First go at this. I went for a decidedly old school webbing configuration catered to dismounted light infantry skills. I plan on working up a chest rig and minimalist belt in the future.
The Belt:
- VTAC cobra instructor belt
- VTAC/Tyr Brokos belt
- Tactical Tailor Fight Light H-Harness
Pouches from left to right:
- Tactical Tailor Magna Pistol Magazine Carrier
- 2x HSGI Tacos
- 2x Tactical Tailor Universal Magazine pouches shingled on top of the Tacos
- MOLLE Canteen Carrier/General Purpose Pouch
- ATS Medium Upright general purpose Pouch
- MOLLE Canteen Carrier/General Purpose Pouch
- HSGI bleeder IFAK pouch
- Safariland 3280 mid-ride holster for Beretta with light
- Space for future expansion
I built this belt with an eye towards flexibility. I currently own several magazine-fed rifles and several pistols. Aside from the ARs, I have M1A mags, 308 PMAGs, and AICS mags for the bolt gun. I also have the M1 Garand and its en bloc clips. In the future, I’m looking at an AK variant (particularly the DDI Magpul edition). I wanted a rig that could sufficiently support all of these weapon systems.
The TT universal pouches can hold up to three AR mags each, though I don't intend to actually run them that way. More realistically, it would be two in each pouch, one in each taco, and one in the gun. Or, one in each taco and a beer in each TT pouch
I know the choice to use canteen covers is odd, since everyone has hydration bladders these days (I also keep one in my pack). But I still like having hard bottles, since they are easier to fill from sources that aren't faucets, work better for purification tabs, and work well for wound irrigation. The use of USGI pattern canteen covers, and USGI pattern canteens (I use Nalgene Oasis bottles) allows for USGI pattern stove and cup (I use an updated version from the Pathfinder School)
The pouches themselves are also multipurpose. If I remove the canteen, the cover works as a passable dump pouch, capable of carrying 5 STANAG magazines, binoculars, or other assorted items.
I had an EMDOM USA dump pouch on this belt where the left canteen cover is. I removed it because I find it just as fast to drop empties down the front of my jacket and let the belt retain them for later.
The HSGI Bleeder/Blowout is brand new and empty (Christmas gift). I plan on filling it with:
(2) Nitrile Glove
(1) Compressed z-pack gauze
(1) Israeli Emergency Bandage, 4” (or Olaes bandage)
(1) NAR Hyfin Compact Vented Chest Seal (2 pack)
(1) Nasopharyngeal Airway w/ Lube, 28 Fr
(1) Permanent Marker
(1) Tactical Combat Casualty Care Card
(1) Chitogauze (hemostatic agent)
(1) ARS chest decompression needle
(1) Small flat roll of duct tape
(1) Benchmade Rescue 8 Hook instead of shears
On top of this is my pack (SOC 3-Day-Pass, from my local AAFES Exchange, until i can get something better). Once loaded, the pack can rest on the shelf made by the canteens and ATS pouch, which helps transfer the weight of the pack to my hips rather than my shoulder. Works well for long walks.
Limiting Factors
Frankly, this rig is more concept based on observation than anything. I started working on it while I lived in Montana, but now live in California. That means that everything built around 30 rd mags is moot, since I'm stuck with 10 rounders that don't really "fit" in the pouches well. All the photos above are 10 round magazines pulled up a bit to emulate the position of 30 round mags.
California also means that I can't really test how well this works for reloads, due to the bullet button.
The left side is heavier than the right side, but I won't know how much I need to rebalance until I can fully load it up.
Anyway, it's a concept in progress. I'm open to feedback.
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