Practically Tactical

[Glock Glockler]

We all know that paying some big $$$ for guns and gear is the fast way to being tactical but what lifestyle changes do you incorporate in your day to day life to become tactical? I know a guy who plays a game where he gives himself a point when he sees someone before they see him and deducts a point when they are aware of him before he is of them. I know of another guy who constantly thinks about how he would best defend against the people he sees if they tried to attack him.

What do you do to become tacical instead of owning tactical objects?

thanks

 

[Nippy]

Go out and speed ball(paintball in a 50 foot area) or play with simunitions and you'll learn about angles

 

[sendec]

If you think you're tactical, you're not.

Lord I hate that word.

You are tactical as soon as you realize it isnt about the gear. You are tactical when you show up with a Model 10 and a couple speedloaders and ace the proficiency test. You are tactical when you buy books instead of "tactical pants." You are tactical when you decide that eating salads does'nt make you Richard Simmons. You are tactical when you consistently ring the 200 yard plate with a iron sighted Mini-14. You are tactical when you park the car on the far side of the lot for the extra exercise. You are tactical when you buy practice ammo instead of a railed forearm you'll never need. You are tactical when you are cleaning your Mini with one of your kid's worn-out Barney toothbrush and the guys with the M-4orgeries don't say a word. You are tactical when you stop worrying about being "tactical"

 

[Carrying_1]

Hit it right on the head!!!

sendec - nice post. I fell the same way.

 

[Bob F.]

Just off the top of my head: (too tired for anything else) Ya' might check out sm's posts in the shotgun forum. Might have to go to the archives. To me, at least, what it's all about--kinda like "jailhouse rock" style of martial art.

Stay safe.
Bob

PS: sendec's right

 

[Mulliga]

While I agree with sendec about "tactical" being perhaps the silliest, most overused marketing buzzword in firearms, I'd have to say that being aware of your surroundings is a good idea.

Cooper Color codes:

http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBladeArticle/4_States of Awareness.htm

There's a fine line between awareness and paranoia, Glock Glockler, so tell your friends to lighten up.

 

[Preacherman]

For a start, you should only eat camo-colored ramen noodles...

 

[BerettaNut92]

You know, instead of tactically thumping your own tactical chests, you could have read his tactical post. He was being sarcastic about buying stuff to be tactical and asking what he can do to heighten his situational awareness, knowing full well....

*sigh*

never mind.

Grockrer

You probably know about the Cooper Color Code,
white = ostrich
yellow = relaxed awareness
orange = specific possible threat
red = SHTF

Housecats have eyes on their butts and you can seldom sneak up on the little guys. They aren't paranoid, just alert.

Dogs on the other hand, go from white to red. They lounge around and you can walk up to them and kick them. Then they go nuts on you.

Basically you want to be in housecat mode.

I hear other things about playing games in traffic and on foot about trying to predict someone else's movement, but I find that for me, personally, it's counterproductive as I get fixated on one person or car. I just keep my head on a swivel casually.

As for being tactical, carry your junk on your offhand so you can access your weapons on the other.

Know the interview position and use it when dealing with people.

And don't forget to enjoy life. Tactical people, especially the 'tacticaller than thou' who post on the Internet, take themselves too seriously. We're all going to die one day and if you die tactically or not, it matters more that you brought truth, justice and joy into other people's lives, not being buried in the cemetary in the corner facing all the other dead people so you can keep an eye on them and react to a possible threat.

 

[Mikul]

I like to see how close I can get to someone before they notice that I'm there. To some extent it's how good I am, but even if I do my best, I'll never get within 20 feet of some people. There are plenty of people that I can walk within touching distance before they even realize I'm in the room.

Some people are not amused by this "trick."

 

[Cosmoline]

Sendec--you mean my new tac-pants were a waste of money

The one rule I try to keep in mind is this. BE A RANK COWARD. Hide, hit the dirt, be silent, run away. Do anything but stick your chest out and march forward. If you're going to have to shoot someone, it's tactically most sound to shoot them from concealment and cover with a high-powered rifle through their back. That might not be LEGALLY sound, of course. But if you're alive and they're dead--you win.

Thus, if someone is holding up the 7-11 and your exit is blocked, your best bet in a tactical sense is to hide until you have a shot, then empty your sidearm into their back. Never give them the chance to shoot you. That's thinking tactically. What clothes you have on at the time and how expensive your firearm is are pretty much irrelevant factors.

 

[Dbl0Kevin]

not being buried in the cemetary in the corner facing all the other dead people so you can keep an eye on them and react to a possible threat.

Had I been drinking something at the moment I read that......it most definately would have been flying out my nose! LMAO

 

[tommytrauma]

I move through the shopping mall in three to five second rushes.




Seriously though, I really wonder about the people I see who spend big money on the latest carbon fiber tactical thong, but can't walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing, and do nothing to try to change that.


