AR Magazine Carrier for Competition Use

[unloved]

I'm starting with monthly Practical Rifle shoots at my club. I'm going to do USPSA eventually. So, belt mounted or chest rig? How many mags should I plan on carrying? Any brand you'd recommend?

[Lycanthrope]

I like the Limcat....but then, that's because the carrier also holds STI mags and 3, 12 gauge shotgun rounds.

In most rifle matches you may have to change mags once. Whatever is fastest for you works. Even taping two mags together is very, very competitive.

Lycantrystuffthrope

[DPB]

I don't have my rule book available, but make sure the chest thing is even allowed, there was a time when it wasn't.

I like the Blade-Tech belt carriers. The 3 gun event's I've shot, you never needed more than two reloads, and probably never needed more than one.

[stipilot]

Chest rigs seem popular with the non-USPSA 3 gunners, belt mag holders with USPSA shooters. Chest rig/mil gear is often much slower to access but ultimately more secure.

Speed Shooters International sells a Safariland holder which is what I use.

Brownells sells several types but this Blade Tech model is reasonably priced.

Lycanthrope is right that coupled mags are very fast to change if you're going to need more than 30 rounds on a stage. I have a Arredondo coupler and a Buffer Tech Mag Cinch. I use the Arredondo in competition though, because my match guns has an Arredondo mag well and the Mag Cinch doesn't separate the mags far enough to clear the mag well. I still keep a spare on the belt just in case of a dropped mag.

I have two mag holders on my belt, one in front canted about 45 deg to my weak side and one verticle on my side in case I ever need to get a mag while prone. Reloads are slow when you're laying on the mags. Speed reloads always come from the one on the front.

Most shooters at the matches I go to only have one on the belt though.

[RONNIE77]

I have never done a practical rifle comp, but I think it is a 3 mag minimum.

Or you could also look into a ready mag system. It mounts on the right side of the mag well, and you can change your mag with one swift movement. http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_inf...oducts_id=2857

[unloved]

Thanks guys.

[39flathead]

BetaMag.

No spares required.

[synergy]

Most people reload off the belt faster than out of chest rig.

I know a couple friends that use a chest rig for courses and such...in conjunction with a belt holster. Speed reloads are done off the belt, and mags are fed into the belt as time permits.

In competition... a few belt holsters would be my preferred rig.

Are Redi-Mags not allowed? They're "combat" gear these days....seems silly to not allow them.

[Lycanthrope]

Depends on the match.....but.....

5.2.2 During the course of fire, after the start signal, unless stipulated otherwise
in the stage procedure, spare ammunition, magazines and speed
loading devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the
competitor’s belt and specifically designed for that purpose. A competitor
may also carry additional magazines or speed loading devices in
his pockets and retrieve and use them without penalty once having
dropped or exhausted his primary magazines.

That being said....

I have one and later discarded it for belt mags.
The redi mag is heavy.......and not a good central balance...on the timer it tended to slow me down.

Transitions matter more than most people dare to realize.

Lycanbutopinionsvarythrope

[synergy]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

Depends on the match.....but.....

5.2.2 During the course of fire, after the start signal, unless stipulated otherwise
in the stage procedure, spare ammunition, magazines and speed
loading devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the
competitor’s belt and specifically designed for that purpose. A competitor
may also carry additional magazines or speed loading devices in
his pockets and retrieve and use them without penalty once having
dropped or exhausted his primary magazines.

That being said....

I have one and later discarded it for belt mags.
The redi mag is heavy.......and not a good central balance...on the timer it tended to slow me down.

Transitions matter more than most people dare to realize.

Lycanbutopinionsvarythrope

Makes sense...

I think it'd really come down to the shooter and their setup though, too.

A 20" HBAR, a 12" carbine, a 16" carbine....with heavy scopes, forward mounted eotechs, or just irons.....some with lights out front, some with VFG's....shorty stocks and A2 fixed stocks....mag well holds versus reaching way out front....

more often than not, I bet the extra mag weight slows you down...but for some shooters and some setups, it might be the ticket. Only 1 way to know for sure.

I'm considering one, but that's a long ways off.....I got a shit load of other stuff to spend money on first.