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Fieldcraft Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

auslandser

Private
Minuteman
Apr 26, 2012
2
0
37
Gday,
I was just wondering what chest rig military snipers or LEO use in the field,
I am enquiring as im thinking about buying a small condor all i need is 3 pouches and admin pouch foldout ?
I also will be wearing a tactical concealment over the cams so nothing to bulky ?
Just a question and Thanks.
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

Well I guess that it all depends on what you are doing. I'm running a Esstac Bush Boar A1 I got off SKD Tactical. Gives me 6 extra Ar15 mags, is easy/fast to take on and off with the split front option, and even with a radio pouch and various admin/utility pouches its still fairly low profile.

If you're wanting something for pure civilian non-hostile environment work there are several all molle rigs that would facilitate that use as well. Friends of mine have used the Tactical Tailor MAV with good results.
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

In order to be realistic your question needs to be more specific.
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

Personally as a military sniper I stay away from chest rigs. With my armor I had my M16 mags mounted on the left side cummerbund and a saw pouch with my plrf and m40 mags on the right side cummerbund. Getting prone on rooftops or wherever is already slightly uncomfortable with armor and then stacking mags and other things on top of that just adds to it. Without the armor on I ran a battle belt config so that my front was still bare to get in the lowest position possible. Hope that helps some

Jordan
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

The one that fits you and your mission best. Everything is METT-TC dependent. There is no one-size-fits-all, your gear adapts to the mission....
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

My Peace Time Military Sniper duties was in the Alaska National Guard. Everything I needed to carry was in my ruck. The Arctic you never leave your ruck, even in peace time, NEVER unless you want dead.

My Counter Sniper duties was an "additional duty" meaning I wasn't SWAT, but a street cop. I carried the rifle in my car, if needed I got it out. No vest or anything, just my normal street cop gear and the rifle.

Like I said I wasn't a sniper in combat, but I was an infantryman. I know I don't want nothing betweem me and the ground. There was times I ripped my bottons off to get closer to the ground.
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jordan0317</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Personally as a military sniper I stay away from chest rigs. With my armor I had my M16 mags mounted on the left side cummerbund and a saw pouch with my plrf and m40 mags on the right side cummerbund. Getting prone on rooftops or wherever is already slightly uncomfortable with armor and then stacking mags and other things on top of that just adds to it. Without the armor on I ran a battle belt config so that my front was still bare to get in the lowest position possible. Hope that helps some

Jordan </div></div>

I agree, but would add placing supporting gear on thighs and hips. If using a supporting auto-rifle, I used a "Rhodesian" but didn't connect it in the back, so in the prone I could lay it out in front of me.

Mark
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

I also agree that a chest rig usually prohibits use of a low prone position. As Jordan and totenkopf said your best bet is to keep essential gear on your belt, sides, and legs. Anything else should stay in your pack, packed up at all times when not in use in case you have to get out of dodge fast. Also, a rollup or collapsable dump pouch can be of use in case you need to move. Then you can throw stuff like binos or a range finder, or anything else that might be out in it when you do have vacate your hide quickly.
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

Dump pouches also store hedge hogs pretty well

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Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

How do you get a low prone position with all that stuff?
 
Re: Military or LEO Snipers What Chest Rig is USED ?

I didn't carry the hedgehog regularly lol..... But surprisingly the dump pouch in front worked fine prone/walking/running, and the speed mag is really flat, can't evn feel it with plates in. Your upper chest is off the ground when behind the gun so the grenade didn't contact either, the other stuff on the sides and belt didn't touch either, just my setup worked good for me, when not running armor rely on a belt only
 
the hedghog brings back fond memories, I was there in 03 and we had a pet hedghog we carried with us, he loved the beef stew MRE's. good times
 
Hedgehogs like to play soccer too. I wasn't rough to the little guy I found, just pushed him with my foot, and I didn't kick.

As for the OPs question I would have to inquire as to the exact use that this gear would see, because if you are hunting with nylon then it is a very bad idea. The nylon will rub together and basically scream to the entire forest that you're there.

If you need some ideas, then check out www.triadtactical.com or http://www.grtgear.com .Both are sponsors of this site, and both are good guys too.
 
used a bds vehicle op chest rig, its very solid and simple but if your small it is only good in body armor. if you wear it with regular clothes it will not be snug if your less than a 40 inch waist . I used it with my sass. when I carried my bolt gun I ditched the rig and tossed a molle pouch on my right side of my plate carrier to hold nods and w/e if you like mags on your chest you have to roll to a side to change mags so I suggest putting them on the outside of your pack. I actually like the LCE nam era y harness for a no armor rig with the LRP buttpack. its light and cheap and also fits under a ghillie well.
 
Have used Original SOE Gear, Eagle and now Blue Force Gear. Shedding more gear as the years go on (LE), but have enough essentials for what I am doing. Three mag pouches, medium utility and a dump pouch off to the side.

Be safe,
FourNineThree
 
I run a Mayflower APC with a 3mag BFG ten speed on the front flap which I usually keep empty or stuff odds&ends in and two on the left cumberbun that I keep my m4 mags in. On the right cumberbun I have a BFG admin pouch. All of my essentials(pistol mags, 1m4 mag, 1 bolt gun mag, IFAC, smoke, radio and pistol) are on my brokos belt. If I am in a vehicle hide I ditch the battle belt and put 3 m4 mags across the front with my radio stuffed in one of the left ten speed pouches and run my IFAC in a fanny pack.
 
