparison to the real thing. So yeah, it's often down to just looks.

Anyone who's actually humped a M16 around for any length of time will probably opt out of the tactical look. Just sayin

 

[Oakland FL Airgunner]

I like both. For a hunting gun I prefer a traditionally styled rifle. They are more comfortable to carry and point. For target shooting I prefer a gun with a vertical pistol grip. Especially when shooting prone or from a bench.

When FX came out with the DRS tactical there seemed to be a few people who were against the AR15ish style to it. And they didn’t just think it was ugly. They almost seemed to be offended by it. I don’t understand why.

I think this is a good point. I don't do target shooting. Just hunting. For hunting i always grab my wood stocks.

 

[Oakland FL Airgunner]

Ah, the no-scope bit is telling. You just like the more raw, traditional experience. No shame in that, but also no shame in not wanting that.

This makes me think of archery. I shoot with a recurve bow, no sights. It's weak and I'm not that accurate, but I like the raw experience of it. My son, on the other hand, really enjoys his compound bow, with stabilizer and multi-pin sight. He's way more accurate and effective with it, and that's great for him.

This is why there are so many different models of airgun, and bows, and cars, and ... etc.

Sounds familiar my son has my old 308 Ruger that he put a scope on and he can now drive nails at 100 yards. I like the experience and risk of knowing that the shot depends completely on me

 

[L.Leon]

The only beef I really have is that they go so far out of their way to make a gun look tactical that it no longer has anything to do w actual function. And as durability goes there is nothing rugged about air guns...especially in comparison to the real thing. So yeah, it's often down to just looks.

Anyone who's actually humped a M16 around for any length of time will probably opt out of the tactical look. Just sayin

Those who “humped” any AR or M anything are precisely those who might/may appreciate the attributes of a tactical rig… There’s a reason the Garand went the way of the Dodo. Tactical can be very practical for many folks. The ergos fit a wide variety of body types. Not an “end all, be all” but certainly a very important feature of tactical arms…

 

[Sleestak]

Those who “humped” any AR or M anything are precisely those who might/may appreciate the attributes of a tactical rig… There’s a reason the Garand went the way of the Dodo. Tactical can be very practical for many folks. The ergos fit a wide variety of body types. Not an “end all, be all” but certainly a very important feature of tactical arms…

I never said that the style doesn't have any functional attributes, and it may be chosen it for practical purposes... but 100% it wouldn't be for any tacticool / wannabe aesthetics

Anyway, it's got to be cheaper to manufacture a gun and stick a outsourced composit AR buttstock, grips and handguard on it and call it one size fits all. So like it or not that's the direction it we'llcontinue to go.

 

[jps2486]

“Tactical”….grrrrrrrrrr! Make me king for a day and I’d have that word stricken from the English language.

View attachment 578418

Given the above definition, what on God’s great, green earth could be “tactical” about an air rifle, or, for that matter, 90% of all products labeled tactical (think tactical socks, tactical underwear, etc)? Anybody here going to be clearing buildings or trenches with a tactical airgun? To be fair though, one could probably clear buildings and trenches with a suitably soiled pair of tactical underwear…

The vast majority of products with “tactical” in their title are anything but, and are nothing more than a marketing ploy making use of a word that sounds kinda cool.

If you like the tactical look, rock on, brother! But in my humble…ahem…opinion, the usefulness of guns/rifles that are truly tactical, or designed to look tactical, doesn’t carry over well to other applications such as hunting or shooting from the bench.

And don’t even get me started on the word “operator”…

Rant over.

Justin

There are those who probably never served, that want to play soldier and run through obstacles shooting imaginary bad guys. Getting back to the subject at hand, each style of rifle has its purpose. Testicle (tactical) rifles are tools to perform certain functions like bench rest or PRS
but aren’t much to look at. But you can’t beat a conventional gun with a beautiful wood stock that shoots good and looks good.

