I looked through most of the first line belt thread and erad some of it. I was looking to see how may pistol mags people were putting on their first line belts because I was trying to decide on a double or triple mag pouch. What I noticed is that everybody is wearing their pistol mags in front of their rifle mags. I was setting mine up in reverse because this is more like my everday/ccw set up. What are your thoughts?
There are tradeoffs, and as long as you apply some logic you can find a way that works for you.
The problem with rifle mags in front is that they may block the smaller pistol mags while the reverse is unlikely. I push my rifle magazines back on the belt to a position where my pistol magazines might normally ride, but I retrieve pistol mags by starting my left hand at my belt buckle and sliding it to the rear, grabbing the first thing that comes to hand. With this technique if my pistol mags are slightly more forward than where they’d typically be in a CCW situation it becomes a non-issue. I use this technique when CCW as well because it allows me to raise the hem of the shirt and sweep back to get the mag, and also allows for magazine pouches that may have shifted due to sitting for too long or other activity.
Hope this helps. Just an outline of what I’ve found works for me.
I use to only carry pistol mags at the 9’oclock (right handed shooter). Since starting in LE my mags have moved to the 1030-1130 place on my duty belt as well as my “battle belt.” Being skinny doesn’t help with having enough space to put stuff on your belt.
Currently off duty I carry either a single G17 mag or two G17 mags in Raven Concealment pouches at the 1030ish spot.
On duty - two G22 pouches in a Eagle FB duty mag pouch at 1100ish.
Battle belt - two G17 mags at the 1100ish spot. At 0900ish is two AR mags in a FAST mag and ATS short shingle.
I decided to place all my pistol mags in the same spot - roughly - for muscle memory. That is key in my personal opinion. YMMV.
If your rifle goes down and you’re onto your pistol, the pistol is most important to keep fed until your rifle can be brought back into action. Pistol mags have priority so, you keep them to the front and clear of obstruction by your rifle mags.
Thanks guys for your help. Rob that makes sense and I should start training to pull my mags that way which is better than what I do now. The muscle memory thing is right on track with what I was thinking about thus the question. RWK you are actually reinforcing my thought pattern. During training and classes they teach and I practice transitioning but in a true gunfight with full gear I will only be on my pistol if the rifle goes down (hopefully never) so it should be a low priority if I am running quality and proven gear. But I have been wron before:D