Is it all Tactikool now?

[ISCS Yoda]

Looking at the "new guns and gear" article in the American Rifleman: (c) American Rifleman 2025

"Tactical" style guns:

Ruger 10/22 carbon fiber

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy

Mossberg 590R

Kimber 2K11 - okay, maybe this one is just "modern"

S&W 1854 Stealth Hunter - they can call it whatever they want to but that's a tactical lever action rifle if I ever saw one.

Henry SPD Ultimate Suppressor Host - they can pretend it's for hunters and outdoorsman but that's another tactical lever rifle as much as that Smith & Wesson above.

The three Benelli shotguns they discuss are described as "defensive shotguns" so one would expect them to be tactikool; that's their job.

Savage Arms 110 PPR is another rifle allegedly made with hunters in mind, but it simply screams tactical in this viewer's eyes.

And so it goes - and I'm not opposed to the tactical appearance; personally, I like it, especially on those lever rifles. But they could at least admit it just a little, hmmm???

At least Rock River Arms (p 54) calls their new LAR-22 a "Tactical Carbine". Basically, a very cool .22 caliber AR-15 type rifle.

 

[H Richard]

If I never heard the word "Tactical" again I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

If I never heard the word "Tactical" again I wouldn't be disappointed.

Funny!!!!

 

[alwslate]

There is a huge market for guns you don't need so the manufacturers are constantly introducing new and "better".

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

If I never heard the word "Tactical" again I wouldn't be disappointed.

Or "Ultimate".

 

[rockquarry]

Or "Ultimate".

How about "extreme"

 

[rockquarry]

There is a huge market for guns you don't need so the manufacturers are constantly introducing new and "better".

Yes, "better" is often a change for the sake of marketing only, not really better, sometimes worse, but there's always a crowd that will buy anything new.

 

[6string]

This is a very important topic and worth discussing.
I had the same thoughts upon reading that issue of AR. (Jokingly, I have kidded that the name of that publication should be changed to “Plastic 9mm Monthly”)

More seriously, do articles and publicity like that drive the market or reflect it?
What’s going on when firearms sales ownership is high, yet the number of traditional organized gun clubs is down? How many of you belong to an NRA or CMP affiliated club? How many of you live in areas where there aren’t any conveniently located clubs at all?
Gun clubs have been underestimated in their importance. Certainly those with NRA affiliation are required to have stringent safety rules. Most have a screening process and probationary membership period lasting months to a year. Most require new members to participate and/or observe events and matches. And, virtually all ban unsafe gun handling and reckless range behavior.

Instead, the vast majority of new range venues allow, to one degree or another, an “instant gratification” component to the use of firearms with little or no safety and/or competency requirements. Sure, they have range officers and a little piece of paper to sign, assuming it’s a typical retail/commercial pay range. But, that’s no substitute for training. At most public ranges there are no stipulations and/or enforcement.
“Learn as you go” is fine when you buy a phone. It is not fine when you have a loaded gun in your hand.

In an industry coordinated effort to exploit a desire amongst a large cross section of the American population to own a gun or guns, they are treating gun ownership as nothing more than just another part of the larger mass consumerism that drives our culture and economy.

Far too often, I see new shooters, with their shopping bags full of new toys, walk on to the firing line with no clue and no instructions. (Worse yet are the guys that walk up to the line with a loaded gun in their hands, muzzle swaying everywhere)
Yet, without failure, they all mimic the same behavior. Set up a “Bad Guy” target just beyond arms length distance. Fumble around with ammo, mags, ear protection (hopefully!)…if they’re in a group, you’ll hear “which way does this go?” etc)
Once the shooting begins, inevitably there will be “how fast can I empty a fully loaded magazine downrange?” range behavior. More muzzle sweeping of the firing line ensues.
Eventually, hundreds of rounds of 9mm and 5.56mm later, they vacate the line, leaving a huge mess behind without even the slightest thought, and having accomplished nothing of meaningful value beyond having a few laughs and thrills.
At any traditional gun club, this is exactly the sort of behavior that would get a prospective new member banned.
(As I type this, I am wondering how many people will be upset just at the idea of my criticisms.)

So, does the “New Guns and Gear” section of “American Rifleman” drive that, or reflect it?
To me, there’s no coincidence that “tacticool” products look like they were designed by Mattel or Hasbro. The marketing, and usage, is the same.

 

[rockquarry]

This is a very important topic and worth discussing.
I had the same thoughts upon reading that issue of AR. (Jokingly, I have kidded that the name of that publication should be changed to “Plastic 9mm Monthly”)

More seriously, do articles and publicity like that drive the market or reflect it?
What’s going on when firearms sales ownership is high, yet the number of traditional organized gun clubs is down? How many of you belong to an NRA or CMP affiliated club? How many of you live in areas where there aren’t any conveniently located clubs at all?
Gun clubs have been underestimated in their importance. Certainly those with NRA affiliation are required to have stringent safety rules. Most have a screening process and probationary membership period lasting months to a year. Most require new members to participate and/or observe events and matches. And, virtually all ban unsafe gun handling and reckless range behavior.

Instead, the vast majority of new range venues allow, to one degree or another, an “instant gratification” component to the use of firearms with little or no safety and/or competency requirements. Sure, they have range officers and a little piece of paper to sign, assuming it’s a typical retail/commercial pay range. But, that’s no substitute for training. At most public ranges there are no stipulations and/or enforcement.
“Learn as you go” is fine when buy a phone. It is not fine when you have a loaded gun in your hand.

In an industry coordinated effort to exploit a desire amongst a large cross section of the American population to own a gun or guns, they are treating gun ownership as nothing more than just another part of the larger mass consumerism that drives our culture and economy.

