Getting Started With Tactical Gear
It is really easy to find good tactical gear these days. Many companies are competing for the end-user’s paycheck and they want you to impulsively grab at their items. They can do this in a number of different ways:
Low cost/production ratio
Using key marketing (flashy pictures, descriptive words, etc.)
Building a trusted brand through hard work and reliable products (takes years of trial and error)
Acquiring a military or LE contract
THE MISSION DECIDES THE GEAR
I remember hearing this in a reconnaissance course. This was the first topic covered, and for good reason. We Americans are master-consumers. We will buy stuff we don’t need, just because we think it might look cool. How many times has your wife or girlfriend bought something just because it was cute? We are a nation based on consumption and our economy is dependent on it.
When you start looking into getting gear and setting up to start your training, it is very tempting to get the most modern piece of gear or loadout trend on the ‘gram. I highly encourage you to figure out what you are training and to find stuff that is scalable. If you want light infantry gear, get it scalable for everything from CQB and body armor to recon and ammo-heavy, and everything in-between.
START WITH BASIC GEAR
I have been guilty of spending so much money on guns and gear while trying to chase the perfect gun or game-changing piece of gear. The best gear you can buy is the right gear for the job. Hard work and dedication to your craft will be the deciding factor on your overall skill development, not the volume of money you can flush into the gear pit. I understand investing, but just spending big on gear is not the way to go. Spend big on training and ammo before you spend on different guns and gear. The more training you get, the more you will learn about what you need or don’t need. But keep in mind that you need to constantly look to upgrade and improve your gear.
JUMPING IN BLIND
It is common to see people go straight to red dots on carry guns or other pistols just because they THINK it is going to give them an edge in training. This item has its own issues such as: you have to find the dot, get it to stay still, and shoot properly. Your investments should not be on the idea that it will make life easier, because that is pure snake oil. Much like those who buy compensators for 9mm to try and cut down muzzle flip, I have yet to see people who are not sponsored professionals actually have a use for these modifications. The compensators are great for people who actually possess a consistent and proper grip technique coupled with insanely fast visual processing capability.
The American gun and gear industry is always at work trying to sell you things, gadgets, and widgets that promise to enhance skill. This is like a recreational runner paying to lose a leg because of the leg up (no pun intended) prosthetics seem to give some runners. The ends don’t always justify the means.
ADJUST & UPGRADE ACCORDINGLY
During training or practice, you may encounter situations where you feel that a particular piece of gear is not completely functional. Just realize there is no free lunch. Murphy’s law still exists, but without training, you will not see where it creeps in. When you notice a flaw, if it is something detrimental and cannot be trained out in a short amount of time, then perhaps the gear may need to be replaced. This will require more research and exploration. It is not uncommon to acquire a collection of gear that has become obsolete for yourself or your sport. As your training and practice develop, you will constantly chase change for the better. Shooters invest in better holsters and different guns or parts. Martial artists invest in bags, pads, bands, protective gear, and other equipment. Whatever your flavor of skill, you can expect to build up a collection.
If a holster no longer works well, then trash it and get a new one that will. Make sure the advancements make sense and adhere to your mission of self-improvement. Getting gear based on trendiness or cool factor is not good for your wallet or your improvement. Be able to articulate your logic behind the purchase. Will the thing ‘SIGNIFICANTLY’ improve your performance beyond what can be done through practice? What are the pros and cons of it?
PRICE SHOPPING
In my opinion, pretty much everything we are buying are only worth half of what we are asked to pay. This is why I am all about shopping around, doing long google searches, looking on different sites to find a deal. Sometimes I have been able to get a good deal by going to my local gun store and securing a discount because the type of gun I have wanted has been collecting dust for a while. Every year on black Friday, I indulge in excessive purchases of gear I have waited all year to become a reasonable price.
gun.deals is my supreme favorite for finding deals on everything from guns to body armor. You’re welcome.
