Tactical Truths: The Hard Lessons Most Shooters Ignore

March 13, 2025

We don’t train for the predictable at Redback One; we train for the real world. Whether you're military, law enforcement, or a responsible armed citizen, your skills need to be more than theoretical. Too many shooters fall into the same traps, training for convenience instead of reality. If you want to be truly prepared, it’s time to face some hard truths.

1. Your Range Habits May Be Setting You Up for Failure

If your training is limited to standing in front of a single target at a known distance, you could be developing a training scar that leads to critical mistakes. The real world isn’t a flat range. In a fight, you're likely to be moving, problem-solving, and dealing with stress. If you're not already doing it, you should be integrating more realistic training techniques such as moving off the X, unconventional shooting positions like roll-over prone, and decision-making targets (shoot/no-shoot).

2. You’re Shooting Fast But Not Smart

Speed without accuracy is a liability. In the real world, there are no do-overs. We train shooters to balance speed with precision because you can't shoot faster than you can accurately engage threats; missing is not an option. Shot placement is critical. Focus on efficiency over reckless speed.

3. You’re Not Testing Yourself Against Live Opposition

Shooting at a static target is one thing. Engaging an adversary who moves, reacts, and fights back is a different game. If you’ve never done force-on-force training, you’re not pressure-testing your skills. Adrenaline, stress, and split-second decision-making will make or break you; train accordingly.

4. Cover and Concealment: The Most Misunderstood Skill

Standing in the open while engaging threats is a fatal mistake. Knowing how to properly use cover—how to approach it, minimize your exposure, and move dynamically—can mean the difference between survival and failure. Train smarter by incorporating cover drills into every session.

5. Are You Training for the Fight or the Fantasy?

Real-world engagements don’t happen under perfect conditions. The opposition always gets a say, and unpredictable elements such as stoppages, injuries, or environmental factors can complicate any fight. If you don’t have strong skills, sound decision-making, and well-rounded tactical proficiency, you’re putting yourself at risk. Conditions will never be perfect; it could be cold, dark, wet, or you might be exhausted, but that doesn’t change how we operate. We adapt, we fight through, and we win. If you’ve never trained in low-light, adverse weather, or while physically fatigued, you’re not ready. Redback One’s training pushes shooters beyond their comfort zones so they can perform when it counts.

6. Your Gear Won’t Save You

Tactical gear is great, but it doesn’t replace skill. A high-end rifle won’t compensate for poor fundamentals. At Redback One, we emphasize training over tools because mindset, tactics, and marksmanship are what win fights.

7. Situational Awareness: The Most Important Skill You’re Ignoring

Avoiding the fight is better than winning it. Keeping your head on a swivel, maintaining situational awareness, identifying potential threats, understanding body language, and recognizing pre-attack indicators are all critical survival skills. If you’re not training your brain to process threats before they escalate, you’re already behind. We don’t just teach people to shoot we teach them to think. Stay alert, stay ahead, and stay prepared.

Elevate Your Training

At Redback One, we don’t just build shooters, we build professionals. Our training goes beyond static drills and into the realm of reality-based, combat-proven techniques. If you’re serious about refining your skills, stepping out of your comfort zone, and becoming truly prepared, it’s time to train with us.

Ready to take your tactical training to the next level? Let’s get to work.

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