Tactical Reload Debate

[PistolS&W]

ive been thinking about this for some time and would like some opinions of others. and i realize its very scenario specific but ill try to make it simple.

if in a situation where bullets are flying and lets say you have a single shooter. hes aware of you and has taken shots at you and is within 25 yards.

when if ever do you use a "tactical reload" (drop a partially full magazine to replace it with a full one). also lets assume you started the fire fight with 5 full magazines.

as of right now my position is to never unload a perfectly good gun and to always shoot till your empty before reloading unless youve dropped your target and have assessed the scene breifly.. THEN do a "tactical reload".

whats your policy?

Also let me add that this is strictly for handguns

[PatriotnMore]

First you need to ask yourself, will I have the presence of mind to think about anything, let alone, when and how I am going to reload in an actual life and death firefight, beyond getting behind cover, and shooting back?

I can;t answer the question, because I have never been in a firefight for my life to tell you what I was thinking. I know what I would like to say I'll do, being the hard core key board commando that I am, but that may not be reality.

[thevic]

Tactical reload when you have the safe oppertunity.. Why not?

If im in a firefight with no cover and i need to reload , screw keeping the mag. I need cover

[PistolS&W]

First you need to ask yourself, will I have the presence of mind to think about anything, let alone, when and how I am going to reload in an actual life and death firefight, beyond getting behind cover, and shooting back?

I can;t answer the question, because I have never been in a firefight for my life to tell you what I was thinking. I know what I would like to say I'll do, being the hard core key board commando that I am, but that may not be reality.

excellent point sir,

a buddy of mine is a LEO and he was trained to never shoot until empty. in fact his duty pistols slide dosent even stay open on the last shot on purpose. the first thing i said was "are you gonna really count your shots when your being shot at?"

also when in a fire fight you tend to shoot alot more then you think you did. you see it all the time where the LEO makes his statement that he took two shots at the suspect. and they review the dash cam to see him shoot a full magazine.

[NiteQwill]

Only if you have adequate suppressive fire do you do a tactical reload (buddy system).

No way you're going to change a 1/4, 1/2, whatever magazine while you're engaging a target at 25 yards. And who carries 5 pistol magazines?

With that said... if you are engaging at 25 yards. Best to find good cover or flee the scene. The best gunfight is the one you run away from and survive.

[erratikmind]

Eyes closed and pulling the trigger until its empty.

[PistolS&W]

The best gunfight is the one you run away from and survive.

i agree 100%...

and in my case this would be a SHTF scenario being i dont have a CCW so. yes i would be carrying a minimum of 5 mags for my pistol.

[NiteQwill]

It's better to carry a carbine with lots of ammo vs. lots of pistol ammo.

In any case, I would avoid active engagements at all costs. The outcome is never good.

[hybridatsun350]

I answered no for one reason: At last month's practical pistol match with my local club, we decided we were going to do only tactical reloads. I quickly realized how accustomed I had come to dropping the empty mags and leaving them. It got me a loss the first time out because I didn't retain a mag, and would have earned me a second loss if I hadn't caught the mag right after dropping it free.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is shooting and getting cover is all I'm going to be focused on in a real life firefight. You must do a significant amount of training in mag retention if you are going to be successful at it. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and endangering yourself. I say shoot until your empty, and ditch that mag!

[PistolS&W]

It's better to carry a carbine with lots of ammo vs. lots of pistol ammo.

In any case, I would avoid active engagements at all costs. The outcome is never good.

yes depending on the task at hand i may also have 120 rnds for my 5.56 semi auto rifle. but thats now always a good thing to be running around with when there are looters every where and you look like the criminal from hell. all situation specific again.

and my policy is avoid any confrontation possible. and partly just carrying a pistol and not a rifle might help that rule.

[The Original Godfather]

In the middle of a rally (back and forth exchange of rounds), no, I would not tactical reload because that would give the other guy an avoidable opportunity to hit me.

If I was behind cover, then yes, I would definitely consider a tactical reload so I can assure I have the most ammo ready before running from point A to point B (mainly running away from the heat)...

[PistolS&W]

I answered no for one reason: At last month's practical pistol match with my local club, we decided we were going to do only tactical reloads. I quickly realized how accustomed I had come to dropping the empty mags and leaving them. It got me a loss the first time out because I didn't retain a mag, and would have earned me a second loss if I hadn't caught the mag right after dropping it free.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is shooting and getting cover is all I'm going to be focused on in a real life firefight. You must do a significant amount of training in mag retention if you are going to be successful at it. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and endangering yourself. I say shoot until your empty, and ditch that mag!

what practical pistol match was this? partly why ive brought this question up is i went to my first pistol match last saturday and bassically everyone was doing dumping partially full mags in order to win the "game", bassically anytime they were on the move theyd drop the mag in the pistol and put a full one in so then at the next little engagment they will have a full one and bassically never have to reload in a sense. and if i was faced with 25 bad guys in such close qaurters im not going unload my weapon.

[Sam]

If you've got a second, why not? I'm not sure I would have the capacity to think about a tactical reload though.

[PistolS&W]

In the middle of a rally (back and forth exchange of rounds), no, I would not tactical reload because that would give the other guy an avoidable opportunity to hit me.

If I was behind cover, then yes, I would definitely consider a tactical reload so I can assure I have the most ammo ready before running from point A to point B (mainly running away from the heat)...

another good point. from the civilian stand point your going to want to escape more often then not. unless there are others around that are also in danger. so if you are trying to escape and have a chance to reload then you might as well.

[OneSevenDeuce]

In the military I was taught two things.

1. Only tac reload when you have the opportunity. IE, the fight is over and you are waiting for a counter attack, or there is a temporary lull that you may take advantage of. If you are in a real fight you wont have the time to even think about tac reloading, and you shouldn't.

2. Never leave magazines with rounds still in them in the dirt. Never drop a mag when you tac reload. If things are quiet enough for you to do a tac reload then they should be quiet enough for you to retain that partial mag.

Honestly, when you are being shot at the last thing you will be thinking of is a tac reload. If you are thinking about a tac reload then you probably aren't being shot at.