How many have changed over?

How many have gone Practical to Tactical

  • Yes - have made the switch

    Votes: 4 4.6%
  • No - traditional all the way

    Votes: 36 41.4%
  • Maybe - some of each

    Votes: 44 50.6%
  • Have not decided what to do yet

    Votes: 3 3.4%

  • Total voters
    87
  • Poll closed .
I have recently made the switch with my last rifle.. I moved to Colorado and got serious about long range shooting, so I'm building a good rifle. "Tactical" scope and stock.

Ultimately, I'm a "form fits function" kind of guy, so since I have a reason to have that type of equipment, I've got no problem buying it.
 
Quite frankly, I think they look kinda silly. All black with sharp edges and plastic dangling all over them.

Oooh, Oooh, and rails!! And laser lights! And 48X scopes!!! Wow!! Just think how much deader everything will be!!!!! And I would look like Darth Vader, all black and shiny!!

Nope, not me. Sure, I like an AR or a nice target rifle just fine, but the tacticool crap is just silly. Make mine walnut and blued steel.
 
I understand that today, "Tactical" describes a style of equipment that evokes the military. I get it. When I was in the military studying the lessons and practice of war, I was taught that "Tactical" described a mindset that determined a particular set of tactics to give an advantage on the battlefield. It didn't describe equipment, it described knowledge. "Tactical" described proficiency, not equipment.

That's the transition I've never made. I can't describe equipment as "tactical". I guess I'm old-school in that regard. I do like synthetic stocks and cheek rests.
 
Single shots first, bolt action second, wood and blued steel. Can't stand plastic. The gun world apparently has gone from hunters to "tacticool" and "long range precision", a bunch of wannabe snipers. Not everybody but a pretty good bunch. All that extra crax won't help a bit if you can't SHOOT! That having been said, I support anyone's right to have that stuff if that's what they want. I'm just old, cranky, and highly opinionated. GW
 
"Oooh, Oooh, and rails!! And laser lights! And 48X scopes!!! Wow!! Just think how much deader everything will be!!!!! And I would look like Darth Vader, all black and shiny!! "

"Can't stand plastic."

Heh, heh, +1.....

Having said all that, in states where night hunting is allowed for pigs and yotes and such, there is a place for slapping a light on a rifle. But a 1" or 1.5" rail thrown on is all you need for that. All it needs to be able to do is accept ONE single 1" scope ring, into which you mount a light.

Also, having said that, a scope with target turrets and a zero stop can be handy for really long shots, if you're not good at kentucky doping .... these scope don't HAVE to be heavy and large in theory, but as a practical matter, they ARE right now... some are lighter than others, but all of the 30mm & 34mms with such features are heavy.... My wish, of course, would be that someone (such as Trijicon) would take a product (such as the wonderful, light, 1" Accupoint scopes), and add target turrets and zero stop.... That would/will be the scope equivalent to the Proof Research's answer to heavy "tactical" rifles.

There's no reason why we CAN'T have it all with scopes (with modern technology / materials) - it's just that no one's done it yet. YET being the key word - it's coming - we can rejoice in that. You don't HAVE to have high magnif, large objective, 30mm tube, and bulletproof milspec construction (i.e. those things which make scopes heavy), in order to have the things which makes scopes excellent and highly useful - target turrets (in milliradians), good quality construction, high quality glass, etc. The Accupoint is proof of that, sans the TTs and zero stop. That's because no one is demanding *lighter*; people just demand "more/better features" - and the hunters who demand lighter, don't demand these features.... As is always the case, would *could* "get it all" if we'd just demand it as consumers, with a unified voice. But it hasn't happened yet.... (i.e. we need a lighter Nightforce or feature-enhanced Accupoint). So for now, I'm sticking with things like the Accupoint on the high end, and some of your standard Nikon/ Leupold/ Burris/ Sightron on the low-medium end. Even the SWFA Super Sniper fixed-power series, which I have one of and like, is a tad on the heavy side (30mm tube), and lacks a zero stop.

