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Post by xaos on Mar 10, 2004 23:47:42 GMT -5
Well, I've finally decided on a vest...well, a chest rig, actually. I'm planning on purchasing a SoTech Hellcat mk1 as soon as funds permit.
So, I'm also in the market for pouches. The hellcat comes with capacity for 6 M4 magazines, so mag pouches aren't a real big concern.
Thus, venerable geardos of MiA, I pose you this question: what would you add on, and why?
Here's what I'm thinking:
1 Paraclete 2x Pistol mag pouch
2 BHI STRIKE SAW pouches
1 BHI STRIKE small radio pouch
Problem is, I dunno how much space I'll have to work with, or really how much space this stuff will take up, especially on my scrawny chest.
Anyhow...help!
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Post by Motown on Mar 11, 2004 0:30:10 GMT -5
Obviously, the number or type of pouches is entirely dependant upon what you feel necessary to carry in a skirmish. I believe the SOTech Hellcat Mark1 has either 20 or 24 rows of stitching, which when using your proposed load out (Pistol magazine pouch/two rows, SAW Pouches/six rows, and radio pouch/two rows) would leave you with another 10-12 rows to add more pouches upon.  Mine of course, has just about all 20 side rows(10 on each side, and the six upon the back panel) filled up (I believe the actual count is 16-17) with obviously more pouches than what you desire or need. I personally favor external magazine pouches over the internal style of the Helcat primarily for ease of access, however, to each his own on that, as well as my disdain for vest mounted Handgun ammuntion pouches (for which I use a magazine pouch upon my belt). My other pouches will carry a plethora of other items including two M4 magazines per pouch (a total six), my PREP, and the hydration carrier (carrying a hydration bladder) I decided upon the larger utility pouches to carry extra bb's, medical supplies, PREP battery, AEG Battery, backup radio, paracord, maps, and so on, which I felt only would fit with the three "larger" utility pouches. Using my loadout as a guide and judging the SAW pouch as roughly half the size of a Tactical Tailor Large utility pouch, two SAW pouches probably could carrry all of it, albeit tightly. That said, I would probably get another medium sized utility pouch for the more "important" things, and perhaps a couple of primary weapon magazine pouches, along with those you've " decided" upon already. |
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Post by Hadoken on Mar 11, 2004 12:55:58 GMT -5
Nice choice with the SoTech Hellcat. I'd trade my 2 Piece MAV in for one those in a heartbeat.  I prefer the single unit design as well as the built in magazine pouches. Best part about owning a modular rig is that you get to decide what works best for you. I'm not really sure why you'd need two SAW pouches. I'd probably opt for something else like a Paraclete Large Utility pouch or a TT Zippered Util. Pouch. Add to that a couple Paraclete M4 Mag pouches, Paraclete Quad pistol mag pouch aaaaand a Paraclete small GP pouch. Really though just get what you think you'd use most and don't listen to me because I pretty much want everything I can get my greedy gear loving hands on.  |
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Post by Petary791 on Mar 11, 2004 14:48:52 GMT -5
Hey Motown what kind of vest is that?
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Post by Jacko on Mar 11, 2004 16:07:59 GMT -5
That's a BHI STRIKE LBV (Lotsa capital letters there!) that Motown has, not a Hellcat. ;D
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Post by Bigmack on Mar 11, 2004 16:36:51 GMT -5
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Post by Hadoken on Mar 12, 2004 12:22:50 GMT -5
Was a little bored and decided to mess around with my MAV. I used the Paraclete Quad pistol magazine pouch as a shingle to bridge the gap in the two piece MAV design. It loses the quick on - off feature of the two piece MAV, but I think I prefer it this way.  From L to R : FB, NVG, M4, Quad 9mm, M4, Radio, FB Think I'll pick up the Paraclete open top 3x M4 pouch to use as a shingle later on down the road and move the pistol pouch off to the side, but for now it's a nice setup for those days where I'll otherwise melt away in the FSBE. |
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Post by xaos on Mar 12, 2004 14:10:07 GMT -5
Interesting info, thanks guys. A little bit of the reasoning behind my choices: I decided upon the hellcat for several reasons...it's a modular rig, which I wanted, and not vest based, also desirable for me. The integrated mag storage was a big selling point for me, as I'll probably be picking stuff up piecemeal, and the most important thing for me atm is mag storage. Plus, I don't *have* to use the integrated pouches if I don't want to. Choices are good. As for the Mk1 vs the Mk2 & 3...I've never been in a situation where it was necessary for me to ditch my gear...so the quick ditch design seemed kinda pointless, plus not having that space in the middle of the chest allows for a bit more mounting space for pouches. Pistol mag pouches on the harness...I plan on purchasing a smaller pistol in the future (you almost need an MP5 mag pouch for 93R mags, heh), along with a couple spares. My current holster has storage for one spare included in the design...and I hate it. The extra weight of the spare magazine just makes the holster flop around so much more than it should. I don't really like stuff on my belt, so I don't want a belt-mounted pouch for pistol mags. SAW pouches - After watching Jacko pack his two SAW pouches full of stuff at a practice, I knew I probably wouldn't need anything larger. I really don't carry that much stuff into the field...a bag of bbs, small toolkit, a spare pair of goggles...and that's about it. Also, I'd like to keep the smallest profile I can with the rig, so the larger pouches are out. ...and obviously, I'll need a radio pouch, so that one's pretty obvious. I'd toyed with the idea of adding a modular holster on, crossdraw style, but I'm still undecided on that. I probably won't end up doing this, especially if I can find a comfortable, non-floppy thigh-rigged holster. And, I've currently got a jury-rigged thigh drop pouch that I'll replace with the TT drop bag as soon as I've sorted everything else out. I just couldn't think of anything else I might need to add onto the rig. Perhaps once it's purchased and in my hands, I'll be able to sort out some more stuff. Until then, thanks for the help  |
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Post by Petary791 on Mar 12, 2004 17:37:50 GMT -5
:oWow, that warlord holds a few mags there, eh!?  also, where can you buy Motowns and Hado's vest? (website please) |
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Post by Hadoken on Mar 12, 2004 18:01:53 GMT -5
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Post by Petary791 on Mar 12, 2004 18:41:12 GMT -5
That MAV is so sweet, I found that after i asked the question  |
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I prefer the single unit design as well as the built in magazine pouches.
