USMC Ghillie Suit Build

[ACCULIXX]

I built this ghillie suit back when I was 17 based on information and videos I had found back in the day. I tried to look up the youtube videos, but was not able to exactly remember what all I had watched or what guides I looked up back then, nonetheless:

I recently came across a post where an user had posted this image:

Just wanted to get opinions and recommendations from some actual USMC Scout Sniper's on here on accuracy, and what could be improved or changed for future builds. I would also like some input on what type of load rigs, belts, or vests were used when wearing these out in the field.

I know that most ghillie builds are specific to the environment that they will be worn in, but this one is meant to represent general woodland camo. I plan to add local vegetation and such once I'm out on the hunt or competition. Patches are not meant to represent any real-life insignia or designations, I was just 17 at the time and fascinated with USMC snipers.

Thanks in advance!


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From what I remember, this is how I made it:

Materials

1. Tan Burlap (hand stripped and cut)
2. Color Dye (Brown / OD / Black)
3. 1" Cube Netting (hot glued to jacket and pants)
4. Heavy-Duty Canvas (Skid Pads - coated in Waterproof Sealant - edges sealed with hot glue)

Process

1. Strip and cut burlap (2 square yards per color)
2. Dye burlap and let dry for 24 hours
3. Measure and cut canvas skid pads
4. Coat skid pads in sealant (let sit for 24 hours)
5. Measure and cut netting for Jacket and Pants (back half only including jacket hood)
6. Hot glue skid pads to Jacket and Pants (let sit for 15 min)
7. Hot glue borders of skid pads (1/4" across each edge or 1/2" thick seal) (let sit for 24 hours)
8. Hot glue netting to Jacket and Pants (glue every 2 vertex in X and Y) (let sit for 24 hours)
9. Tie Burlap Strands in bundles of 3 (2 bundles per cube edge in X direction only)
   1. Follow woodland camo pattern of the jacket and pants for the color scheme

 

[Trigger Monkey]

I'd strip about 50% of that burlap off of it and give the whole thing a mud bath. Strip the patches off it and carry the canvas higher on the front, could probably do likewise on the bottoms. Add mesh venting to the top on the back and in the pits, elastic thumb loops on the sleeves, and add suspenders to the bottoms. That being said, ghillies make for great photos but most of the time on patrol in AFG the most we used was our ghillie hat and/or used terrain to our advantage. A cobra hood would've been awesome since it could go over all the gear and whatnot.

The few times in training I wore my ghillie I just carried the basics, a camelback under the ghillie, some garden snips, mini-binos, camo face paint, stuff like that in a pocket, nothing complicated. We would cache bigger items before we'd begin the movement to our FFP.

 

[ACCULIXX]

Add mesh venting to the top on the back and in the pits

Did y'all do this by poking holes into the jacket, or cutting off a patch, and replacing it with a mesh fabric for ventilation?

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Cut out a patch and sew and/or glue in some mosquito netting, laundry bag mesh, etc.

 

[ACCULIXX]

Cut out a patch and sew and/or glue in some mosquito netting, laundry bag mesh, etc.

Whenever you would go out to your FFP, would that be a trip that lasted a few hours only or a few days?

Part of the intention behind me keeping this ghillie is that I want to go hunting in it for 3-4 days out in the woods/mountains. The basic idea is to trek up a wooded mountain, stalk, locate a FFP about 1000yds from the animal or target, and see how well I do on the shot after all of that.

The ghillie suit is more to "experience what it was like" than to hide from animals. Otherwise, I would just go out in my regular hunting clothes or to a blind lol

 

[Trigger Monkey]

LOL wut?

Mission durations will vary depending on the unit, everything below the first line comes off as fantasyland BS though. Good luck with all that.

 

[ACCULIXX]

LOL wut?

Mission durations will vary depending on the unit, everything below the first line comes off as fantasyland BS though. Good luck with all that.

To an extent yeah, I get it sounds silly, but it is what it is...I wasn't able to join the USMC for eyesight reasons, so I've always wanted to replicate the experience to a very small degree by attempting a hunt with a long distance shot, that involves trekking and stalking as opposed to just going up to a blind or platform.

I found this ghillie stashed in a bag in my parents attic last year, and figured I could do something like this with it instead of getting rid of it.