I would say there is no way to buy the right stuff, first time, just browsing the internet, stores, and talking to people. I think that going out to some matches, and trying some gear, is required before you get the gear dialed in for your needs. So my advice would be, don't buy a lot, don't expect you are making final purchases yet, don't pay full retail price (buy used), and be ready to change it up later.
Belt Help for 3-Gun
- Thread starter AlbertaAllure
- Start date
I would say there is no way to buy the right stuff, first time, just browsing the internet, stores, and talking to people. I think that going out to some matches, and trying some gear, is required before you get the gear dialed in for your needs. So my advice would be, don't buy a lot, don't expect you are making final purchases yet, don't pay full retail price (buy used), and be ready to change it up later.
ELS looks similar to TMMS but possibly lighter (a good thing) but possibly more fragile (no hands on, my opinion from a picture).
Modularity is the key though as its scaleable and adaptable.
Budget wise it isn’t cheap but you can buy a bit at a time plus it’s cheaper to buy something once (as compared to repeatedly).
But if you do modular, choose a system (no wrong answer) and stick with it, not a bit of this and a bit of that (modular systems are not compatible with each other).
Modularity is the key though as its scaleable and adaptable.
Budget wise it isn’t cheap but you can buy a bit at a time plus it’s cheaper to buy something once (as compared to repeatedly).
But if you do modular, choose a system (no wrong answer) and stick with it, not a bit of this and a bit of that (modular systems are not compatible with each other).
Dexter Morgan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
These mini chest rigs are an easy way to carry more gear on you. They're not very expensive either.
w w w.uppercanadatactical.com/Condor-Modular-Chest-Panel--Black_p_240.html
They take a lot of weight and bulk off of your belt.
Ammo is easy to see, easy to grab, and always very close to whatever gun you're loading.
w w w.uppercanadatactical.com/Condor-Modular-Chest-Panel--Black_p_240.html
They take a lot of weight and bulk off of your belt.
Ammo is easy to see, easy to grab, and always very close to whatever gun you're loading.
Personally, I would stay away from any MOLLE systems for 3 gun as they tend to be less rigid than a true competition system. I'm currently moving over to a 2 piece belt from my HSGI set up. I'm going to be using Blade Tech Tek Loks since I have quite a few of them kicking around.
The Blade tech or ELS systems make it much easier to move pouches around to suit your style and needs. Moving around MOLLE pouches is time consuming and can be irritating. You can also get belt adapters for MOLLE pouches if you want to run them on a competition belt.
If you check out Wild West in WEM they probably have some competition set ups that you can take a look at, and I know that a few of them compete, so they may be able to give you some insight.
The Blade tech or ELS systems make it much easier to move pouches around to suit your style and needs. Moving around MOLLE pouches is time consuming and can be irritating. You can also get belt adapters for MOLLE pouches if you want to run them on a competition belt.
If you check out Wild West in WEM they probably have some competition set ups that you can take a look at, and I know that a few of them compete, so they may be able to give you some insight.
thegrandpoohbah
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Terrace, BC
I'm running a Double Alpha Academy belt with Blade-Tech Tek Lok hardware to mount the holster and mag pouches. Take a look at this one from DoubleTap Sports: https://www.doubletapsports.com/doubletap-custom-products/double-tap-sports-competition-belt
The price isn't bad and they come in your size! Just add the attachment system of your choice and away you go. wasrupzuk provided some nice detailed pics. I've done the same thing in gluing velcro strips to the inside of the Tek Loks to make the belt hold in place better.
The price isn't bad and they come in your size! Just add the attachment system of your choice and away you go. wasrupzuk provided some nice detailed pics. I've done the same thing in gluing velcro strips to the inside of the Tek Loks to make the belt hold in place better.
^^ Those Stormrider belts do look nice.
On a sidenote, I never get why makers of 2-piece competition belts only offer additional/seperate inner belts and not additional outer belts. Ya figure, you could have different rig setups with exterior belts and just only need one inner belt.
