How many mags are you guys carrying on your chest rigs or vests? Trying to figure out how many mag pouches I will need for the SHTF vest I am putting together. I was thinking 8 rifle mags and 4 pistol mags. What  do you guys think?

The answer is "just one more". But me, I carry five 20 rounders on my chest rig and one 30 rounder on my 1st line belt. Also have two pistol mags on both my belt and rig.

Been discussed before here.

ETA:  8 rifle and 4 pistol sounds a little heavy and cumbersome for a civilian SHTF rig.  YMMV.

One in the gun(s) 4 rifle in a micro chest rig and and 2 pistol on my first line belt.

How likely is it that you'll need to shoot and get shot at?

Thanks for the link.

I hope I never need to grab a SHTF rig but I like knowing I have it if I need it. Besides, I live in NY. We get shot at all the time.

I carried 8 mags on my vest plus one in the rifle and 4 on my daypack.



But I doubt you would ever need that stateside.

Ha!  Check!

I don't know how applicable this is, but as a Marine reservist, I've never been issued more than six rifle and three pistol mags.  And the third pistol mag was a fluke that happened one time.  Bear in mind, I've never gone anywhere outside CONUS in my service, either.  Hopefully, we'll change that next year, though.

I think four to six is more than adequate for a civilian. I'm definitely not a high speed operator, but I've seen pics of USMC F.R. guys in Iraq with no more than four mags on the front of their plate carriers. So if that's good enough for them, it's probably good enough for me. Eight or more mags sounds like a good idea, but that weight and bulk can restrict your movement, unless you play in the NFL or something...
I would say at least three to four pistol mags though, including one or two on your belt if possible. Especially if you're using a 1911, those precious rounds can dwindle quickly.

I'm just a civilian punter, so my setup is basic.

2 AR mags on the first line belt with 4 (1911) or 2 (Glock 19) spare pistol mags.

Plate carrier is set up for 4 more AR & 2 more pistol mags.

If not going armored, the SKD/Eagle rig usually gets 4 AR & 2 pistol.

[Doctor hijack]
Don't forget to make room for a blowout kit. That may even get used during training, so is not just SHTF gear.
[/doctor hijack]

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I went with 4 in the PC, 2 on/in the rifle (sulevet, double mags), and have room in the Camelback pack for extra mags or ammo. 6 total is probably more than I'll ever need. As far as pistol mags go, 2 in the PC and one on the belt, plus one in the weapon.

I always figured that it's more important that I keep 60 rounds on tap with the rifle than 360 rounds on tap on the 2nd line, since even in a serious SHTF you're probably going to be carrying the rifle alone more than you're going to be wearing your ninjasuit.

It depends how tooled out you really care to be and how much stuff you care to carry. For the space and weight of 2 mags you can carry smoke, or extra water, or a better blowout kit.

I have six 30-rounders on the chest rig and 3 pistol mags on the belt.

8 is a good number.  6 in vest, 2 on the belt.

Whatever number you decide to carry with you, just be sure to have a metric shit ton of spares hidden out somewhere. Things break, wear out and get lost during use.

There is no such thing as too many mags.

8+1 Rifle & 5+1 Pistol.

I think this is a trick question

If I remember correctly, Travis Haley said that typically they carry 4 and possibly up to 6-8 if it's a extended patrol.

I am a low-speed, Hi-drag armchair commando special operator,

and I can't see the need for more than 3 mags + 1 in the rifle.   I believe most of us civies need to firmly focus on lightweight mobility and using cover/concealment as opposed to outright "firepower."   I would even go 2 mags + 1 in the rifle, but our nature is to expect failure so there's an extra in there for fun.

even if I was fending off looters from my home, I think realistically I would not live long enough to use the 5th mag, if I was in a position to ever actually NEED it without having plenty of time to reload the previous four at my leisure.  

Yeah,  I call bullshit on that.  You are a 2W171 Aircraft Armament???  You don't leave the wire and you do not carry that arounds base.  Nobody wears that much hardware on base unless you just came in from off base .You may carry 2 rifle mags and 2 pistol mags for personal protection, but that is it.  I doubt that you even carry those weapons loaded.  The chest rig you have on along with that holster is unauthorized for you anyways.  It may make for a nice photo op with your M16A2, but that is it.

It is quite amazing what you could have asked before going off on a snarky rant. The answer to this is yes, we did just get in from off-base. But good on you for jumping to conclusions based of a photo & AFSC with a context not known to you.

We do quite a bit of work outside of our AFSC here (CUT training is the devil). Some of which requires a bit of off-site time. So the "Your AFSC doesn't do that" argument is baseless and childish without asking the 'why' (which no one ever does because being snarky seems to be more fun). Unusual for my AFSC, yes. But whatever. You obviously know more about what I do than I do...

My gear is authorized by my unit. As they were the ones who bought most of it. So, what AFSC & Unit do you speak for? I would really like to know.

6 one in rifle

1 in sidearm

1 spare for sidearm

100 rounds lose in pack

1 loaded mag for each in pack.

