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Slims · 10-15-2010, 12:05 PM

I think you may have missed the point with the prior med-kit discussion....You need to lean out your kit so you have LESS shit hanging off of you. If you decrease the size of your med-kit but add extra unnecessary shit on it defeats the purpose.

I think we all got sidetracked by the med-kit stuff and missed your belt, etc. in your prior posts.

If you really want to carry stuff on a battle belt, choose a few key items which will lay flat along the length of the belt. Throw a GP medium pouch on the back (getting rid of everything else) with an extra magazine and call it good.

Ditch the thigh-setup or at least buy a dedicated rig. Thigh rigs are outdated and don't suit ANY possible scenario you may find yourself in. They are slow to draw, slow you down when you have to run, twist around so you can't find your pistol, chafe the shit out of you and are generally uncomfortable. They will just get in the way for both gaming and real combat. Years ago they were popular for law enforcement SWAT types because there were no other holsters on the market that dropped low enough for use with body armor. That isn't the case now.

I still use a lightweight SERPA like what you have. However, I don't have it on a thigh rig and I have broken it entirely off my belt once. I superglued the next one on along with the screws, but it's still an imperfect solution.

Are you rocking a USP SOCOM 45? If so, I should probably remind you that that pistol was intended to be used as PRIMARY weapon. I.e. for people who couldn't carry a rifle. If you are setting your kit up for combat then put a (much) smaller pistol on it. If you are going for gaming then do whatever.

ditch the extra tac-light and just wear a head-lamp around your neck for reading maps, etc.

You need to consolidate your magazines. The only real exception may be a single holdout mag in the GP pouch (sideways) on your belt. Otherwise the mags on your belt will get destroyed while interfering with your ability to move around in your armor and getting snagged and dropped a lot.

I personally support having a good knife, but it can't interfere with anything. Nothing is as effective as a knife if a bad guy gets ahold of you. you can use your knife in that sort of situation with far more effect, control, and decreased risk (you won't have to worry about shoot-throughs into your teamm ates). However, it needs to be in a spot up against your trunk where you can access it with either hand. If it gets in the way of doing every day things then you defeat the purpose of having a tool designed to enhance your ability to do your job.

For a civilian/officer/gaming/etc. rig I would really only go with 4 magazines. 6 tops. If you are going to walk into a big fight and you know it you can plus up right ahead of time. otherwise you would have another half-dozen in your blow-out bag downrange and would be available if you needed them.

I would lean your med-pouch out a lot more. If it fits snugly into an IFAK then you are carrying twice what you need to.

You don't need more than 1 additional pistol magazine. Unless your weapon goes down in a close quarters fight where miraculously nobody gets wounded on either side (or you could take their now extra rifle) you won't need more than the magazine in your pistol. An extra is just for good luck. Anything outside and the pistol will be useless, no matter how many bullets you are trying to carry for it. People only carry pistols for CQB to get them to the next tactical pause in a fight...then they get their main gun up, use a breaching shotgun, steal one off a dead bad-guy, etc.

As mentioned a radio pouch is a must. BUT....don't just move stuff around to make room, get rid of something to make room.

you need to be able to fit in tight spaces, lay in the prone, roll over, and display other acts of combat agility (try climbing over a wall with your current setup). Even Plan 9 has way too much stuff for my tastes, and he has to be more or less self-sufficient downrange.

As a good excercise in minimalism I recommend going the following:

Take EVERYTHING off your kit, including side plates (they are wasted weight anyways)

Then add only these items:
4 magazines in 2 2-mag pouches.
1 Pistol Magazine w/ pouch
1 radio pouch
1 NVG pouch (not a big ass padded pouch though, something light.
1 med-pouch (GP Small, about half the size of an IFAK)
1 accessory pouch (kept empty!)
1 small GPS and 1 SMALL compass
Pistol w/ holster either on/about belt or directly on your kit.
1 (smaller) knife. Either hanging from the belt or up in your kit (preferable)
1 dump pouch (I like the one you have), rolled up, but on your non-firing side.

Now STOP!
wear your kit around like that for a bit. You don't need a thousand magazines, glasses hard-case, a special purpose container for your every single possession, etc.

Learn to get by without extra stuff and then slowly add one or two more pouches that do double duty at least.

Then modify your kit before each mission, providing time allows (it should be nice but not essential). I.E. if you are going to be clearing houses all day take the pistol and a few grenades (they can go in your dump pouch, or if you feel iffy about that put on a grenade pouch for the day). If you are going to be in the mountains, drop your pistol and belt all together (you won't want anything on your legs, believe me). If it is going to be a long term sustained fight then throw on a backpack with extra ammunition, etc.

Military vehicles (let alone civilian ones) have very little room. If you are 'big' with kit you will be constantly stuck which doesn't help anything. Weight is a huge factor in your maneuverability and susceptibility to injury. Also, when you have that much crap it keeps you from really using available cover, etc.