Here are pics of my COMA rig with a molle mounted backpack. Pistol mounts on the round G code adapter on the right side of the belt. The back pack can be removed and the standard PALS back pad is there for attaching what ever else you want or you can remove it completely for an old school LBE look. I use the old green Paraclete ammo pouches as I can fit 2ea 5 or 10 round mags into them no problem. If I only have one mag in the pouch there is enough velcro on the flap to hold it secure, its one of the reasons I like them over the open top bungee versions. The COMA belt itself has 3ea internal pockets, one in the small of the back and one on each hip that you can open up and store small stuff. You could put a magazine in them easy if you wanted a quick access mag as the velcro closure would hold them secure. You can see the small pull tab with grommet in it in the pictures to get an idea of where the pockets are located.

The smaller green pouch I use for a kestrel. The multi cam pouch on the left hip is a multi purpose pouch that has internal pouches and elastics for holding everything from chemlights/flashlights/multi tools to a FDC/Mil dot master/pens/pencils or more loose ammo/mags. I also have a medium sized green Paraclete GP pouch in the small of my back under the backpack. Thats for use when the backpack is off and I can put a small set of binos/rangefinder in it as it has elastics on the side that compress it down to hold the contents secure.

The backpack is about the size of your typical 3 day assault pack but not as deep. It can hold a water bladder inside of it and has a internal piece of HDPE to give it some rigidity while still remaining flexible. There are also two small velcro access pockets on the outside that open into a compartment inside the bag that I find work well for placing the feet of a tripod into. The interior of the bag has your typical smaller mesh pockets and internal security straps to hold the load tight.

If I need to run body armor the backpack comes off the COMA rig and goes on the body armor/plate carrier. The plate carrier goes over the COMA harness no problem and can be removed before moving into a FFP. I unbuckle the COMA harness if I am prone and the pouches are accessible as they lay out to my sides.

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Most of the guys here wear armor with a carrier, like the rest of the team does. It's usually a version of this one: Lighthawk LT | Body Armor Reborn

I don't like it, and I don't like the way they have them set-up. In fact, for the role of LE sniper, and depending on the mission/call-out, I don't see why a carrier with armor is necessary at all. There's nothing wrong with fatigues, a battle belt and a ruck, and there's nothing wrong with a simple stripped-down plate carrier, like a WOOSATCH, propped against a wall or on the floor of the van.
 
Papa Zero Three, who is the manufacture of your backpack you attach to your COMA harness?

It's made by TYR. However what is pictured is a prototype purpose made for a specific application and use thats not apparent in the pictures. There is a similar version on the TYR website that can be attached the same way. TYR also has a MOLLE zip on zip off back panel system that can be attached to anything with PALS on it.

TYR Tactical - Plate Carrier, Body Armor, Tactical Gear, Tactical Armor

TYR Tactical? Assaulters Sustainment Pack - Special Tactics | TYR Tactical - Plate Carrier, Body Armor, Tactical Gear, Tactical Armor
 
I found that getting in the prone was an atypical position in an urban environment. I can think of just one location I was working from that allowed me to be in the prone. All other time doing long-gun work was from a supported sitting, supported kneeling, or supported standing position. The roof-tops in the sandboxes normally have a mini-wall around the perimeter of the roof. Same with shooting back in a room out a window. You can only be so low and still be able to shoot. I used an Eagle chest-rig with plates with M4 pouches on the front support-side and all my long-gun gear was on or in my Eberlestock gunslinger pack. As always, all carried a med kit, radio, and water.
 
I'm a door-kicker but I can carry everything I need and still stay light and prone with my setup. I have a blackhawk plate carrier with all HSGI taco mag pouches. I have the double rifle 1 pistol on the sides and single rifle single pistol on the front. I use and HSGI admin pouch and a gas mask carrier on the back for picking up / carrying anything important. I like the taco mag pouches because it will carry any magazine for any rifle I run. AI mags, AK, M16, and double or single stack pistol mags, no problem. Plus I still satisfy the requirement of carrying 6 + 1 (or +2 if I ran a mag coupler). Best of all, my rig is still lighter than what I was issued and 3 clips and the whole thing literally falls off of me. Plate carriers are nice because you can wear soft armor if where you are working requires you wear armor at all times. It comes in handy if you are on a base or something and you don't want to wear full gear.
 
Most of the guys here wear armor with a carrier, like the rest of the team does. It's usually a version of this one: Lighthawk LT | Body Armor Reborn

I don't like it, and I don't like the way they have them set-up. In fact, for the role of LE sniper, and depending on the mission/call-out, I don't see why a carrier with armor is necessary at all. There's nothing wrong with fatigues, a battle belt and a ruck, and there's nothing wrong with a simple stripped-down plate carrier, like a WOOSATCH, propped against a wall or on the floor of the van.

Graham:

Couldn't agree with you more. We have had to wear full armor in a carrier like our entry team for years, and finally last month got the go-ahead from the new LT to wear patrol style soft armor under our BDU's and whatever load system we want when deploying with the bolt gun.

Papa Zero Three - you have a PM
 
Most of us rocked split chest rigs. Having nothing on your chest was impossible for where we were operating, so having the ability to open the front and push everything out of the way and get in a good prone position worked best for us.

Mayflower and esstac were two I remember of hand.
 
If you don't need BA why not a Brokos belt or something similar with suspenders? no point humping around a chest rig when you don't need to plus shooting from prone is much more comfortable when shooting with a belt, then just have your bulky stuff in a day bag.

MOLLE Battle Belt First Line
 
I run the TYR COMA in a very similar configuration to Papa Zero Three.
 
I have been using the s.o. tech sniper hydration harness, its pretty comfortable for me in the prone, just pouches on the sides. which is similar to what bushranger said about the brokos belt and suspenders.
 
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