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The Why is the most valuable input. As to why I don't layer my gear more. I do, I just tend not to have a lot on me because I don't have a lot of real estate. I carry the basics and then some. My whole approach is to look at situations and posture accordingly. My whole train of thought is to go to a certain posture level based on the threat. Since this is geared towards me being home, that's how my gear is set up.
what determines the end your weapons service life?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick-Boy
Degradation of accuracy or loss of reliability.
Unfortunately there's nothing apporaching an accurate round count on most of our guns (the exception being the DDM guns). Performance is the only real indicator that it's time for something to get shipped back to the US.
I like that shirt Mick, I had to double take it, classic!!
Interesting thread gentlemen, and thanks for the info Mick!
I do have have one question though: why not a a thigh/separate holster off your rack? I'm a little old school, so my thought process goes along the lines if I drop my chest rig for one reason or another, I still have my pistol up.
Thoughts?
While I am a fan most of the time, they can become uncomfortable and bulky.
<Maddog> I don't wear leg rigs for two reasons. First, they don't lend themselves to concealment very well. Second, I don't like wearing anything on my legs. If I'm walking a lot they cause chafing. multiply that over a couple of days and we're talking serious discomfort.
A drop leg holster was fine when I was jumping off a truck and assaulting a building then climbing back on the truck. I don't like them for walking to the top of a mountain outside a COP.
Since the questions about plate carriers has come back up I will add some more into this thread to keep a consolidated area for work gear (I say work gear as none of this is realistic EDC stuff in this country, LE aside).
I run 2 basic kits that I'll detail below. While I've run others, these are my two main 2nd line kits. Batman belt stuff and backpacks/breaching kits are left out of this as this is just about the carriers.
1: OCONUS rig (Tac Tailor basic plate carrier)
I wore this while running on the counter assault team in Iraq last year for DoS. It is a close copy of what I wore 10 years earlier going into Iraq with 2nd Ranger Bn. It is designed to allow me more mobility by eliminating side plates and any soft armor. As I usually carrier other gear (Radios/demo/tools) on my back I wanted to shave down weight where I felt I could safely. Side plates are only 6x6" and I always worked within a team so there were other Rangers (my PSD team were mostly Batt guys too) to my left and right. Level III soft armor is only rated for most pistol rounds and none of our threats carried pistols; just rifles and bigger. ESAPI plates were a must and usually the only armor in them.
Setup (from right to left as worn)
-Radio (MBITR). acessable with my non-firing hand so I can change channels as needed, plugged into my peltors.
-(2) Tac Tailor triple mag shingles. 6 mags ready to go
-Tac Tailor double pistol pouch (on outside of rifle mags)
-Tac Tailor Admin pouch (mirror, lighter, cliff bar, 550 cord, flint, note pad, flashlight, multi tool, etc...)
-SUNNTO wrist compass on upper left of carrier
-SOG SEAL pup knife underneath all mag pouches- accessible with left hand.
-CAT TQs attached to both sides of mag shingles by shock cord
-IFAK on left side. accessible with BOTH hands (not worn towards the back of the kit where my right hand can't reach it)
-right side kept completely slick to keep secondary weapon accessible (in appropriate 6004 holster)
-If needed-Tac Tailor dump pouch on left leg for additional door charges/flash bangs/double stuff oreos)
-(2) EMT shears tucked in molle webbing (front and by IFAK)
NO CUMBER BUN OR SIDE PLATES
-Camelback in carrier on back (kept slick so I can throw a pack/breaching kit) on as well
-Antenna from radio re-routed to back
Attachment 36411Attachment 36413Attachment 36415
2: Instructor Rig (London Bridge Trading 6094)
Basic LBT carrier with ESAPI plates front and rear as the side plates. I have side plates in this kit for 2 reasons: a) the missions are shorter and b) if the students have to wear them then I will too. This setup has a cumber bun however I don't run a secondary weapon as I am primarily teaching them how to use their big scary gun to fight.
Setup (as worn from right side to left)
-Smoke grenade in Tac Tailor pouch
-flash bang in Tac Tailor pouch
-Radio (152). acessable with my non-firing hand so I can change channels as needed, run to ear bud, mic on front center of carrier.
