View Full Version : I'm Looking For Some Good Suggestions
Okay, first off hello to all. I've been lurking here awhile and love all the info. What a great site.
As the title says, I'm looking for some suggestions for a gear setup. The main use will be just a general purpose setup, maybe used for a class in the future, but mainly a (I hate the term but...) SHTF rig.
My configuration will need to accomodate the following items/ set up.
Minimum 4/ max 6 AR mags
Hydration bladder
Possibly one or two general purpose pouches for misc gear
Holster for a 1911 (no thigh rig, but drop down set up is ok)
2-4 extra pistol mags
Chest rig or vest is undecided.
Molle compatable so the rig could be reconfigured with less/ more gear as needed
Belt to use in conjunction with or seperate from the rig itself
Best quality for a decent price
I have a few ideas floating in my head but I want to hear what you guys would come up with. Thanks!!!
Gutshot John
10-04-09, 01:56
In my experience what you start with will not be what you end up with - setups are as individual as fingerprints. I'm still making mods to my setup and I've gone down more than one dead end.
My suggestion would be an SKD/Eagle Chest rig and a separate camelbak (if you really want hydration). It meets most of your criteria for a modest price. I would not spend a lot of money at this point until you've had at least a class or two.
You will start figuring out what works or doesn't work for you.
Eagle Chest Rig Universal
CamelBak Thermobak 3L Hydration Pack
Safariland 6280
Eagle Duty Belt
HSGI Bleeder/Blowout Pouch
Maxpedition Dump Pouch
Other pouches as desired.
A good option would the USMC03's BCM 03 MSF Chest Harness (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-03-MSF-Chest-Harness-s/124.htm). It gives you four mags, plus a hydration bladder.
I'm also fond of the SKD/Eagle Chest Rig that Gutshot John mentioned. I've used one through several courses and found it to meet my needs very well. Plus it has extra space for a pouch or two if you want to carry some support gear, more pistol mags, or whatever.
I'm very fond of Tactical Tailor's MAV. It's available as a standard chest rig or split front, and you can pair it with the X-Harness. I've been using one for a couple of years now. I often wear a separate belt with a smaller BOK, holster, mag pouch, and dump pouch.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6338/mavv.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/mavv.jpg/)
ETA: From left to right; DBT NVG pouch (I use it as my vest BOK), DBT double mag pouches (handily, they also fit a variety of radios), TT triple mag pouch (handily, a perfect fit for a surefire light also), TT radio pouch, and DBT SR25 mag pouch (I use this as a utility pouch; chem lights, gloves, VS-17, etc.).
Gutshot John
10-04-09, 10:35
Like jtb0311 I've ended up with a two piece MAV/belt holster as my preferred platform, but I don't know that it works for everyone. In the interim I've tried different chest rigs, tactical vests and battle belts. None of which worked as well for me as the MAV, but at a point in time I saw how well those alternatives worked for others and thought they would work for me. They didn't for me, but that doesn't mean they won't for you.
The SKD/Eagle rig is more than enough rig for a class which is really what you need to establish a baseline and evaluate what is and what is not going to work for you. In terms of expense you might even be able to find one used as other people have used it for the same reasons you stated. You might end up selling it and if you do, there will invariably be someone who's just starting down the path. So you're not into it for a lot of money, and you can recoup most of your investment if you decide you need something different.
Do yourself a favor and take a class or two before you start investing heavily in gear.
Kentucky Cop
10-04-09, 13:03
Take a look at the Mayflower product line. They have several awesome vests that accept soft and hard body armor. You could kit it out like you want to as you go. Just my thoughts. I believe Rob has tested one out with great results:p
Ky Cop
PA PATRIOT
10-04-09, 13:51
What ever you chose just try to keep it simple and low cost, these days it seems students try to make more of a fashion statement with their gear hanging the latest in vogue pouch or drop leg. All thats really needed is a secure, functional and comfortable load bearing vest or belt with support with basic pouches. Three to Four AR and two Pistol magazines is all thats really needed at most schools and if the SHTF and your engagement required more then the list load out you maybe in way over your head and most likely not going to survive the engagement.
I appreciate all the comments so far. However, Okami099 has given the closest answer to what I am looking for. I am not worried about the latest gear, classes, spending too much, etc.. I was asking for specific brand/ type of kit for the paramiters that I laid out.
Very simply, if you were going to outfit a rig with the gear/ loadout I specified, what exactly would you use to do so? It would really be helpful if you listed it something like this;
XYZ chest rig
Open/ closed ABC brand mag carriers (if applicable)
ETC,
Etc,
Thanks guys, keep the ideas coming.
Gutshot John
10-05-09, 12:54
Very simply, if you were going to outfit a rig with the gear/ loadout I specified, what exactly would you use to do so? It would really be helpful if you listed it something like this;
XYZ chest rig
Open/ closed ABC brand mag carriers (if applicable)
ETC,
Etc,
Thanks guys, keep the ideas coming.
That will maybe give you the answer you want, but not necessarily the answer you need. I'd be very skeptical of any advice that said "get this as one size fits all". Open top, close top, this brand/that brand, are all subjective judgments based on personal preference. I know its easier with so many choices to have someone simply break it down for you, but having been done that road myself it doesn't really work.
Have you taken any classes? Until you move around and put large numbers of rounds downrange with your gear and rifle, it will be very difficult to know what you need. If you have taken classes, share what worked and didn't work for you as it will narrow a lot of the choices out there.
