Gear Tips and Hints for Real Life and Airsoft
 

Just wondering why something like this has never really come up.

Anyways, I realize there are a few gear whores around here like me and I thought for the benefit of the newer players and even some of us old folks we could compile a thread that lists as many GEAR tips or hints as we can figure out.

Just make sure you differentiate the airsoft vs. real life gear tips.

as in...Putting stripper clips in grenade pouches in threes. (Real Life)

This is primarily for the airsofter and wannabe geardo, but you never know when one of our reg troops will get something out of this.

Stripper clips in grenade pouches in real life?

How about grenades in grenade pouches in real life?

Both for real life and airsoft:

When putting your mags in your pochs, have the bullet tip face your right hand (if you are right handed) and the mag lips at the bottom. When you pick your mags by the bottom part, they are already lined up to go in your mag well. No fumbling around.


Real-life: Metal handcuff: have both bracelets folded together with both keyholes facing out and the thin part of the bracelet facing your belly button in the pouch. That way, when you pick them up, they are already on the right side to be aplied so the keyholes face away from the suspect fingers. Again, no more fumbling around. Double lock shoulf also face you when the handcuff are aplied or up, depending on the model. Don't forget to double-lock.... always!

Real/airsoft - if you don't like chaffing, try and keep heavy items out if your trouser pockets.

Real/airsoft - never tie off adjustment straps, they adjust for a reason...in my case, body armour.

Real - get your hands on as many speed loaders as possible when opening up new ammo cans. Either you'll need it later or your FTP will.

Real - always have a water source that is CBRN adaptable, either the canteen or Camelbak. You never know when the threat level can jump.

Airsoft - always think 4 hours ahead and prepare for climates. Cold weather will drain batteries faster then warm, so stock extra batteries in winter.

Real/airsoft - Goretex socks and combat boots beat Goretex boots anyday.

That's why I run ASP handcuffs, keyholes and such are on both sides of the cuffs. :D

Or just get one mag charger/spead loader and keep it... I've had the same one for quite awhile. An I got another one as a spare.




Or not... After course you won't dick around with NBC shit, except for doing the gas hut for work up training. Theres no NBC threat in Afghanistan. If we go somewhere that does have one, I'm pretty sure we'd be issued that stuff. Lot of guys are getting camelbaks(issue overseas) with it anyways.


[QUOTE=Lerch;826387]




Depends on the weather, terrain and what you are doing. And personal preferance.



Anyways, my tip from experiance(ie patrolling overseas) only carry what you need; don't weigh yourself down with extra shit.

With the more experiance you get you will know what to pack and how to pack it depending on how long you are going out for, ie what goes in your LBE, smallpack/day bag and rucksack, etc.


Also, for a backpack, having one that is high quality(not a knock off) and comes with a place to put a hydation bladder is a good thing to look for. I used a camelbak motherlode overseas, was awesome for carrying the 3L bladder, a radio and other misc kit, etc.

?? Why would you need clips in your grenade pouches?

Airsoft/Real = Keep your gear tight to your body, make sure it's adjusted and not rolling around your body
Airsoft/Real = If wearing webbing and to some extemt a rig push your mag pouches as far to the rear as possible so that you can take a prone postion without spearing yourself with a mag and you can access them when on the ground.
Real = Helmet tight on your head
Real = Pack your ruck with the weight as high up as possible on your back
Airsoft/Real = Keep a snack handy in a pouch somewhere never know when you'll be able to stop and eat a meal, my fav was alway beef jerkey
Real = If sleeping in winter strip down if you can and keep your clothes between your bivy/gortex bag and the sleeping bag.
Airsoft/Real = If wearing cam stick mix it with bug juice before you apply it, easier to put on and you keep the bugs away

Airsoft = Show up on time
Real = Hurry up and wait

Hope this helps some people
Jakster

You would put stripper clips in a grenade pouch because it will fit 30 rounds or 3x 10 clips, explicitly for carrying extra ammo(presuming a bandoleer isn't close), and have your guide in your canteen pouch meant for the iodine tablets. It's an OPTION if you don't need to carry as many grenades and would like the added securtiy of extra rounds. Quick way of reloading, this is also based on the older SDS, Micheal Bianco gear. FLC and so on.

Real/Airsoft: Always flip your boots so that the bugs fall out instead of you finding a nasty surprise.

No one carries clips anymore. Overseas you rock with 10 mags, and all the extra ammo is in your vehicle(either boxes of clipped ammo or already full mags).

Airsoft / possibly real steel:
- New vest: try filling your pouches up with ammo, etc.. everything you would need in the field and put your vest on. You may find that you need to re-adjust your vest size since things like mags, plates, etc.. take up more slack in the material and can make the vest feel smaller. Adjust the sizing with proper clothes on and with the vest loaded up.

- Vest balance: divide your loadout in half and have your main ammo on the opposite side of your shooting hand. Have additional ammo on the other side.
Put items that you may not need "right away" on the sides / back of your vest (kidneys / small of back). This weight will balance out the weight in the front from your mags.

- Carabiner or Grimlock: having a carabiner on the front of your vest somewhere is really handy for carrying anything loose. If your hands are carrying your weapon, use the carabiner to temporarily to hold onto things.

