But, this article is about taking quick action without tools being available (yes, I suppose there are some who violate this MANdate), and it appears you can kick your way through a door.

However, those that use the mule kick in a military setting need to remember 2 things: 1) Your gear (my rig was ~85 pounds) counterweights your kick rather than adding to power, and could put you flat on your face if you don’t break through. 2) when your foot makes contact, that singular moment when the tango on the other side is learning exactly where you are, your body position has just made around 80% of your armor ineffective. You’re stretched out, and rounds or shrapnel will hit you in the arse and shoot right up through your pelvic floor, which is about as bad as it sounds.

In the LE field, I tend to prefer a front kick on the door, mostly because I don’t have a fire team with me all the time, and I have to be ready for that oh crap moment when it’s just me because the situation is that bad. I want to be able to put my weapon on target instantly after kicking and advance into the room with the most information I can get in that moment. I tend to aim just below the lock rather than beside it, as a lot of doors have a frame with panelling, and hitting below the lock still puts you on the frame.

Of course you should always try the doorknob. And a sledgehammer, ram, primacord, block of C4, Cannon-barrel off an M1A2, or a D10 Dozer are the best ways, in that order, to make violent and unforteggable entry through a door….the latter two either shoving the door in with an object no one is soon to forget, or just obliterating the whole fracking wall in a swipe!