On a sidenote, I never get why makers of 2-piece competition belts only offer additional/seperate inner belts and not additional outer belts. Ya figure, you could have different rig setups with exterior belts and just only need one inner belt.
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juancarlos
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The Island
+1 for this. I also use the Safariland ELS and I can move pouches around in seconds to best fit different course of fire. It's a little pricey but once your set up...
If your in Edmonton it might be worth talking to the guys at Teir one armoury, they are 3gunners and have been for awhile. Not sure if they sell belts, holsters pouches, etc but they are nice guys and would probably bring in there personal stuff so you could actually see what might work for you.
- Location
- Notely's Hell ):
They're the ones who got me set up with the custom Kydex guy. They have been really helpful and awesome. They sort of opened my eyes to 3-gun in the first place. If you've been in there before, you know their square footage is small. They're more than willing to bring in whatever I am looking for - but I'm not there yet.
I am using mostly Double Alpha Academy stuff. Not cheap, but can be made modular with the DAA rail system.
I have my pistol pouches mounted bullets out so they can be put closer together. The second ar pouch is getting a bit far back to reach, but doable.
I set it up for ipsc production as well, so my pistol mag pouches are mounted behind my hip bone, if you are setting up for 3 gun only you could move stuff forward some. The shotshell carrier is a carbon arms backbone. I like it, but I dont have much experience with other options.
I have 6" more waist then you, but i have most of 6" tied up in the magnet and timer. So you could slide everything around into that space.
I have the ar mag pouches, shotshell carrier and magnet and timer all on quick disconnects. My pistol mags are permanent.
I have my pistol pouches mounted bullets out so they can be put closer together. The second ar pouch is getting a bit far back to reach, but doable.
I set it up for ipsc production as well, so my pistol mag pouches are mounted behind my hip bone, if you are setting up for 3 gun only you could move stuff forward some. The shotshell carrier is a carbon arms backbone. I like it, but I dont have much experience with other options.
I have 6" more waist then you, but i have most of 6" tied up in the magnet and timer. So you could slide everything around into that space.
I have the ar mag pouches, shotshell carrier and magnet and timer all on quick disconnects. My pistol mags are permanent.
Attachments
https://youtu.be/xmrp7D1jW0Y
try this, there are lots of caddy, holster, pouches that are compatible with ELS ,a little research will surprise you of the availiabiltiy.
My ELs receiver plate is attached to a bladetech Techlock so I can still make minor adjustment for my gear. good luck
try this, there are lots of caddy, holster, pouches that are compatible with ELS ,a little research will surprise you of the availiabiltiy.
My ELs receiver plate is attached to a bladetech Techlock so I can still make minor adjustment for my gear. good luck
Which shotgun caddy is that...
Personally, I would stay away from any MOLLE systems for 3 gun as they tend to be less rigid than a true competition system. I'm currently moving over to a 2 piece belt from my HSGI set up. I'm going to be using Blade Tech Tek Loks since I have quite a few of them kicking around.
The Blade tech or ELS systems make it much easier to move pouches around to suit your style and needs. Moving around MOLLE pouches is time consuming and can be irritating. You can also get belt adapters for MOLLE pouches if you want to run them on a competition belt.
If you check out Wild West in WEM they probably have some competition set ups that you can take a look at, and I know that a few of them compete, so they may be able to give you some insight.
I wouldn’t look to US Shooters in how they set up as they don’t have the limited capacity mag issues we have. It makes a huge difference imho.
I also would take the advice of a 300lb guy with a 40” waist with a grain of salt.
I haven’t had a 28” waist since I was a 16 year old kid, so I’ll just add some food for thought:
The two piece webbing belts measuring 1.75-2” wide and velcro’d Together offered by CR speed and double alpha are ok for IPSC because 1) you only have a pistol holster and 4-5 mag pouches. The pistol is drawn pretty much straight away, so there isn’t the carrying of the pistol on the belt as you run and manouver through a stage like there could (invariably) be on a 3 gun stage.
The remaining 4-5 pistol mags with 10 rounds in them don’t offer a significant weight or size encumbrance on the remainder to negatively affect the performance.