If you "want it all" (very light weight, AND exceptional accuracy even with sustained fire), your best bet right now is Proof / Accupoint / Talley, in my o-PIN-yon, or some similar variant.... YMMV. Oh, and preferably, your Proof will be built on a Rem or Browning Ti action. But you gotta learn kentucky doping and/or using busy reticles on the Accupoint (homey don't play the latter; I do ONLY kentucky doping or clicks with plain reticles - but some people use the busy reticles for doping to good effect, apparently - see, e.g. Ted's Holdover channel vids on youtube).
 
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All of my bolt guns are practical. Although I wouldn't necessarily call them "traditional" as most have synthetic stocks. Lightweight, simple and accurate; that's my recipe.

All my tacticool guns don't belong in this particular forum. (they are semi-autos)
 
Traditional

I am not in love with this modern age. I try to adapt where I have to. I know that some things are better now than they ever were but I prefer simpler times. I will never enjoy a plastic stock. I have no fondness for the tactical stuff. My shotgun turned 100 years old this year; it's a model 1912 Winchester built in the second year of production and it's as good as it ever was.
 
After I got out of the Marines my first rifle was bolt action.

I've stayed away from military and tactical type rifles and that's choice I made but sure lot of interest in those type rifles.

Gunsmith that builds my rifles is dealer for LMT and those are pretty accurate and sells everyone he gets.
 
As an engineering/architectural kind of guy I ascribe to the theory that "form follows function". I have uses for rifles that include some fun range shooting, medium range (up to 400 yards) varmint hunting, deer hunting to about 450 yards, and walking around the property with a rifle, picking vermin of opportunity.

I reload and am kind of an accuracy nut, and somewhat older, so I try to keep things accurate, simple and easy to take care of. I don't own any military rifles or handguns, but have several bolt actions that fit my style quite well. Almost every kill is a one-shot deal and if a critter escapes, no big deal, but not many do.

Presently, I have one semi-auto rifle; an accurized HB 10-22 Deluxe, but I've never owned a semi-auto centerfire and have no desire to.

My bolt centerfires include: .270 Win, Rem 700 BDL Stainless in an after-market, deluxe walnut stock; .243 Win, re-barreled, 1980's Rem 700 ADL; .243 Win, Tikka T3 Lite; .223 Rem, Tikka 595. Also, have ordered a new .223, Rem 700 CDL, Stainless fluted, walnut-stocked, "2014 Gun of the Year".

All but the T3 have been accurized.
 
For the most part, I like more traditional weapons (Bolt, lever, recurve bows, slingshots, etc.). I don't have a need for assault weapons, been there done that 25 years ago, owned almost all of them and swapped / sold them. My bolt action Remington .270 & scope will take care of anything in North America, from woodchucks to Moose.

But, since certain individuals have dedicated their life to banning and confiscating ALL our of our guns, starting with so called "Assault weapons", I had a change of heart.

After recently plunking down the money for an NRA Life membership (our best bet in fighting the gun grabbers and their "feel good" emotional based legislation), I bought an AR-15. Why? Just because "they" don't want me to own it. And, as many on the far left have already stated, they intend to keep fighting until they ban and confiscate ALL GUNS, instead of dealing with the real issues; such as a feather duster for a criminal justice system, a failed mental health system and a culture of entitlement that has replaced our National work ethic.

I work, pay taxes, obey the law, so who are they to tell me how many shots my target or home defense rifle can hold? Why are they so intent on destroying the hunting & gun culture I grew up in? It's about CONTROL.

So, I bought an AR-15 and a bunch of 30 shot mags / ammo. And, it is kind of cool for taking out those pests that keep cleaning out my bird feeders! :D
 
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I guess I'll always prefer traditional wood/blue steel bolt actions. That doesn't mean I've totally neglected ARs. I guess the main thing for me is that I don't do much in the way of "add-ons".

So, aside from my Bambi-pets, I have a one-MOA Colt AR, plus a one-MOA complete upper that's set up for varmints with a K-4 on it.
 
