Help with Eagle/SKD chest rig

[hearno]

I picked up the universal SKD chest rig made by Eagle. I think it's great however the middle mag pouches don't have any sort of retention. They're fine when two mags are in each pouch, however, after a reload leaving a single mag in there it's hard to keep it from falling out when running or dropping down prone etc. Any ideas?

This is the one I have:
http://www.skdtac.com/Eagle_Chest_Rig_Universal_SKD_p/eag.567.htm

[Pax]

Dont think there's enough room in there for Kydex, and affixing it if there was room is another issue.

Depending on your confidence in your sewing abilities, you can either whip up some 1" Velcro straps similar to the straps featured on the other two mag pouches or simply thread some shock cord through holes burned through the pouch's front and back, (use a cheap soldering iron), and make a duct tape pull tab to keep on top of the shock cord. This latter option is far less secure, especially with a single mag. Magpul Ranger floorplates will secure them a bit more but I still wouldnt trust it with one mag in there. The former option (Velcro straps, not shock cord) requires more work and skill and will require you to reattach the Velcro strap after removing the first mag. The straps would also have to be sewn to the inside of the front of the pouch, given that the pouch's front is another flap. So the Velcro would have to go on the rear side of the pouch, difficult to describe, kind of like an old HSGI Wa/Woo/Weesatch if you've used those.

If you're interested in doing it yourself, there are several DIY supply stores online that can be very helpful in sourcing decent webbing, thread and Velcro. If not, there are also several manufacturers and hobbyists represented on this site who can do the work for you. Consider it and let us know. Good luck.

(In the future, buy a fully modular rig.)

[Hammer27]

(In the future, buy a fully modular rig.)

X2

Might want to try some kind of kydex rig where the lips of the magazine snap into the kydex which is then tied to the drain hole of the pouch with 550 cord. When you pull the magazine you'll pull it off the kydex but it won't fall off by itself. Kind of like this but for a magazine:

http://www.onesourcetactical.com/zackconcealmentholster.aspx

[ST911]

I have the same rig and made the same observations. A piece of shock cord sewn or riveted on will do the trick.

[hearno]

(In the future, buy a fully modular rig.)

Thank for all for the replies and suggestions. Can someone expand on this please?

[Hammer27]

Thank for all for the replies and suggestions. Can someone expand on this please?

Something covered in MOLLE/PALS so you can put the pouches you want where you want.

https://dstactical.com/images/mav1_body.jpg

[hearno]

Got ya. I mistakenly assumed the pouch was designed for m4 mags. I didn't realize universal was for the pouches in this case.

[krm375]

for instance, modular, pals webbing and then you put your mag pouches on the rig, the shock cord on the DBT or the elastic on the Blue force gear hold the mags securely in place,

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/minimav.aspx

http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/product/Diamondback-Tacticalreg-Low-Vis-Rack-w-MOLLE-LV7,220,63.htm

http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/product/Diamondback-Tacticalreg-M4M16-Single-Top-Pouch-Inverted,110,36.htm

http://www.blueforcegear.com/products/Ten%252dSpeed™-Double-M4-Mag-Pouch.html

[titsonritz]

Take your pick:

Small
http://originalsoegear.com/palsmicro.html

Medium
http://originalsoegear.com/mwrl.html

or Large
http://originalsoegear.com/modfrog.html

[CLHC]

I picked up the universal SKD chest rig. . .it's great however the middle mag pouches don't have any sort of retention. . .fine when two mags are in each pouch, however, after a reload leaving a single mag in there it's hard to keep it from falling out when running or dropping down prone etc.
Just curious here. Has this happened with your run?

[TehLlama]

I've had this happen. Not the end of the world, just a known limitation of the vest. Sewing in a second velcro loop fixes this, or bungee strap over the top.

I've just moved to other designs - something like the Eagle w/ the kydex, USGG similar setup, or the HSGI Taco pouches are my preference now.

[JSantoro]

I have the same rig and made the same observations. A piece of shock cord sewn or riveted on will do the trick.

I used a soldering iron to punch small holes on either side of the pouches, put shock cord through the holes across the pouch and tied figure-8 knots to secure them. That bib is two layers, plus the mesh pocket on the inside, so the knots have no chance of being felt.

No sewing required, I was done in 15 minutes, and it's lasted most of a year, so far, including four classes.

