Equipment Selection for A Visit to the Sandbox...

I'd second a stock Colt M-4, with a sling. At the very most, add an Aimpoint.

I'd say RRA M4 and a Springfield Mil-spec.

No need to get fancy here.

Well - I'm no expert but I'm going to say that since these guys aren't "shooters" or "operators" it should be kept somewhat simple.

Keeping that in mind I would second all the comments on making sure that the guys are familiar with their weapons by throwing ALOT of rounds through them beforehand.

For the AR - I'd go with an LMT, a Colt 6920 (or actual M4 if they can get one through the corporation), or an SR-15. I would recommend flattops on them all. I would use a GG&G MAD BUIS on them both, along with an EOTech 552. I'd also set it up with a Trijicon front sight on the standard sight post - or if you end up going with a dovetailed front sight mount get a flip up from GG&G. I would use Labelle Mags with the Magpul followers.

As far as other AR accessories I would use the Daniel Defense or a GG&G Single-Point sling adaptor, and use a Wilderness Single Point sling - along with their Giles SPQD.

For the Stock I'd recommend the Magpul Clubfoot stock - or a VLTOR with cheekplate and battery storage compartments.

I'd also go with some sort of pistol grip enhancement... either the Magpul or another nice ergonomic one.

I'd use a free-floated picatinny fore-end or the Surefire M73 - nothing else. Either use LMT, Daniel Defense, or KAC for this. Attach a Tango Down Battlegrip - for battery storage if nothing else.

If I were them I'd carry 9 mags over with me for the AR. One or two may get damaged and it'd be nice to have a good amount of extras in an LBV when you need them - along with one in the magwell.


For a Pistol - I'd probably go with a Kimber Warrior and replace all MIM parts with tool steel. I'd carry it in a Safariland 6920 - or similar.

For illumination tools - I'd have to consider this a little more. I know what I'd carry - but I'm not quite sure what to equip these non-shooters with.

It'd be important to carry some other things too. Spare parts and springs are a definite - spare firing pin(s), etc. As a previous poster stated - bring a supply of batteries one set per device needing batteries per week.

I'm sure you've already got a good idea of what body armor and LBVs to use with these guys too. You're no slouch on gearing up - no frills - no gimmicks. K.I.S.S.

If I were in their shoes I'd make KISS first and foremost, and take two weapons I already own:

1. Colt AR-15A3 Tactical Carbine. The only mod is an ambi selector since I'm left handed. I'm waiting for a Hakko 4x21mm carry handle mount scope to arrive, but for this scenario I think I'd go with a EOTech and a BUIS.

I'd take a couple of 20 round mags, plus several more 30s. The 20s are better for moving in and out of vehicles, since they stick out less and don't catch on stuff as much as the 30s. I'd probably take a total of 10 mags, all USGI and all well-tested. Maybe add Wolff mag springs.

Since I presumably won't have access to military logistical support, I'd also take a "field survival kit" like the one Bushmaster sells, but with Colt parts, including a complete spare bolt.

I'd fit the rifle with an Israeli sling, and carry spare mags in a chest pouch.

2. Springfield M1911A1 Loaded. It has an ambi safety, but I'd replace the OEM FLGR with a GI setup though, because it makes takedown a PITA (I'm planning to do this, Real Soon Now).

I'd take 10 tested Chip McCormick Shooting Star stainless steel mags. I have a couple and they work well in this gun. A small spare parts kit would accompany the gun.

I'd carry it in some kind of a full flap holster.

I'd take along a bottle of Hoppe's No.9 for cleaning and a bottle of FP-10 for lube. IMHO, Break Free CLP sucks as a cleaner although it's a good lube. FP-10 is better at both tasks, in my experience. And an Otis cleaning kit.

Although weapon lights are useful I don't feel one is criticl in this particular scenario. I'd be bringing the Colt and Springer as defensive weapons, not for clearing houses.

I have stumbled across one gizmo that my benefit these guys. From Diamonback Tactical, the Battlelab Escape and Evasion bag. It is a smallish shoulder kit bag with built in holster, multiple mag pouches, a map case and a flappy thingy I think is for a radio. There is a flap that covers everything so it looks like a kinda butch manpurse

It'll be a neat way to keep everything in one place and grab 'n go. I havent really put it to use yet, but it seems well made and full of potential.

I'd see if I could get a Yost-Bonitz 1* gun for the sidearm. Expensive, but I'd be alot more confident of it actually working than some off-the-shelf gun at its price point. Also, as a contractor this is most likely the weapon I'll actually have at hand at any given time.

For the rifle, just a basic M4.

