Tactical rifles have become more and more common as a description in the firearms market these days to differentiate one rifle from another, such as a hunting rifle, for example. But what is a tactical rifle?

Unfortunately, there’s not really a clear-cut answer to that question because tactical can really be a description of how the firearm is used instead of having a industry-wide definition.

If you’re talking about how a firearm is used, then you can (and should) use any firearm tactically, meaning that you should use it for a specific intended purpose. For example, take basic safety rules for firearms such as don’t point at anything that you aren’t willing to destroy. You just don’t pull out your firearm to pull out your firearm, and you certainly don’t point it at just anything. It is a weapon, after all. You pull it out for a tactical purpose, even if that tactic is to clean your weapon for the bigger strategic purpose of always keeping the firearm in good, usable shape.

But calling a firearm a tactical firearm due to how its used is like calling a rifle an assault rifle because someone used one to assault someone. Yes, that’s technically true, but that’s not how many people use the term “assault rifle.” They use it to mean one of the scary rifles that look like it could be something used by the military.

And it’s that second definition (“It looks like it could be used by the military”) that seems to be informing Smith & Wesson’s naming of their M&P 15T II Tactical Rifle.

I don’t say that to in any way degrade the quality of this weapon. I say it only to clarify the meaning (or lack of meaning) that the term has. That being said, if you’re in the market for a rifle that doesn’t “look” like a hunting rifle, then you may want to check out these specs for the M&P 15T II from Smith & Wesson’s website:

• Flat face trigger
• M&P® grip with four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts
• Magpul® CTR carbine-length stock
• 15-inch free-float M-Lok® handguard
• Four, patented rubber buffers in lower receiver for tighter tolerences and improved accuracy
• Magpul® MBUS® dual aperture, flip-up, adjustable sights
• Ambidextrous Radian Raptor-LT™ charging handle
• Ambidextrous safety selector
• M4E flash suppressor
• M&P® M-Lok® rail included
• Forged, integral trigger guard
• 15-inch cable lock included

No doubt, many people are going to be very excited about this rifle, and that’s completely understandable. It’s a great looking rifle as you can see in the picture above.

So, if you’re in the market for a new rifle, maybe especially a “tactical” rifle, then you may want to check out Smith & Wesson’s M&P 15T II.