Custom built sniper chest rig

[ArmorerRoy]

I just built this for one of my customers. It's a multicam chest rig built to hold:

20 rounds of 308 match
4- M4 magazines
2- M9 pistol magazines
general purpose pouch for NVGs
medical pouch
kestrel wind meter pouch
MBITR radio pouch
compass pouch
folding knife pouch

This rig was built from Crye Multicam fabic. Its fully lined, triple stiched, and has a large internal pocket.

 

[J.Boyette]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Sir,

Have you gone prone in this rig to see if it really works? Next, have you slung up with a sling and tried sitting, or kneeling shots with it?

Any rig holds things.

John

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

John

I shoot standing, kneeling, prone, and several other unorthodox positions with a sniper rifle. I like a chest rig and don't find that it interferes at all. Back and side mounted equipment is nice for some applications but if you want to wear a rucksack or ride in a vehicle it become more problematic. Bottom line: <span style="font-weight: bold">Chest rigs make sense for certain applications.</span>

Having been a US Army Infantryman and a 20 year police officer as well as SWAT sniper has influenced my training as well as gear selection. Also having been in combat many times effects that as well.

When selecting gear; <span style="font-weight: bold">choose what will give you the highest likelihood of success.</span>

 

[sinister]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

I'm curious as well.

I can't stand too much shit on my front if I am also kitted out in full armor and plate regalia.

GP and IFAK pouches on the front exacerbate the problem.

 

[Emilio]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Will the chest rig be on your site?

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Lots of gear mounted on the chest mounted over armor is a hassle and I have found that I have to balance what I put in my pack and what I put on my second line gear. For me, chest webbing makes standing, kneeling, and sitting positions easier because I have a resting place for my non shooting elbow and when I am prone it kind of props me up and takes stress off my back. The important part here is that it is a CHEST rig not a STOMACH rig. Prone shooting with equipment on my stomach is uncomfortable and not something I do either. A true chest rig mounted high on the chest does not interfere. It's all about how you wear the gear and how you pack it.

I will post some pics later of me shooting with a rig like this so it better explains.....after all a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Emilio

Its not a standard item since it was custom. If you want the same or something smiliar I can build exactly what you want.

I do a lot of custom work. I build gear that I use as well as build gear that others request.

 

[KM375]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

try a split rig, one you can open up and move out of the way if you have to get in the prone.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

You must have read my mind. I have a split front chest rig that will be available at the end of the week.

 

[spswatip]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Looks like a good setup.

Unfortunately for some of us what we wear and how we wear it is dictated to us and we have to make it work for us the best we can. For me, I am required to wear a heavy vest on all of our deployments. I am required to have a ifak, radio, pistol, pistol-ar-rifle mags/ammo, taser, night vision, spike mic, and on occasion, a flash bang and gas. Plus any other items that you personally want on you like a knife, spare batteries, etc. Heck I even have to have a lanyard on my pistol because a member of the team lost his pistol (temporarily) on a stalk. The rest of my stuff is packed in a gunslinger, so I can't put any pouches on my back so they are placed on my front and sides. Is it comfortable? Not really. Ideal to shoot in any position with it on? No. Believe me, I would rather shoot in bdu's or with some sort of small harness on but I can't.

So for some, it becomes a matter of finding something to put required equipment on, then training yourself to shoot while wearing it. I have had to shoot in various configurations of different positions that I would not normally do if I didn't have to wear a vest. And sometimes you can configure the required equipment that you have to wear to assist you in some positions. Since I grab my pistol mags with my left hand to reload I placed them on the front left side of my vest and down low so that in the standing position they provide a great "shelf" to help put my left elbow on so I don't have to muscle up on my heavy bolt rifle as much. In my opinion another important factor of a chest rig is making sure whatever components you place right on the front have approximately the same depth and width, so you maintain as flat as a platform as you can while shooting prone. The chest rig will stick out but as long as it is fairly flat across the front it will work.

For me my heavy vest has become what I wear when I shoot because when I shoot for real that is what I have to wear. So whether I am going to a competition or shooting on my own personal time at the range I drag that vest along and put it on, or else what's the point? I train how I fight.

Like I said, I would rather not wear chest rigs or vests or a ton of different stuff but sometimes we have to and we have to learn to make it work. I assume whoever asked SOT to build this rig did so for the above reasons and they will train to shoot with it on.

 

[MGC]

Re: Custom built sniper chest rig

Can you post more photos of the back straps and how it is fixed to the body?
Concern is load bearing and shifting up on your back when fully loaded and humping through the bush