and gloves

Much of what you’ll need/want depends on the topics covered in your class.  For example, will there be any low-light/no-light training?

Here are some random thoughts.

Make sure your weapons are all zeroed before the class.  This is VERY important.  Don’t waste my class time because your stuff isn’t zeroed.

Make sure everything is cleaned and lubed.  

Use only good quality (i.e. good condition USGI) magazines.  Unless you want to load magazines during every break, bring a LOT of loaded magazines.  When everyone else is loading mags, I’m sitting in the shade resting and checking my kit.  Bringing a LULA won’t hurt though.  

Use only good quality ammo.  If the S ever does HTF, I’ll probably be throwing Q3131A at the zombies.  Therefore, I always use Q3131A in classes.  Train like you’ll fight.

Bring some CLP, cleaning patches and a BoreSnake.  During your breaks maintain your weapons.  

If you can, bring electronic hearing muffs.  Low-profile ones are best.  It sucks trying to use the foam earplugs, because it’s a PITA to put them in for each drill and then take them out to hear the instructor.

Wear your clothes in layers.  It makes it easier to take off or add depending on the weather.  And bring a rain jacket or poncho just in case.  I keep one in my buttpack.

Bring extra batteries for lights and optics.

A good sling is a must.  Something that allows you to keep the rifle pointed down.  A sling that allows shoulder transitions is highly recommended.

For your pistol, use a good holster and belt.  Make sure you can draw and replace the pistol with one hand.  This is important!

Wear your gear around the house before you take a class.  I do aerobics videos wearing all my kit for weeks before the class.  Helps you figure out what does and what does not work.

Wear comfortable shoes/boots.  Bring extra socks and switch during mid-day.

Make sure you have a place to dump (and retain) your empty mags.  Either a drop-pouch or the pockets on BDUs is fine.

If I think of more, I’ll post it.

I tried the web gear and decided to go with a LBV.  The vest is just more comfortable for me.  Plus, in certain positions (like SBU prone) having my mag pouches on my sides got in the way.  If you don’t want to drop the $$ on a vest, get a good set of H-harness (stay AWAY from the older Y-harness!) suspenders and a good web pistol belt.  Use these for your AR mags, buttpack, etc.  

I actually like wearing my pistol and pistol magazines on my primary belt.  I wear my vest/harness so that it sits right on top of the pistol gear.  This allows me access to my pistol & mags, but I can still ditch the vest if necessary.

Canteens suck compared to a Camelbak.  Plus, the Camelbak puts weight on your back and off the web belt.

It is very important to try gear before you buy, if at all possible.  sjauch has some nice gear and I'm sure it works great for him.  I have tried drop-leg pouches and holsters and find them VERY uncomfortable for ME.  YMMV.  

Note his point about using the suspenders though.  They do make a world of difference in helping to support your gear.  


sjauch, who makes those suspenders you use?

Quoted: It is very important to try gear before you buy, if at all possible.

That's the tough thing with a lot of this stuff. If you aren't in the military or in a police department with a pretty fancy swat team most of us really can't see this stuff or try it before we write out the check. I've finally got to the point that only about 1/3 of the stuff I buy ends up not being what I wanted.

I know what you mean.  It's really bad with holsters.  Who doens't have a box of holsters you bought to try, just to find out you didn't like it?

But ask around.  I was able to find several local guys who had stuff I could try.  No one had the exact stuff I ended up buying, but it was close enough to help me determine what I wanted and what I didn't.

I do have a box at home collecting dust with mag pouches, canteens, web belts, harnesses.  I need to dump some of this on the EE.

A lot of the guys around here have very nicely set up ARs, but as most of us are old fogey civilians we don't have much of the high speed tactical ninja nylon-honestly I doubt many of us have much use for it, except the mag carriers are a convenient way to carry mags at classes and competitions. God forbid any of us ever have to use our ARs, but I doubt it'd be much more than a mag in the gun and maybe a spare stuffed in the jacket of our carharts-I'd need 5 spare carharts to make it throuugh these classes that way

This thread started off about carbines but there are some good posts about gear.
www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=226012