This is the new HSGI Taco Pouch. I lovingly refer to it as Topher’s Taco.
The Taco Pouch is basically a piece of double layer codura folded in half with kydex riveted onto it. It uses three methods of retention. The first line of retention relies on shock cord, which is woven in between the pals channels on the front and back of the pouch. The second level of retention is hook and loop on the interior of the pouch. It is to be used with a 1" square mounted on your magazine. The third, should you desire it, is bungee pull tabs that go over the magazine. While not a stock option, they can be readily added, as the loops are sewn into every model.
The rivets are kydex as well, and are secured on the bottom of the pouch, where a drain hole would normally go. This pouch does not have a drain hole due specifically to the design of the pouch.
While the sides are constructed out of kydex, and firmly held in place by the shock cord, you will notice some space in between the front, back, and sides depending on what type of magazine you use. the thicker the magazine, the wider the gap. This directly relates to why there is not a drain hole. as gene put it last night, easy in, easy out.
As you all have read in the past, i’m always looking for a good alternative magazine pouch for AK magazines, as that is what i currently run. My favorites are the DBT short m4 pouches, which i’ve yet to find a flaw with. The Taco pouch is a direct competitor to that pouch. The size of the pouch is almost the same size as the dbt pouches, and are well suited for 20 round ak magazines.
There are a few things that bother me about this pouch.
- first and foremost being the shock cord retention being the way that this pouch is held together. It’s not the tolerances at which the cord is manufactored. The breaking strength of shock cord exceeds 4000 lbs. My concern was what happens when it encounters a sharp edge (broken glass, razor wire, etc). After i got to thinking about it, most everyone packs at least a little paracord with them, or can take some shoe laces off the enemy to repair it with. just tie it off until you can get back to base and properly repair it.
- Being a couch commando i can and will bitch about the aesthetics of this pouch. it’s down right friggin ugly.
- not every magazine is the same size. whether they are wider or taller. at some point you will have to adjust the length of the shock cord. if you need to really cinch it down, it’s not easily done. the shock cord’s ending point is on the back of the pouch, under the malice clips. so you can just grab a hold of them and yank.
- because of the shock cord terminating behind the malice clips, it does push downward on the clips. on both the pouches i received for this testing, where the malice clip folds over it is putting a bit more stress on the pals webbing, and in turn the stitching holding on. I have yet to have a failure with it (there again i’m not out jumping over walls or low crawling every day), but should that failure occur, that isn’t something that is easily repaired.
To the shock cord issue, I’ve suggested maybe including those cord thingies that are on the UMMPS, and installing them on when your weaving the cord upwards after the first pals channel from the bottom, on the front. then when you bring the shock cord back down run it back through the do-dads. making cinching it down a little easier.
Like i said, i hope NCPatrolAR posts here as he has some, as well as stickman. and i’m interested to hear what they have to say on it.
