SAW Vest / Machinegunner Vest

[Yxan]

I would want to know what vest you as a SAW gunner use for load carrying.
What i mainly want to know is what works good if you have a FN Minimi and uses 200round casettes/cases/ammo containers or what is called. =)
Does Blackhawk offer any good equipment for this purpose?

I also appriciate any pictures of SAW gunners or other machinegunners with there vests on.

/ Yxan "FN Minimi Para gunner"

[Roy Batty]

This just came out here in Canada. It is purpose built for C9 and C6 gunners.

http://www.cpgear.com/default.asp?mn=1.19.56&f=pd&pid=557

also these guys carry a few different ones.

http://www.oneshottactical.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=oneshot&Product_Code=CR-1605&Category_Code=CR-Arktis
http://www.oneshottactical.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=oneshot&Product_Code=CR-CR1P05&Category_Code=CR-TAG

[James]

A lot of guys just attach 200 round SAW pouches to the front of their vests in place of rifle magazine pouches. I was in the U.S. Marine Corps a while ago, and I had pouches similar to this (plain green) attached to the belt of my load bearing equipment.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6205/sawkg4.jpg

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=63

Blackhawk has a few similar products -
http://www.blackhawk.com/product1.asp?P=37CL76

They are called "drums" also. Hope this helps. ;)

[Snydz]

the 200rounder pouches are easy to find, but trying to find 100 rounders in olive drab has been a head ache for me...

If some one has tripped acorss some please do tell... or I am going to have to make something out of a vertical utility pouch.

[James]

the 200rounder pouches are easy to find, but trying to find 100 rounders in olive drab has been a head ache for me...

If some one has tripped acorss some please do tell... or I am going to have to make something out of a vertical utility pouch.

If you are allowed, try stripping the belt out of the drum and putting it into a pouch by itself. Sometimes when I was in and we were patrolling I'd discard the plastic drum and break my link up into 50 round belts. Not too much to carry in the gun, and easy to reload.

[TyroneBiggums]

the 200rounder pouches are easy to find, but trying to find 100 rounders in olive drab has been a head ache for me...

If some one has tripped acorss some please do tell... or I am going to have to make something out of a vertical utility pouch.

SORD Australia do 100RD pouches in OD ('SORD Base Colour' (SBC) Pictured);

http://www.sordaustralia.com/SORD/Ammunition_Pouches/100RD/1sm.jpg
From the website;

Will hold a single one hundred round bag for Minimi LSW or five (5) M4/M16 series 30 round magazines. Has two rows of attachment points on each side that will accommodate most small pouches eg, F1 Fragmentation, torch etc. Closes via a single Fastex clip for quiet manipulation.
Requires three PALS columns.

[Bootneck]

The SORD 200 and 100 rd pouches are nice. I run a belt load of them.

[Snydz]

I just picked up a couple 100rds pouches in CADPAT, nice pouches from DropZone... Yhanks for the help though fellas

[-HUNTER-]

So you guys are allowed to just buy your own equipment>???

[-[Crosshair]-]

So you guys are allowed to just buy your own equipment>???

Sure, but it depends on which unit you're from.

[Sabre]

I would suggest some kind of belt kit mate. You don't want to be lying on top of your ammo. If you can't get any pouches for your belt kit, or your belt kit is shyte, then try to get a modular vest that will let you put the boxes round the side/rear rather than the front. But I'm probably shooting for the 'Senior Citizen Egg-Sucking Instructor Cadre' here...

I managed to squeeze 200 round soft bags into PLCE utility pouches (it's a bit easier if you strip out the last row of rounds) and carried at least two in my belt kit, one on the weapon and the difference can go in a daysack. Having some loose (50 or so) in an ammo pouch is always useful in case you're caught short.

[Snydz]

Similar to what you did...

molle vest with larger pouches on the sides, and mag pouches in the front for extra.

Day packs work great also.

[Yeoman]

day pack works great IF you are carrying more then 600 rounds.
there was a company in the UK that made some pretty slick looking vests. unfortunately I can not find the website's name right now. I'll see if I can find it again, and I'll pass it along

[Tribunius]

Is it Arktis your thinking of?

http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/vestsmilitary.htm

[Sabre]

I'd steer away from Arktis.

Build quality is less than fantastic. I know there's an Arktis rep on here somewhere that'll disagree though! ;)

Or just get hold of some 100rd bags and be selfish with them! Much better for patrolling/vehicle work and for using the weapon in ****e. 'Ground clearance' on the 200's always seems a little low, you can restrict your elevation quite badly, not to mention the belt becoming kinked with the weapon's weight sitting on it.