Weight them down with pistol, rifle and shotgun crap and a pistol and they quickly show their limitations.
Plan to run all three guns in most or all stages. With this in mind, stuff like pistol mags may get placed up front, and you may want to look at alternative placement of shotgun shells or maybe mags. You may want to double up on the thickness of mag pouches.
You may want to consider running a pistol caliber carbine that uses the same mags as your pistol.
A battle belt offers a fair amount of padding between you and the belt. This will effectively add to your real estate around your waist and give you a decent amount of comfort and protection between you and your gear. You’ll be happier after a long day shooting with some padding around the midriff.
These things are mostly molle, but there are good adapters out there to convert holsters like the blade tech, etc. to molle.
You’ll need to try stuff. Put it together, try it on and shake it out either in practice or at a match.
If you can beg or borrow from fellow shooters to make that happen, you’ll be better off.
Good luck!
I also would take the advice of a 300lb guy with a 40” waist with a grain of salt.
I haven’t had a 28” waist since I was a 16 year old kid, so I’ll just add some food for thought:
The two piece webbing belts measuring 1.75-2” wide and velcro’d Together offered by CR speed and double alpha are ok for IPSC because 1) you only have a pistol holster and 4-5 mag pouches. The pistol is drawn pretty much straight away, so there isn’t the carrying of the pistol on the belt as you run and manouver through a stage like there could (invariably) be on a 3 gun stage.
The remaining 4-5 pistol mags with 10 rounds in them don’t offer a significant weight or size encumbrance on the remainder to negatively affect the performance.
Weight them down with pistol, rifle and shotgun crap and a pistol and they quickly show their limitations.
Plan to run all three guns in most or all stages. With this in mind, stuff like pistol mags may get placed up front, and you may want to look at alternative placement of shotgun shells or maybe mags. You may want to double up on the thickness of mag pouches.
You may want to consider running a pistol caliber carbine that uses the same mags as your pistol.
A battle belt offers a fair amount of padding between you and the belt. This will effectively add to your real estate around your waist and give you a decent amount of comfort and protection between you and your gear. You’ll be happier after a long day shooting with some padding around the midriff.
These things are mostly molle, but there are good adapters out there to convert holsters like the blade tech, etc. to molle.
You’ll need to try stuff. Put it together, try it on and shake it out either in practice or at a match.
If you can beg or borrow from fellow shooters to make that happen, you’ll be better off.
Good luck!
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sly mantis
CGN Regular
Step 1 : eat more bbq
Step 2 : gain more belt real estate.
Step 3 : profit?
I have a 31" waist so i dont have much more room then you, but with a 2 belt system ive never had issues getting all my gear on. sometimes things get heavy and bunched, but you can get your gear on there.
What i would suggest, is for a competition belt, stay away from the belts that have buckles, especially if you're limited on real estate. For those belts to be usable, you need to buckle it at the front so its easier to get on and off, however you are now losing front real estate, which is also generally where you want to keep your shotgun shell caddies. The competition belts, you can put them on with the overlap in the back, so your not sacrificing any premium real estate.
Step 2 : gain more belt real estate.
Step 3 : profit?
I have a 31" waist so i dont have much more room then you, but with a 2 belt system ive never had issues getting all my gear on. sometimes things get heavy and bunched, but you can get your gear on there.
What i would suggest, is for a competition belt, stay away from the belts that have buckles, especially if you're limited on real estate. For those belts to be usable, you need to buckle it at the front so its easier to get on and off, however you are now losing front real estate, which is also generally where you want to keep your shotgun shell caddies. The competition belts, you can put them on with the overlap in the back, so your not sacrificing any premium real estate.
A good point.
HSGI offers what they call a ‘bridge’ that is really just a panel that extends from one point of the molle to the other on their battle belts, so that space where the buckle is can be used.
As a lefty and too cheep to buy a bridge, I offset the buckle so that it is on the left of my hip near my holster, and then use the space between the molle and the buckle that is still riggers belt to place a couple of CR speed pistol mags. Very little space is wasted this way.
You could always buckle behind, cobra buckles are easy to buckle and unbuckle