1 fighting knife(when ammo runs low)

For Force Pro, i carry just my M9 with a mag of 9mm, sometimes I may have another mag on me but not much.  I live on a small JSS so i am always close enough to my room if something does happen.  we have about a click of standoff to the closest MSR so we are good.  

You will be surprised who leaves the wire, it is not really MOS dependent on who is leaving.  I guess in Afghan having 8+1 and 5+1 is good, but then again that is alot of un needed weight to be carrying around, Basic Load is 240 rounds and 30 rounds 9mm (this includes what is in your weapon).  But to each their own, if it was me i would cut your load down to basic load.

Yes, my conclusion is based on your photo and first hand knowledge.  I have 3 tours to Iraq and 2 to southern Afghanistan.  One of those was a 365. Are saying that the photo was taken when you came on back on base??  Since when are ABU's authorized off base????Fact is they are not. The only authorized uniform for outside is the nomex flight suit or Army ACU if you are doing ILO.   I can also tell that you lack proper weapons handling knowledge and you can't seem to wear a chin strap either.  You are also missing quite a bit of required gear for off base ops (ie side plates, throat and deltoid protectors that are standard..  I can tell your a standard base popluace troop by your duc tape ID.  That pretty much guves you away.  I see your type come through for training on a daily basis.  As far as your gear being authorized, it might be.  But, just because your unit purchased it doesn't mean shit.  I have seen units buy cheap uncle mikes shit because they are ignorant.  If someone sent you off base with what you are wearing in that picture, they either hate you or they are severly ignorant.  My AFSC is 3POX1B.  CATM for short.

Nice armrests.

I never used more than 2 or 3 in a firefight.  Even so I used to carry 8 +1 just in case.  Actually didn't have much of a choice.....  That was Iraq. In Bosnia we only carried 3 in an ALICE pouch attached to the OTV with an adapter.  Never needed any.  Even then we had tons close by.  Mags are cheap now so stock up.

The funny thing is that I have the side plates on in that pic... Hmmmm... Not running convoys, or ILO, so no FRACUs, no ACUs, and no flight suits. Supervision only mandated side plates and placement of the IFAK on the right side above the plate. We are not engaging with the enemy, nor attempting to do so. We tend to go off-site for remote surveillance equipment maintenance, crash recovery, and a few other things. So yes, most of my time is spent being a fobbit. We only usually go off-site once every few weeks. You guys have mandatory stuff to wear, as directed by your leadership. The same goes for us. Throat, pecker, and delts have not been mentioned by ours. IMHO, the neck pro gets in the way when you are hunched over. I was never issued the delts. I have one tour in Iraq/Kuwait, and 2 here in the Ghan.

The tape is more for ID when my gear is sitting on a rack at work. But again, whatever. So I look like the low speed, high drag individual that I am. I won't pretend to be something I'm not. I loosened up the chin strap after I got off the helicopter. I hate that frickin thing. It never feels right no matter how I adjust it and the pads inside.

I have never seen SPs playing with their rifles/pistols (shining IR/visible lasers at people, pointing weapons at aircraft/other people/each other), falling asleep while on duty, sex in vehicles while on duty, or running vehicles into our Predators and people. I'm sure this is all covered at training classes under the 'not-to-do catagory'. Stones & glass houses. Everyone has carried an M16 by the grip at one time or another.

Gear is TT, Emdom, BFG, ATS, Safariland, and HSGI. They got liberal with the IMPAC card for what they requested and were authorized. I don't think any of that rates the same as cheap gear.

I figured you for an SP, but I have no problem with that. Let me say that one again as to not be misunderstood. I have no problem with SPs. You guys can be a bit abrasive with everyone else though. Which is why we now have to operate independant from you guys. We have our own ammunition account because you guys only authorize 60-rounds to anyone, even those going off-base, because (and I quote) "No one but cops goes off-base, so you do not need it. I will not give you any more than that, regardless if you have a valid need and authorization from your CC". Nor were we allowed to attend whatever SF courses necessary for our off-base activities ("You are not cops. You will never leave the wire, so you don't need to go. Regardless of a valid need or authorization from your CC"). When we requested a security forces escort from you guys for a crash recovery job, in a known hostile area, we were told the same thing, "No. No one does that. Find someone else if you do really need an escort" (The Brits did quite happily join us for that trip. Thank you Black Watch and your funny Pom-Pom hats!). You speak for the SPs, and you have far different rules and roles than us. Probably better training. But until we can get the training thing & unit coordination thing fixed, this is the best we can do. We are working on it, but you guys can be really uncooperative as to what we actually need.



The MAV sits of the front of the vest pretty well. Doesn't really get in the way. You can see I can put my arms down quite easily. It looks way worse than it actually is.

In combat I carry 6 M4 and 3 pistol on my kit. Also have extras in the vehicle, but never had to go to them.

I don't care if your glasses are on upside down.. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!  

Good asnwer  What you say is very true.   But unfortunitly, they merged combat arms and SP in 1998.  It's been down hill ever since.

I carried 6+2 on the gun in Iraq 08, no pistol. After ETS I'd do 4+1.