I was at a gun show a few years ago, and saw something that made a big impression on me; There was a guy there wearing a t-shirt with a picture of a wolf and the caption 'Survival of the fittest'. He quite literally weighed well above 350 pounds. He was asking a vendor if he had a gunbelt in a 64".


I went through a Defensive Edge handgun class last year. I used a 1911. There were several examples of the latest tupperware and "serious" combat 1911s. We were all outshot by an old duffer with a handlebar mustashe and a Smith model 10 revolver.

 

[El Tejon]

1. Stay in shape, lots of cardio;
2. Don't go where you don't belong;
3. Cut down on the booze, don't drink to intox;
4. Stay away from the smokes, they cut your wind;
5. Stay alert, stop doing acts of divided attention (cell phones while driving), look around;
6. Live a life of peace, but train hard.

 

[Thumper]

You are tactical when you decide that eating salads does'nt make you Richard Simmons.

You are tactical if you realize that being Richard Simmons isn't a desirable state of affairs.

 

[Incropera-Dewitt]

You're either Sizwat or niznot!

 

[El Tejon]

Thumper, I'll have you know Richard Simmons pounded the stuffing out of a MMAer (Mixed Martial Artist) in the airport in GWR.

Simmons is light and quick. As well his build allows him to take cover behind golf clubs. Incoming fire? Just turn sideways!

 

[Thumper]

Thumper, I'll have you know Richard Simmons pounded the stuffing out of a MMAer (Mixed Martial Artist) in the airport in GWR.

Now there's a visual that'll make you lose your lunch. Did they at least use one of those stalls?

 

[jobu07]

In the original post, it was talked of the poster's friend constantly thinking about what he would do if people were to attack him that he sees. That reminded me about a chapter in Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince." I forget exactly which chapter it was, but Mach speaks of one of the ancient kings of, I believe, an Italian principality who, when going off to hunt with some of his close friends, would discuss the what if's sort of htings of battle. For example, what if right now if we were leading our army, an opposing army larger than ours crested that ridge to the north. Or, what if we were retreating and another force cut off our escape route in that valley, etc etc. Just various situations. It's very interesting stuff and worth studying. It can really be applied to life today.
Additionally, I agree with your sentiments sendec. Very well put.

 

[Skofnung]

quote:Thumper, I'll have you know Richard Simmons pounded the stuffing out of a MMAer (Mixed Martial Artist) in the airport in GWR.

Now there's a visual that'll make you lose your lunch. Did they at least use one of those stalls?

Congrats Thumper. You just said the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks.

 

[lee n. field]

would discuss the what if's sort of htings of battle. For example, what if right now if we were leading our army, an opposing army larger than ours crested that ridge to the north. Or, what if we were retreating and another force cut off our escape route in that valley, etc etc. Just various situations. It's very interesting stuff and worth studying.

Interesting. I think like this sometimes, during a boring drive. How many people can you hid in a cornfield? (Lots, but they don't do much good until you can get them out.)

Thinking tactically -- remember the scene in Braveheart, where Edward Longshanks gives a lesson in situational awareness to his son's good buddy, the one who thought himself trained in war?

 

[BlkHawk73]

We all know that paying some big $$$ for guns and gear is the fast way to being tactical

So the $ you spend makes you "tactical" Ok, so I guess buying a Monte carlo makes you a Nascar driver then right? Guess actual knowledge, training and practice are'nt needed anymore. great millions of schoolkids will love that since now just spending $ on items will make you waht you want to be.

"Tactcial" is about the equivilant of "rare" these days. Anything anyone has that they want to get rid of is "rare". Just another over-over used adjective used to make something ordinary sound impressive.

If "tactical" items were pink, just think of how many Barbie guns and crap there'd be. And people would buy them!

 

[jhisaac1]

For a start, you should only eat camo-colored ramen noodles...

Dude, if your ramen is camo-colored, squeeze a few bucks out of the ammo budget and buy some fresh noodles.

 

[TonyB]

I go everywhere via the "low crawl"
also I use internet cammo....you can't see me can you?

 

[Glock Glockler]

the $ you spend makes you "tactical" Ok, so I guess buying a Monte carlo makes you a Nascar driver then right? Guess actual knowledge, training and practice are'nt needed anymore. great millions of schoolkids will love that since now just spending $ on items will make you waht you want to be

Allow me to introduce you to a concept called "Sarcasm". If you bothered to read the rest of my post you would notice that I had specifically asked about a productive mindset to approach life in a manner that would keep you out of danger as opposed to equipment.

jobu07 hit the nail on the head and understood what I meant. True Tacticality is between the ears.

 

[Average Guy]

I love and use what I learned from motorcycle class:

Search
Predict
Act

Basically you want to be in housecat mode.

Within reason, of course. Ulcers are not tactical.