Magazine pouch setup

[kullwarrior]

I'm really curious as to how people set up their MOLLE mag pouch on their vest/ carrier. It seem to me there's two main types. Having magazine on the front, and having it on the side.

My biggest problem is going prone position and reload speed. I only do retention reload. (mags to dump pouch) My question to you guys is how do you set your rig up and how does it fare?

This is what my loadout, I'm right handed and I'm using IOTV and 6 SDS mag pouches (holding 1 g36 magazine in each pouch)


Magazines on the Front (3 center, 2 on the left, 1 on the right)
Reload speed: Standing/Knee 5-7 seconds, Prone 8-15 seconds




Magazines on the side (3 on both side)
Reload speed: Standing/Knee/Prone ~6 seconds using pouches from left side, 8 seconds using pouches from right side




The way I count reload for time involves

1. Selector goes from fire to safe
2. Remove magazine, place in dump pouch
3. Uncover the flaps, take a mag from pouch and insert to rifle
4. Release the bolt
5. Selector goes from safe to semi
6. Fire

I understand my reload speed is significantly slower than that off "realistic " video games but frankly I can't go after faster without messing up.


I'm trying to decide on which setup to go by, would love to hear your comments

[Akhéron Sombre]

Personnaly, I have 4 pouches without flap for "quick" access on the front. And 2 double mag pouches with flaps on my side. And the way I do my "speed reload" is like this :

1-As I rise my rifle up in my field of vision, I...
2-Take the full mag from my vest.
3-Do a "L" shape with my mag on my rifle (admin reload style)
4-Switch mag (at that point I can fire from one hand is needed... hope not)
5-Put the empty mag in my drop pouch
6-Ready to continue the firefight

I don't touch my selector switch, I keep it on semi.

You must practice this a few time to feel it "natural".. the normal reflex is to take out your empty mag first, but it's wrong in this way to reload... so you have to break this reflex.

Admin reload is the same thing exept I take the full mag the harder to reach and you put back the almost-empty mag in your vest at the place of the full you took. And you put new full mag in your "quick" access mag pouch.

[kullwarrior]

Originally Posted by Akhéron Sombre

Personnaly, I have 4 pouches without flap for "quick" access on the front. And 2 double mag pouches with flaps on my side. And the way I do my "speed reload" is like this :

1-As I rise my rifle up in my field of vision, I...
2-Take the full mag from my vest.
3-Do a "L" shape with my mag on my rifle (admin reload style)
4-Switch mag (at that point I can fire from one hand is needed... hope not)
5-Put the empty mag in my drop pouch
6-Ready to continue the firefight

I don't touch my selector switch, I keep it on semi.

You must practice this a few time to feel it "natural".. the normal reflex is to take out your empty mag first, but it's wrong in this way to reload... so you have to break this reflex.

Admin reload is the same thing exept I take the full mag the harder to reach and you put back the almost-empty mag in your vest at the place of the full you took. And you put new full mag in your "quick" access mag pouch.

That will work with STANAG mag, however I've try admin reload on G36 and it doesn't work, the magazine are too thick

[Jayne Finch]

when i ran my 36 i tucked the mag pouch tabs in which made life easier. i also did the same type of admin style loading sequence. my pouches were set up all along my front and sides. about 8 pouches total. 4 up front 2 on each side. i found when prone i also had reload time issues. normally i would roll to my back or up on my side to access the front pouches faster. (if i wasn't going to get shot doing so that is)

[Reckless]

when I ran my G36 I used M14 pouchs, I clipped 2 mags together and shaved off the outside clips.

I try to keep my pouchs off my gut and more on the sides, and one on either side of my back in kidney area... makes hitting the ground and being able to reload faster. but I never really timed myself .. these mag locations unfortunately are where alot of people put storage or dump pouchs ..

if I go through 2 clipped mags, I'm on the ground and in the middle of the firefight I reach for my pistol not another magset.

but I also drop my mags in a firefight and either go back for them (small cqb) or collect then when I can continue on.

dunno how useful any of that is ...

