Hey Guys,
I am looking for a chest rig that will hold 8 M4/AK-47 magazines. What do you recommend?
I recommend less than 8. Way less.
Put eight loaded AK47 bags and weigh it.
John Willis at Original Special Operations Equipment makes an 8-mag stacked rig that’s top notch. Holds AR/AK mags. I have one and love it. His gear cost a bit more, but you’ll never have to buy another one. Be sure and go with the H-Harness if you purchase this rig.
Just hang on your neck.
Seriously?
What training or gunfight you going too?
A basic combat load is 210 rounds. AKA 6 mags plus one in the weapon. This is of course for military applications. Why a civilian would need 8 plus one in the weapon I have no idea.
That would be heavy as hell. I’d still wear it,… can never have to much ammo:)
OSOE has no shortage of rigs that will work for both M4/AK that carry 4, 6 or 8 mags. They are all top notch.
You can always go with http://www.optactical.com/spgem2mkrare2.html or go with http://www.skdtac.com/Esstac_Chest_Rig_Boar_p/ess.503.htm
Just through on a few evtra shilgles and you will be GTG.
Off Topic-
Why is it that when people ask a question they get all kinds of BS. Why do you need 8 mags? Do you know how much that weights? You might as well be some liberal and ask why he needs a 30 mag at all. Or ask why he even needs an AK. If carrying around 8 loaded AK mags is too much for you then maybe you need to stop making stupid comments on the internet and go to the gym. If he wants to carry 8 mags, let him. You have no idea what he is going to use it for. Did anyone ask if he was a contractor going down range? I have a chest rig that carries 8 AK mags…….my terp uses here in the Stan. Not everyone here just goes to the range and fires a few rounds. Some of us work with our rifles for a living. If you don’t understand the question then it is obviously out of your lane and you do not need to comment.
BACK ON TOPIC
I totally agree with you docsherm. Its the number 1 reason why I hate posting anything in forums.
I was checking out that universal rig too. Looks good for the price. I was also checking out the esstac boar a1 split front which costs a lot more. I like how it holds 8 mags without double stacking them. Anyone know of any pitfalls with having the mags like that as oppose too the double stack? WhaT I’m thinking is that its more flush with the body. But now that I think about it, once your done adding other pouches for pistol mags etc, they will all protrude off the body about the same. Right?
I have the EssTac BOAR. My terp likes it because it is low profile and he can move in an out of the GMVs and into the houses without any problems. He has a few others items on it (IFAK, Admin Pouch, pistol mags, GP pouch) but keeps it LO PRO. No problems with it.
Very cool. I might go with that rig. Thanks.
So let me get this straight, the problem is not that we didn’t directly answer his question, the problem is that he might be a real-deal-dude and actually need all that? and if he’s not, then it turns out he’s just a poseur like the rest of us?
Frankly this is just one more example of why people should ask complete questions. If he had said “I’m a contractor about to go downrange” I don’t know that I’d have answered at all as you are right that it would be outside my lane.
When you use mag pouches with no flaps or covers isn’t anyone concerned about debris getting in their mags or weapons?
I Don’t really need to carry 8 mags but I’m still going to get one That does. Why? Because I want one.
Off Topic-
It seems like people are just lurking around the internet to jump on people. If you think it is a stupid question, don’t answer it. If you look at all of the posts about half of them are constructively answering the question and the other half are just people putting in their two cents worth in. Yes, it would be nice if a question was complete and had all of the details so that you could figure out what people are doing with it and what they want. If all of that is not there it seems like everyone jumps to conclusions. There are more and more posts from people just trying to rip apart some people for no other reason than they can. It is also a “pack” mentality after one person attacks them then everyone else jumps on the dog-pile. Everyone has their own opinion, which is fine. If in fact he is a CIV and just wants to carry 8 mags for home defense, let him. Just because people now days think less is more it does not make them correct. Most of the real good shooting course instructors these days are former teir 1 unit members. They might advocate or tell stories about how they only carried 3 or 4 mags total and they were doing the truly bad ass stuff down range. What people don’t understand is that they have an entire logistical support system set up they you as a CIV will never have. I am in the military and I understand that and the amount of Mags I carry depends on multiple factors. At a minimum I carry 9. That is just me. It is based on my training and the past experiences that I have had in combat. For my CIV training rig at home I carry 4 in a chest rig and 2 on the gun. People say that is too much. OK, that is fine. They do not have to carry it. I can walk around all day with it and it is not noticeable. For others to do it for a few hours 911 might have to be called. I feel that ammo is like condoms; better to have too much than too little. With the later you don’t get F!@#ed, with the first you are F!@#ed.
If anyone took offence, I apologize. I did not try to insult anyone or call them names. I am just trying to educate the way people think. I did not call anyone names or through out how much more experace, knowledge or training I have then anyone else. That is not what my goal was. I just want people to think before they post.
BACK ON TOPIC
john1969-
I only use open top mag pouches. I have had no issues. No matter what you will get dirt in them even if you have a flap on them. It is the dust that gets everywhere. I just check them when I return from a mission.
Any more talk of why/how a question was answered needs to take place somewhere else. If you guys want to start a thread on it, let me know and I’ll move some of the comments from this one.
When it comes to carrying AR and AK mags, I’m a big fan of the HSGI TACO pouches. A simple solution would be to get an all MOLLE base (like those listed by docsherm) then add a couple TACOs for emergency reloads and then something like HSGI’s universal mag pouches to back fill from.
The Boar is also a good option. I had one for a while and it was pretty slick.
i couldn’t of even imagine wearing 8 fully loaded AK-47 magazines, i would trip and fall and be like the kid from Christmas story just rolling around and not getting up…!!
The problem with AK mags versus M4 mags or even SCAR mags isn’t just the increase in weight but the size and shape of the magazine. They are bulkier by an order of magnitude, making layout and stacking on a chest rig problematic. AK mags have additional issues that make many pouches difficult to use when the mags are inserted face down into a pouch; the locking lugs snag any and everything they contact. Single pouch, two mag setups have issues when one mag is removed and the other remains unless there are individual bungees. Stacking single AK mag pouches gives the user a pouch setup that is over three inches thick, not conducive to movement in/out/around vehicles and prone now presents a whole new set of issues, especially when worn over plates or armor, this is why COMBLOC chest rigs hold four mags, five at the most. I suggest the OP try several of the smaller, AK specific rigs like the U.S. Palm AK Rack or see what other AK users are running in his AOR. I can bet that for the usability issues cited above they are running 4-5 mags chest rigs.