I would be much more focused on the weapon, then the name of the smith, that did the work...spending allot for a weapon, sometime has more questionable assumptions... connected. If you pick a good basic weapon, have a good smith go threw it....and then put it to the test..of function and realibility.

an FN or a Colt
with da switch

any accurate ar from a reputable company will do, just test fire it alot. glock 21 is probably ideal. most trouble free pistol i've ever heard of. 1911's are great, but more prone to breakage and - i know how much people will scream about this - not as reliable. face it - old slabsides is picky and a fickle mistress. as for sights xs big dot for pistol. trijicon reflex II for rifle. (i bought one for an ar and now it's on my '16) i don't trust batteries to be properly charged when you need 'em. people have said shoulder holster, but i say strong side scabbard or drop leg. there are some companies that make holsters with adjustable dorp; this is probably ideal. blackhawk's cqc is a great concept, too with it's retention system. there is a tendency to go buck-wild sticking things on the weapons and one's self, but simple is better. most of the sf guys around here have very simple gear. good low light capable sight, comfy and versatile sling, maybe white light, maybe butt stock mag pouch. mag pouches are great inside the wire where you're not wearing you're lbv everywhere, but if you're spending alot of time outside the wire it just gets in the way and all your ammo should be on your lbv anyway. most important is to keep it simple.

I suggest they find jobs with a company that is not dumb enough to restrict choice to M -1911. The M-1911 is a specialist weapon, there are safer designs to be carried by non-shooter personnel with limited weapons handling experience.

This sounds fishy, how can Joe Blow just go out and buy a full auto weapon? (some recommend M-4.)

I'd get a semi-Bushy, and a .45 Glock.

Take 10 testfired mags for Bushy, 5 for pistol. Simple sling. Cleaning kit.
1000 round break in.

Need belt and concealed carry holsters for pistol, with mag pouch. Gi. mag pouches for M-16 mags. Want flexibility.

As an aside, can they sign up for some training on thier own?

I'm going into the north in a couple months but not as a hired gun. Here's my set-up:
Colt SOP-MOD M-4 A3 w/ Knights pic. rail and forward grip.
Knights BUIS.
Sure-fire tac mounted
PEQ-2A
EO Tech 552 for mounted operations and if I think I may have to enter buildings. I'm issued an ACOG but I have found that I cant make shots quick enough at 25-100m with it from the top of my vehicle, wearing SAP plates. If a suicide bomber is bearing down on your vehicle you will only have a second or 2 to kill him and hopefully make him swerve. We are finding out that 20m of stand off from a VBIED saves lives.

I carry the ACOG for overwatch type tasks. Make sure you mark your rails for easy change out if using multiple optics.
In spite of some negative press, I have been told that well placed M855 penetrator is having devastating effects on the enemy.

I'm issued an M-9 and limited to the issue 124gr. ball. I would suggest your friend take a good service 9mm for a back-up in case of logistical problems with the .45. I have a friend who works for Triple Canopy who informed me that he had some problems getting 45 early in the conflict. That may have changed now though. He also told me that they are limited by contract to use only ball ammo, same as coalition.

Speaking as an over fifties dude with bi-focals, if these civilian contractors are the same, they may need to confirm they can see sights well on what ever they get.

(My front sight on my short Bushie is a LITTLE FUZZY!

Centac mentioned these guys. Gear-to-go.

http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/Products.html

There was never any option of carrying weapons into Iraq for us,

Click to expand...

It's dangerous enough for our military, with armor, machine guns, grenades, etc. There's NO WAY I would go there unarmed - period. At this stage of my life, that's more adventure than I want.

Having said that, if I was going there anyway and couldn't get a good USGI M16/M4 variant (that means with full auto or burst control) I'd get a short AR15 clone from Bushmaster, RRA, Wilson, etc., and shoot the snot out of it to be sure it worked. A good optical sight, sure, but no fancy target trigger or multi-loop "tactical" sling that requires working a latch or pressing a button before you lift it into firing position - just pure KISS.

And probably a Baer or Brown 1911 which I'd also shoot a lot first.

(And I'd take some softpoint ammo along, too. Bleep the Hague Accords.)

For the rifle go with any of the big names bushmaster, colt, rra what ever floats your boat. I would get an M4A3 and mount an aimpoint co witnessed with the front sight and buy a flip up rear sight. Just put that red dot over anything that needs killing. and if your optic fails you still have your open sights right there.

I am not a 1911 guy but take a look at the para ord 14-45 if its not 2 big for your hands it sure would be nice to have 14+ rounds of 45 on deck. I hear there light double action is a pretty sweet shooter.

Get quality mags... dot mess around with the cheap stuff this is your life... Get spare parts that you may need as well. extractors gas rings... some reading on ar15.com should get you up to speed on common failures.