[Yeoman]

no it's not artkis it was another website. something I hadn't seen before. I was almost positive I posted up a thread about this as well last year. can't find anything.

[Sabre]

ooooooh...another site....?

...don't know mate.

I'm sure there was a thread on this a month or two ago...:|

[Yxan]

Thanks for the help so far. What i´m looking for is a vest that sits real close and tight to the body and the pouches shouldn´t "jump around" either. I will only use 200round pouches. Two or three on the vest or vest-belt. Since i will be in vehicles alot too it will be a problem if the pouches sits on the side and back.
The Blackhawk omega looks good but i havent seen any of them with saw pouches on. I have a feeling that they would sit to high to be able to get to them fast and easy. And i will also be needing place for a number of smaler pouches for other small stuff ill be needing when i dont carry a daypack. Grenades, NVG, Pistol mags etc.

I don´t like the look of the Blackhawk Issak Saw gunner vest.

[One Shot Tactical Supply]

TAG Gunners chest rig or Split chest rig would work well for you.

[James]

Why don't you get a vest with a bunch of webbing and put it together exactly how you want?

[SamHamam]

no it's not artkis it was another website. something I hadn't seen before. I was almost positive I posted up a thread about this as well last year. can't find anything.

SASS up in Lancaster used to do a good minimi pouch which my guys used before the issue on came out, but I can't see it on their site now after a quick look.

[Pete031]

Just go Bolivian Rebel style and wrap the ammo around you... Besides shine, is there really any reason why we shouldn't be allowed to? Maybe damaging the link...
As someone else stated Belt kit/webbing is the best way (I think) to carry link.

[Snydz]

Would a 2 piece TT MAV work for him?

[Bootneck]

If you're willing to wait CSM Gear's Split Chest rig might work for you. Really solid gear but you've got to get in line. I had one of these a couple of years back but gave it to a buddy.

http://www.csmgear.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?cat=7

[SIWY]

For Sabre - If You want - You are more than friendly guest in Exeter. If You want spend one day and face by face talk with me - I'm opened for Yours questions! All f. day.

[Chops]

WTF?

Sabre- you got yourself a 'manfriend' here or something? :)

[California Joe]

"Nobody puts Sabre in a corner"

[Pete031]

I think someone wants to play swords with Sabre....

[SIWY]

He,he - You don't understand my Ask for Sabre - I'm aksing about visit me in Arktis. And leave Your sword at home:).

[~center~]

He,he - You don't understand my Ask for Sabre - I'm aksing about visit me in Arktis. And leave Your sword at home:).

LMFAO!!!!!!! rofl

[maple.leaf]

Question: can you easily fit a C-Mag into the 100-round pouches?

[Sabre]

What's been going on here then? :|

Thanks for the offer SIWY mate, I do have a few bits of arktis kit that I like (an old chest rig etc) but I find my issue stuff works just fine.

Nice to know that you guys are so 'welcoming' though! :lol:

[Hydro]

He,he - You don't understand my Ask for Sabre - I'm aksing about visit me in Arktis. And leave Your sword at home:).



Don't do it! He's Northern!

[Garryowen69th]

I used have these 100 rnd pouches that we called scrotum sacks. I think they are called patrol poutches. They had a metal clip top that atached to the SAW. Then there was a nylon bag hanging that held 100 rds. The 200 rnd plastic drum is too clumsy and makes that clunk noise when you patrol. You can get 2 patrol pouches in a SAW poutch.

If you find some, don't let em out of your sight. They are like gold, and will walk away on you

[Snydz]

I find myself kinda intersted in what different LBV's poeple are wearing.

As it stands, I am using a 2 piece TT MAV. I find it sits nicely over body armour, and is great to carry what I need to get the job done...

[Garryowen69th]

I find myself kinda intersted in what different LBV's poeple are wearing.

As it stands, I am using a 2 piece TT MAV. I find it sits nicely over body armour, and is great to carry what I need to get the job done...
I have not been a SAW gunner since 1999, so things have changed some. BUT, curently I'm sportin a Low Vis Rack from BATTLELAB (battlelab.com). Its the cat's meow. All my bud's are big time gear whores, pokin fun at my minamal little rig, but I was the one laughing when they were stuck on the door jam, or even better, stuck in a hatch. I'll tell you, I'm fixin to do my 3rd combat tour in Nov, and the less you have straped to you the better. Don't get me wrong, I still carry 11 mags (330 rds), and a clip board straped to my chest. I like to maintain dexteraty, and stay skinny. A slim rig with a duty belt speading out the load might mean life or death outside the wire. You have no idea how close you can get to the ground, no matter what you are wearing

[Snydz]

I know what your ssaying Gary, I like to keep it as small as possible for the same reasons.