Wondering where you guys stand on this.For years many a homes had a simple deer hunting rifle,shotgun,revolver to protect the home.The last 20 yrs have seen a surge of interest in all of the latest tactical arms and attachments.A lot of current generation shooters that I have spoken to feel this is the only way go.Just curious what your thoughts are.pros and cons welcome.
Do you feel the need for a tactical rifle,or is a shotgun/ handgun enough?
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I'll stick with traditional, Remington 870, Mini-14, 10/22, and my .357 Smiths
I keep a 45 and a mod 60 loaded.Dads deer rifle and my o/u are too long to be useful in the house.As far as the tactical stuff,as pop used to say "Ach,it's chust a fad!"
I'm not going tell others that they don't need them. Where I live, I don't feel any need. If I did think it was necessary, I would move.
Autococker07
US Veteran
I would think traditional arms for traditional jobs... ie normal home defense, ect.... hard to beat a good 12 gauge in a house.... For any above average threat (known armed encounters, boating, etc) a MSR would be my first choice.....
GatorFarmer
Member
I do not know what a tactical rifle would be defined as. I cut my accumulation way back, but I kept an M4 clone. I imagine that qualifies.
But in the past I kept shortened and sporterized Krags, fitted with receiver sights, around as a sort of proto Scout rifle. These days I have a '91 Argentine Mauser stocked Mannlicher style and fitted with a peep sight. Is it a tactical rifle? The Germans thought so when they built it. Mr. Mauser likely thought so when he designed it, and the Argentines thought so when they bought them for their army. So did the Boers who used them against the British.
Why do I have it....history...utility...novelty....but also...I keep condition three with extra ammunition handy since the wolves started howling. The old 7.65mm Mauser is a lot like a .308, and put many a British soldier 6 feet under and more than a few German ones too.
In Zimbabwe, some of the White farmers, an oppressed minority there, have taken to keeping loaded black powder rifles and handguns to hand for defense. Meanwhile in Nigeria, village blacksmith made muskets are carried by scratch militias to fight Boko Haram. Are these tactical rifles?
Are we defining it by type, or intent?
But in the past I kept shortened and sporterized Krags, fitted with receiver sights, around as a sort of proto Scout rifle. These days I have a '91 Argentine Mauser stocked Mannlicher style and fitted with a peep sight. Is it a tactical rifle? The Germans thought so when they built it. Mr. Mauser likely thought so when he designed it, and the Argentines thought so when they bought them for their army. So did the Boers who used them against the British.
Why do I have it....history...utility...novelty....but also...I keep condition three with extra ammunition handy since the wolves started howling. The old 7.65mm Mauser is a lot like a .308, and put many a British soldier 6 feet under and more than a few German ones too.
In Zimbabwe, some of the White farmers, an oppressed minority there, have taken to keeping loaded black powder rifles and handguns to hand for defense. Meanwhile in Nigeria, village blacksmith made muskets are carried by scratch militias to fight Boko Haram. Are these tactical rifles?
Are we defining it by type, or intent?
My thoughts do not fit in your polls parameters.
I have a “tactical” rifle (NY State legal) but it is not my go to gun for things that go bump in the middle of the night. My repel boarders gun is a 9 shot Mossie 12 gauge, subtlety loaded with 5 00 buck and then 4 slugs. That should handle just about anything up in my neck of the woods shy of a full on assault by a large group. (More ammo available on a close by bandolier)
I live out a ways in the boonies and I could easily have a marauding bear, a rabbis infected animal as well as bad intentioned 2 legged problems. LEO help IF could be called could easily be a ½ hour or more as we have no cell service!
The Mossie and of course a handgun is close so the wife will have something. If a major SHTF occasion was going on (major prison break, heavy duty looting do to social unrest then the" tactical" gun would be available along with other handy loaded weapons!
As far as accessioning a gun with all that hang on stuff I’m not a fan of junking up a weapon mainly to impress the boys down at the gun club or bar! KISS rules!
I have a “tactical” rifle (NY State legal) but it is not my go to gun for things that go bump in the middle of the night. My repel boarders gun is a 9 shot Mossie 12 gauge, subtlety loaded with 5 00 buck and then 4 slugs. That should handle just about anything up in my neck of the woods shy of a full on assault by a large group. (More ammo available on a close by bandolier)
I live out a ways in the boonies and I could easily have a marauding bear, a rabbis infected animal as well as bad intentioned 2 legged problems. LEO help IF could be called could easily be a ½ hour or more as we have no cell service!
The Mossie and of course a handgun is close so the wife will have something. If a major SHTF occasion was going on (major prison break, heavy duty looting do to social unrest then the" tactical" gun would be available along with other handy loaded weapons!
As far as accessioning a gun with all that hang on stuff I’m not a fan of junking up a weapon mainly to impress the boys down at the gun club or bar! KISS rules!
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turbo38gn
US Veteran
Thank God I don't live in Zimbabwe..... and maybe Wyoming..
