As a mere competitive shooter, I cannot speak to combat tactics, but I have certainly seen the results of focus and practice on a technique.
Early days of IDPA, the Tactical Reload was emphasized and the Reload with (Magazine) Retention was deprecated. If a Tac Load was specified, the RWR was not allowed. So I practiced the Tac Load, both in a hurry for the match timer and as an administrative reload when practicing something else.
Then the RWR was legitimized by making it equal to the Tac Load as a "Chamber Loaded Reload". I thought about the RWR as less fumble prone and therefore preferable in most cases. But did I practice it enough to drive the Tac Load out of my reflexes? Nope. Even though the Tac Load was no longer required, I still defaulted to the moves I worked to learn. Now the Chamber Loaded Reload is no longer required in any situation, but it is convenient in some Courses of Fire. So I still do a Tac Load.
Now, what about actually USING the ammo you saved with some form of CLR?
Under IDPA rules, it takes a really contrived CoF to push you into digging that partial magazine out of pocket, pouch or waistband. I have had to do it at major matches only twice in 20 years and very seldom in local matches striving for novel challenges.
So what about case studies of actual gunfights? Is there a recorded account of somebody stowing a partial magazine and having to go back to it under fire?
Code Name: JET STREAM
I think your definition of "tac reload" is the opposite of what the thread defines it as (see first post). But that is very interesting about 'training scars' if you will.
Regarding anyone ever needing the partially spent mag: BBI knows about one case where it was used, but had no impact. So no fights decided with the more complicated, slower, technique.
Last edited by Soggy; 09-20-2017 at 01:50 PM. Reason: got my blues mixed up
1. Shift support hand to below gun.
2. Eject partial magazine into support hand.
3. Stow partial magazine in mag pouch, pants or vest pocket (but not breast pocket) or waistband.
4. Draw full magazine and reload.
5. Regain shooting grip with support hand
6. Shoot.
It is less fumble prone than the book Tac Load because you only have one magazine in hand at a time. It leaves the gun unloaded somewhat longer than a PERFECT Tac Load, which was why early IDPA tacticians disapproved of it.
The first major match I ran into a mandatory Tac Load, I blew it completely and actually put the partial magazine back in the gun. The SO just went kind of googly-eyed and did not penalize me. But I felt embarrassed and practiced a lot.
I even worked on a real Tac Load for the revolver. The IDPA rule book of the day just sloughed it off with "Eject the contents of the cylinder and dump the whole mess in a pocket, then reload." But I wanted to be able to get the live rounds back and worked on methods to keep loaded and empty .38s separate.
Code Name: JET STREAM
Thank you for explaining that. I hope we can all agree that the RWR will get you killed in the streets, and the Tac load is better than that.
Your experience performing the Tac load incorrectly under pressure, even after practice, is very interesting. That is a another data point that tells me that just letting the mag hit the floor is a better bet*.
(*for me - others can and will draw different conclusions)
On the timer, an IDPA style Reload with Retention (eject/catch partial mag, stow, grab full mag, insert) is usually faster than the traditional Tactical Reload, where you bring the full magazine up to the gun and make the exchange there. I've done both types of reload in competition and real world environments, and generally speaking am of the opinion that if I have the time to fiddle fart around with partial magazines, I have the time to pick a partial up off the ground.