What does everyone use to carry their magazines for a game? I'm trying to get used to a tactical vest with mags placed across the stomach area but I just can't get used to it.
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It's hard to get used to because it is a terrible design for magazine placement.
We had to carry our magazines there due to SOP, but no rifleman WANTS their magazines across their torso.
Invest in some MOLLE drop-leg panels, and put your magazines on your thighs. Horizontal in the small of the back if you absolutely need more.
We had to carry at least 8 mags, which is probably excessive. You can probably get away with two on each thigh, plus the one in the marker.
Tacti-cool vests are for mall ninjas. You are infinitely better off investing in a battle belt. Absolutely every piece of gear that isn't directly connected to firing your marker should be thrown away. All that crap is useless... vertical foregrip? Trash. Use the mag-well. Flashlights and lasers. Get real, Rambo. Rails? Why?
Everything real soldiers wear is only worn because they have to follow SOP. Part of being a soldier is the uniform, part of being uniform is looking the same, so everyone has the same pouches and BS.
I wouldn't have worn the bulletproof vest if it wasn't required. Stupid, heavy, hot, uncomfortable, can't move worth a $#!+... why anyone would put on a vest when it's not required is beyond my ability to understand.
Bare. Freaking. Minimum.
Mobility is paramount.If you need to talk, I will listen. Leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I get it.
IGY6; 503.995.0257 -
Now there's the answer I was hoping for. Clear, concise, and backed up with sound reasoning. Thanks.Originally posted by DavidBoren View PostComment
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I’ll echo David’s sentiments. Magazines worn on the chest are really only advantageous for riding in and quickly entering/exiting vehicles. Once dismounted your mags are inaccessible in the prone, they interfere with your gun and they are in an absurdly un-ergonomic place to reload from.
I’m not a fan of leg rigs, but I do like the battle/pistol belt. This is a physiologically better location for weight bearing (ask any backpacker) and placing mags around the hips alleviates all the aforementioned problems.
What’s more is that most modern molle pouches are more streamlined and contour to the body much better than the old, boxy Alice gear. Magfed really isn’t my cup of tea, but if I did get into it, I would run a padded belt with mags in single stack pouches on each hip. Add dump pouch if desired.Comment
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Are you in danger of crushing magazines as you move around when they are on the sides of your legs and hips? That's generally why I avoid leaving anything in those areas. I also avoid putting stuff in the small of my back for the same reason. I know fighting on your feet is ideal, but I often end up shooting from my back to stay low and get an angle.Comment
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I actually like my mags up front and have worn a vest for years now cuz I got tired of catching ropes. Don't even enjoy single welts all that much come to think of it. Anything that interferes with my swinging orangutan arms drives me nuts so that rules out the side mounted belt and having crap bouncing around on my legs does the same. Tried it multiple times, didn't like it. Slows me down and limits motion as well. I don't go prone while playing so that's not a concern either. Accessing mags on your back isn't as easy as pods so that just leaves the front. I actually found that carrying the weight on the vest tired me out less than waist packs too. Guess I'd make a piss poor soldier... either that or just not be aggravated by regs.Comment
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I hate the mags on the front ... It's akward ...
on the thigh, I don't like more than 1 or 2 mags, but I love my 10 round tube there ...
I do love my mole belt, and the mag pouch on the hips, not on the sides, but not totally on the back either ... Somewhere in between ...
I used to throw the mags on the sideline of the field and retrieve them later, but with the ATS mags, I'm too scared of breaking them so they end up being gently placed on top of the bunker
If I use a remote line, the tank goes on the side too, I do t like it on The back ... Too painful when I fall/slide/lay down on my backLove my brass ... Love my SSR ... Hard choices ...
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You don’t say what kind/size/quantity of mags you want to carry, but here are some of my observations from running a pistol as a primary marker...
I have tried both drop leg and vest, and a proper belt rig easily beats them both for me.
Capacity, variety, and secure comfort are what I value in a Magfed rig.
On my belt, I can comfortably carry two pistols, ten 12 gram cartridges, three large dump pouches, and twenty two 7round mags. I even have two pod sleeves available if I wanted to carry some extra paint to reload or snacks/water if playing far from the staging area.
The key, for me, is having the RIGHT kind of belt. one that is the most “pod pack” like, with wide elastic and Velcro closures and tensioning. The real steel “battle belts” usually have many more molle spaces to allow variety of pouch and holster placement, but are too rigid and uncomfortable for the contortions most paintball players experience in play.
The one that I have found to give the best of both worlds is the discontinued NXE Extraktion “Base” paintball belt. It is the only one that offers molle panel “islands” for the sides of the belt, with wide elastic on either side of them. I have some extras I hoarded as they were getting harder to find if anyone is interested BTW.
Next best is the DYE Tactical belt/suspenders, then it drops off quickly from there.
Here is the Extraktion, DYE, Valken V-Tac, and a no name belt.
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For clarification on the drop-leg panels... they need to be adjustable for height/drop, and you only put 2-3 single row mag pouches on each. Wear them towards the front of your thighs, at like 10 and 2.
