Nightcrawler
New member
This system I'm going to show you is, to my mind, better thought out than the load bearing vests I'm issued in the Guard.
For instance, the GI LBV uses velcro and snaps to secure the ammo pouches. Velcro is a loud, unmistakable sound (bad when you're trying to be sneaky) and snaps rust and get clogged with dirt.
Secondly, despite there being four chest pouches, the top two only hold one mag each, still limiting your capacity to six. Yeah, I know, the standard issue is 6 extra mags, blah blah blah, standard procedure, blah blah blah, Army knows best. Tell the Rangers in Mogadishu that six reloads is all you'll ever need.
Also, the LBV is incompatible with the SAW. In order to carry saw reloads, you have to have the big saw pouches on the pistol belt. These pouches close by snaps only.
Finally, the LBV and rucksack don't seem to go well together. You have, basically, two sets of straps digging into your shoulders, and with the compass pouch on your left shoulder (as the Army insists I have) you have a nice big lump for the rucksack strap to push down on. That gets old real fast. (Not to mention you can't fire prone with the rucksack on if it's full; the back of your helmet hits the thing.)
Anyway, the FMCO Combat Load Bearing Vest seems to be a very well though out system. Different versions of the vest give you either eight or twelve extra magazines, and it's available for the AK-47/74, M16 family, or .308 weapons such as the FAL and M14.
I was going to post pics, but it's an angelfire site and all you get is the angelfire logo. Grr. I'll attach a picture of the vests.
But let's say you're a bit eclectic and rely on an M1 Carbine, a Garand, or an SKS for defense. Not a problem! FMCO offers ALICE-compatible (read-they'll fit on a GI pistol belt) ammo pouches for all three weapons! The M1 Carbine pouches hold six (6!) thirty round magazines each. The Garand pouches hold six 8-round clips, and the SKS pouches hold twelve 10-round clips. Good pouches for putting together a web harness for your weapon of choice.
Just thought I'd post some info on what I think is a very well though out system. Poke around the FMCO site; they have a wide variety of equipment available.
For instance, the GI LBV uses velcro and snaps to secure the ammo pouches. Velcro is a loud, unmistakable sound (bad when you're trying to be sneaky) and snaps rust and get clogged with dirt.
Secondly, despite there being four chest pouches, the top two only hold one mag each, still limiting your capacity to six. Yeah, I know, the standard issue is 6 extra mags, blah blah blah, standard procedure, blah blah blah, Army knows best. Tell the Rangers in Mogadishu that six reloads is all you'll ever need.
Also, the LBV is incompatible with the SAW. In order to carry saw reloads, you have to have the big saw pouches on the pistol belt. These pouches close by snaps only.
Finally, the LBV and rucksack don't seem to go well together. You have, basically, two sets of straps digging into your shoulders, and with the compass pouch on your left shoulder (as the Army insists I have) you have a nice big lump for the rucksack strap to push down on. That gets old real fast. (Not to mention you can't fire prone with the rucksack on if it's full; the back of your helmet hits the thing.)
Anyway, the FMCO Combat Load Bearing Vest seems to be a very well though out system. Different versions of the vest give you either eight or twelve extra magazines, and it's available for the AK-47/74, M16 family, or .308 weapons such as the FAL and M14.
I was going to post pics, but it's an angelfire site and all you get is the angelfire logo. Grr. I'll attach a picture of the vests.
But let's say you're a bit eclectic and rely on an M1 Carbine, a Garand, or an SKS for defense. Not a problem! FMCO offers ALICE-compatible (read-they'll fit on a GI pistol belt) ammo pouches for all three weapons! The M1 Carbine pouches hold six (6!) thirty round magazines each. The Garand pouches hold six 8-round clips, and the SKS pouches hold twelve 10-round clips. Good pouches for putting together a web harness for your weapon of choice.
Just thought I'd post some info on what I think is a very well though out system. Poke around the FMCO site; they have a wide variety of equipment available.