Customer Reviews

The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study Of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Gabe Suarez was awarded the Medal of Honor as a police officer, has studied under Jeff Cooper and is an accomplished instructor in his own right. Better still, for us --the shooter trying to better himself-- Gabe is a good author. This book is *information* from beginning to end. You will have difficulty finding another book that graphically illustrates the methods used by professionals when "clearing" a home or apartment. This book does just that and that information, alone, would make it a "best buy." Also covered are the proper use of cover and concealment and operating in reduced light among other topics. Gabe Suarez, however, goes further and explains various methods of controlling your firearm in a struggle and its effective use in close-quarter defense. This book is one of the few that describes how to handle those situations where you do NOT have to shoot, which make up a majority of home encounters. The individual who carries a firearm as a part of his profession or for personal defense will find enough of value in this book to warrant its purchase. In addition, Gabe explains and illustrates proper tactics for teams that, even if you do not use them in your profession, will be informative -- and entertaining when you see it done so poorly in the movies and on TV. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to "The Gun Guy" readers.

In the introcuction, Suarez tells that in his opinion, this book is "the most complete study of tactical principles ever written". That's a "minor" overstatement. It is not a bad thing that a man has confidence on his ability, but he should be realistic also. I don't mean to say that this is not a good book, because it is. It just isn't "a definitive study", as it claims to be.

The book covers a variety of topics, and has separate chapters on different tactical obstacles (like stairs and doors). But the text is not clear enough; without the pictures and drawings (which there are plenty) you would be hard pressed to understand some of the things Suarez is trying to say. Luckily the pictures and captions are very informative.

There are several things that bother me. First, it seems like Suarez didn't know to whom he is writing the book. Part of the text seems to be aimed to a SWAT team member, part is intended for armed civilian, and the rest to military personnel. Secondly, Suarez just gives his opinion on certain matters (like the best flashlight technique or shooting stance) without explaining why or referring the alternatives. You are just supposed to believe what he says, whithout thinking it out yourself. The third complain is that although there is some humor in the text, the book is a bit too "gung-ho" to my taste. I just don't like the attitude that "if you encounter a hostile, neutralize him and continue the search".

All things considered, this is a good book, but it has it's flaws.

Suarez's best work and one of my favorite books the topic. If you want to learn how to clear a building or move tactically in and through close quarters this is the book that I recomend. Suarez covers the topic very well with his text and illustrations. This book is different from many others of the same genre. It covers the actual tactics involved in confrontation more than gun-handling.

This is an intermediate to advanced level book. If you're new to firearms, or self defence, you may find it more usefull to read Suarez's more recent book: Tactical Pistol Marksmanship: How to Improve Your Combat Shooting Skills.

As a Federal LEO, I can safely say that I have seen a lot of firearms training and Gabe is in the leage of Master Trainers. He tells it like it is in this book and doesn't paint gunfighting with the rose colored glasses that cloud this sometimes PC topic. Gabe's techniques work and they work in the real world. I have used them on duty and they are far better than what is being taught at many of the so called high speed low drag schools.

Gabe teaches Gunfighting, not shooting. real gunfights are violent and while violence seems to offend some of the more timid readers, it is reality and anyone that is carrying a gun has a responsibility to be trained in its use. This book is a big step toward that training. Unlike many of his detractore, Gabe has actually been in gunfights and won. He knows what happens when it is time to sling lead and he knows how to win. I highly recomend this book for anyone interested in using a firearm for self defense.

While I'm not sure I'd call it definitive (this topic is simply bigger than any 200 page book can cover), this book truly is outstanding. As with all of Suarez's books, this one is well-written, easy to understand, and packed with solid advice. Contents include tactical mind-set, basic tactical principles, building searches (corners/hallways, doors, stairs, extreme close quarters), tactical movement, shooting on the move, cover, concealment, reduced light operations, team tactics, tactical communications, non-shooting confrontations, weapons retention, combat countermeasures, distance intervals for close-quarters defense, outdoor tactics, and tools for searching. There is a good section on how to practice the various tactics covered in the work along with sources for gear and training and even a suggested reading list. The photos are, unfortunately, not horribly well reproduced (e.g., dark, grainy) so they do not add as much value as I would have liked but you can figure out what's going on nevertheless.