Gun Broker link ( YUCK !!! ) I mean I can appreciate it must be accurate... but I guess I like my rifles to suite / fit me... I don't care if the stock fits 100 different people ( unless they are going to help pay for them )

I have a milsurp collection, but pretty much stop once they turned black, & I do have an SKS, ( though you might not recognize it in it's demilitarized form ) my favorites are bolt actions, & most of my recent purchases have been wood & blued... however, most of my customs are wood & blued actions, with stainless barrels ( mostly because I wouldn't have to find a place to get the barrel blued to match )

... I did the AR thing, back before it was "cool" put together a flat top receiver, back when the "H-Bar" was mostly the only game out there... pulled the flash hider off the match barrel, & added a compensator, added a 6-20X scope & had a wonderful prairie dog gun... but I hated chasing brass all over, so when I added a vintage heavy barrel Remington 700 back when they used really nice looking wood, to the collection, the AR got traded away... I do not like "quad rails" or adjustable stocks... I don't have an issue with composite, & have several specifically for hunting, with stainless barrels & actions...

I guess I'm old fashioned, as I much prefer my revolvers to semi auto in hand guns as well...

just to keep from being a stick in the mud, I still own, & will keep several semi autos in both handguns & rifles... but admit the semi's don't often see range time... but I do have a compact 380 on my belt right now :o
 
I love all guns. I like rifles more than anything. I own a little flavor of everything. I like lever actions and M14 styles of rifles more than anything.
 
Rifles, shotguns, handguns.

I think all gunnies gravitate toward one of these three categories more than the other two, if only slightly - but for some people, it changes from time to time, and for some people it doesn't. I have been in a rifle phase for a number of years, and likely will continue to be for the rest of my life - but that includes all types - I like semis, levers, pumps, and single-shots, but most of all, I like turnbolts, far and above anything else, with pumps and semis roughly tied for a distance 2nd place, then levers 4th and single shots 5th.

Obviously, bird hunters will often like shotguns best; big game and varmint hunters will often like rifles best. Self-defense-only type guys (tactical types; non-hunters) - they may like handguns or semi-auto & heavy bolt rifles, or even shotguns best - usually handguns but not always... None of these are hard and fast rules. I started out as self-defense only type guy until I started hunting in earnest in mid-2000s, so I gravitated from a handgun preference to rifle preference throughout the 2000s, and by 2010 was solidly a rifle guy. I'm down to just TWO centerfire handguns in the world, and two rimfire handguns; that's it. I've gotten rid of a ton of rifles in the past 5 years too, but not down to as few as handguns, and hopefully never will be. I like to "cover" (in my mind; in theory) ALL worldwide potential hunting scenarios, whether I can actually afford the trip (to African, New Zealand, Tajikistan, etc), or not! Therefore, it's *really* hard to get the stable of rifles down to under 10 (if you count centerfires, rimfires, muzzleloaders, and air rifles).... But I'm trying! I want to get down to 10 or less to cover every conceivable hunt or varmint shoot on earth.

I didn't mention semi-auto centerfires ("EBRs" or "HDRs" if you like - Evil Black Rifles or Homeland Defense Rifles) previously in this thread, since this is a non-semi-auto forum, so I thought the comparison was limited to say, turnbolts (light) vs. turnbolts (heavy/tactical). And as mentioned, the dichotomy is a false one, I believe, if you can afford to go custom - you can get BOTH light AND extremely accurate with sustained fire. So therefore, I'm NOT a big "heavy / tactical / sniper / interdiction" rifle type guy - one can do all that except for the heavy part in a mostly-traditional type turnbolt (albeit with an expensive CF-wrapped bbl).

But, since we're mentioning semi-autos now.... unlike the beautiful but in my view impractical heavy precision turnbolts (especially those .338 lapua to .50 bmg giants), I DO likes me some EBRs, particularly AR15s and AR10s, and particularly in lightweight configs (also a Rob XCR fan). Sadly, I sold my last centerfire EBR in the world today, but not because I didn't like them or want them - I'm just raising money and simplifying (and increasing quality of the few which I retain for the future) - the example is, I sold recently both the AR10 in .260 rem AND the two AR15s in 5.56x45, in order to combine/simplify all 3 rifles into ONE rifle for SHTF/ WROL (which although very very unlikely, is nevertheless on the order of 10 to 100 times more likely than it was just 20 years ago) - the replacement/ simplification rifle will likely be a Christensen Recon 15 (AR15), in 6.8 spc, to cover both those bases (.260 rem AR10 and 5.56x45 AR15s), in one rifle. Consolidate/simplify, and practice are the buzzwords going forward, now that I'm in my 40s - I want to shoot & reload a lot more, and collect less.