-(1)Tac Tailor triple mag shingle, (1) 13 Zulu kydex kangaroo triple mag insert . 6 mags ready to go, more can be tucked into integral pockets in cumber bun
-Tac Tailor double pistol pouch (on outside of rifle mags)
-Tac Tailor Admin pouch (mirror, lighter, cliff bar, 550 cord, flint, note pad, flashlight, multi tool, LCP pistol, etc...)
-SUUNTO wrist compas on upper left side of carrier
-CAT TQs attached to both sides of mag shingles by shock cord
-BFG Helium Whisper pocket dump pouch. (Students drop shit all the time)
-IFAK on left side. accessible with BOTH hands (not worn towards the back of the kit where my right hand can't reach it)
-Camelback in carrier on back (CAT TQ attached to back panel with shockcord)
-Antenna from radio re-routed to back
-If needed a Maxpedition roll up dump pouch for additional smokes, bangs, oreos)
-GoPro on left shoulder (good for AARs and footage of people doing stupid shit)
-(2) EMT shears tucked in molle webbing (front and by IFAK)
Attachment 36417Attachment 36419Attachment 36421Attachment 36423Attachment 36425
I keep my instructor kit nearly identical to my overseas kit to maintain some commonality. Mag pouches are in the same spot, TQs the same, almost everything is the same. This makes things simple for me as I transition from one to the other as needed. I didn't weigh them as I don't have a scale handy (gift for my ex wife!). I run medium EASPIs in both kits. I could wear larges but it starts to restrict my pistol shooting so it's not worth the extra 1/2" on each side to have them. I tried steel plates in the carrier once....I hated the sharp edges and how the thinner plates flopped around. I much prefer ceramics for overt work.
If you haven't noticed, I use a lot of Tactical Tailor gear. I remember when they were a small shop outside of Ft. Lewis, WA and Logan Coffey was making a lot of the stuff on his own. TT has always helped out 2d Batt when we needed gear designed and made and to this day they still provide exceptional quality and the best customer service I've seen or heard from a gear mfg. I have used their gear for over a decade now in some of the harshest conditions around the world and not a single piece has failed me. Their gear is worth every penny.
Good write up coloccw!
I get where you are coming from on the TT gear. Once upon a time I felt the same way about Mean Gene and HSGI. Then I wanted to get lighter and faster and he kept building big and bulky so I went to Travis Rolf at Mayflower. He's been knocking it out of the park with most of his gear.
On your instructor kit; Is that med-pouch subdivided?
I'm assuming that your students are also carrying IFAKs. (For the wider audience: BY SOP your IFAK is for use ON YOU. SOP is that you're not supposed to use your med gear on others). That being said, when I'm in an instructor role I want to know exactly where and how the med gear is set up. I'm not at risk of getting hit in a follow on attack because everything is going to be shut down following a major injury. So if a student or another instructor gets injured, I'm most likely (I'm 1/1 so far) going to opt to use my stuff because I trust that a)I have everything to treat a gunshot and b)it's all set up and prepped instead of still being inside multiple layers of plastic.
All that to say, the med-pouches that I've seen that don't have a removable insert tend to result in a yard-sale of med gear in the event you have to get something out. So that's the long winded explanation of why I'm curious about your pouch being subdivided.
RE: Plate size
One of the big things that keeps mediums in my vest is that larges tend to negatively impact me mounting my rifle. It's hard to burn it down when your rifle is sliding around on top of armor, shoulder straps (if any) and a cover garment (if any).
Good contribution man. [Beer]This is the law: There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck
Yes, all the students are carrying their own IFAKs however they are utilizing the components for TCCC training. I carry stuff to deal with the most likely incidents that need immediate attention: gunshots, eye injuries, and airway issues. I have lots of TQs, combat gauze, regular gauze, NPAs/OPAs, 14ga needle, israelis, and duct tape all prepped. We always have a designated med vehicle & person with a trauma kit & backboard on scene so I don't worry about anything that isn't life threatening. Typical injuries we see are trip/fall related or from Sims/UTM. These are both field care issues (either a band aid or a trip to the hospital) so I just call for medic and keep going if possible, pauseX if necessary. The pouch isn't subdivided, just a large utility pouch since I'm usually only going into it for 1 or 2 specific items. I just arrange them items so that they are all accessible once the pouch is opened and it doesn't open all the way and allow the contents to fall out. As I said before, more medical attention is only 2-3 min away so I'm focusing on those first few minutes after an event.