That will maybe give you the answer you want, but not necessarily the answer you need.
Yes!
However, given the phrase-ology of the question and the subsequent request, one get's the answers one requests, and garbage in = garbage out. ;)
Which brings up the question(s) for the OP.
Are you looking for your request to be dissected (because I have some issues with your load out, as well as the way you asked your question, as well as the amount of thought that you appear to be putting into this, as well as the priorities you seem to have established), or are you looking for a simple gear list that isn't worth the time it takes to type?
where's that unqualified opinion post....
Like other posters, I have a two piece Tactical Tailor MAV that is great for the lightweight loadout that I use for range, hunting, and classes. I also have a Spec-Ops Over-Armor Vest that is full coverage front and back for heavier loads. I took this one out with my Maxpedition Monsoon on a three day hike/hunt through some land a friend has in New Mexico. Very nice kit, especially with the matching belt that hooks to the vest with Molle straps.
Also, I have fallen in love with the Gen III Fast Mag carriers. Belt or vest models HUG those mags. Great for sideways or inverted load, like on a cross chest bandolier. Plus, the top tabs prevent the "leaning mag" problem that I have run into when my vest is not skin tight.
Yes!
However, given the phrase-ology of the question and the subsequent request, one get's the answers one requests, and garbage in = garbage out. ;)
Which brings up the question(s) for the OP.
Are you looking for your request to be dissected (because I have some issues with your load out, as well as the way you asked your question, as well as the amount of thought that you appear to be putting into this, as well as the priorities you seem to have established), or are you looking for a simple gear list that isn't worth the time it takes to type?
where's that unqualified opinion post....
I really don't want to start out my time on this forum in a bad light. With that said, you could actually be helpful and either A) answer the question posted, which would be helpful, B) answer the questions you had of me and my thought process/ loadout, which in turn would be helpful, or C) not respond at all if all you want to do is tear me down, which in turn would be helpful.
So far all you have done is tried to make me look foolish by your comments without knowing my background or level of experience. I have read many of your posts and I will not question your knowledge. Perhaps you could give me the same courtesy or just not post in this thread if you "have issue" with the request I made.
I apologize in advance if this seems hostle (( really not intended to be).
your response makes it clear that you don't know what you want, so you answered my question without even trying.
People are trying to help. Some are doing the typical "get this, it's what I have and it's great" with no further explanation of why it's great, what other products they've tried, what their intended use is, how they use it, etc. Frankly those posts are useless. They leave you exactly where you started, which is knowing that there are a sea of products available and not having any idea what makes one better than another. Based on the question you asked, and your insistence that people answer in a precise and limited way, these are exactly the kinds of answers you deserve. But you can them them with a google search.
Some of us are trying to get behind the scenes a bit, get you to think or explain your request a bit more so that we can actually be of some help and give you information you can use.
this is the post I was referring to (http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19307). If what you want is the same responses you'll get from a google search, then we can leave you alone and those that have nothing more to say than "get what I got" can continue. GJ hit the nail on the head with his "That will maybe give you the answer you want, but not necessarily the answer you need."
There is a wealth of knowledge available here. Asking questions in an intelligent and complete way will get you intelligent and complete answers and allow you to tap into that knowledgebase in a much more complete way.
Have you taken classes in the past? What and with who? How did you arrive at the need for 4 rifle magazines and 2-4 pistol magazines? Do you want the belt to be part of the "vest" like an old 1980s style tac vest or separate? Is the holster going on the vest or the chest? What about the other pouches? Give us more background and we'll give you more than the google answers.
Finally, have you looked around the site at all? There are several threads about "battle belt" setups, various chest rigs, etc.
As I think someone else posted, my suggestion is to start small/simple, get some training with that rig, and move forward from there. Having a "shtf rig" that is untested and unused isn't going to be very productive. Obviously formal training isn't the only place/way to test your gear, but it's a good one. Load carriage becomes a complicated mess without testing, use and vetting.
We had an orientation and qualification for new shooters last week. One of the guys that didn't pass failed almost entirely because of his load carriage. He was spending so much time tugging and pulling at it, dragging and adjusting it, that he couldn't perform the drills safely. Had he put a little more thought into the rig he was using, and stayed with a simpler setup to begin with, he probably would have been much better off.
If, after all of my rudeness, you're interested in my opinion, I wrote an article on my site called Load Carriage for Training Classes (http://tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/56227.html) that is more about the concepts than the specific gear, and Evolution of a Training Rig (http://tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/50303.html) about the dangers of getting carried away with molle webbing.
Ben Lenett
10-06-09, 10:05
I think you all will find this to be a much better solution than the Eagle/SKD chest rig. It fixes a lot of issues that rig has.
http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=16275&cat=71&page=1
VooDoo6Actual
10-06-09, 11:36
Excellent KIT be advised the Eagle Active Shooter Chest Rig has difficulty in PRONE position.
While it could be rationalized that it is for ambulatory shooting postions, supported and unsupported and works fine.
It can be equally rationalized that no one gets to pick the exact scenario (meaning shooting position) in a Active Shoooter as it is transitory.
imo, this rig is too thick for PRONE postition shooting BTDT deployed.
I would suggest the model Eagle makes where you can move the pistol or other types of pouches to the obique. Operators are finding it too think and prefer the MOLLE on sides for additonal pouches.
http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=118&cat=71&page=1
http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=695&cat=71&page=1
HTH in your quest !
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