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Thinking I need a Battle Belt
- Thread starter pmclaine
- Start date
Maybe he wants to eat the HoHo and rub one out when he runs out of ammo. Double the pleasure before getting wacked by bad guys........
The end of this saga. Started Nov 14 ended today. Some of these manufacturers have some serious lead times. Order early....
Just got my Safailand holster in today for use with my duty pistol.
What I ended up with....
Top set up is based on the HSGI belt.
Id think of wearing that if Im wearing it "over" something.....cold weather gear or similar.
The AWS belt is so nice and infinitely adjustable....That on top of being tight to the body with its velcro attachment Im thinking to move someplace warm so I will never need to wear cold weather gear requiring use of the HSGI belt.
I moved my mag pouches, dump and IFAK to the AWS belt. When the G Code inner is worn and the hook and loop velcro opposites attach that thing becomes a piece of your torso.
It carries the weight awesome and I can skooch the attachment panels to my exact desired location rather than having to deal with the slot openings that the HSGI belt limits me to.
It carries real low so I think if I wear my plate carrier there will be no conflict between the two pieces of gear.
The holsters are on G Code RTI wheels so I can transfer depending on what pistol I want to carry.
I decided upon needing this gear due to a carbine class I have coming up at Sig Academy that requires it.
Its a close quarter class so Im figuring to use my issued S&W AR/Red Dot combo for the rifle and Ill use my issue S&W M&P .45 for the pistol. The Safariland holster mimics my daily work set up.
The CQB emphasis makes using my work gear in this class the sensible way to go. Might as well get some practical training out of it.
My next carbine class will be a mid range class and for that I can use the Garret holster and my 1911 along with my TA33 mounted LMT carbine. Mid range distances are not something we are encouraged to engage in at work and Ill bring my gear because I like shooting my own bought and paid for toys.
You guys have been helpful in spending my cash....Thank you.
Just got my Safailand holster in today for use with my duty pistol.
What I ended up with....
Top set up is based on the HSGI belt.
Id think of wearing that if Im wearing it "over" something.....cold weather gear or similar.
The AWS belt is so nice and infinitely adjustable....That on top of being tight to the body with its velcro attachment Im thinking to move someplace warm so I will never need to wear cold weather gear requiring use of the HSGI belt.
I moved my mag pouches, dump and IFAK to the AWS belt. When the G Code inner is worn and the hook and loop velcro opposites attach that thing becomes a piece of your torso.
It carries the weight awesome and I can skooch the attachment panels to my exact desired location rather than having to deal with the slot openings that the HSGI belt limits me to.
It carries real low so I think if I wear my plate carrier there will be no conflict between the two pieces of gear.
The holsters are on G Code RTI wheels so I can transfer depending on what pistol I want to carry.
I decided upon needing this gear due to a carbine class I have coming up at Sig Academy that requires it.
Its a close quarter class so Im figuring to use my issued S&W AR/Red Dot combo for the rifle and Ill use my issue S&W M&P .45 for the pistol. The Safariland holster mimics my daily work set up.
The CQB emphasis makes using my work gear in this class the sensible way to go. Might as well get some practical training out of it.
My next carbine class will be a mid range class and for that I can use the Garret holster and my 1911 along with my TA33 mounted LMT carbine. Mid range distances are not something we are encouraged to engage in at work and Ill bring my gear because I like shooting my own bought and paid for toys.
You guys have been helpful in spending my cash....Thank you.
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i have all kinds of gear from plate carriers to chest rigs and battle belts. Here is what I have seen. If you want to take classes and you should, wear what you would normally shoot in. The whole train as you would fight is sort of silly for the average guy. What are you fighting???? Are you a combat soldier actively getting into gun fights??? Are you kicking down doors where you wear plates for your job??? Are you an average joe that wants to shoot for fun and be good at it??? If you are not employed to be a gunfighter and want to be good with a gun have the ability to defend you and your fam think about this. If you have a midnight wake up and end up getting into a gun fight with a home invader will you have time to put on plates? No you will not and I have woke up to have to deal with that as well as I get paid to kick in doors for a living wearing plates. The train how you fight will be much better suited to 95% of the guys on here wearing jeans, tee shirt, belt and mags in back pockets. The civilians that go to classes all camo and full plate carriers is fine if they want but its fairy tail stuff to think they will ever be in a gun fight with all that stuff on.
