Posted: 5/14/2010 5:04:50 AM EDT
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My first overseas deployment starts in a few weeks. I've been cross-leveled to a unit where I don't know anyone, so I'm not sure what the command climate is like yet. I've briefly met both the commander and first sergeant, and they both seemed relaxed and professional when it comes to personal gear. I have a lot of personal AR specific gear and accessories that I would like to take with me. I'm not so much concerned about reliability, as I am only considering top-of-the-line manufacturers. I'd like to take my Blue Force Gear Redi-Mod, my MagPul B.A.D., my PMAGs, and probably a scout light and mount.
So here are my questions. What are the pros and cons of modifying my personal issued weapon? If you have done anything like this before, did you add these items stateside during the train up? Did you risk losing them to thieves or a by-the-book supply sergeant who wanted uniformity among weapons? Did you get issued different rifles throughout the deployment, or keep the same one the entire time? Did you encounter any problems on training ranges or elsewhere regarding this? Did you have to permanently mark your own items to keep them from being stolen or kept in the arms room? Thanks for any info. |
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I have had 2 very different experiences- and understand I am a field grade officer with much more latitude on what I do than a regular joe. During Iraq 04-05 I put a telestock and personal light on my m16a4 no one said a thing, other troops modded guns with no problem either. when laying out our gear to pack up to clear customs plenty of personal mags, optics, lights etc-no problem.
When in Afghanistan in 08 lots of guys brought stuff- pmags lights personal optics and such with no complaints from command but when we got ready to go home customs would not let personall mags or weapon related equipment ship home-lots of guys had to get very inventive on how they got gear home. As a general rule the rifle you have when you show up to mob with is what you'll have in country. Do not hesitate to get a replacement or have an armorer fix anything not 100%-sooner better than later. Having said that when we went to Iraq in 04 after several months train up with m16a4's suddenly all our door kickers got m-4's so replacement is possible |
Not to continue to beat a dead horse, but it will really depend on your armorer and your command. As far as stuff like buttstocks, sights, grip and magazines are concerned you should be fine. Be certain you are gtg using gloves with the BAD. Likely you will have the same weapon the entire deployment unless it gets damaged. If you are concerned about losing your stuff, take it off before turn in. For the MOST part, so long as you aren't doing stuff like breaking stake-points (buffer tube, gas key), messing with the trigger or trying to bring your own upper you should be fine. Again, get a feel for your unit and do what is comfortable. Ask your platoon daddy up front; honesty goes a long way with us crusty ol' guys. 
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| Dont be that light on the right(sleeve) gear-do upon arrival......wait feel the unit out, see what the policy's are, talk to some of the guys that been before and get your kit together then...(if your leaving take all you got, but bust it out as time goes by)....I took all my highspeed shit to Iraq, I didnt use most of it during the trainup, broke it out once in CENTCOM. |
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Quoted:
Dont be that light on the right(sleeve) gear-do upon arrival......wait feel the unit out, see what the policy's are, talk to some of the guys that been before and get your kit together then...(if your leaving take all you got, but bust it out as time goes by)....I took all my highspeed shit to Iraq, I didnt use most of it during the trainup, broke it out once in CENTCOM. That's my plan, I'm not going to try to look like a cool guy on day one of the mobilization, just figure things out as time goes by. I'm not even sure what I might be issued right now. RUMINT has already indicated we are getting the new HK grenade launchers, for one. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Dont be that light on the right(sleeve) gear-do upon arrival......wait feel the unit out, see what the policy's are, talk to some of the guys that been before and get your kit together then...(if your leaving take all you got, but bust it out as time goes by)....I took all my highspeed shit to Iraq, I didnt use most of it during the trainup, broke it out once in CENTCOM. That's my plan, I'm not going to try to look like a cool guy on day one of the mobilization, just figure things out as time goes by. I'm not even sure what I might be issued right now. RUMINT has already indicated we are getting the new HK grenade launchers, for one. most likely they wont care if you put your own grips or lights/lasers on your weapons. it starts to get dumb with people put their own buttstocks on and start to change optics platforms on their service weapon. those 320's are alright, but it's fucking dumb to mount it on the bottom rails of anything. standalone is how we use them. Grips/Magazines/Lights- no problem optics and buttstocks- iffy. |
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Easiest way to get away with adding oyur own stuff is to buy what your unit has but wont/cant issue you. This is how I always start out and see how it goes then get other goodies if I think it will fly.