[Scouser]

with my g36 i had a bunch of single mag open top pouches that they sit really snuglyl in, and i just had them on my left side all the way around to my stomach, 5 mags in a row on my ciras, none on the right side cos i shoot right

http://www.shootercbgear.com/product...oducts_id=1930

worked really good, was able to pull em out super quick to swap mags

[kullwarrior]

The biggest problem I have right now is my 3rd magazine on the side. It's about 2 inch where my armpit is and that's really difficult to get to. (especially putting the mag into the pouch) for those not familiar with IOTV, the center has 6 vertical lines of PALS/MOLLE, the side 10 lines. In another words I do not put any pouch until its 4th line from the center and the last farthest pouch is at line 8&9. I've tried turning the mag pouch upside down but it doesn't help either (its an SDS so its tight, problem is that the SDS design sits lower than other brand IE TAG, Blackhawk, and Pantac)

[Ninja_En_Short]

Usually I have single mag pouches on the front, double or triple on the left side (+mag pouches for the secondary) on the plate carrier and some on the molle combat belt.
Normally on the right I have one double or triple mag pouch (only use if out of ammo on front or right or switched hands), the radio, first aid and misc.
I use admin pouches on the front above ammunition.

I like open top + bungie pouches given I use the ones on the side upside down, it's easier for me to get them out, especially when you wear the PC high and a blet to complete the protection.

[DarkAngel]

Not sure if anyone really mentioned this, but CIRAS carriers are not designed for prone fighting in mind. They function poorly for this aspect due to anything on the front basically pushing your ass up in the air. The CIRAS is used for upright/crouching fighting such as urban or suburban scenarios.

If you find that you go prone alot, look into something for your sides or shoulders. Ive put molle holsters on my Shoulder Pauldrons in the past (though the weight of the pistol causes it to shift alot). Droplegs work poorly in prone position as you have to make too much movement/reaching to draw your pistol. For this reason droplegs are designed with CIRAS style fighting in mind. Prone/Crouched.

[Eeyore]

I wear a Tactical Tailor MAV 2. I have a triple shingle on my front right side (the hand I use to fire primary) and triple mag pouches on my left side.

[kullwarrior]

Originally Posted by DarkAngel

Not sure if anyone really mentioned this, but CIRAS carriers are not designed for prone fighting in mind. They function poorly for this aspect due to anything on the front basically pushing your ass up in the air. The CIRAS is used for upright/crouching fighting such as urban or suburban scenarios.

I figure as much, using IOTV the front section (6 lines of MOLLE at gut level and 8 lines at breast level) directly pushes one up. The main reason I'm concern is because WE G36 magazine uses the most pathetic plastic you can imagine. When I pull the mag out using the floor plate as leverage it creeks (as such I keep the ammo side up to reduce drag)
The thing with even the breast area MOLLE space was a PITA. I had my pistol mag there but it still pushes you up (currently I move the pistol mag pouch to my DAPS)

I still never understand why the Americans and Soviet adopted idea from the chinese chicom vest. Using a belt seemed to be a better option.

[DarkAngel]

Chest rigs have their place... In urban combat. Most Modern Infantry are expected to hit fast and hard and utilize speed, flanking and decisive action to their advantage. The addage is "A slow soldier is a dead soldier." With this in mind, most infantry are not expected to go prone unless defending an emplacement or structure.

If you want a "prone friendly" rig for forest or rural areas, webbing is the way to go. Majority of the pouches are on sides + back and it is lighter than a carrier and easier to manuever in dense foliage. Less bulky too.

[m102404]

I'm not as bendy as I used to be...and can't "draw" anything that high up on my sides (i.e. the left most pouch on your rig).

I keep the left and right "sides" for utility/GP pouches...or radio...or just clear. Lately I've switched it up to put a few more mag pouches on my rig....but I'll still keep the areas under my arms clear or only have rarely/slow accessed items under there.