By Clayton Walker<\/a><\/p>\n D<\/span>o you remember that period of firearms design and gun culture when everyone was all about zombies? That time when we were awash in neon green rifle furniture and people chattered incessantly about load-outs for the \u201czombie apocalypse?\u201d And do you also remember when that collective vibe seemed to vanish all at once?<\/p>\n I believe there are a great number of shooters waiting for the firearm community to once again wake up and shake off another theme: how frequently we use the term \u201ctactical\u201d as a description of firearms and firearm-related accessories.<\/p>\n As the Bard might say,\u00a0Tactical<\/em>\u00a0is too often a term \u201cfull of sound and fury, signifying nothing.\u201d Dictionary definitions are of little use in allowing us to understand it better. And yet, you\u2019ll also find the word \u201cTactical\u201d in the real world, used by experts and a number of quality manufacturers. It\u2019s stamped on the frame of my Springfield TRP<\/a>, for example \u2014 TRP standing, of course, for \u201cTactical Response Pistol\u201d, and it has the lineage to back it up. So, what gives?<\/p>\n Contrary to the opinion of many, I don\u2019t think the word \u201ctactical\u201d is a dumb meme and nothing more: I\u2019d contend the way it\u2019s used here at Springfield Armory does indeed convey some value. While I don\u2019t claim to speak for everyone, allow me to offer an explanation on what the term means to me when it\u2019s used in earnest.<\/p>\n With just about any firearm, I\u2019d argue it\u2019s important to ask a critical question: \u201cHow do you anticipate using the thing?\u201d And from there, an equally important follow-up question emerges: \u201cWithin that use case, do you imagine the gun\u2019s design is going to work\u00a0with<\/em>\u00a0you, or\u00a0against<\/em>\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n Consider the needs of Olympians in the shooting sports, for example. These men and women are relying on their firearms to give them an edge against a lot of other very serious competitors. Accuracy must be non-negotiable, as would absolute reliability, because they can\u2019t give any points or time away if they want to win a gold medal.<\/p>\n To first understand \u201ctactical,\u201d let\u2019s begin by examining a gun that is very much\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>that at all: the Single Action \u201cPeacemaker\u201d style revolver of yore. Granted, the \u201csmokewagon\u201d of your great grandfather\u2019s era certainly was used to defend life and limb \u2014 and in 2024, is still better than strong words. However, if we ask,\u00a0\u201cHow would we anticipate using this thing?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the limitations come into sharp definition for any role beyond plinking.<\/p>\n Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It would be plausible that a defensive firearm would need to be drawn and put into action quickly. Here, the sharp corners and requisite hammer cocking of the single-action revolver are clear detriments. It would also be plausible that one might need to draw and use the revolver in the dark, given the number of hours during which daylight is nowhere to be found. Once again, the small, notched sights of most single-action revolvers become liabilities. It is also not unreasonable to think that one might need to reload the firearm under stress. In such a case, one probably will not be able to quickly shuck out rounds using the ejector rod and load more, one by one.<\/p>\n Viewing product design from this lens, \u201cTactical\u201d can simply be the net sum of those behind-the-scenes elements of any firearm that allow it \u2014 once again \u2014 to work with you, not against you. Let\u2019s return to my TRP. Compared to the single-action revolver, there are a lot of \u201cplausible use cases\u201d that are addressed by the design and the feature set of the gun. Night sights are a biggie, as is the funneled magazine well, which is beveled to facilitate faster, more instinctual reloads.<\/p>\n \u201cTactical\u201d also allows for a wider context of use and user needs. For example, my TRP has some aggressive checkering on the front strap and lot of rail real estate. Once again, it is both plausible that the gun might need to be used one-handed or in a rain-slick environment, and that I might want to put a quality weapon light somewhere on the gun. Here again, I\u2019m covered, and I have a reasonable assurance the gun will do its best to work with me if the situation requires it.<\/p>\n To modify a famous line from Forrest Gump, \u201cTactical is as tactical does.\u201d By this I mean that \u201ctactical\u201d consists of being a solid choice for those kinds of people that are required to think very critically and deeply about the realities and possibilities of armed confrontation.<\/p>\n For the majority of us, the possibility of drawing a gun and defending life and limb is a matter of \u201cif,\u201d rather than \u201cwhen.\u201d Not so for most of those in military combat or SWAT units: using firearms in real-world contexts is part of their job description. Their lives, and the lives of others, depend on everything going right in an armed confrontation. As such, they don\u2019t have the luxury of providing the other side with an advantage of even a few seconds, and a snagged draw, a slippery grip, or a bobbled reload could have tragic consequences.<\/p>\n Back to \u201ctactical:\u201d you can read the label as an indication that other people have thought about a variety of use cases and ideal design specifications\u00a0so you don\u2019t have to<\/em>. If a company puts the word \u201ctactical\u201d on a piece of equipment \u2014 and does so sincerely \u2014 you have the assurance you\u2019re getting a mechanical device that has been tested, both for \u201cplausible\u201d scenarios and even a variety of fringe use cases.<\/p>\n Granted, you might not need\u00a0all\u00a0<\/em>of what any firearm\u2019s \u201ctactical\u201d feature set entails, and you may not fully understand why each and every one of those features are there. But those features\u00a0are\u00a0<\/em>there, nevertheless, should you later find you want or need them.<\/p>\n Some might disagree, but I would argue that developing a \u201ctactical\u201d mindset or choosing \u201ctactical\u201d tools involves an element of realism. For the majority of those reading this, such as those of us fortunate enough to live in politically and economically stable countries, it is highly unlikely that you will need a firearm to defend against multiple waves of determined, armed assailants.\u00a0<\/p>\n I have, however, seen no small amount of videos of home invasions and carjackings. For one so motivated to examine a survey of various home security and CCTV footage of such incidents, I guarantee that commonalities will emerge: they certainly do happen at night, often involve more than one criminal, and have sometimes required the armed civilian to reload.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to see determined criminals kicking down the door of a family home, as viewed through the lens of a \u201cRing\u201d style camera, and not ask yourself, \u201cWhat if that were\u00a0my\u00a0<\/em>house, and\u00a0my\u00a0<\/em>family inside?\u201d If you allow your mind to wander a bit and imagine what you\u2019d need to prevail in such a situation, I don\u2019t doubt that you\u2019d settle on a firearm that would work for a variety of contingencies.<\/p>\n Quite simply,\u00a0that\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0tactical. It\u2019s anything you feel will work as part of some larger, well-considered plan of action to keep you and your loved ones safe in those environments you\u2019re likely to inhabit.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"tactical](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tactical-means-tipping-the-balance-toward-the-good-guys.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>A Simple Question <\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"tactical](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tactical-high-capacity-magazine.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Or, More Simply\u2026<\/h2>\n
![\"accuracy](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/accuracy-in-a-tactical-pistol.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Achievable Standard<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/picture>Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n
Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n
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<\/p>\n1911 TRP\u2122 Series<\/span><\/h3>\n
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