Suarez, a law enforcement Medal of Valor winner, not only knows his stuff but has experienced real life violence and countervailing force in a way that the rest of us hope we never have to. It's written more from a law enforcement perspective then from a civilian one, so you need to take it in the proper context and adjust accordingly. For example, if someone breaks in during the middle of the night you may be best served by simply locking the bedroom door, calling the cops, shouting that you have done so, and sitting back with your gun at the ready, rather than having to clear the house and face off against a potentially armed and dangerous intruder. Don't forget that only law enforcement professionals HAVE to run toward the bad guys in every situation. Having said that, however, if you want solid advice on tactical close-quarters combat this is an excellent resource.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Gabriel Suarez is a big city copy who trained under the famous Jeff Cooper.  As such, you will see a lot of Cooper in this book, but it is a great book for the advanced student.   Beginners can get a preview of the skills that are going to be required to become truly competent with your firearm for self-defense.  Lots of coverage on building searches with good sections on tactical movement, reduced lighting situations and weapons retention techniques.

This book is an excellent treatise on modern tactics, as they apply to the citizen and police officer. Suarez's book and its information are applicable in its totality to citizens and LEOs alike. The many excellent photographs help the reader visualize the techniques given. An excellent book well worth the time of anyone interested in protecting themselves and their families from harm.

"A Reader in Colorado" has no clue that even though Police Departments may change their emphasis and be kinder and genteler there is a world out there with many violent, violent people. The Police are the ones forced to deal with these type people are at their worst. As a kind loving father and Polcie Officer who wants to go home at night I find Mr. Saurez to have many new ideas and old ones that refresh acadamey days long since past.

Most practical shooting instructors will refer to the "combat triad" of 1) mindset 2) skills and 3) tactics. Mindset is your frame of mind when faced with a threat, skills are the handling of your weapon and tactics are what you do with yourself and weapon. Suarez touches on all of these things in this book. His discussion of mindset shows a massive ego and he gives very little info on weapons skills. The reader should ignore these parts. If you can't hit with your weapon under ideal range circumstances you should concentrate on that before getting a book on tactics. And you need to set your mind at ease with the idea of using a gun to take a life in self defense probably before you even get a defensive gun. Once you've got the right frame of mind and the skills, it is time to begin realistically thinking about what you would do when faced with a potential bad-guy. As stated this is mostly a book on tactics in urban environments, and it excels at this. There are chapters on each of the many obstacles faced in house clearing. There are very good illustrations to help you understand what the text says. Let's face it. The majority of home owners aren't going to get to go to Gunsite or other high end training schools so this book may be all they have. This is a book that will help you face the unknown bump in the night. But you have to get it, study it, and most importantly PRACTICE it. In your underwear at 2AM is not the time to be trying to remember exactly what target indicators you are supposed to be looking for...or how to pie a corner.

Although probably new material for most readers, this should only be a refresher for those who have taken a few tactical shooting courses and served in law enforcement or the military.

Chapters cover different obstacles such as; corners, doorways, stairs, T-intersections, 4-way intersections, etc... The ample supply of clear images and useful diagrams help explain the concepts. Suarez includes a chapter on mindset and another on nonshooting confrontations. Although many similar books cover mindset, it is rare to see a discussion of a nonshooting event.

The UberTactical uniforms and Front Sight logos were a distraction for me. The wide range to topics covered did not allow for a complete discussion on any of them and leads to confusion on who the target audience is supposed to be; homeowner, SWAT team member or Infantry soldier.

A good book that is worth your time to read so long as you are not expecting "A definitive study..."