How do you do Tactical Reload?
- Thread starter Striker1
- Start date
poortrader
New member
What's the difference between a Tactical Reload and a regular reload?
Blackwater OPS
New member
Sounds like you have it down.
I'm a wheelgunner
That being said, I've got a couple of Speedloaders, and if the unlikely event that isn't enough, then I'd pull out the rifles or the shotguns.
I'm not keen on trying to reload a semi-auto magazine. Maybe someone else here can give you better advice on reloading a magazine, but semi-autos are just not for me.
That being said, I've got a couple of Speedloaders, and if the unlikely event that isn't enough, then I'd pull out the rifles or the shotguns.
I'm not keen on trying to reload a semi-auto magazine. Maybe someone else here can give you better advice on reloading a magazine, but semi-autos are just not for me.
AirForceShooter
New member
Drop the magazine and reload slowly in a hurry.
Usually with 2 or 3 rounds left in the first mag.
AFS
Usually with 2 or 3 rounds left in the first mag.
AFS
tactial reload is when you reload before your mag is empty. One example of a situation where this would be useful is if you were in a gunfight (where lots of rounds were going back and forth, fa!), you have some cover or a chance to reload, but you still have 3 rnds left in your mag, swap out your 3 rnd mag and put in a full mag. That way, you can continue to fire a full mag instead of 3 shots - then possibly running out of ammo at a bad time.
the important thing I remember with tactical reload is, don't let your partially full mag hit the ground, keep it! if you're in a situation where you're needing to reload and continue to fire / tactical reload, then you're probably going to need that extra ammo.
all that being said, it's probably fairly rare that an average joe would need to do it.
the important thing I remember with tactical reload is, don't let your partially full mag hit the ground, keep it! if you're in a situation where you're needing to reload and continue to fire / tactical reload, then you're probably going to need that extra ammo.
all that being said, it's probably fairly rare that an average joe would need to do it.
atlctyslkr
New member
Another Revolver user here ....
Dump shells into pocket (used and unused) and pop in another speed loader.
If I still have time then I'll separate the used from the unused.
Being a private citizen if I have a chance to reload I'm going to be probably be thinking that this may be a good chance to put some distance between me and my attacker. Might be time better spent.
Dump shells into pocket (used and unused) and pop in another speed loader.
If I still have time then I'll separate the used from the unused.
Being a private citizen if I have a chance to reload I'm going to be probably be thinking that this may be a good chance to put some distance between me and my attacker. Might be time better spent.
You mentioned the mag between the ring finger and middle finger technique. I've seen this done where the new mag to be inserted is grasped between the middle finger and ring finger and the magazine to be removed is then grasped with the thumb and index finger. I prefer to grasp the magazine to be inserted with the thumb and index finger as I would if doing a speed reload (index finger is along the front of the mag with the tip of my finger touching the front of the top round) and then take out the magazine from the pistol with the middle and ring finger. Insert the full mag and store the fresh one in a pocket. Move your second full mag to the # 1 position on your pouch assuming a 2 mag pouch. (Some will move the full mag to the #1 position then store the partial mag in the # 2 slot) I have more control over the full mag when grabbed as described than with the full mag between the ring and middle finger and this way I always grab a mag from the pouch the same way every time.
Some people have a hard time with two mags in their hand at the same time and doing the Tac load under stress would only compound the problem. Another technique is to check to insure you have a spare, quickly take the mag out of the pistol and store, then secure the full mag from the pouch and insert. Most people can actually do this faster than the other technique.
Personally, I think the tactical reload is overstressed. Its a skill that you should know, but not as critical as speed reload and malfunctions drills.
The question is when and why do a tactical reload. You often hear "when there is a lull in the fight". If there is any chance that lead is still gonna be flying, I'll forego a tactical reload and do a speed reload when needed. I don't want to be caught without a mag in my pistol or two in my hand.
JD
Some people have a hard time with two mags in their hand at the same time and doing the Tac load under stress would only compound the problem. Another technique is to check to insure you have a spare, quickly take the mag out of the pistol and store, then secure the full mag from the pouch and insert. Most people can actually do this faster than the other technique.
Personally, I think the tactical reload is overstressed. Its a skill that you should know, but not as critical as speed reload and malfunctions drills.
The question is when and why do a tactical reload. You often hear "when there is a lull in the fight". If there is any chance that lead is still gonna be flying, I'll forego a tactical reload and do a speed reload when needed. I don't want to be caught without a mag in my pistol or two in my hand.
JD
1-Check six o'clock for threats. If clear return to known threat and proceed...