READ & GAUGE REVIEWS
Reading reviews is critical these days. We may complain about people being Karens or whining about every little thing online, but that is how we know what we are getting into. When it comes to reviews, every review is needed. First off, look for the most reviews. Don’t buy into things that have next to zero negative reviews because this may indicate artificial ratings.
When you are looking at gear reviews, look for performance reviews. Look for reviews about premature breakages, poor craftsmanship, and long-term use reviews. Do not give consideration to people who say a product just looks good. Performance is all that matters. In some cases, you may not find a review of long-term product performance simply because people don’t really train with their gear much at all. In that case, any gear is good gear, right?
I would advise that you only look at the negative reviews on products. What you are looking for is consistent & logical complaints such as: “The weapon light was missing the rail adaptors”, “The clips on the holster are sharp and constantly snag on my shirt”. Look for consistency in those complaints since production anomalies do happen and one bad egg shouldn’t discredit the entire product. Often times, a product is pretty good when the one-star reviews are about the color of the product not being what they wanted, or how the shipping took a day longer than they wanted it to, etc.
DON’T ASSUME A FOREVER RELATIONSHIP
There are more than enough gun options out there to make a new shooter feel dizzy. It is unlikely that any of us mortals will be able to pick just one pistol or rifle and be absolutely happy with our selection. Every year, a new gun comes out that does more, can handle more, looks cooler, etc. Technology and metals improve and trends shift. Red dots were not really a thing on pistols when I bought my first pistol. Now I own a red dot and some of the newer pistols that I have grown fond of. I currently have not owned any one of these pistols for longer than 8 years. I know I am not alone in this. When we get an opportunity to improve our position, we should. If you can make your home more efficient, wouldn’t you take it? If you had the opportunity to invest in a newer and better vehicle, wouldn’t you? Just remember that it is not about collecting and having something cool, but about improving your capability to perform better. Just make sure the investment is worth it in the end.
MY HISTORY AND MY LESSONS LEARNED
When I got out of the Marines, I immediately immersed myself in the gun world. I believed the .45 ACP hype about stopping power and aimed to get a 1911 for myself. I bought a Remington 1911R1 and a WASR10. I shot hundreds of rounds of .45 ACP and 7.62X39 several times a week. In between I would dry fire and practice late into the night. I was thoroughly addicted to training and practicing and it paid off in short order. I got more magazines, tried different holsters, trained to use the full size 1911 as a carry gun, home gun, and duty gun. I bought several cases of ammo monthly, and rarely replaced parts.
I cannot tell you how much money I spent on the holsters and magazines, but it absolutely paled in comparison to the cost in ammo. My focus was on being amazing, fast, and efficient with my weapon in all conditions. I watched YouTube videos, read books, took training courses, and replicated a lot of my military training in order to develop my own unique training/practice methods. From there, I started experimenting with different guns, calibers, and actions. I have experienced nearly every pistol available thanks to my curiosity and my time as a gun writer while I lived in Alaska.
I have owned more guns at one time than I could reasonably store in my safe. I have also owned pistols for about a week before reselling them because I disliked their shooting characteristics. I did not do a good job of testing guns at stores or looking at them right before buying them. I have owned an ungodly number of pistols in my life and only a few rifles. I currently strive to reduce my firearm ownership to a minimum amount and get back to those days of just having one pistol and rifle to beat up on. Needless to say, I have experience with the temptation of wanting something different and thinking the grass is greener on the other side. Be wary and be diligent in your research. For myself, I do research in videos, reviews, and articles for weeks before I consider buying a gun. I calculate the cost of the gun, extra mags, parts, a case of ammo, and even upgrades. That is my entry fee, and it is always daunting.
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
Becoming Shooters by Dustin Salomon
CSAT Way by Paul Howe
The Guerrilla Dispatch Vol.2 by NC Scout
B-52 Combat Manual by Special Operations Press
Recon Team Manual by Special Operations Press
Patriot Fire Team Equipment Guide by Paul Markel
Patriot Fire Team by Paul Markel