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Posted: 8/23/2015 12:01:50 PM EDT
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I tried the stickies at the gear review threads and the Look Here First thread and found nothing about the ITW FastMag III product. I don't carry a rifle for work. I have an upcoming carbine class. I don't own a tac vest. I have a very incomplete Eagle battle belt that was rated as up to in waist size, but when I put it on the webbing runs about 9 to 3 and was really intended for someone with a 26" waist, which is not me. I'm not huge but I'm definately not 26". I have a couple of competition belts: Wilderness Instructors belt and a CR Speed belt; I'm thinking that they both will be stiff enough to mount a couple of AR and Pistol pouches. Since the competition belts seem like the best approach for a low dollar (read already have these) approach to the class, I was looking for some mag pouches that will fit on the belt. I'm thinking of the ITW FastMag III with Belt option. Tell me what you think and would love a push in the direction of who has the best prices on these today. If you want to PM on the pricing that is fine. |
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Quoted:
I tried the stickies at the gear review threads and the Look Here First thread and found nothing about the ITW FastMag III product. I don't carry a rifle for work. I have an upcoming carbine class. I don't own a tac vest. I have a very incomplete Eagle battle belt that was rated as up to in waist size, but when I put it on the webbing runs about 9 to 3 and was really intended for someone with a 26" waist, which is not me. I'm not huge but I'm definately not 26". I have a couple of competition belts: Wilderness Instructors belt and a CR Speed belt; I'm thinking that they both will be stiff enough to mount a couple of AR and Pistol pouches. Since the competition belts seem like the best approach for a low dollar (read already have these) approach to the class, I was looking for some mag pouches that will fit on the belt. I'm thinking of the ITW FastMag III with Belt option. Tell me what you think and would love a push in the direction of who has the best prices on these today. If you want to PM on the pricing that is fine. Sounds to me like you should return the belt for exchange for a better size, or credit back, and order a better-fitting belt. The folks participating in 3-gun games seem to like the FastMag plastic pouches, but be advised that all of these items rely on elastic bands for tension. The mfr makes no bones about offering replacement elastic bands, so have a few new ones always on-hand. As I have said in the past, in other threads, go to some matches, and take very careful note of what the winners are using for gear. Go up to them, and ask questions, and take pix, if they will allow. Start from there. No sense in starting from behind the winners edge. YMMV. |
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Agree with raf. Don't skimp on proper gear, otherwise you're going to have a bad time and you're not going to learn everything you need to if your fumbling with gear. Get a belt that's the right size.
I don't have any skin in the game on fastmags. I don't want to try them because I do a lot of transitioning to the ground drills and would rather an empty pouch collapsed from empty. (I use chest mags before belt mags). Ymmv |
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I have run MOLLE versions of FastMags for a long time, both chest and mounted to my belt. I swear by them. I have run all manner of mag pouches from TAG, Blackhawk, 5.11, our issued mil pouches, KIWIs, you name it, Simply put the FastMags work. Best retention of an open faced pouch with a smooth and uninterrupted draw. I have never felt like I was fighting to extract a mag and have never had one pop out. I ran them as an Infantry Marine, I ran them on my SWAT rig, and still run one on my duty belt and my go to plate carrier.
I generally grab mine from SKD tactical, they are good people with quick service and have always treated me well with any CS issue I may have. Also have the D3CR with inserts. Inserts make a world of difference and are worth the investment. |
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Quoted: I have two rifle FastMag on my belt for home use only. Just don't want the snag drama again from my first carbine class. Again, for home use. My main is D3CR that I'll soon add the retention kydex insert. Again, avoid the snag drama. The belt that I bought was an ebay item that was cheap. While I know it doesn't fit me, I will save it for one of the kids. Again, my application is just for a class, it's not to go to war. I know that we should train how we would fight. Maybe I should start another thread about minimum gear for a carbine class. I'll try to do a search on that and if I don't find a good thread, I'll start one. |
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Quoted:
Tell me about the snag drama and how it relates to FastMags. Quoted:
Quoted:
I have two rifle FastMag on my belt for home use only. Just don't want the snag drama again from my first carbine class. Again, for home use. My main is D3CR that I'll soon add the retention kydex insert. Again, avoid the snag drama. MIS-communication...I had a cheap M4 pouch with cords to retain mags....and when I lay prone, the cord would snag and mags fall out. FastMags retains magazines without getting snagged. Hence I use it with my first line belt for HD. sorry for miscommunications |
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Since you have a decent belt already, I would get some moduloaders from Raven Concealment and some pouches of your choice, I really like KYWIs from Esstac. I actually prefer the duty style belts over the bulk of the padded belt. Plus, if you do decide you want a padded belt, you'll have MOLLE mountable pouches already.
ETA: SKD has a great selection, pricing and fast shipping on pouches. |
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Quoted: Since you have a decent belt already, I would get some moduloaders from Raven Concealment and some pouches of your choice, I really like KYWIs from Esstac. I actually prefer the duty style belts over the bulk of the padded belt. Plus, if you do decide you want a padded belt, you'll have MOLLE mountable pouches already. ETA: SKD has a great selection, pricing and fast shipping on pouches. |
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I completed a 2 day pistol / carbine course this weekend. I ran my normal Wilderness Instructor belt with 2 of the ITW FastMags. I bought them from SKD. The pricing was competitive, but the shipping was just damn quick. First time customer, not last time customer. The product ran great during the class, my reloads were as fast or faster than most. I would recommend these pouches. |
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I think of gear like this in two ways. One way is "Gamer Gear", primarily intended for 3-Gun competition and so forth. the other way is purely tactical gear, with a more overt, military use.
Of course, there is some cross-over, and that makes the distinction between the two difficult at times. |
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Quoted: I think of gear like this in two ways. One way is "Gamer Gear", primarily intended for 3-Gun competition and so forth. the other way is purely tactical gear, with a more overt, military use. Of course, there is some cross-over, and that makes the distinction between the two difficult at times. The rubber bands are a weak point in the system and it's open topped leaving your mags exposed. I do see this used in actual SWAT applications though. And while not purely a run and gun mag pouch for open class, it does well enough in that arena. I really think more people should ask themselves, what is the real application for this piece of kit? If we answer honestly, our choices might change. |
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I disagree, ITW Fast mag was marketed to military first, The developer came to FT Bragg back in 2007/2008 gave us the very first ones to try out. I still have two of the originals, first made with a non-adjustable nylon strap (see picture.) I actually still and use them. I also have some Gen II's now on their second deployment they still work great. Now I don't run all FAST mag pouches, I mainly use one on my carrier for speed reload if needed and one on my war belt for the same reason.
Original FAST Mag currently on duty belt; 
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