I swear, shock cord was one of the best small purchases I ever made.

[Heartland Hawk]

I used a soldering iron to punch small holes on either side of the pouches, put shock cord through the holes across the pouch and tied figure-8 knots to secure them. That bib is two layers, plus the mesh pocket on the inside, so the knots have no chance of being felt.

No sewing required, I was done in 15 minutes, and it's lasted most of a year, so far, including four classes.

I swear, shock cord was one of the best small purchases I ever made.

I also have this rig, and this problem. This is a great idea, thanks!

[JSantoro]

Food for thought; one needs to offset the holes a bit. In between the mag pouches, the only room you have to work with for punching holes without compromising the pouches is vertical, so the holes, and therefore the shock cord, will not end up straight in the horizontal plane.

If one is a Felix Unger fit & finish type, you won't like the result and should just go back to drinking chamomille tea with one's pinky extended.

If one is of the mind that function IS form, you're off like a prom dress.

Only reason I bring this up is that somebody did it for me one day, saying that it wasn't a workable solution because it didn't LOOK good to them. Like, aesthetically. :rolleyes:

"You know how I know you're gay...?"

[Avenger29]

Thank for all for the replies and suggestions. Can someone expand on this please?

What was said above.

I really, really like the ATS Slick Front chest harness. Fully MOLLE, very lightweight and low profile. $70.

[PatEgan]

As alluded (yes, I told myself I'd use that in a sentence today...:p) to above, get a modular rig and add or subtract as you see fit, or as needed.

I really like the Eagle/SKD all-MOLLE chest rig. It is 'slick' up front, all MOLLE with nothing permanent on it. I can put anything anywhere on it, depending on needs and specific requirements. If I don't need something on there, I just remove it. FWIW, the EMDOM double mag pouch works very well on this, and has enough retention to keep a single M4 mag in place.

Pat

[skd_tactical]

Sorry I'm late to the game here. I have been following the thread, and the bungees through a burn hole is a great Idea. We always love to see user MODs to our gear.

I had our guys at the warehouse try out the new Double stacked KyWi's and they don't fit in the slightest.
The Dual Bungee Retainers we had made for the Wa/Weesatch series should do the trick as long as you have velcro on the inside of both sides of the mag pouches.

SOS

[hearno]

I used a soldering iron to punch small holes on either side of the pouches, put shock cord through the holes across the pouch and tied figure-8 knots to secure them. That bib is two layers, plus the mesh pocket on the inside, so the knots have no chance of being felt.

No sewing required, I was done in 15 minutes, and it's lasted most of a year, so far, including four classes.

I swear, shock cord was one of the best small purchases I ever made.

Any chance you could post a few pictures of the mod? I'd appreciate it.

[JSantoro]

No sweat. Sorry for the delay....

I got rid of the small mag/tool pouches on the center primary mag pouches, first. They weren't doing anything for me, so...bye! Completely removed the elastic on the rightmost (when worn) mag pouch and made it an exclusive med pouch.

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/8471/sam0155.jpg

Not sure if I left too much room between the holes I melted, but I wanted to ensure that they weren't encroaching on each other and fraying as a result. So, they're crooked. Some symbolism-over-substance jackhole: "That's no good, they're crooked."

"Yeah, so's your mom, Mr. freaking Seacrest."

This is a lightweight class-only setup; I only need 3 primaries to supplement the 2 on my belt/1 in the gun, and not always that many. Point being, I went ahead and made the shock cord tight enough that only 1 mag would go into each pouch. Choices....

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/77/sam0156e.jpg

I took it slow to make sure I didn't damage the interior of the kangaroo pouch. The leftmost one is the most tricky, but not impossible. I could have just punched it right through, but I still wanted to be able to use the mesh pocket on the back and the kangaroo pouch. I also figured that, this way, the knots wouldn't create hot spots when I'm wearing light clothes. Amazingly, it seems I made the right call.

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/3931/sam0157.jpg

Make sure that whatever tip you use on the heat source is only slightly larger than whatever size shock cord you use, or simple knots on the interior may not secure the cord.

[hearno]

Nice. Thanks for the pictures. Do you think it would help to add a washer behind the knots? That way, unless the knot came undone, it wasn't slipping out and it could be tight enough to secure one or two mags.

[JSantoro]

Something that won't corrode as it interacts with your sweat and the environment, yeah.