Stay safe brother...

Assuming they are going to be paid very well for the trip, and assuming these guys have a good bit of money up front, I say Wilson. A Wilson AR variant, a Wilson .45, and Wilson mags. Proven track record for relliability, accuracy, and dependability. Also, get these guys some training ASAP.

I would take what I already have for the most part; a BM Dissy and both my 1911's, in case of catastrophic failure. In fact, I think I'd also buy a back up Dissy (fully set up exactly as the first was) as well and, of course, run at least 1K rounds through it first. After that, I'd start shooting without cleaning so I would know how many rounds the gun could take before malfunctioning due to needing to be cleaned. Obviously it would have to be modified for the nasty sandy conditions in the box, but I think it would give a good baseline.

I would definitely throw on either an EOTech or an Aimpoint as well as both a good single and double point slings (I shoot lefty so the 3-point is out for me) and maybe look into some of the other options like a FF railed forend, light and VFG. Seems like the more rounds I put through my Dissy the more I'd actually appreciate some of those things, but it's taken me quite a few thousand rounds to figure that out.

Couple other things I'd add, at least double the number of mags (GI for the AR and Wilson for the 1911's would be my choice) that I can carry with me on a daily basis, exras left with the backup rifle/pistol combo; again just in case. I don't know exactly what their jobs require of them, but if they can be loaded out with a vest and everything constantly they might even want to look into a full backup of everything kit, but then again that is probably overkill for a non-military/shooting contractor job. I don't know the first thing about tac-holsters, but the vest-mounted ones look good to me. If they have extra stuff when they leave it can probably be sold to others over there or back home. Good sun and clear-lensed glasses, gloves (something like a good pair of Nomex flight gloves) and boots, all with backups. Maybe hit the Army/Navy Surplus store and try to find a used flight suit or two.

Training, training, training. IIRC, there's a guy on here who teaches a contractor-going-to-Iraq/Afghanistan course, that may be good for them.

Just for the record I'm not a professional anything, let alone shooter, these are some of the things that I would consider, take what you want, leave the rest as usual.

Personally, I'd recommend any M4 style rifle from a 'big name' company. 1911, just go with any dressed up with Wilson. Have a top notch gunsmith tune them up. Addd whatever optics they feel comfy with.

The name doesn't matter nearly as much as spending the next few weeks getting prepared. If possible, getting used to high temperatures, working out a bit, and drinking lots and lots of water. It takes some getting used to, drinking a gallon or two of water (or more) per day.

They need to wrap up their personal affairs (Will, powers of attorney, paying any bills, etc) and get into the mindframe they're gonna need. I gather they're being paid to be engineers, not shooters. (I take a dim view on most mercs anyways. Nothing but trouble, more often than not.) Yea, they need to be comfy with any weapons they're gonna take. Putting a couple thousand rounds through whatever they intend to bring is manditory.

'Field testing' their equipment is even more important. Kicking it around, tossing it in muddy water, etc. If it still works, bring it. If it doesn't, don't.

Rifle, LMT, real Colt, RRA, Baer, or wilson.

hand gun a brown, wilson or baer.

Really I would call Baer or Wilson and tell them what was goin' on and ask for a deal, one rifle, one pistol, maybe two, and mag's and mag's and mags. would also call surefire and/or streamlight ask the same. all of the above a companies of patriots and do good things. On The pistol, I would get a modified GI version, in fact, if I had to go and all I had was a refreshed 1911ai remington or colt war production, I would be just fine as long as i put nightsights on it.

I might consider a 9mm handgun as ammo will be more readily available

Ironically, 9mm is hard to get (at least it has been for us) and sells for $1 per round in Baghdad. I'd rather have a .45 if 9mm is hard to get anyway. I have a 9mm though (company issue) and don't shoot it much. 7.62X39 and 5.56 aren't too hard to come by though.

If you are going to be on BIAP or in the Green Zone, you don't need a weapon at all...no big deal. Outside of those type of well secured locations, yeah, I wouldn't do it without a weapon. All this talk of personal guns is nice, but what I was told was all weapons have to be listed as property of the company. If not, it is a US felony and against Iraqi law to have a privately owned weapon. Oh, and get this, I just found out the ATF is here!! Talk about muscleing in on extra juristiction to justify your existence. I guess you could just put in "on the books" when you get here and take it off when you leave, depending on company policy. If they're asking you to provide your own they must have it figured out.

A lot of non-security companies have a no weapons policy. That's why I joined a security one! Well, that and I don't have any "civilized" skills.

Can the 1911 pattern pistol be a double stack model? I'm thinking this way they could maybe carry more mags and if they, god forbid, have to use it they can get more shots in between reloads.