Right now I added my own: KAC rails(same as the ones my unit didnt have enough of to issue me) Magpul rail covers TLR2 Redi Mag Magpul ACS Badger Tac Latch Ergo grip Magpul BAD And as a back up for the TLR2 i have a Surefire M961XM07 |
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Quoted: Easiest way to get away with adding oyur own stuff is to buy what your unit has but wont/cant issue you. This is how I always start out and see how it goes then get other goodies if I think it will fly. Right now I added my own: KAC rails(same as the ones my unit didnt have enough of to issue me) Magpul rail covers TLR2 Redi Mag Magpul ACS Badger Tac Latch Ergo grip Magpul BAD And as a back up for the TLR2 i have a Surefire M961XM07 Damn I didn't know you could have stuff like that, namely the ACS. Badass. |
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Quoted:
Easiest way to get away with adding oyur own stuff is to buy what your unit has but wont/cant issue you. This is how I always start out and see how it goes then get other goodies if I think it will fly. Right now I added my own: KAC rails(same as the ones my unit didnt have enough of to issue me) Magpul rail covers TLR2 Redi Mag Magpul ACS Badger Tac Latch Ergo grip Magpul BAD And as a back up for the TLR2 i have a Surefire M961XM07 Have you actually done the mission analysis if you will actually need all that stuff on your gun? Normally those who need that sort of stuff get it issued and those who don't need it get funny looks with their tricked out rifles that only need to defend themselves walking from their work place to the DFAC and back. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Easiest way to get away with adding oyur own stuff is to buy what your unit has but wont/cant issue you. This is how I always start out and see how it goes then get other goodies if I think it will fly. Right now I added my own: KAC rails(same as the ones my unit didnt have enough of to issue me) Magpul rail covers TLR2 Redi Mag Magpul ACS Badger Tac Latch Ergo grip Magpul BAD And as a back up for the TLR2 i have a Surefire M961XM07 Have you actually done the mission analysis if you will actually need all that stuff on your gun? Normally those who need that sort of stuff get it issued and those who don't need it get funny looks with their tricked out rifles that only need to defend themselves walking from their work place to the DFAC and back. yea, tocroaches and catalog commandos |
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1) Mission Analysis
2) Wait and see what you're going to get issued. I didn't want for a thing when we hit mob site. M4, KAC Rail, VFG, CCO or ACOGs for everyone, PEQ, wolf hook, 3 point sling, piles of new mags, Surefire tac light and mount, Flip up IR filter for the TAC light, drop leg holster for my M9, bottom line is, my guys and I had everything we could want and need issued to us well before leaving mob site. There are different tiers of units with respect to discretionary funding, weapons, and equipment. for example, a brigade hq or an aviation maintenance unit is going to have less $$$ available per Soldier and different/fewer highspeed goodies than an infantry or combat engineer line company. |
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Lights, scopes, slings and stuff shouldnt be an issue. I would stay away from anything that replaces any parts. So no stocks, flash hiders or anything like that. B.A.D lever should be GTG. Stay safe, keep your head down. I'll be over there in September. Leave a couple for me to kill.
Find The Bastards and Pile On!!!!! |
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We are able to do pretty much what ever we want as long as you dont mess with the upper/lower receivers and the bolt. Our chain of command is pretty cool with what we do to the point we even converted our IOTV's into plate carriers. Our battalion CSM saw what we did with those and said it's okay for patrol (dismount up the mountains) but we need to put the side plates in when we got back to base 
Yeah, we'll get right on that CSM, right after you leave on your helicopter ... see you in 4 months 
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I am running an LMT SOPMOD stock and a Vickers two point sling on my issued M4.
I get a much better cheek weld with the LMT stock and the Vickers sling is more useful and comfortable than the POS 3-point I was issued. I am debating swapping out the issued KAC VFG for a Larue shorty grip. Monk |
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Really, you don't need to modify much. Find a grip that suits you (foregrip and/or pistol grip) and a sight that you shoot well with. Rail covers are good to help protect them so when you go to turn it in it makes life a tad easier (really no one cared for me though). That's it... find a way to handle your weapons in a way that's comfortable (sling included) and a way to quickly and accurately engage a target. Simple and easy. You're going for shooting proficiency, nothing more. Do what you need to to get off a shot before Hajji does. |