Chest Rig Setup - Critiques

Tactical Gear Tactical Gear
1

I was looking for a simplified chest-rig setup for training/quick use.

It’s an Eagle SKD Molle Panel with TT mag shingles. sjauch did the straps.

The pouches from the left are: knife, a possibles (lube, loaders, sunscreen etc.) pouch, medic pouch and pistol mag pouches.

I was thinking of putting a pistol holster on the far right either arranged vertically or I do have a horizontal panel, but I’m not sure if that’s too much and I should just stick to a belt holster.

I’d be wearing this with some sort of camelbak for balance, but since it’s a new rig I’m not entirely sure of its functionality in class. It doesn’t feel as secure as a MAV when going to prone, but that may be a function of design.

Any critiques? suggestions? Glaring defects? Too …? The PMAGs are all oriented in that direction to make them fit more securely as the space between the two shingles don’t allow opposing directions.


2

That goes well past what I could consider “simplified”. but then, I have found myself stripping away layers of crap from my load carriage, guns, range bags, and life in general, so we may be headed down divergent paths.

3

Are you a right-handed shooter or left-handed?

4

As a right-hander, I’ve found that having pouches of any significant size on that side interfered with drawing my pistol. I’m short-waisted, so that may be a determining factor, but it’s an issue for me. YMMV.

Only by using the rig in a rigourous training environment that simulates what we might encounter will issues become apparent.

5

Left handed, which is why everything is shifted towards the right-hand side.

Simplified was only meant as a comparison as to what had come earlier. Too many mags Rob? or is it that you don’t like stacking things in front of the shingle? Put pistol/mag pouches on waist belt?

6

To many mags for me/my uses.

As I said, I’ve gotten to where I’m keeping everything streamlined as much as possible, and I don’t find myself saying “damn, I wish I had XYZ” very often. The one thing I’m working on adding to my current chest rig setup is a trauma kit, and even that will be streamlined and geared towards my non-LE civy needs.

7

I agree, too much for a chest rig, but that is me. Looks like you are getting ready to storm Fallujah. :smiley:

Quick use often turns into long wear. Try living in this rig for a day. That includes driving with it, go hiking, etc. Well, maybe on a weekend so your boss doesn’t give you a strange look…

A pistol on your belt is a good idea, so that when you are tired of carrying all that stuff and take the vest off, you still have a weapon.

If you have to counter balance any chest rig with a camelbak, then you may have too much stuff.

In the end, you have to think about what you want to do with it. That is the hard part.

8

Ditch the pistol mag pouch, go with a double open top- like Eagle FB…is the heat!
That type of retention is not needed unless you are jumping and diving.

9

I would say "in the beginning.

10

I like the simple set up. How does it feel when you are in the prone? Also, since you are a left handed shooter you might want to try to set the magazines facing the other way. It might be a little faster. Just my two cents!

11

Dave, things must be easy in the North! Every time I got shot at, I ended up running, jumping, and diving. Mostly running … :wink:

Stay safe up there…

12

The balance issue is one I have with all chest rigs and why I originally went to the MAV. I don’t know if I “need” it on this one since that “need” was determined when I used to run a standard SKD rig which wasn’t very comfortable for me wearing for a long time.

I’ve not tried the above rig in class or on the range. I’d probably wear the camelbak in class even if I didn’t need it for balance.

The MAV feels more secure, but in balancing the load it is too much rig to grab and go. I thought the SKD panel/shingles combo might bring some of that weight back in closer to the body and make a good compromise.

The pistol mags prevent going prone rapidly, but the possibles/trauma pouch don’t at all. I took off the pistol pouches and I’m just going to keep them on a pistol belt.

About the only things I can remove is a either mag shingle, the trauma pouch or the possibles kit.

13

I agree with cutting that back quite a bit. There’s an old saying: Ounces = Pounds, Pounds = Pain. Depending on what your use is for, 4 or 5 mags are more than enough for any class. I’m right handed so my trauma kit is on my right rear hip, behind the holster, and mags are on the forward left hip.

14

I’ve heard of such a thing. :stuck_out_tongue:

About the only thing that “weighs” are the magazine. Everything else looks heavy but it’s just bulk. The full “possibles” bag is MAYBE a pound, the trauma kit maybe a 1/4 lb.

Depending on what your use is for, 4 or 5 mags are more than enough for any class. I’m right handed so my trauma kit is on my right rear hip, behind the holster, and mags are on the forward left hip.

I run 7 mags (1 in the gun, 6 spares) since I hate reloading. I could take a way one shingle leaving 4 mags. Honestly if I ever feel like I have to grab an AR and this rig for real, I’d feel more secure with 7 than with 4. I train with 7 since that is what I presume I’d fight with. The pistol mags can stay on the belt.

My thought on the trauma kit was to have it easily accessible by either hand in case one appendage is injured, but that concern may be overstated.

Are you running a MOLLE belt? or just a gun/riggers belt?

I appreciate everyone’s input, I’m getting this set up to run in the VTAC class coming up and even though I know I’ll have to modify, I’d like to get it close before hand.

15

Yup, I get mean looks all the time. However, I had to turn my frags in the other day…not to happy about that. (but) Now I have more room for quadruple retention pistol mag pouches!

16

I have developed a three layer philosophy.

Layer 1 Belt: pistol, extra pistol ammo, redi mag for rifle and pistol. Also a canteen if you will be away from water.

Layer 2 Chest Rig: 5 or 6 rifle mags and a small 1st aid kit. Mabe a pouch for a small GPS or compass. Something you frequently access.