2- Head up eyes on target always. If no cover is available then you need to be MOVING(!).
3- Bring weapon in close to your chest in a semi retention position just below line of sight (^^^eyes on target).
4- Locate fresh mag BEFORE you dump old one. Grasp fresh magazine between thumb and index finger. Dump spent mag into palm. RAM fresh mag home. Pocket or otherwise retain partial mag.
4.5-Are your feet still moving? If not, then you're dead.
5-Reengage.
2- Head up eyes on target always. If no cover is available then you need to be MOVING(!).
3- Bring weapon in close to your chest in a semi retention position just below line of sight (^^^eyes on target).
4- Locate fresh mag BEFORE you dump old one. Grasp fresh magazine between thumb and index finger. Dump spent mag into palm. RAM fresh mag home. Pocket or otherwise retain partial mag.
4.5-Are your feet still moving? If not, then you're dead.
5-Reengage.
I was taught that way a loong time ago. I was wondering what the latest technique is. I never had that much faith in the method of juggling two magazines in the hand under stress either.
AS to immediate action drills...I am a firm believer in practicing those also.
Of course I would guess most folks don't 'cause it just ani't much fun
AS to immediate action drills...I am a firm believer in practicing those also.
Of course I would guess most folks don't 'cause it just ani't much fun
Sweatnbullets
New member
Kiss
Take out the partial magazine and stowe it away.
Insert new magazine.
No need to juggle, no need to be in a big hurry, keep it simple and get the gun up and running.
Take out the partial magazine and stowe it away.
Insert new magazine.
No need to juggle, no need to be in a big hurry, keep it simple and get the gun up and running.
pickpocket
New member
My preferred method for teaching the PISTOL tac-reload is to hold the fresh mag between the INDEX and MIDDLE finger of the off-hand, eject the semi-spent mag into the palm between thumb and index, then insert fresh mag.
My reasoning for holding the fresh mag between INDEX and MIDDLE finger is because that is the strongest grip for this application. Think of what happens when someone gets injured - your fingers CLASP, they don't extend. If you've got the fresh mag between the index and middle fingers you'll be much less likely to drop it if you suddenly tense up - for whatever reason. I've discussed this with some medical docs and they didn't have anything negative to say about it - whatever that's worth
As for its application in civilian settings.. I believe you have a much higher chance of using the Tac Reload than you do the Combat Reload. Think about it - if you've just put an unknown number of rounds into someone (or two someones) in an SD situation and the IMMEDIATE threat has been removed, it would be smart - if time/situation permits - to do a Tac Reload while surveying the area and looking for additional threats.
It doesn't make sense to me to eject the partially used mag before you have the new mag ready. If the object is to minimize the amount of time the gun is "down", then my thought is to keep the partial mag handy for as long as you can. The actual switch can be done in fractions of a second if you set it up correctly. Once the gun is back up with a fresh mag, it doesn't really matter how long it takes you to put that partially spent mag away.
My reasoning for holding the fresh mag between INDEX and MIDDLE finger is because that is the strongest grip for this application. Think of what happens when someone gets injured - your fingers CLASP, they don't extend. If you've got the fresh mag between the index and middle fingers you'll be much less likely to drop it if you suddenly tense up - for whatever reason. I've discussed this with some medical docs and they didn't have anything negative to say about it - whatever that's worth
As for its application in civilian settings.. I believe you have a much higher chance of using the Tac Reload than you do the Combat Reload. Think about it - if you've just put an unknown number of rounds into someone (or two someones) in an SD situation and the IMMEDIATE threat has been removed, it would be smart - if time/situation permits - to do a Tac Reload while surveying the area and looking for additional threats.
It doesn't make sense to me to eject the partially used mag before you have the new mag ready. If the object is to minimize the amount of time the gun is "down", then my thought is to keep the partial mag handy for as long as you can. The actual switch can be done in fractions of a second if you set it up correctly. Once the gun is back up with a fresh mag, it doesn't really matter how long it takes you to put that partially spent mag away.
chemist308
New member
What if you're a wheelgunner and don't have the swing out cylinder? Is have a spare cylinder a possibility? I recently picked up a Ruger Vaquero and I can pull the cylinder and put back it back in inside of 3 seconds.
Sweatnbullets
New member
The KISS technique is exactly what I do with my AR also.
Commonality in training.
I have done them both ways, as pick pocket suggests and the KISS method. The juggleing method is fast but it degrades rapidly under stress. I have seen my mags hit the ground during timed skills test. The KISS method is very sure and only slightly slower.
