The test was performed by Gene during development once Kydex was decided upon.
The broken (Snipped with shears) Kydex side piece remained attached at the top by the Shock-Cord running through it. Non-Lugged magazines still allowed a smooth extraction and insertion. Locking Lug Mags also had no issues, but seem to carry more “fear factor” of a failure of the pouch even though no failure occurred. If one did I could see it being with an AK Magazine.
I sent an email to one of the Industry Testers and asked very simply “Broke one yet?” he replied back “Negative. I highly doubt they can be broken. Worn out, maybe, but only after they exceed their EOL.”
I’ll sacrifice one of my Test Sample Taco’s to show a little video of it being abused and this Kydex test run on it.
If something does happen to it though, HSGI has a Lifetime Warranty on all their products.
On the Dirt/Dust issue the very first Test samples Gene sent out were to Army Snipers and have been hard used in the field for the past 2 month. The Soldiers used the Taco while Low Crawling, positive results all around.
If you have any suggestions on Tweaking the pouch for the better, please lemme know so I can relay it to Gene. This pouch has been through so many little changes since first conception a long while ago. The way the pouch is now has the most Positive features with the least Negative. Every time a change was made, the ratio of +to- is shifted. This version shown was the best ratio. But if somebody does come up with something Gene hasn’t thought of yet, it could make this pouch even better.
If you would like 2 to play with, I can send you two of my personal ones. I would actually appreciate your opinion once you get hands on with it.
Just got my lot in, and was trying to thread one up for use when I went out with the National Guard folks last weekend…I spent about 20 minutes trying to thread one…I got frustrated and quit.
Thanks for the reply. If the pouches are available for sale, I can buy a few for testing.
As for other things to try in it, what about a PVS14? Not so much as a primary pouch, but a backup pouch maybe. I am looking for a good radio pouch for my ICOM handheld, which is smaller than the mil radios.
I am also concerned with high temperatures. For instance, if you stick a large mag in the pouch and leave it inside a vehicle in our 120 degree temperatures, will the kydex soften and “set” to the shape of the mag? Maybe this can be replicated in an oven.
Tim
A Multi-Tool helps. You should have 5 on your Armor Carrier and another 13 in every BoB/EDC.
As calico stated you can run the Shock-Cord reversed.
It does help with mounting when not layering more pouches on the front of the Taco.
I kept mine as they came from HSGI.
I added pouches to the outside of the Tacos, reversing the Shock-Cord would be a moot point for me.
So far the only thing I’m looking down upon is how tight they are with the MALICE Clips.
If the middle Row of webbing on the back had “extra” room in the channel, I think it would solve this issue.
iNinja.
I will try the Oven test.
But IIRC Kydex has a thermoforming point of 300* F.
I do not have a PVS-14 on hand at the moment.
And what are the dimensions of your ICOM?
iraq ninja. i have a yeasu vx-150 which is pretty much the next to smallest ham radio out there. it fits perfectly in this pouch, with the exception of the microphone jack is covered by the kydex.
I inserted the Taco with AK Magazine into a 170* Oven for 15 minutes, nothing happened. My house smells like cosmoline now, and the mag was hot to the touch, but the Kydex was not compromised… If the odor wasn’t so strong, Id have went higher in temperature. I will try higher temperatures when my roommates aren’t home.
Has anyone tried Saiga-12 magazines? I’d have to measure when I get home tonight, but I think they’re a bit wider than most .308 mags, plus they have the AK-style lugs.
Standard PMAG picture, it works very well with PMAGs.
Taco pictured with suppressor. While I wouldn’t want to throw a hot can into nylon, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it held the can in place when cool.
Taco with standard issue pirate pistol. I’m not sure I would want this for modern engagements, but its probably been awhile since we have seen anything tactical for cap and ball…
Great, those pics are a big help. It looks like those are 10-rounders? Based on those pics, 5 or 8-round Saiga mags should work ok. I think the 10-round mags are too long for field use anyway, and forget the 12s.
So I stopped by HSGI on Friday to discuss some concerns about the Tightness of the PALS on the back, and the difficulty mounting. I told him my solution and he had a Taco sewn up real quick while I was there.
Its pretty simple fix, and adds 2 steps to the process of making these.
Longer webbing with bigger channels on the rear.
Looks a little funny with the Malice Clip out of it, but was a million times easier to mount it. I recommended just the middle row have this extra length, but in the quick sample he made for me all three rows have big channels.
Here are some pics…
Also since I was there, I started shoving random Items into it to see what it would hold well…
40mm Parachute Flare
XD Sub-Compact 9mm
Glock 19 Fits really well.
Glock 17 with Weapon Light. (without weapon light it will not seat deep enough for good retention)
Ok…sssooooo I take back what I said a couple years back about a universal mag pouch not working. I am really digging this pouch. I own a couple different long rifles and this fits the bill perfectly.
I’m really liking the look of these. Everyone likes a good taco! I may pick up a few and try them out for myself. I just like the fact that I can use them with my AK and AR without having to change out stuff. Very convenient I think. And other than being hard to mount, I don’t seem to hear anything bad about them at all.
I may pick up a few and try them out for myself. I just like the fact that I can use them with my AK and AR without having to change out stuff. Very convenient I think. And other than being hard to mount, I don’t seem to hear anything bad about them at all.