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Posted: 6/11/2014 7:35:00 PM EDT
So - I've been a little bit scarce on ARFCOM (not that anyone noticed  ) for the last month or so for a variety of reasons, but I wanted to share some "new" stuff that I've been playing with in the meantime.
After spending the better part of a decade using NV - this spring I was finally able to finagle my way (courtesy of rbhoover) into an AN/PVS-14 of my very own, which has given me a much renewed interest in finding improved NV solutions, in the past I'd used standard setups (Norotos USGI "Rhino," MICH plate, and ACH or PASGT) and rigged them up as best I could to do what they needed to. One thing that was somewhat bothersome to me was the lack of modularity of the ACH - and specifically, the ACH cover. And while improved covers like the Eagle and First Spear are available I needed a solution in UCP. I ended up instead, taking a standard USGI UCP ACH cover to the tailor shop, and using the "pattern" of the improved covers available, had them modify it: Here's the "before" photographs: 
To begin with, I had them sew the "grid" pattern of the Eagle/First Spear cover around the location where the mounting hole for the shroud - 
I also had them sew several patches of Velcro to the helmet to allow for the mounting of various other items, depending on the situation and equipment being used, whether they were counterweights, IR strobes, or simple IFF patches in the "standard" places that have become de rigueur for ballistic helmet Velcro - 
All together - this was the end result: 
It's a little "loaded out" to give something of an example of what all could be put on it - The Wilcox G24 mount is a loaner, courtesy of murderman (since returned  ) - more on that at a later date - though I was very pleased with it, though I'm happy to hear of the "new and improved" version (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_18/425089_new_and_improved_Wilcox_G24_mount.html):
The shroud is the Wilcox L4 one-hole mount with lanyard - the L4 one-hole is a pretty good improvement over the standard MICH plate - but I'm still wanting to try out the Ops Core or Wilcox shrouds, and I hear good things about the Norotos Universal as well: 
The "counterweight" is just an old dual magazine pouch that I attached some Velcro through and threaded through the sweatband: 
It's the least satisfactory of the "mods" - it works, but it could be more stable - perhaps at least with a bungee to secure it a little bit better, or with a more purpose designed counterweight/pouch, as once loaded, the pouch does not conform very well to the contour of the helmet. For the AN/PVS-14, it's a little bit of overkill when the magazines are loaded up (considering the many many nights I've spent with no counterweight at all before I wised up). As it sits now: 
As I've mentioned - I'm still not 100% settled on what shroud I want to use, though the L4 and the Norotos Rhino II shroud are both improvements over the MICH plate currently - I'd also like to fit ARC Rails to the helmet - it's just a little tough to spend over $100 on helmet rails at the moment... Finally - while the Ops-Core H-Nape that's currently installed was a revelation over the USGI four-point suspension system - I'm really interested in trying out the Occ-Dial system, which would have the added benefit of allowing me to move the H-Nape to my modified CVC shell "bump" helmet. ~Augee |
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Quoted:
Yeah the weights are a cool idea, but as you deplete your ammo what happens? If it gets so bad that you have to use your counterweight mags....you really won't care it your helmet is a little front heavy. I used to see big army running around all the time without counterweights. All of our guys used mags or something else useful other than a lead weight. My load out could vary between 60-120 lbs, making a lead weight unacceptable to Cary around. |
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Quoted:
If it gets so bad that you have to use your counterweight mags....you really won't care it your helmet is a little front heavy. I used to see big army running around all the time without counterweights. All of our guys used mags or something else useful other than a lead weight. My load out could vary between 60-120 lbs, making a lead weight unacceptable to Cary around. Quoted:
Quoted:
Yeah the weights are a cool idea, but as you deplete your ammo what happens? If it gets so bad that you have to use your counterweight mags....you really won't care it your helmet is a little front heavy. I used to see big army running around all the time without counterweights. All of our guys used mags or something else useful other than a lead weight. My load out could vary between 60-120 lbs, making a lead weight unacceptable to Cary around. This is about the long and short of it - I don't know the exact number - but I would bet that the actual number of service members who have had to use their sidearm in combat while carrying a rifle is pretty small, much less having expended more than one magazine - at least one of which should already be in the weapon, if not a couple others for "primary" reloads. That being said - the helmet is not always so "loaded down" - I was just seeing what I could get on there and how I could configure it after assembling it with the new cover - and as has been pointed out, I, and a lot of folks have spent a long time under NOD without any counterweights at all. ~Augee |
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