So back on track. I have the Vtac brokos belt and its really nice. I have used in USPSA matches and at work as well as a bunch of class. JD Petynsky of Northern Red turned me on to them years back when I trained with him a lot. I also love the HSGI tacos and now the G-code scorpion stuff is really good. Safariland makes excellent holsters and thats what I use but again I do this for a living
Ghilly hit it correctly. Unless you do things like your grocery shopping with plates and "battle belt" on, wearing all that gear to a training event is somewhat unrealistic. Sure, if you want to know how that gear fits, how it works, how you can move in it, how all the individual components of the gear work together, then of course you need to wear the gear to check it out.
But as Ghilly rightly said, I spend most of my life in jeans, t-shirt, and sandals. When I do pistol practice, that is what I wear. Of course I'm not as fast out of the holster when I have to get a T-shirt out of the way first, rather than having the T-shirt tucked in, but that isn't how I usually wear it.
For 3-gun matches I have something like a battle belt where I have to arrange holster, magazine pouches for pistol and rifle, and shotgun shell carriers etc..but I don't wear that outfit to Safeway.
Be realistic with yourself about what you would normally wear, compete with, or fight with, and set up your gear accordingly.
While I do have soft body armor, I don't have a "battle belt" , or plate carriers set up to fight against hordes of zombies..I sure as hell hope I didn't guess wrong there.
But as Ghilly rightly said, I spend most of my life in jeans, t-shirt, and sandals. When I do pistol practice, that is what I wear. Of course I'm not as fast out of the holster when I have to get a T-shirt out of the way first, rather than having the T-shirt tucked in, but that isn't how I usually wear it.
For 3-gun matches I have something like a battle belt where I have to arrange holster, magazine pouches for pistol and rifle, and shotgun shell carriers etc..but I don't wear that outfit to Safeway.
Be realistic with yourself about what you would normally wear, compete with, or fight with, and set up your gear accordingly.
While I do have soft body armor, I don't have a "battle belt" , or plate carriers set up to fight against hordes of zombies..I sure as hell hope I didn't guess wrong there.
If you talk to guys like Kyle Defor and JD Petynski they train a lot in jeans now with mags in back pockets. They still do DOD work but are no longer door kickers so they train in what they wear every day. Here is an example of that. I am in plate carrier with battle belt and he is in pants and a rifle.
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@pmclaine
Look at the Snakeeater Tactical inner belt. I couldn't stand the AWS inner belt as it was too stiff and never actually conformed to my body. I tried the HSGI inner and it was better and the Snakeeater inner belt improved on it as well as being lighter and having a velcro type keeper on it.
Do you get holster flip when you draw from the belt? If so, get this: https://www.copquest.com/safariland-leg-strap-for-6004-6005-holster-single_23-6500.htm
Open the RTI wheel (or whatever GCode calls it) and thread the strap through and then screw it back together. It's not a leg rig, but instead takes the slack out that allows the muzzle end of the holster to go outboard during the draw stroke.
This thread has netted me about 50 IMs of people wanting to know what I wear/wore or wanting pictures of gear. lol
@pmclaine
Look at the Snakeeater Tactical inner belt. I couldn't stand the AWS inner belt as it was too stiff and never actually conformed to my body. I tried the HSGI inner and it was better and the Snakeeater inner belt improved on it as well as being lighter and having a velcro type keeper on it.
Do you get holster flip when you draw from the belt? If so, get this: https://www.copquest.com/safariland-leg-strap-for-6004-6005-holster-single_23-6500.htm
Open the RTI wheel (or whatever GCode calls it) and thread the strap through and then screw it back together. It's not a leg rig, but instead takes the slack out that allows the muzzle end of the holster to go outboard during the draw stroke.
This thread has netted me about 50 IMs of people wanting to know what I wear/wore or wanting pictures of gear. lol
Class specs a gunbelt, Holster, and three mags ea for
Went with this from G Code for an inner......
https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/inner-belt-for-operators-belt/
Fits standard belt loops, doesnt create a bunch of bulk under the outer.
Got this single strap from GCode if needed. Concerned it may ride that high I may catch sack hairs...
https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/individual-mule-dls-leg-strap/
I may have to manscape....do you recommend electric or a blade around the balls?
Your input has been helpful, if costly, but gear and comfort are no place to be poor.
How do you compare/contrast the merits of Olympic ARs to KAC.........as equals?
Went with this from G Code for an inner......
https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/inner-belt-for-operators-belt/
Fits standard belt loops, doesnt create a bunch of bulk under the outer.
Got this single strap from GCode if needed. Concerned it may ride that high I may catch sack hairs...
https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/individual-mule-dls-leg-strap/
I may have to manscape....do you recommend electric or a blade around the balls?
