Armory Sponsor
Posted: 6/20/2009 4:53:12 PM EDT
|
I am planning on settting up a rig for SHTF/range work.
I am going with a TAG Plate carrier (which comes with cummerbund) and am trying to figure out what sort of pouches/ layout I should go with. So far I have decided on placing three M4 mag pouched in the lower abdomen area and a holster on the right side. Next to the M4 pouches I will have one or two spare pistol mag pouches. If I would get a hydration bladder it can go on my bag or w/e so I'm not worried about that. Any suggestions/input ???? |
|
mag TYPES are going to be up to your personal preference bro. You have guys that swear by shingles (open top pouches with bungee retention straps), others that swear by flaps (which come in two styles. with or without fastex buckles). usually the flapped pouches will hold more magazines, but you have to really worry about weight and how far out you want your gear to go. to far and you'll start running into issues when you mount/dismount your vehicle, low crawl or go prone.
With shingles, if you want to get stack them, there is always that option, as most come with pals channels sewn across the front. for your pistol pouch, again, it goes to shingle or flapped. I will give you this though, look at the emdom 6o4 spent mag pouch: three styles are readily available. the kind that folds up into a small ball (maxpedition, egl, ats), the kind that rolls up (csm, ice, dbt) or the dedicated "it ain't going no where" type (osoe, hsgi). If you want the balled type, the best of the best is maxpedition. roll up, look at the csm, and dedicated.... OSOE all the way. best built dumper i've seen to date. For hydration, look at either the specter gear, which comes in all molle or all molle with straps, or the OSOE hydration carrier that is all molle with straps ($55ish) admin: Look at the milspec money pouch or the OSOE admin pouch. both rock out with their wangs out |
|
LOL calico, yeah you may need some help As for the OP, honestly you have to try different things to see what you like and dislike. It also helps knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mag pouch. I'll give you a quick little blurb on them, it's not the be all and end all but it may help a bit Open top shingles, great for fast mag changes. Bad in the sense that if you ever have to get down and dirty the mags are not all that protected from the environment Flap w/ velcro only. They protect the mag from the environment a bit better, however it's important to keep in mind that if you have to deal with mud it will clog up the pile and they will not secure shut. Other disadvantages include slower mag changes as well as the noise factor Flap w/ fastex. They will protect the mag form the environment a little better than the velcro type seeing as the pouch will only open when you want it to open. The main disadvantage is that they are the slowest of the 3 types, however IMHO they're the most secure. I personally run a flapped pouch with fastex and velcro so I have the option of using either or. I'm thinking about having 1 shingle on my rig as my fast reload, and the rest as covered pouches with fastex and velcro for security and protection. |
|
If I were setting up a carrier right now I would have
1 primary mag in some type of speed load pouch almost dead center 4 more primaries in open top double mag shingles on the support side 4 secondary mags on top of those Rolly Poly type dump pouch all the way back on the support side Sidarm in molle holster at 3 o'clock Knife and light on strong side infront of the sidearm Blow out kit on the strong side of the speed load pouch maybe a low pro admin pouch on my chest. |
|
Think about trying to layer your gear using the tried and true 1st line 2nd line method.
1st line is stuff you never want to be without. It's the basics you need to survive, even after you drop all your other gear. Things like your knife, multi tool, flashlight, sidearm, spare mags for the sidearm, E&E/survival kit. You can keep all of these things on a MOLLE belt, and always have the basics on you even if you take off all your other gear to take a break, eat some food, fix the roof on your house after a storm, clean up debris from your property, or whatever else you need to do. You still have something to defend yourself with, and possibly get back to your other gear, or just haul ass out of the area. 2nd line is just an extension of your 1st line, but supports your rifle, and gives you the stuff you need to fight. You would carry your spare rifle mags, possibly a more extensive blow out kit, smokes, odds and ends you need to keep your rifle running, maybe some spare pistol mags. If you have time to throw on a plate carrier, or chest rig, you have time to throw on a belt. Whatever situation you're preparing for consider the fact that you're gonna get hot in your armor, you're get tired, and need rest, and you may have to drop the carrier for a few minutes. In most of the SHTF situations like a hurricane, or other disaster most people said that they had to put the rifle down and roll with a pistol so they could work. Curahee has alot of good info on what went down during Katrina, and some insightful thoughts on gear setup for real world situations. Something to consider. |
|
+1 for a layered approach but there's so much personal preference involved as well as different mission-specific requirements that you're better off (IMHO) matching gear to your particular needs than directly copying another's setup (unless it's exactly what you need...)
For example, here's my layered setup: Pistol belt w/pistol, knife & spare mags (81rds total of 5.7x28). Chest rig w/rifle mags (374rds total of 5.56), 2x24oz water bottles, MOLLE light, binocs, spare batteries, first aid/trauma kit & food bars sufficient for 2 days. Pack w/100oz water, 8 days rations, poncho, Land Shark emergency shelter, water filter, solar AA charger w/batteries, spare socks/underwear, headgear, soap/washcloth, TP, toothbrush/toothpaste, paracord, spare bootlaces, Streamlight Sidewinder LED light, Schrade survival multitool, emergency AM/FM radio, misc gear. Season-specific items can be added/removed as needed. Pistol belt weighs 8lbs fully loaded. Chest rig weighs 18lbs fully loaded. Rifle weighs 9 lbs loaded. Pack weighs 25lbs. Total loadout is 60lbs and that's for a worst-case scenario where I have no other option than to leave the area w/only what I can carry. I exercise every day during my lunch hour by walking between 1-2 miles in the large basement of my workplace while wearing a daypack & handweights totalling 45lbs. I can hump the 60lbs and it's surprsingly comfortable & well-balanced but I haven't fully tested my endurance yet (ie: How far could I carry everything in one day regardless of the pace). My layered setup: 
You have to train w/this stuff to find out what does & does not work, here's a shot from the carbine class I took recently w/my best friend (I'm on the left): 
Tomac |
Armory Sponsor