10-15-2010, 12:05 PM	#35 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	I think you may have missed the point with the prior med-kit discussion....You need to lean out your kit so you have LESS shit hanging off of you. If you decrease the size of your med-kit but add extra unnecessary shit on it defeats the purpose. I think we all got sidetracked by the med-kit stuff and missed your belt, etc. in your prior posts. If you really want to carry stuff on a battle belt, choose a few key items which will lay flat along the length of the belt. Throw a GP medium pouch on the back (getting rid of everything else) with an extra magazine and call it good. Ditch the thigh-setup or at least buy a dedicated rig. Thigh rigs are outdated and don't suit ANY possible scenario you may find yourself in. They are slow to draw, slow you down when you have to run, twist around so you can't find your pistol, chafe the shit out of you and are generally uncomfortable. They will just get in the way for both gaming and real combat. Years ago they were popular for law enforcement SWAT types because there were no other holsters on the market that dropped low enough for use with body armor. That isn't the case now. I still use a lightweight SERPA like what you have. However, I don't have it on a thigh rig and I have broken it entirely off my belt once. I superglued the next one on along with the screws, but it's still an imperfect solution. Are you rocking a USP SOCOM 45? If so, I should probably remind you that that pistol was intended to be used as PRIMARY weapon. I.e. for people who couldn't carry a rifle. If you are setting your kit up for combat then put a (much) smaller pistol on it. If you are going for gaming then do whatever. ditch the extra tac-light and just wear a head-lamp around your neck for reading maps, etc. You need to consolidate your magazines. The only real exception may be a single holdout mag in the GP pouch (sideways) on your belt. Otherwise the mags on your belt will get destroyed while interfering with your ability to move around in your armor and getting snagged and dropped a lot. I personally support having a good knife, but it can't interfere with anything. Nothing is as effective as a knife if a bad guy gets ahold of you. you can use your knife in that sort of situation with far more effect, control, and decreased risk (you won't have to worry about shoot-throughs into your teamm ates). However, it needs to be in a spot up against your trunk where you can access it with either hand. If it gets in the way of doing every day things then you defeat the purpose of having a tool designed to enhance your ability to do your job. For a civilian/officer/gaming/etc. rig I would really only go with 4 magazines. 6 tops. If you are going to walk into a big fight and you know it you can plus up right ahead of time. otherwise you would have another half-dozen in your blow-out bag downrange and would be available if you needed them. I would lean your med-pouch out a lot more. If it fits snugly into an IFAK then you are carrying twice what you need to. You don't need more than 1 additional pistol magazine. Unless your weapon goes down in a close quarters fight where miraculously nobody gets wounded on either side (or you could take their now extra rifle) you won't need more than the magazine in your pistol. An extra is just for good luck. Anything outside and the pistol will be useless, no matter how many bullets you are trying to carry for it. People only carry pistols for CQB to get them to the next tactical pause in a fight...then they get their main gun up, use a breaching shotgun, steal one off a dead bad-guy, etc. As mentioned a radio pouch is a must. BUT....don't just move stuff around to make room, get rid of something to make room. you need to be able to fit in tight spaces, lay in the prone, roll over, and display other acts of combat agility (try climbing over a wall with your current setup). Even Plan 9 has way too much stuff for my tastes, and he has to be more or less self-sufficient downrange. As a good excercise in minimalism I recommend going the following: Take EVERYTHING off your kit, including side plates (they are wasted weight anyways) Then add only these items: 4 magazines in 2 2-mag pouches. 1 Pistol Magazine w/ pouch 1 radio pouch 1 NVG pouch (not a big ass padded pouch though, something light. 1 med-pouch (GP Small, about half the size of an IFAK) 1 accessory pouch (kept empty!) 1 small GPS and 1 SMALL compass Pistol w/ holster either on/about belt or directly on your kit. 1 (smaller) knife. Either hanging from the belt or up in your kit (preferable) 1 dump pouch (I like the one you have), rolled up, but on your non-firing side. Now STOP! wear your kit around like that for a bit. You don't need a thousand magazines, glasses hard-case, a special purpose container for your every single possession, etc. Learn to get by without extra stuff and then slowly add one or two more pouches that do double duty at least. Then modify your kit before each mission, providing time allows (it should be nice but not essential). I.E. if you are going to be clearing houses all day take the pistol and a few grenades (they can go in your dump pouch, or if you feel iffy about that put on a grenade pouch for the day). If you are going to be in the mountains, drop your pistol and belt all together (you won't want anything on your legs, believe me). If it is going to be a long term sustained fight then throw on a backpack with extra ammunition, etc. Military vehicles (let alone civilian ones) have very little room. If you are 'big' with kit you will be constantly stuck which doesn't help anything. Weight is a huge factor in your maneuverability and susceptibility to injury. Also, when you have that much crap it keeps you from really using available cover, etc. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence Last edited by Slims; 10-15-2010 at 12:07 PM..