Your input has been helpful, if costly, but gear and comfort are no place to be poor.
How do you compare/contrast the merits of Olympic ARs to KAC.........as equals?
I dont have carbines at the ready outside of work.
Cant imagine any situation in which if I have time to resort to carbine use I wouldnt also access additional gear like a belt or armor.
If this was a walking around concealed carry class street clothes and usual concealed carry holster would be the uniform of the day.
Carbine class though, requiring sidearm and three mags for each gun, a belt with mag pouches is the minimum piece of gear needed. Plate carrier would be better not only for gear carry but also to meet the "train as you fight" maxim.
If I need a carbine than I want a plate.
but........
This is a self funded fun class which I will be attending with all sorts of skill levels and backgrounds.
Not wanting to be "that guy" or the tiredest guy in the group the minimalist belt will be fine.
Do you like guys, or women?
The inner belt and strap are basically what I have. Looks like GCode is sourcing 'their own' stuff now which is nice. Back when they just did holsters you had to get a bit creative. Kind of funny that their inner belt is a Volund knockoff and the strap is a Safariland knockoff yet they can't seem to make their holsters less plasticy and thin and knock off Safariland's material.
I run the thigh strap through the inside of the RTI wheel and its at about mid thigh. Never had a problem with it trying to sheer my dick off.
If you have time to get ready for a 3-gun class, a carbine class, or a 3 gun match, then wearing your gear makes sense. Wearing rifle gear and battle belt for a pistol class seems like a little over kill. For a run of the mill pistol class, I would think just wearing what I wear most of the time would make the most sense. I don't wear soft or hard armor when I'm going to the grocery store.
If I thought there was that much of a threat at the grocery store, that body armor was required, I would seek a different store. Any fight I can stay away from gives me the best chance of remaining wound free.
With all that said, when serving as my agencies chief firearms instructor, I insisted that officers wear their soft body armor to qualification and annual pistol training, just as they would when they are out on the streets. Some of the newer officers learned that the high speed holsters that worked just fine without body armor, were nearly impossible to get their pistol out of because of the position of the holster and the added thickness of the body armor. So there are valid reasons to put on your gear and make sure it will all work together.
If I thought there was that much of a threat at the grocery store, that body armor was required, I would seek a different store. Any fight I can stay away from gives me the best chance of remaining wound free.
With all that said, when serving as my agencies chief firearms instructor, I insisted that officers wear their soft body armor to qualification and annual pistol training, just as they would when they are out on the streets. Some of the newer officers learned that the high speed holsters that worked just fine without body armor, were nearly impossible to get their pistol out of because of the position of the holster and the added thickness of the body armor. So there are valid reasons to put on your gear and make sure it will all work together.
This paid off.
Had my class today and ended up looking like the guy in the full ECWS gear due to a steady flow of showers upon the range.
I wore the HSGI thin belt and it worked out well riding over the skirt of my jacket. My pant belt loops were not accessible as the rain pants covered my inner belt.
Glad I bought the added battle belt suspenders as I watched another shooter with a similar set up have his belt slide down his ass and almost strip his pants......there was definitely shooters crack.
The little bit of transition we did the pistol holster stayed in place and didnt follow the draw.
On the down side I found returning a magazine to an HSGI mag holder requires some finesse. They could use a speedwell or something to make it easier. I ended up just throwing them in the dump pouch if speed was of importance. Im told when the bungees stretch a bit they will provide a better orifice to jam my gear in.
Ill be looking at other options on mag pouches. Ill set up each belt with its own as when I finally decided the weather men were right and the weather would suck I had to shuffle gear from one system to the other. If I had to do it any fatser than I did I might have broke a nail manipulating the Molle plastics
Tomorrow the air will be filled with butterflies and sunshine so I will be using the AWS belt.
Guys with similar belts today and wearing their rain gear remarked they wished they had something like mine so as not to conflict with the snivel gear.
I guess the only solution is to have options.
Had my class today and ended up looking like the guy in the full ECWS gear due to a steady flow of showers upon the range.
I wore the HSGI thin belt and it worked out well riding over the skirt of my jacket. My pant belt loops were not accessible as the rain pants covered my inner belt.
Glad I bought the added battle belt suspenders as I watched another shooter with a similar set up have his belt slide down his ass and almost strip his pants......there was definitely shooters crack.
The little bit of transition we did the pistol holster stayed in place and didnt follow the draw.
On the down side I found returning a magazine to an HSGI mag holder requires some finesse. They could use a speedwell or something to make it easier. I ended up just throwing them in the dump pouch if speed was of importance. Im told when the bungees stretch a bit they will provide a better orifice to jam my gear in.
