Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

by Gabriel Suarez

Read this book and learn the combat-proven techniques big-city cops use to stay alive and effective when the bullets start flying. Maintain the tactical advantage in any situation by knowing how to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873649753
• ISBN13: 9780873649759
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Paladin Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

An excellent resource

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

Rare discussion of actual tactics more than gun-handling

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.

Well Written, Engaging and Informative

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.

Let's Go Tactical

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.

Whole-heartedly recommended by "The Gun Guy."

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.