Tac vests: rifle mags vs pistol mags

[boing]

I've been looking at tac vests lately, and I see a common configuration (e.g. Blackhawk and clones) that holds three rifle mags, a crossdraw holster, and four pistol mags. It seems to me that if your going to go to the trouble to strap on a tac vest and venture forth, you'd give up space for carrying pistol mags in favor of carrying more mags for your primary (more effective) weapon: the rifle.

What is the rationale for loading up with more pistol mags than rifle mags when you know in advance that you're going into harms way?

 

[bradvanhorn]

I don't know specifically what you're looking at, but most of those vests have three rifle mag pouches, and each pouch holds two mags (M-16 type). That's six rifle mags. On the opposite side is normally the crossdraw holster down low, and three pistol mag pouches on high. O.k., so that's six rifle mags and three pistol mags... that make the math look more reasonable?

Having brought this up, I for one do not like the configuration of these vests. No one I know prefers to reload their rifle by pulling mags from the strong side. It's my opinion rifle mag pouches are much better when worn centered, or perhaps slightly biased to the weak side. Also, pistol mag pouches positioned up high are awkward for rapid reloading. Better to have pistol mag pouches on the weak side (around 9-10 o'clock) at or near belt level. Last, having a crossdraw holster on the vest looks cool, but most of us drop our primary to the center of our body, which will most likely obstruct the reach for the pistol. Better to have the pistol on the strong side hip or thigh I think.

 

[NMshooter]

I like the modular stuff that lets you set up your vest/chest rig/other the way you want it.

Keep shopping, there is a lot of stuff out there.

 

[GunnySkox]

Combatkit makes some really slick vests and chest-rigs that you might want to check out. According to www.savvysurvivor.com's article about combatkit, their chest-rigs have a kind of pocket behind the magpouches where you can attach a holster (and, I assume, some pistol magpouches).

From Savvysurvivor:


~Slam_Fire

 

[boing]

...each pouch holds two mags (M-16 type). That's six rifle mags.

Ah so, that's it. I keep thinking in terms of 7.62 AK mags, which typically only fit one in each double M16 pouch. Thanks.

I'm leaning towards MOLLE gear, btw, but it's just for giggles. I'm a machine operator, not an Operator.

 

[GunnySkox]

Another thing about Combatkit stuff: Each of their magpouches holds three magazines, of just about any variety of assault or battle rifle:


From FALs and M14s and G3s to AR-15s to AK-47s, the combatkit's gotcha covered.

Man, I have no idea why I'm pimping Combatkit so hard, I couldn't afford their stuff even if I had any use for it.

~Slam_Fire
"***, mate?"

 

[Dave Williams]

Wouldn't going prone be an issue with the pictured rig?

Dave Williams

 

[Devonai]

That was my thought, too. How the heck are you supposed to go prone or low crawl with vests like that? My "battle rattle" LBE has the gear to the sides and back for a reason.

 

[GunnySkox]

Obviously you guys aren't real soldiers. Every proper mallninja carries his abdominal organs in his buttpack, and stows his diaphragm up between his lungs, so he can go prone with anything in front of the tacti-gut.

Geez, some people's children...






~Slam_Fire

 

[Brigrat]

I agree with you all regarding carrying your rifle mags on the weak side a sopposed to the strong side. I wear a tac vest at work like the one you speak of, only I ordered the left handed version, so my sidearm is crossdraw on the strong side, and my rifle mags are on the weak side where they belong.

As to the question about whether it is better to forgoe the pistol in favor of more rifle mags? My answer is deffinently NO. The pistol is a less effective weapon, but it is not a waste of space. The transition from rifle to pistol in the event of a failure or stoppage is absolutly vital. My pistol is a backup to my primary weapon, but it is still vital.

 

[bradvanhorn]

Opinions on vests are wide and varied; no two are ever alike it seems. That said, the S.O. Tech Hellcat vest (with or without plate carrier) is really my new favorite setup (seen at the link below with the plate carrier system). This is the current system our sniper platoon is using, and I wasn't too excited about it the first time I saw it. However, after further review, I discovered this is actually a great system.

http://www.specialforces.com/store/...allahan_Convertible_Plate_Carrier_System.html