A tactical reload should be performed after secondary threats are scanned for, and after you have moved to cover. No rush to tac reload, just be sure!
The adrenaline dump will be kicking in plenty good here....juggleing is tough with the tremors. Heck, it can be a challenge during a stupid timed test.
Commonality in training.
I have done them both ways, as pick pocket suggests and the KISS method. The juggleing method is fast but it degrades rapidly under stress. I have seen my mags hit the ground during timed skills test. The KISS method is very sure and only slightly slower.
A tactical reload should be performed after secondary threats are scanned for, and after you have moved to cover. No rush to tac reload, just be sure!
The adrenaline dump will be kicking in plenty good here....juggleing is tough with the tremors. Heck, it can be a challenge during a stupid timed test.
pickpocket
New member
The stress factor deserves some conversation here, because I think it's important to remember that you're not going to want to do a tac-reload while BG #3 is fast approaching from your flank. No, it is after additional threats have been scanned for, as SnB stated. Inherently this means that even though the adrenaline will still be pumping, you're under NO severe stress to get the reload done in quickly. That's the nature of the Tac Reload - slow and easy, get ready for something else.
When I do a Tac Reload, I can take my sweet time pulling the fresh mag and getting it into position, pulling the weapon in close, and then the only thing that happens fast is the drop and slamming in the new mag. Once mags have been changed, I can take my sweet time finding a place to put that partial mag. It's all about economy of motion, and the whole drill shouldn't be run at light speed, coz if speed is that much of a factor then might I suggest that just getting the new mag in is more important and you might just drop the partial anyways..
If you practice effeciently it then it doesn't degrade so badly as one might think. If you find yourself stressed and you drop the mag, well ok - no worries. You just completed a hybrid Tac-Com (Tactical/Combat) Reload; There's still rounds in the first mag but you don't worry about retention. Why? Well, situation dictates. You might have another threat to worry about and you don't need to add mag retention to the equation.
SnB - If I'm reading you right, the ONLY reason I don't agree with the KISS method is that once you've dropped the partial mag you have nothing except one round until you get that fresh mag inserted. It's only a matter of seconds, so it's all about whether or not that's important to the individual deciding on the method. However, if something happens during those few seconds you will discharge the one round and risk forgetting to reload. Sounds silly, but I've spent a lot of time with people under this kind of stress (training and real) and you forget the silliest, dumbest, most obvious things.
I'm not saying I've never DONE the KISS Tac Reload, I'm just saying that I trained myself to pull the fresh mag first
Like I said, Situation/Time will dictate!!
When I do a Tac Reload, I can take my sweet time pulling the fresh mag and getting it into position, pulling the weapon in close, and then the only thing that happens fast is the drop and slamming in the new mag. Once mags have been changed, I can take my sweet time finding a place to put that partial mag. It's all about economy of motion, and the whole drill shouldn't be run at light speed, coz if speed is that much of a factor then might I suggest that just getting the new mag in is more important and you might just drop the partial anyways..
If you practice effeciently it then it doesn't degrade so badly as one might think. If you find yourself stressed and you drop the mag, well ok - no worries. You just completed a hybrid Tac-Com (Tactical/Combat) Reload; There's still rounds in the first mag but you don't worry about retention. Why? Well, situation dictates. You might have another threat to worry about and you don't need to add mag retention to the equation.
SnB - If I'm reading you right, the ONLY reason I don't agree with the KISS method is that once you've dropped the partial mag you have nothing except one round until you get that fresh mag inserted. It's only a matter of seconds, so it's all about whether or not that's important to the individual deciding on the method. However, if something happens during those few seconds you will discharge the one round and risk forgetting to reload. Sounds silly, but I've spent a lot of time with people under this kind of stress (training and real) and you forget the silliest, dumbest, most obvious things.
I'm not saying I've never DONE the KISS Tac Reload, I'm just saying that I trained myself to pull the fresh mag first
Like I said, Situation/Time will dictate!!
Sweatnbullets
New member
Pickpocket, the stupid timed tests that I did were probably not a very good idea. The mags hit the ground due to rushing a technique that simply should not be rushed. I'm sure I could do both methods under the effects of the adrenaline dump effectively, as long as I took the appropriate time.
Both ways are good. I try to do the KISS, but old habits die hard and I find the new mag in my hand before I have taken the old one out about 30% of the time. Reprogramming an ingrained skill is a b**ch.
We are not far apart.
Both ways are good. I try to do the KISS, but old habits die hard and I find the new mag in my hand before I have taken the old one out about 30% of the time. Reprogramming an ingrained skill is a b**ch.
We are not far apart.