Tactical Airguns?

[oldsparky]

Why are most of the new airguns coming out Tactical style? And for that matter firearms have followed the tactical trend.Do some find them comfortable? Or do folks like the look? They must sell and I must be the oddball! So help me understand what I am missing?

 

[RobR]

Function over form, though I’m personally not opposed to the form. Makes it a lot easier to mount lights, lasers and other accessories. 

 

[Endeavor]

Hey Sparky, I think the Tactical style AG, allows the manufacture to produce a wide variety of bolt on accessories. Larger profits are just a click away. Your observation is spot on, make what sells, if accuracy increases, the look of the AG doesn't seem to matter. It is grand to have so many options!!

 

[Dairyboy]

What I like about tactical guns is they can be made to fit you with whatever grip you like and butt stock. Also can get banged up without stressing about messing up a beautiful piece of lumber. 

 

[boscoebrea]

function is the new form,black plastic the new wood, aesthetics have become bulky looking and overweight the norm.

Even rifle scopes are becoming Fat,bulking and heavy,butt Alas I am generalizing and thinking ,"back when"..

Sleek and light,or is that seek and you will find the light?

 

[steve123]

The features I need the most to shoot my best are having an adjustable cheek piece and adjustable LOP. The PRS AR-15 rear stocks, and some other brands, provide that. I also find a good after market AR grip feels good in my hand. I like easy mounting of flushcup attachments for slings or pic rails for bipods. All these are nice options to have. 

Yes you can get all that I've mentioned in wood stocks but it's usually cheaper and more convenient using AR stuff.

Not to say I don't love high gloss blueing and figured wood. But I don't mind the tactical look either.

 

[Hoople]

I ran across an article by Jim Chapman yesterday (probably the most experienced airgun hunter in the world) that covered this subject. In his view, " A lot of readers know that I’ve always gravitated toward tradition sporter/carbine styling in my hunting guns, but of the last few years have been shooting more of the bullpup and “tactical” designs, and have also said there is a reason these guns are popular. Ergonomics, adjust-ability, easily changed barrels, all inherently easier to achieve with these type of designs." The full article: https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/hunting/2019/11/a-prophecy-fulfilled/

 

[Uglyjohn]

Blued steel and nice walnut is out, aluminum and plastic is in. What was considered esthetically pleasing a generation or 2 ago has been trumped by “badassery”. Uj

 

[L.Leon]

They handle great and you don’t have to baby them in the field.

 

[theotherpursuit]

Possibly due to G.I. Joe syndrome. I understand the desire for mobility, functionality, and flexibility regarding convenience in the field. However, anyway you want to slice it, you will have to adapt tactical items for Benchrest. Tactical items are best left to the military. These are airguns after all.

Call me old fashioned; for me there is no better marriage than blued metal with walnut.

Perhaps this post may ruffle some feathers, but this is not my intent, only my opinion.

Top

 

[Smok3y]

I would have to agree with the couple guys who have said that the adjustability trumps looks when you want to squeeze the best out of a rifle. Sure I love a great looking rifle but they don’t help my ability to place more consistent shots. A grip of my choice is a great first step. Having a length of pull that is correct for me helps a ton. An adjustable cheek rest is even more important when it comes to repeatability and comfort. Sure I can find repeatable hold on a rifle that is too short with a grip that I think has horrible ergonomics, but if you can make all those better... I’ll take the uglier gun if I can have more fun shooting it. I didn’t buy it to hang it on a wall or have the other guys on the line tell me how pretty it is. 

 

[Hoople]

I can't remember the last time a conventional rifle won a major 100yd competition. Anybody?

 

[cea1960]

I personally like the look of traditional rifles, but find the pistol grip of a tacticals much more comfortable.

Also, it is more expensive to produce a wood stock than one out of resins.

 

[Greenarrow]

I like them both but I prefer wood and a classic/traditional look.

 

[jdanvers]

Referring to Hoople's post - didn't someone do well a couple of years ago at one of the big competitions with an AA S510? ( granted - I believe it may have been customized - dual bottle fed or something ) but still - sort of a "classic looking" rifle. (?)

 

[sturba]

Sharp edges galore, mean and nasty looking. No style, no grace. Owned a bunch of them and ultimately deemed them all unlovable 

 

[vdwb]

I’m a freak for tactical and I love my black guns. Ugly to some, scary to others, beautiful to me, lol.

 

[Matt247365]

I’m a freak for tactical and I love my black guns. Ugly to some, scary to others, beautiful to me, lol.

Same here

For me it's gotta be a bullpup

Put a Taipan Veteran shorty in a blind man's hands and he'll tell you that it's the sexiest thing he's ever held.

Matt

 

[Motorhead]

Own a few ... sadly there is is no love for the looks or the way they handle. Cheek weld is wrong & optics too high because of it. only reason they are kept is because of the accuracy and power they have been modified to have.



Given a choice ... more conventional configuration preferred. Like laminate stocks over walnut or beech FWIW.



Scott

 

[oldsparky]

Thanks for the reply's, telling me what you like about them. I Want to like them. But as Scott said. They are just all wrong for me. The scope is so high and I can't repeatably figure where to weld my check. I Held one with the rail on the bottom of the forend and that was very uncomfortable for my style of shooting. I have never had a bipod on a rifle. Where I live I can't hunt legally at night so I have never spent the money on a tactical light.



thanks, Jim