 

[L.Leon]

I never that the style isn't functional and it may be chosen it for it's practical attributes... but 100% it wouldn't be for any tacticool / wannabe aesthetics

Have never fallen for “tacticool” anything , it’s understood that there’s a point of diminishing returns… As for wannabes’? Don’t know any… It’s not a “vs” thing. For sporting purpose? Classic rifles are simply sweet, for quick manipulations and deployment? Sensibly equipped Tactical rigs rule… There are no classical long or short arms in the military. Simply speaking to practicality…

 

[Oakland FL Airgunner]

There are those who probably never served, that want to play soldier and run through obstacles shooting imaginary bad guys. Getting back to the subject at hand, each style of rifle has its purpose. Testicle (tactical) rifles are tools to perform certain functions like bench rest or PRS
but aren’t much to look at. But you can’t beat a conventional gun with a beautiful wood stock that shoots good and looks good.

Well said!

 

[L.Leon]

There are those who probably never served, that want to play soldier and run through obstacles shooting imaginary bad guys. Getting back to the subject at hand, each style of rifle has its purpose. Testicle (tactical) rifles are tools to perform certain functions like bench rest or PRS
but aren’t much to look at. But you can’t beat a conventional gun with a beautiful wood stock that shoots good and looks good.

So “those” who choose a tactical PCP are “playing at being soldiers“?… Thank you for your service… Because of men like you I get to shoot in my backyard. God Bless America…

 

[Sleestak]

Have never fallen for “tacticool” anything , it’s understood that there’s a point of diminishing returns… As for wannabes’? Don’t know any… It’s not a “vs” thing. For sporting purpose? Classic rifles are simply sweet, for quick manipulations and deployment? Sensibly equipped Tactical rigs rule… There are no classical long or short arms in the military. Simply speaking to practicality…

They are what they are. Stripped down shooting tools.

The term gets thrown around a lot too, probably too often

Wood furnitured airguns that have side levers even get called tactical for some reason..so it's definately a spectrum

 

[RickH]

I like both styles and have airguns and powder burners in both. I use them for different applications and have learned over the years what works best for me. As for the argument that tactical isn’t useful for hunting, well, yes it is. Just different.

Rick H.

 

[d3vnull]

I grew-up in a time where hunting rifles were wood and most of the collectors were civil war and WW 1 & 2 historians. That makes my tendency lean toward wood.

I certainly don't fault others who like tactical for their intended purpose or utility. In all honesty when watching a video where the videographer scans down the benches at an EBR I can't tell the differences or branding of the air rifles.

 

[boscoebrea]

yes hate them hoodies,i do not like the looks of black tactical rifles....I think of war when I seem.No black!,No hoodies.I have a wooden Bullpup.

 

[Loren]

If it goes Pew Pew, I like it., but do lean towards the traditional.

I do have some traditional options for the Zeus.

Lots of wood choices, Walnut, Cherry, Custom Laminates, and the colored birch laminates and my new Composite Glass Fiber and Composite Carbon Fiber stocks.

 

[JW.]

"tactical"​

I really despise this look . Reminds me of the Armed Forces , and the Karen's think your carrying a "AR" killing machine .

Meh. Karens think a jack on the hood of a jeep is a mounted M2 machine gun.... If we live our lives trying to please the unappeasable it will suck.

Most Karens are going to think airguns are firearms regardless of what they look like.

You can't fix stupid.

 

[Kola]

Personal, or sometimes practical choice.

I like more traditional style rifles, but can see the place for tactical too.

 

[JW.]

"Tactical" is what it is because it worked VERY well for the intended use case, I don't see an airgun filling this role honestly (CQB).

For me. First it needs to shoot very well, second it needs to fit very well, third it needs to win, how it looks is only an issue if it affects the first three items.

I tend to not have traditional stocks (airguns) because I primarily shoot field target or other competitions. The traditional stock is also a use case generated design (woods/plains hunting) which does not work for my particular shooting styles without serious modifications.

For firearms (and airguns) the best selection for you is that you feel comfortable, confident, safe, etc., while using it. We all have opinions but what works for you may not work for others...

 

[delooper]

I love folding rifles, and they tend to look more on the side of what people call "tactical". But that said, the Edgun Leshiy doesn't have to look like an AR15. It does have some configurations that are half-way there, though.

I **wish** I could have a folding-stock shotgun but here in Canada that's illegal. I do have little quick take-down screws in my .44 cal rifles, so while it's not folding-stock they're a bit more packable.

For me I don't really care too much what the gun looks like, but I do care about how it functions. That said, if someone gave me a dream folding shotgun that was miraculously Canada-legal but it was in hot pink, I'd likely do something to change the colour. Aethetics matter a bit.