Ill be looking at other options on mag pouches. Ill set up each belt with its own as when I finally decided the weather men were right and the weather would suck I had to shuffle gear from one system to the other. If I had to do it any fatser than I did I might have broke a nail manipulating the Molle plastics
Tomorrow the air will be filled with butterflies and sunshine so I will be using the AWS belt.
Guys with similar belts today and wearing their rain gear remarked they wished they had something like mine so as not to conflict with the snivel gear.
I guess the only solution is to have options.
I highly recommend ITW Fastmags for both rifle & pistol. You can thank me anytime.
Check to see if any of your classmates are using them. I’ve been using them everyday for 5 - 6 years. They’re reasonably priced & work great.
Check to see if any of your classmates are using them. I’ve been using them everyday for 5 - 6 years. They’re reasonably priced & work great.
Yep one of the instructors was using those. Think Sig was loaning them out to students that had no gear also.
You know what doesn't conflict with snivel gear?
A chest rig
PCU level 5 top/trousers+ chest rig = LOL poor people
eta - The ITW mags are nice. Only downside is they don't like single stack mags and I've managed to get them to start working their way out (but not fall out) while doing things that had you come to a stop against something or the deck and the inertia eventually works them out. But on my gunbelt I wear if I am going to carry a sidearm in conjunction with primary gear, I have one ITW on it for a guaranteed reload.
On my regular gear (rig or carrier) I always have a First Spear pistol pocket in my pistol reload spot to double as either a pouch for the pistol reload if I am going to primarily be mounted and have a sidearm in a Crye pouch on my armor or it holds a multi tool perfectly.
A chest rig
PCU level 5 top/trousers+ chest rig = LOL poor people
eta - The ITW mags are nice. Only downside is they don't like single stack mags and I've managed to get them to start working their way out (but not fall out) while doing things that had you come to a stop against something or the deck and the inertia eventually works them out. But on my gunbelt I wear if I am going to carry a sidearm in conjunction with primary gear, I have one ITW on it for a guaranteed reload.
On my regular gear (rig or carrier) I always have a First Spear pistol pocket in my pistol reload spot to double as either a pouch for the pistol reload if I am going to primarily be mounted and have a sidearm in a Crye pouch on my armor or it holds a multi tool perfectly.
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I carry two ITW pistol mag carriers on the support side of my belt. I also carry an ITW rifle bag carrier behind them on my left side. I carry 3 rifle & pistol mags on my plate carrier for work. This setup works well for it's intended purpose.
Hoping the guy that was wearing a Derby/Bowler hat at yesterdays class wears his hat today.
He was National Guard, PsyOps, been to Iraq beaucoup times, been blown up three times.
Wife didnt want him to be an engineer because he would be blown up. Now he tells his wife he gets blown up but he is not on vehicles designed to be blown up.
Wanted to be ring gunner in his HMMWV but his vehicle leader said he needs someone dependable to drive the Hummer if he goes down - couldnt spare him on the .50.
First group on site in was high right and spread like Lindsey Lohan's vagina - he had an excuse though he had just put an "optic" from his .308 on his carbine (that he built himself of course - he is an armorer).
He was National Guard, PsyOps, been to Iraq beaucoup times, been blown up three times.
Wife didnt want him to be an engineer because he would be blown up. Now he tells his wife he gets blown up but he is not on vehicles designed to be blown up.
Wanted to be ring gunner in his HMMWV but his vehicle leader said he needs someone dependable to drive the Hummer if he goes down - couldnt spare him on the .50.
First group on site in was high right and spread like Lindsey Lohan's vagina - he had an excuse though he had just put an "optic" from his .308 on his carbine (that he built himself of course - he is an armorer).
Sounds like you stand to get some free lessons today on top of what you're paying for. #LuckyBastard
My man did not disappoint.....
Someone made a John Wick comment yesterday so......
Give him credit, he wore that get up all day, to include the tie, and didnt hesitate to roll down in the dust and dead brass to fire the low loopholes in the barricades.
Perhaps he does stare at goats......
Probably the smart way to take the class, who is going to be in gun belt, range clothes and ready to go when you need to do defensive shooting?
Someone made a John Wick comment yesterday so......
Give him credit, he wore that get up all day, to include the tie, and didnt hesitate to roll down in the dust and dead brass to fire the low loopholes in the barricades.
Perhaps he does stare at goats......
Probably the smart way to take the class, who is going to be in gun belt, range clothes and ready to go when you need to do defensive shooting?