However, it will be awhile before I have $3,000 to actually OWN the Christensen, so should the SHTF / WROL kick in tomorrow, gawd forbid, I'm handling it with my turnbolts and pumps - and could quite well I believe (not on the whole mind you; just the self-defense tool aspects, I mean; I'm an abject failure as a prepper - so far) ... My only remaining CQB rifle would serve well - it's a pump in .357 mag, but my light/handy turnbolt in .243 would be no slouch in the self-defense dept; nor would my short-ish home-defense type shotguns! I think that in reality, if SHTF / WROL actually did happen (however unlikely), you'd be facing two basic threats - occupying force threat (i.e. our own gov't run amok), or marauders. As for occupying force threats, any shooting you'll be doing will be one or 2 shots followed by rapid displacement/retreat, since retaliation against your small arms fire will be swift, sure, and violent; that's just how asymmetric guerilla conflicts work. So no need for semi-autos there (besides, you don't want to leave brass at the scene - said occupying force will probably have your prints on file, won't they?). As for maruaders, that's where's there's definitely more of a semi-auto need, as you'd usually be standing your ground at your home/homestead, guarding your supplies/family/shelter, and therefore need to demonstrate aggressive, sustained, overwhelmingly-superior firepower - just to cause them to decide to move on and pick a softer target. That's why I'm still going to get another EBR or two.... Plus the gov't doesn't want me to have them; that's another reason. Plus they're fun. Plus a future wifey may be able to shoot them better than a turnbolt possibly.

YMMV.
 
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I have one AR for the practical aspect of its a better option than the bolts for the SHTF scenario.

It has zero appeal aesthetics wise, its a tool and I prefer my mil surplus bolts (and would carry one of those under some circumstances as well if I was the DM of a group.
 
Nah, I'm traditional. I figure that if the day should ever come where I'll actually NEED a rifle along the lines of a tactical, they'll be lying around on the battlefield and I'll just pick one up. Kinda like Sergeant Major Plumley in "We Were Soldiers".

"I guess I'll always prefer traditional wood/blue steel bolt actions. That doesn't mean I've totally neglected ARs. I guess the main thing for me is that I don't do much in the way of "add-ons".

I really don't do bolt actions, either. For the same reason why I don't do ARs. I'm an obligate southpaw. Pure lefthanded, left eyed. I detest conventional bolt action rifles, they are "backwards" for me. And I never really liked the AR platform either, the safety is on the wrong side and I was soured on them back in my Army days. For the longest time, the M-16 I was issued had this obnoxious trait of ejecting spent hot cases right down my fatigue shirt. Phooey on them.

Lever actions do it for me, they are southpaw friendly with the exception of loading them and I can live with that.
 
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To each his own. I like to have a variety of platforms on hand. love my AR platforms but also love a great bolt action rifle. Just bought a Savage trophy hunter xp 30-06. cant wait to shoot it!
 
All my tacticool guns don't belong in this particular forum. (they are semi-autos)

While there are many that consider "tacticool" something in the AR, M-14, M1A1, G3 or AK family. Most of the tactical rifles I see are bolt action long range ones. And there is a certain mystique about a rifle that is tuned and set-up to shoot long, long distances. The cost of one of these seems to exceed the national debt with scopes for them costing 2, 3 & 4 times that of the rifle.

So when a reasonable priced bolt gun with a 10, 20 or 30 round mag comes around, yes I am thrilled by being able to purchase one and throw one of my cheap scopes on it and shoot for fun. I know in time a more expensive scope will find it's way to the rifle's rail. The issue is this is a new tactical class of weapon and how well it will preform is still a question I have not answered.

In 1967 I purchased one of the first AR-15's and last year a Hi-Point 4095TS, but I still drool over a fine piece of wood and blued steel (Stainless too).

I am just saying my tastes have changed in the last few years. If that makes me a non traditionalist then so be it. I bought a Houge grip for the rifle that will not fit. Guess I will just have to build a 6.8 SPC AR to fit the grip (LOL). That will be completely new to me (building an AR & the 6.8 SPC) (LOL)

Who knows, I may even like it.
Jim
 
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