That Operator Hatin' Thread got me to thinking....

[viet4lifeOC]

If you notice what someone's wearing at ths range...you're not shooting enough.

[sl0re10]

So I am confused why it's not a hunting or target rifle.

Its not high powered enough for clean kills to be a good hunting rifle.

Not a jab; a meme buster to use on ignorant antis who claim ARs and AKs are 'high powered' rifles.

They're not... hunting rifles are though. A friend is looking at buying one (for example) and the round takes 25% more powder than my mosin rounds... same powder same grain weight bullet... 25% more than a full power / non plinker mosin round....

[sl0re10]

if anyone want's to go for it with the camo and tactical vests and stuff; there is always paintball. People actually shooting at you in the forest... good reasons to wear some gear. Hurts to get hit... want to win a game.. et cetera.

[socom2shooter]

I think too, that a lot of people got things twisted with that thread. I'm pretty sure that 99% of us don't actually care what people wear. We'll see them at the range and think, "oh man, that guys crazy" or "that's a little funny" and that's it. Most of us don't spend the rest day angry because a guy was wearing some crazy ****.

I agree with the OP stance. Pro-2A is pro-2a.

Yup

[-hanko]

Why are there so many threads popping up debating on what others wear should wear at the range befor they get made fun of. I sense a bit of jealousy and insecurity. At least the guys dressed up aren't insecure what they look like or give a F what others think. Probably more fun to hang out with too.

Why??

Undoubtedly California's metrosexual leanings as well as a little gheity??

There's definite jealousy and insecurity, too...kind of like assembling an AR with enough "tactical" parts that others at the range will feel jealous and insecure when they see the gun.

[Steve_In_29]

Someone CAN use a Mosin Nagant to clear a room. Does that make it a Tactical Rifle?

I believe you would have a VERY hard time convincing those millions of Russians that fought WWII that their Mosin wasn't a "tactical rifle". Once again...

Man, some of you guys really hate the idea of using gear

I have nothing against using "gear" and own quite a bit of it but your attempt to mandate the use of it when shooting ANY AR/AK is weak at best.

[Bansh88]

I have nothing against using "gear" and own quite a bit of it but your attempt to mandate the use of it when shooting ANY AR/AK is weak at best.

Ah. So it's cool to own, gay to use.

Who said "mandate"? I tried pointing out that a chest rig, dump pouch, gloves, boots, pants and holster makes life easier for so many reasons. As cool as shorts and flip flops are, they suck for shooting prone in the dirt.
But once again, I'm referencing shooting outdoors, BLM type land.

I wonder if Volcom made the stuff and sold it at Tillys, this crowd would be more accepting?

[Arrieta578]

I grew up shooting BB guns and was hunting dove, deer, and on occasion ducks and pheasants by 14. By age 16, I had saved enough money to buy my own 870 and 700 BDL. I can still remember buy dove shells at Longs Drugs, and my friends and I riding 10 speeds out to the dove fields with shotguns slung through the handlebars. I started shooting pistols before common "striker fired pistols" were invented, and I can still remember as a teenager how cool Tom Selleck looked in his tigerstripes with his 1911. "Tacticool" before tacticool was invented? Maybe.

But I think "tacticool" has always been with us and is the result of soldiers coming home from war and America's intimate relationship with the gun. After the First World War, it became popular for hunters to wear military boots, boot leggings, and military wool pants in the field. Then after the Second World War, the popularity of the semi-automatic used by soldiers in combat all but destroyed the double gun market for Parker, Fox, LC Smith, and Ithaca among others. The Whilly's Jeep became the hunting rig par none and Mashburn started building his wildcat Mashburn 7mm Mag on German Mauser 98 actions for deer and elk.

As I see it, what changed is this: as America became more and more urban and less and less people hunted, the application of what soldiers learned and the equipment they used shifted from "hunting" to "survival," "prep-ers," and "tactical." This shift started in the late 70s and has grown to where we are today. Add to that the dramatic rise in the 90s of modern street gangs, the popularity of gang culture (pull up your pants!), difficult economic times, a shrinking middle class, Sept 11th, Katrina, and two long wars and the result is that much of the shooting world is now centered around what many refer too as "tacticool."

As I see it, it is just another phase in America's long and intimate history with the gun. And I'm ok with that. Let's just not get too wrapped up about it.

BTW: Do you guys remember this?

[Steve_In_29]

Ah. So it's cool to own, gay to use.

None of my comments implied that I had anything against using "gear". My replies were aimed solely at your wildly uninformed comment that AR/AKs were not hunting/target rifle as well as your follow on, even more ignorant, post about the Mosin.

Who said "mandate"? I tried pointing out that a chest rig, dump pouch, gloves, boots, pants and holster makes life easier for so many reasons. As cool as shorts and flip flops are, they suck for shooting prone in the dirt.
But once again, I'm referencing shooting outdoors, BLM type land.

You did...memory coming back to you now?

I'm still trying to figure out what everyones definition of "range" is.

If you're shooting any kind of military type rifle, AK, AR... You should be training with proper equipment. Yes, (gasp) a chest rig and sling would be nesccessary. As these are not hunting or target rifles.

I dont see it any different than holstering your pistol or having mags on a belt.

But once again, if you're only shooting indoors at a faciltiy with every Tom, Dick and Harry, you are very limited as to what you can do. In which case, I feel sorry for you.

I wonder if Volcom made the stuff and sold it at Tillys, this crowd would be more accepting?

Spoken like someone that is upset because not everyone thinks his tacti-cool 5.11 outfit is the height of fashion.

[Steve_In_29]

.....BTW: Do you guys remember this?

WOW I can't remember ever even hearing of that movie.