I like a little bit of everything... A KSG shotgun, loaded with at least 15 rds... an AR15 with a 30 rd magazine..... my M&P45 with a 10 rd mag... and a few more "tactical" style guns... my biggest fear is not having enough... I'd rather be over loaded than come up short..
I like a little bit of everything... A KSG shotgun, loaded with at least 15 rds... an AR15 with a 30 rd magazine..... my M&P45 with a 10 rd mag... and a few more "tactical" style guns... my biggest fear is not having enough... I'd rather be over loaded than come up short..
SC_Mike
Member
I'm more into caliber consolidation I guess. Keeping long guns that can share the same rounds. Same with handguns, as much as I can. Shot guns are all 12 ga.
I don't go for all the tactical stuff with rails etc. Mounted lights I do find useful.
I don't go for all the tactical stuff with rails etc. Mounted lights I do find useful.
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Malpasowildlifer
Member
I think an AR or battle rifle definitely has a niche in ones personal defense line-up if one has the interest and time to learn it.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
The term "tactical", as applied to firearms and knives, became pretty meaningless years ago thanks to opportunistic advertising agencies (as if there were any other kind). Same with "tactical" clothing. I haven't researched this, but I'd wager someone is probably marketing a "tactical" jockstrap. Black or digital camo. With epaulets.
I live in a apartment. A double twelve gauge and a couple of revolvers are all I feel I need.
I live in a apartment. A double twelve gauge and a couple of revolvers are all I feel I need.
I USED to be into caliber consolidation. But IF I had gone through with that and had only 22, 9, and 5.56, I would have been screwed after Sandy Hook (if I hadn't bought ahead of time.... if). Now I believe in diversification, even if you reload you never know what's going to be available in the long term future.
My $0.02
Marshwheeling
Member
I guess I don't "feel the need" for any of it. The last time I had an intruder I dealt with him with my hands. In the unlikely event another one comes around, I have a few guns to deal with it, but I have them mostly for fun.
zzzippper
Member
The poll options were very limited but I voted tactical. I don't understand what "need" has to do with it.
I've thought a lot about this before and, "when push comes to shove," I'll be relying on the traditional firearms to protect the ol' homestead...Remington 870, Ithaca 37, a lever action rifle or two, and some handguns.
We don't have to look too far back in history to see how our enemies felt about our use of the shotgun when it came to protecting our troops.
During World War I, the German government issued a diplomatic protest against our use of shotguns, alleging that they were prohibited by the law of war. Part of their protest read that "it is especially forbidden to employ arms, projections, or materials calculated to cause unnecessary suffering." Now remember, machine guns were being used then, too, but the Germans had greater fear of the shotgun because of the destruction they caused.
When their protest was rejected, the Germans threatened to kill all American soldiers they found armed with a shotgun.
Sure, an automatic or semi-automatic rifle can kill and do a good job of doing it, too, but if you've ever seen it personally, or at least have seen pictures, a shotgun leaves one heckuva messy corpse. Believe me, it's not like you see in the movies. It's worse.
So, with all of my rambling, I think I'll be sticking with my ol' tried and true shotguns with plenty of 00 buck.
We don't have to look too far back in history to see how our enemies felt about our use of the shotgun when it came to protecting our troops.
During World War I, the German government issued a diplomatic protest against our use of shotguns, alleging that they were prohibited by the law of war. Part of their protest read that "it is especially forbidden to employ arms, projections, or materials calculated to cause unnecessary suffering." Now remember, machine guns were being used then, too, but the Germans had greater fear of the shotgun because of the destruction they caused.
When their protest was rejected, the Germans threatened to kill all American soldiers they found armed with a shotgun.
Sure, an automatic or semi-automatic rifle can kill and do a good job of doing it, too, but if you've ever seen it personally, or at least have seen pictures, a shotgun leaves one heckuva messy corpse. Believe me, it's not like you see in the movies. It's worse.
So, with all of my rambling, I think I'll be sticking with my ol' tried and true shotguns with plenty of 00 buck.
Need as opposed to just wanting.Meaning you beleive that traditional arms won't suffice.
MOONDAWG
US Veteran
Of late the two words that make us old farts wanna wretch the most are "Tactical" and "Operator".
This country has been well defended by it's Soldiers, Sailors, Air Men and Marines long before such terms were bandied about.
The typical home owner is well served by the ubiquitous 12 gauge pump shotgun.
My favorites are the two which have sold over 10 million each; the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500.
However I would not feel undergunned toting an Ithaca, Winchester, H&R et al.
Every Alaskan guide and Bush Pilot I know keeps one as back up bear medicine and that's good enough of an endorsement.
This country has been well defended by it's Soldiers, Sailors, Air Men and Marines long before such terms were bandied about.
The typical home owner is well served by the ubiquitous 12 gauge pump shotgun.
My favorites are the two which have sold over 10 million each; the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500.
However I would not feel undergunned toting an Ithaca, Winchester, H&R et al.
Every Alaskan guide and Bush Pilot I know keeps one as back up bear medicine and that's good enough of an endorsement.
MasterTech1960
Member
If , when TSHTF, a shot gun with 3 to 7 rounds won't cut it. 
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