#ChestRig

Luke C is back for day 3 of the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits to talk with Shield Arms about some of their latest products and services. Today Seth shares Shield Arms’ new ROC (Revolver Optics Conversion) mount – a no-mill option that easily attaches to your J-Frame revolvers (like the S&W 442) giving you an instant optics solution for iron-sighted revolvers. Shield Arms is also showcasing their new Split Rig – an easy on-and-off chest rig perfect for shooting prone, and finally their Grip Chop service for the Glock 48 and 43X. This service shaves off just enough of the grip to fit the new Shield Arms 10-round flush fit mag made specifically for their Grip Chop – Did they just invent the Glock 43X/48 SF?

KommandoStore is one of the major players in surplus South African web gear. The venerable Pattern 83 chest rig and battle jacket have started drying up and prices are climbing. KommandoStore started making a reproduction Pattern 83 chest rig to meet that demand. They also created a modernized model, called  Pattern 84, which is the subject of this review.

Visualizing how your gear will look and function is essential especially when you’re spending hundreds of dollars. Gadsden Dynamics has just released an updated version of their Chest Rig Builder which is a unique way for you to get a real-time look at both the appearance and the price of your chest rig while you’re shopping. The Gadsden Dynamics Chest Rig builder allows you to select everything from the camouflage pattern, magazine, and admin pouches all in a simple browser-based solution.

Plate carriers and chest rigs are a solid way to carry all of your gear around and there are a ton of options out there as far as configurations, equipment loadouts, and attachments you can add to your vest or plate carrier. Ferro Concepts makes some of the best plate carriers I’ve seen and they’ve just released their DOPE (Diverse Operations Personal Equipment) Front Flap and 5 new Kangaroo Inserts for adapting your kit to suit your needs.

Wearing a fully loaded plate carrier, helmet, battle belt, a rifle, and a pistol looks really cool. The problem is that that stuff gets heavy, and I’m rarely in the mood to carry it all. The other problem with all of that gear is that as a civilian, the chances of me ever using it for its intended purpose is slim. Something smaller and more concealable usually fits the bill for what I should be training with in order to be proficient with my gear. Chest rigs can be great for carrying no more than you need, and Strike Industries has entered the chest rig game with their Strike Gear Boogeyman Chest Rig and Strike Gear accessories.

For those “in the know” they know G-Code. G-Code has always been behind the scenes, typically keeping a low-profile but has been busy partnering with various companies creating some of the most influential products today. Some may know them for the INCOG sytem developed in conjuction with Travis Hailey. The “tactical fuzz” is often maligned, but as an EDC holster for my G43, I know of no kydex system more comfortable.

Showing that they are indeed the Bee’s Knees, Beez Combat Systems has announced and released their latest chest rig for the AK platform. Designed for lightweight performance, the rather plainly named “AK47 Chest Rig GRID” is an advanced take on the chest rig concept, use the latest thin and light materials to great effect.

Eric Miller posted his creation in a FN owners group. He made this pistol pouch for carrying in a vehicle.

A rather clever use of materials. This is a great way to recycle those IKEA bags. Even though the blue IKEA bags are not free, @akraix2 used one to make a chest rig. Looks like it would be very light weight and hold up to light duty.

If you are anything like the majority of active tactical/defensive shooters around the world, you have lusted after, used and retired a plethora of ballistic nylon products over the years. Most of which now probably reside in a box or case in the back of the gear closet. Don’t be ashamed – I’m right there with you. Still, from time to time a new rig catches my eye. This month the new Haley Strategic Partners D3CRX wins my vote for the most useful yet aesthetically pleasing piece of nylon gear to hit the market.

Circle 10 AK is currently putting together a five cell RPK magazine chest rig for the market. When I asked the owner why specifically for RPK magazines, he pretty much replied, “Why not! There aren’t too many similar designs on the market, and it is flooded with standard 30 round magazine chest rigs!”. Although making a product for the sake of there not being one isn’t always a good business plan, in this case a valid point can be made. True, 30 round magazines reign supreme in the AK world, with the overwhelming majority of use by AK owners is with 30 rounders. However, unlike the AR world where the magazine capacity really stops at 30, RPK74 magazines, and even steel 45 round magazines are extremely popular. There have been numerous attempts at making extended capacity magazines for the AR platform, but so many of these have ended in failure. Surefire is probably the most successful venture yet, with the 60 round quad stacked magazine (of course excluding Beta Mag, but I want to focus on conventional magazine design).

Tracey Ponder created this AR retention rig. It attaches to a Molle vest. There is a large mount that the AR holster attaches to. The AR can be spun 360 degrees parallel to the chest. It can be removed by rotating the gun upside down and pushing the weapon away from the chest rig. Pointblank Enterprises bought the rights to the design and Tracey estimates retail for the rig will be approximately $200.