A tactical reload is reloading a weapon that has only fired a few rounds out of its magazine, and retaining the original magazine.[1][2] An example is an infantryman reloading before entering a hostile building, concerned about ammunition.[3] Tactical doctrine states that one should always have a full magazine before entering the building or hostile situation,[4] but it is also bad practice to throw away ammunition in case it is needed.[5][6]
A tactical reload is executed by ejecting the magazine and retaining it while inserting a new magazine.[7][1] The partially expended magazine can then be used later.[8]
The main advantage of a tactical reload as opposed to a speed reload is that rounds remain in the partially spent magazine for future use. This can be important in first-person shooter games such as the majority of Call of Duty games. [4]
The main disadvantage of a tactical reload as opposed to a speed reload is that reloading is slower.