Far too often, I see new shooters, with their shopping bags full of new toys, walk on to the firing line with no clue and no instructions. (Worse yet are the guys that walk up to the line with a loaded gun in their hands, muzzle swaying everywhere)
Yet, without failure, they all mimic the same behavior. Set up a “Bad Guy” target just beyond arms length distance. Fumble around with ammo, mags, ear protection (hopefully!)…if their in a group, you’ll hear “which way does this go?” etc)
Once the shooting begins, inevitably there will be “how fast can I empty a fully loaded magazine downrange?” range behavior. More muzzle sweeping of the firing line ensues.
Eventually, hundreds of rounds of 9mm and 5.56mm later, they vacate the line, leaving a huge mess behind without even the slightest thought, and having accomplished nothing of meaningful value beyond having a few laughs and thrills.
At any traditional gun club, this is exactly the sort of behavior that would get a prospective new member banned.
(As I type this, I am wondering how many people will be upset just at the idea of my criticisms.)

So, does the “New Guns and Gear” section of “American Rifleman” drive that, or reflect it?
To me, there’s no coincidence that “tacticool” products look like they were designed by Mattel or Hasbro. The marketing, and usage, is the same.

No one should get upset over your criticisms. They're valid.

 

[raljr1]

This was the result of some complaints about the overuse of some non traditional words. It was posted here several years ago

So after gettin my tactical pants on and yankin old Gert outta the safe, I decided to
take her out for a walk at the range and run her thru her paces on the combat set.
Had 4 clips full of boolits, ready to lay down some fire. Now the bang swithch on
Gert is slicker than snot on a doorknob, man I'm talkin buttery smooth, so after
slammin home one a them clips I shoved one in the pipe and prepared to have at
em. Now Gert's my fav toy, so she ain't minty no more, but her furniture is in
pretty good shape so I can hang on to her right well. So I stuck my booger hook on
the bang lever and went to town. This particular platform has flawless reliability, so
once we starting bangin she was shootin like a laser beam. Lead was flyin like she
was an automatic assault rifle. After a short while, I ran out of 380 defense ammo,
so I pulled the snubbie of of my wasteband and cracked off a few more rounds
before I went home to dinner

 

[Warren Sear]

This was the result of some complaints about the overuse of some non traditional words. It was posted here several years ago

So after gettin my tactical pants on and yankin old Gert outta the safe, I decided to
take her out for a walk at the range and run her thru her paces on the combat set.
Had 4 clips full of boolits, ready to lay down some fire. Now the bang swithch on
Gert is slicker than snot on a doorknob, man I'm talkin buttery smooth, so after
slammin home one a them clips I shoved one in the pipe and prepared to have at
em. Now Gert's my fav toy, so she ain't minty no more, but her furniture is in
pretty good shape so I can hang on to her right well. So I stuck my booger hook on
the bang lever and went to town. This particular platform has flawless reliability, so
once we starting bangin she was shootin like a laser beam. Lead was flyin like she
was an automatic assault rifle. After a short while, I ran out of 380 defense ammo,
so I pulled the snubbie of of my wasteband and cracked off a few more rounds
before I went home to dinner

Pawdon me, but the correct spelling is "boolays", not "boolets", preferably spoken while lifting both of one's pinky fingers.



edited to add: Oh, and don't forget it was purchased for the princely sum of ___, that it is built like a tank, and that you wouldn't want to get shot by one.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Empe]

It would seem that most under a certain age are very much into the black tactical scene .
This is one of the few places ...at least until today that I hear little to no mention of tactical firearms.
Times change and they have their place and I will admit to owning two polymer Glocks also referred to as tactical.
However I always enjoy when forum members post pictures of their beautifully blued revolvers , 1911's , rifles and or shotguns with nicely grained walnut stocks.

 

[Warren Sear]

I have a good assortment of plastic rifles and pistols, but I have never referred to them, or anything else I own as "tactical".

Don't understand that.

 

[Rob613]

 

[GypsmJim]

I run into a lot of people - oldies and youngins. It's amazing how their tastes differ.

The youngins like black plastic and rave about how good they are. But I never see them at the range. The only plastic stuff I see at the range are Police Officers practicing with their Glocks and other service weapons.

When asked, the youngins admit that they have their carry pistols, but really don't shoot them much.

OTOH, at the range all I see are Old Codgers. Some even have revolvers with wooden stocks (Oh the horror!). Some can hit the bull, and some hit the paper. Personally, I'm happy if I can put 10 within the rings. (I used to put them in the black - before arthritis and bifocals.)

My Dad had not shot in a few years. He wanted to go. I took him to my range and helped him to the shooting bench. He fired his favorite 2 - his 1911 and Garand. He jammed both. I told him I would replace the springs for next time. But it was never to happen.

Enough options for us all. Just be happy we are in the USA and HAVE those options....

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

Back in the late 70s and into the 80s, the catch word was "assault." Of course you had your assault rifle, but to go with it you had to have an assault vest, assault boots, and so on. And then there was the company advertising in The Shotgun News for Combat Sandals, but that's another thing altogether.

 

[S&W Fan]

To me it’s amazing how the beautiful lines of a classic lever action rifle have been ruined by the ugly stocks and fore ends put on to hang all kinds of add ons. I understand there are some places, my own Colorado for example, that have or will outlaw modern semi-auto rifles. But still, I will keep mine in the standard configuration.

 

[SWFan27]

I will always be a wheel gun guy.

 

[GypsmJim]

To me it’s amazing how the beautiful lines of a classic lever action rifle have been ruined by the ugly stocks and fore ends put on to hang all kinds of add ons. I understand there are some places, my own Colorado for example, that have or will outlaw modern semi-auto rifles. But still, I will keep mine in the standard configuration.

Th first time I saw a lever action rifle with a picatinny I almost upchucked.