My second deployment, I ran into some QRF (quick reaction force) cats that were setup for mobility. Their SOP was relaxed enough to ditch all the BS on their vests. They only had their first aid pouch on the side and water bladder on the back. Six mags on drop-leg panels, and one in the rifle. High speed (the military adjective for nice/cool/legit, not necessarily higher speeds than normal soldiers).
I know that egressing a 6-ton armored Hummer isn't a top priority for most paintballers, but every tiny extra nonsense pouch, strap, D-ring/Carabiner, sling, foregrip, every cool-guy accessory under the sun just gets snagged and in the way. The limiter straps on the back doors (to keep them from opening so far they block the front doors) only allow them to open to 45*, and that's not enough for a completely empty bulletproof vest to fit through without turning sideways... so every single extra thing absolutely matters.
You couldn't pay me to put a vest on again. They are the bane of every foot soldier's existence.
I don't know what style of play you are into, but I can tell you from experience that a "tactical" vest doesn't fit ANY style of play that involves movement.If you need to talk, I will listen. Leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I get it.
IGY6; 503.995.0257Comment
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I should have added that I'm using a Tippmann TMC.Comment
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So I just went through some of my old gear that I have here at the house and I managed to scab together this humble setup. The belt is from an unknown brand tactical vest that I got in a package deal years ago. The drop pouch is from my stockclass setup and the mag holders are from another Dye tactical vest that I have. This setup will allow me to carry 6 single magazines or 3 of the coupled magazines. I realise this is a bit of a hobo setup but the functionality of it seems much better already than the vest I was wearing. Thoughts?
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It's getting there. Already better than a vest.
I prefer a thicker/wider belt, but you use what you have, and I understand that.
If you have any old duffel bags that have the slip-on pad for the strap, steal the pad(s), and slide them onto your belt between the groups of pouches.
Other than that, send it. Use it. Practice with it. Get comfortable with it.
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I like plate carriers since they can be setup anyway you want. They can be hot and heavy though, which doesn't bother me. Setup correctly they offer some comfort to playing all day (armor) as well as padding for playing hard into bunkers. I play scenario though.
I also run the Condor modular/hydro harness. Not sure which I like the best yet. The Harness has built in M4 mag pouches but you can feel them. I mainly use it for the modular options and running water. I ran this with pods and an Intimidator.
If you just want to run mags, no water or additional gear, a battle belt or bandolier are great options. They can be very light, but don't work as well running a large tank and remote.
I can't recommend vests. I always found them very restricting.
Which one you go for or brand, doesn't really matter. I started with a Tiberius Exo and beat the hell out of it, still running strong. I suggest Condor since their gear is good and easy to get. There are better quality options but don't really benefit paintball.Comment
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I have found that the Rhodesian Recon style plate carriers to be quite tolerable. The minimalist design is unobtrusive.
The back plate provides a perfect mounting location for your water bladder and a few buddy mags (probably not necessary for paintball). You can get it with or without a cummerbund if you want or need either side support/protection, or more MOLLE real estate.
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Here’s my rig. Oversized pouches for those DAM(n) mags, Kydex retaining inserts (courtesy of Stilgar), and a climber’s chalk bag for ball fondling action.
Light, simple, stays put while running, quick to don and doff on the field if needed, can be easily rotated around the waist to view or access hard to reach spots, and it doesn’t soak my shirt in sweat like a chest rig will.
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What are those pouches I've been knocking myself out trying to find pouches to fit DAM mags.
Seriously been considering just getting couplers and reloading the empty/unloaded mag with 10rd tubes instead of messing with the hassle and expense of mags and pouches since i've already got a sick 10 round setup
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I found those pouches from a Chinese seller on eBay. Fortunately, the same seller seems to still be active selling the same product. You can get them in singles, doubles, or triples in a variety of colors here:
They fit DAM mags nicely with room to spare. The retaining bungee cords they come with are kind of garbage, but Stilgar’s Kydex inserts have turned these pouches into the perfect DAM mag carriers. Mags will insert into the pouches as easily as they are extracted, which thankfully eliminates the need for a dump pouch for your empties. They stay put even while running and don’t come out unless they’re pulled out. Can’t recommend this rig highly enough.
The Kydex inserts do need to be secured down in the pouches to ensure they themselves don’t get pulled out from the pouches while extracting mags, though. I think Stilgar said he uses Velcro to secure them inside the pouches. I like to use plastic automotive fasteners from my local hardware store that are similar (but not identical) to these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283897777039
I’ll drill a hole through the kydex so it aligns with the drainage port in the bottom of the pouch. Then I’ll push the fastener through the kydex and drainage port starting inside the pouch so that the fastener’s tip pops out the bottom. The fastener will permanently hook onto the metal rivet around the drainage port upon being pushed through. Then I’ll cut the excess tip off with a pair of dikes and that’s it.
Here are more choices for DAM mag pouches:
1.) I’ve never used these, but they appear to be roomy enough for DAM mags.
2.) I’ve never used these either, but others who do use them to carry DAM mags are happy with them. No Kydex inserts needed.
Last edited by Ghost Flanker; 09-13-2020, 11:59 PM.Comment
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I use one of these, partly because it was light, but mostly because it was cheap.
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