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The AWS belt worked great. Really comfortable also. It becomes part of your body when the inner and outer belts mate together.
The floating panels on the AWS belt let you put the gear exactly wear you want it. Day before I had gaps where I didnt want them because the sewn in molle pattern said so.
Had one pistol mag get stripped from my mag pouch due to the rifle sling pulling it out. Might be less chance of that running mags without the mushroom top base plates M&P pistols have.
Thinking of these Tactical Tailor pouches....
https://www.tacticaltailor.com/556doublemagnamagcombopouch.aspx
or these First Spear
https://www.first-spear.com/m4-double-speed-reload-with-pistol-pockets
First will give me magnets to hold mags in without the bungy. Second gives me a polymer insert so pockets are open for easily reinserting mags. Both mirror work gear placement of mags.
Never tried out my plate carrier, regretting that now. At the time though I was thinking it couldnt compare to wearing a derby to run the course.
I should have run the barricades with my carrier on. I would likely have found shooting the low loopholes would have been a challenge.
It was a good class and the gear suggested here made it successful. I look forward to doing more similar training and trying to wear this stuff out now.
The floating panels on the AWS belt let you put the gear exactly wear you want it. Day before I had gaps where I didnt want them because the sewn in molle pattern said so.
Had one pistol mag get stripped from my mag pouch due to the rifle sling pulling it out. Might be less chance of that running mags without the mushroom top base plates M&P pistols have.
Thinking of these Tactical Tailor pouches....
https://www.tacticaltailor.com/556doublemagnamagcombopouch.aspx
or these First Spear
https://www.first-spear.com/m4-double-speed-reload-with-pistol-pockets
First will give me magnets to hold mags in without the bungy. Second gives me a polymer insert so pockets are open for easily reinserting mags. Both mirror work gear placement of mags.
Never tried out my plate carrier, regretting that now. At the time though I was thinking it couldnt compare to wearing a derby to run the course.
I should have run the barricades with my carrier on. I would likely have found shooting the low loopholes would have been a challenge.
It was a good class and the gear suggested here made it successful. I look forward to doing more similar training and trying to wear this stuff out now.
Holy fuck how does Patagonia reconcile their save the earth philosophy with manufacturing war gear.
You made a comment about Patagonia earlier this week and I laughed as I thought it was a facetious, sarcastic comment about their PC posture.
My wife gets there catalogs and each in addition to trying to shill expensive, one hundred percent made from earth friendly materials it contains stories of people named "Clifton" saving trees and shit.
I guess if wearing a PCU and you plant a tree using your fresh kill as fertilizer all is well.
Wish G Code had these last year......
www.tacticalholsters.com
Pretty slick.
They do sell it in a configuration that you can take your present wheel and attach it to the updated panel.....
It requires a longer screw kit because the panel is now thicker. The screws are listed under "Kit 13"
Current discount code is Black20 for anyone wanting to upgrade.
GCA200 - STATIC GRIP® Series RTI® Optimal Drop Pistol Platform
Check out the deal on GCA200 - STATIC GRIP® Series RTI® Optimal Drop Pistol Platform at Edge Works
Pretty slick.
They do sell it in a configuration that you can take your present wheel and attach it to the updated panel.....
It requires a longer screw kit because the panel is now thicker. The screws are listed under "Kit 13"
Current discount code is Black20 for anyone wanting to upgrade.
Ha, tell me about it. I called those bastards like 4 years ago when I was building mine & asked them why they didn't make that exact thing. Now I've got a single strap crammed between my holster & my RTI plate, but admittedly, it's a bit too high... Trying to decide if I can now justify rewarding G-Code's ridiculously slow response to the market by purchasing one of those... Not sure why I'm so pissed over 50 bucks, haha!
I had a cart with two hangers, to straps, two sets of screws.....comes to like $110 with discount.
Just bought a Randall knife yesterday.
Thinking Id rather buy a case of 30-06.
I didnt really suffer any holster follow in my class when drawing.
Im going to wait now.
It's the extra items that bothers me most I think. I've already got too much extra nylon & kydex gear, I don't need to create more obsolete stuff for myself & I'm too lazy to sell it on here for $5 a whack... So what am I supposed to do with this shit?! We need an annual Sniper's Hide BBQ & yard sale!!! Everybody gets to sell or trade or give away all the crap you inevitably accumulate but now has little to no value to you... All those holsters you spent $70 on but no longer need, the extra AR barrels from God knows where, pouches you don't have a use for... I know I'm not alone.