Layer 3: Small Daypack: Extra ammo, water and 1st aid supplies and whatever else the mission dictates.

Add or remove layers as the situation dictates.

17

A very valid point. During a class, I’m counting on the folks around me to render assistance, although that maybe a bit optimistic!:stuck_out_tongue:

Are you running a MOLLE belt? or just a gun/riggers belt?

A riggers belt, since I like to practice drawing from something similar to what I actually carry on a daily basis. I am considering going with a MOLLE for class purposes, but that would require a subrig holster and building different muscle memory.

18

Here’s my opinion-

Too big for what I would use for the same tasks.
Magazines- I would cut down to 3 mag pouches- carrying between 3 to 5 magazines. Going down to 3 mags will be a lot lighter, and going to just 3 pouches will open space up on your rig if you decide to keep some other things that I advise on dropping ;). A redi-mod on the gun is a really simple way to carry an instantly accessible magazine, if not a little pricey.

Lose the knife. It seems really cool and useful, but it really isn’t. A quality multi-tool will be a lot more useful for pretty much everything except for making Miamoto Musashi giggle at you. It will also weigh less and have a smaller footprint.

Go with a normal belt-holster. Stick a couple extra mags on the belt. If you want to run some extra pistol mags on the chest rig- go ahead, but 1 or 2 will most likely be the most you will realistically need. Go with something like the Eagle FB for the pistol pouches- you can run one open and one retained.

Ditch the possibles pouch. You won’t need it during any string of fire during a training course, and if you are using it to wander the woods you should probably have at least a small pack with water, food, extra clothing, survival kit, hatchet, etc. There really isn’t any big need for it on the vest.

Ditch the big med pouch for a small detachable one, filled only with critical life-saving stuff you can use on yourself in case you become seriously injured. I like a tourniquet located in a place I can get to with either hand separate from the bleeder pouch. Put all the other first-aid and fancy stuff for the treatment of others in the third line.

If you are back-woodsing it you might want a nice little pouch for the GPS/cell. I also recommend a pouch for a backup light unless you are going to wear it on the first line. A dump pouch is really nice, not just for empty mags, but also for carrying extra mags to the line in case you drop to 3 mags and whatever course you are on requires more mags for a string of fire.

I have to carry soft armor (usually), hard plates (always), frags, smoke, bangs, minimum of 6 mags on my body (usually), a PRC-148, a first aid kit, a pistol and relevant mags (sometimes), pop-ups, water, extra mission specific gear (anything from breaching charges to MG ammo), a helmet, night vision, and other assorted silliness- so I train with all that crap on. I would love to be able to strip it all down to the bare essentials as I have laid them out.

Like I said, just what I would do.

19

So long as it’s not the motherf*(&er that shot you in the first place. :stuck_out_tongue:

I like the three layer idea. That was kind of the philosophy I had with my MAV, but then I ended up incorporating the belt and the vest into one unit…maybe that’s where I went wrong.

The ATS suspenders I used with my Molle belt weren’t very comfortable and there were straps everywhere…but maybe I need to reassess that setup.

20

Unfortunately I’m a lefty so a redi-mod isn’t really functional for me…though I wish it were.

Lose the knife. It seems really cool and useful, but it really isn’t. A quality multi-tool will be a lot more useful for pretty much everything except for making Miamoto Musashi giggle at you. It will also weigh less and have a smaller footprint.

Check…knife is gone.

Go with a normal belt-holster. Stick a couple extra mags on the belt. If you want to run some extra pistol mags on the chest rig- go ahead, but 1 or 2 will most likely be the most you will realistically need. Go with something like the Eagle FB for the pistol pouches- you can run one open and one retained.

What do you think of a dedicated pistol belt, with the chest rig dedicated to the long gun?

I have one of these…it’s not the FB, but close enough?

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

Ditch the possibles pouch. You won’t need it during any string of fire during a training course, and if you are using it to wander the woods you should probably have at least a small pack with water, food, extra clothing, survival kit, hatchet, etc. There really isn’t any big need for it on the vest.

Actually it’s more about weapons maintenance with a few extraneous doo-dahs thrown in. Small cleaning kit, lube, LULA, maybe sunscreen/repellant. That said, should I ditch it anyways?

Ditch the big med pouch for a small detachable one, filled only with critical life-saving stuff you can use on yourself in case you become seriously injured. I like a tourniquet located in a place I can get to with either hand separate from the bleeder pouch. Put all the other first-aid and fancy stuff for the treatment of others in the third line.

Why separate from a bleeder pouch?

What’s in there now is a tourniquet, a battle dressing and a two-pack of Celox applicators.

It looks big but there really isn’t that much in it.

If you are back-woodsing it you might want a nice little pouch for the GPS/cell. I also recommend a pouch for a backup light unless you are going to wear it on the first line. A dump pouch is really nice, not just for empty mags, but also for carrying extra mags to the line in case you drop to 3 mags and whatever course you are on requires more mags for a string of fire.

I was going to put the dump pouch on the pistol belt.

I have to carry soft armor (usually), hard plates (always), frags, smoke, bangs, minimum of 6 mags on my body (usually), a PRC-148, a first aid kit, a pistol and relevant mags (sometimes), pop-ups, water, extra mission specific gear (anything from breaching charges to MG ammo), a helmet, night vision, and other assorted silliness- so I train with all that crap on. I would love to be able to strip it all down to the bare essentials as I have laid them out.

Better you than me. :cool:

Like I said, just what I would do.

That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.