- Slings: It drives me nuts when I see AEG's slung so low they look like guitars. Have your sling rigged up so that when it's hung vertically (stock up) it's within 4"-6" from your chin. This way if the weapon is in the low ready position, you just need to pivot it to get it to the high ready position.
Adjust your sling to make it easy to transition your weapon.

- Belt pouches. I try not to put big pouches on the front of my belt, I only put small pouches on the sides (make crouching easier since there won't be any pouches crunching up against your upper thighs) and medium / bigger pouches on your butt.
This also minimizes your profile and makes getting through narrow walkways easier.
Also, I tend not to have my dump pouch open until I need it. Having this big bag swinging around is distracting. Don't open it up until you need it.

- Tools: I always keep some black tape and some long zip ties (not for prisoners!) in a tool poch for emergency repairs. Lose your M4 strip pins? Strap the receiver halves down with tape and zip ties. Pouch molle break or fall off? Zip tie it.

- No hydration / Camel back? No problem.
You know those little bottles of bottled water? I think Evian, Fiji, etc.. makes small bottles of water that are slightly bigger than a can of pop. They fit PERFECTLY in a double M4 pouch. :)

Real/Airsoft : Never run optics on your weapon/toy without BUIS.
Real/Airsoft : Gloves are extremely useful. So are knee pads...
Real/Airsoft : Don't use single point slings if you plan to do climbing.
Real/Airsoft : Boots. Get the best pair you can find. Properly fitted, and broken in BEFORE deployment.
Real/Airsoft : Leg rigs should be kept light.

Real & Airsoft: If you think you'll be spending a lot of time in prone/crawling on your elbows and knees, you'll wanna get some elbow pads and knee pads. Your elbow skin will thank you.

Hmm

Airsoft/Real : BDUs- Not loose and not too tight. Makes movements
much easier.
Also helps for leg hostlers and leg rigs.

Airsoft/Real : Radios/Communication- Communicating keeps movements on
track.

^ Yeah, definitely avoid undersized/tight BDU's. It's like wearing one big Chinese finger trap over your whole body.

There is no order or priority on these concepts, just what I remember from the top of my head, something I hope that helps our warriors in harms way:

For EOTech users, airsoft and real-world:
When using an holosight and wearing polarized sunglasses, rotating the sight 90 degrees will cause the reticle to disappear. This is due to the opposite effects of two polarizing lenses.

EOTech users real-world:
An full size human silhouette encompassing the 65 MOA ring is approximately at 100m away. If the silhouette size is equal to the distance between the 1 MOA dot and 65 MOA ring then target is about 200m. If the silhouette is approximately sized half the distance between the 1 MOA dot and ring will be at 300m, and if quarter of that distance between the dot and ring will be about 400m. I'll see if I can find a diagram that can better explain this later.

EOTech Users w/ IR Setting - Real-world:
Without practice it is extremely difficult to align your NVGs with the optic, you'll never be as fast as an IR laser. Don't mount an NVG to the rear of the scope either, you will only have night vision while looking through the scope which makes it harder to scan or for when your moving for that matter. For those that have used NVG scopes it can be extremely slow trying to engage moving targets. Thus mount it on the helmet and turn on the IR laser to instead engage the target. Perhaps the largest disadvantage for using the IR reticle is transitioning quickly to an environment in white light, suddenly your reticle is gone! This requires you having to switch to the normal setting, which is not good in quick engagements. Of course you could your BUIS (Back Up Iron Sights).

Low Light Tip - Torch Placement : Airsoft & Real-world
Make most use of your torch by mount it as far forward as possible, because the weapon will cast a shadow. Don't mount the light low as the muzzle will cast a shadow over the BG (Bad Guy's) eyes negating your advantage. Remember to readjust the torch placement when using a suppressor as well.

Another Low-Light Tip - Accidental Discharge : Airsoft & Real-world
Don't highlight your teammates, by an AD. Use the push button opposed to the tape switch. Tape switches are trouble, not as durable as the push button, and are more prone to ADs. They have a tendency to turn on when in your gun case or bag.

DON'T PERFORM A PRESS CHECK - EASIEST WAY TO INDUCE STOPPAGE!
For real-world, common practice taught is to perform a press check, after the weapon is in condition one, hot, with one in the tube. This is accomplished by pulling the bolt slightly back, either visually seeing the round in chamber, or by using the pinky or finger to feel for the round. This is the easiest way to induce stoppage.

The technique that will work day or night, is to extract the magazine, and feel the magazine for where the next round is positioned. Even loaded magazines, 30, 28... - the rounds will be on the right, odd, 29, 27... - will be on the left. Therefore if one wants to perform a press check, simply remove the magazine and feel the top, if using the standard 30 round magazine the next round should be on the left if the bolt has properly stripped a round into the chamber.

Zeroing Tips - Real-world & Airsoft
Save yourself some Tylenol and make sure that optic is secured and properly mounted. When using any illuminated optic, RDS or HWS, use the lowest setting for which you can see the reticle for the zeroing.

Misconception on AR - Staggering Gas Rings
This has no effect on reliability, they work like the piston rings in a car and are designed to compress and conform to the inside of the expansion chamber of the bolt carrier. But if it makes you feel good, then go and do it, but again makes no difference.