TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
Having RO’ed a bunch of stages at the Meaford LRSC, I observed many top shooters having a mag or 2 on their hips to carry out their mag changes or top ups at various stages. Most interesting. So I began my search for different modern kydex magazine holders.
No doubt I could have returned to my roots as a Service Rifle shooter or CQB shooter since I do have a myriad of Tactical Tailor doubles and triple AR15 mag pouches on my vest. And my plate carrier and battle belt are outfitted with HSGI Taco (both double and singles) for rifle and pistol.
So I want to explore the new Kydex options, especially focusing on the local sources / businesses and both these makers are in Eastern Ontario (Petawawa and Ottawa). Seems to be a recurring location for me...
I do have to warn you I am old school (2018 celebrates my 40th anniversary from my 1st deployment in Nicosia, Cyprus) and I’m trained to return and empty mag to the pouch. Or simply put, don’t leave your empty magazine behind at the “Tank Trap” stage..... uh, they are expensive!!
I’ve been in contact with the great people like Ryan at Highlander Tactical and Eric over at Gray Fox Solutions. They each sent me a magazine holder and I thought I should share some observations with you super folks in the PR/PRS Forums.
Disclaimer: I don’t have a mandate for hostile operations against enemies of the Queen, both foreign and domestic (I’ve been attested many times in my careers) so I ain’t writing this for those of you who have to deploy and capture Bin Laden/ Mullah Omar/ Al Baghdadi....Mind you I would take this kit overseas if I had to defend my subdivision in the event of a zombie invasion. Most of the time, this tough as nails gear will fall apart long after I’m dead and gone. I’m impressed with the build materials, that’s what I’m saying.
Both these magazine holders will hold M14 5/20, AICS Dbl stack and single stack (steel and polymer), and even my 5 rounder PMag AC Magpul AICS.
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam...
Both these magazine holders employ easy to manipulate TekLok and DOTS gates. The TekLok gate has a hinged safety gate I had to manipulate with my fingernail (hard to do with Mechanix Gloves) so that I could squeeze the 2 latches. I do have to say those latches were a challenge (Hey, I’m 60 years young) to operate while the mag holder was mounted on my Riggers Belt. I had to reach underneath while twisted and my “love handles” got in the way of accessing the retainers to be squeezed from an odd angle. Honestly one will likely not be doing this mag carrier removal/rearranging while on the firing line. Usually I wait until I’m back in the kit line (at CQB) or off the mound (at Service Rifle and PR) or at the squadding area (at PRS matches).
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
View attachment 215318
I tried the same antics with the Gray Fox Solutions (DOTS gate), it’s operated by sliding the bottom located safety gate and then pushing UP on the fastener. It’s that simple. Is that a good thing? I don’t want anything releasing unexpectedly on my at the wrong time. Like I said, it worked well even despite my accumulated clothing (hoodie and first layer) and ‘love handles’. Just remember to slide that slider into the Lock position and it ain’t coming undone accidentally.
View attachment 215318
Both TekLok and DOTS gates can handle up to 2” belts. The TekLok retainer can do up to 2 1/4” which can be an advantage.
Both TekLok and DOTS gates come with belt width reducers and they are interchangeable between brands (really cool). These push in belts reducers are easy to use and like my beloved Magpul gear, they are well thought out and executed. It’s just a matter of pushing them out and saving them is a ziploc bag along with extra hardware from your Magpul screws and kit.
Have a look at the pictures and you can locate these (2 issued) horizontal black spacers ... they are employed by both TekLok and DOTS and interchangeable....I like that!
View attachment 215319
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
You will be pleased to know that BOTH my Highlander Tactical and Gray Fox Solutions mag holders can swap the TekLok AND DOTS system of gates since they have the identical spacing of screw / fastener holes. I had a chat with Eric at GFS and he mentioned this fact. I happen to like BOTH fasteners so it’s all good.
I like the TekLok so much that I attached the Highlander Tactical unit to my PR Assault pack, the Maxpedition Condor 2 to hold my double stack AI AW magazine.
View attachment 215320
Now since I am old school and I like re-holstering an empty mag back in the holder, I tried doing this with both magazine holders on my Riggers Belt. Both magazines were inserted with ease while my wife was watching “Say Yes to the Dress”. I need to do something manly all this while!
View attachment 215321
I was curious so I measured the “Flare Standoff” spacing from the edge of the Kydex to the magazine body. This is what I found....
Highlander Tactical = 1/8” space / stand off / opening from the edge of the magazine side wall
Gray Fox Solutions = 1/16” but a generous 1/16” space / stand off from the edge of mag side wall
Both magazine holders employ Phillips screws easily adjusted with #1 and / 0r #2 Phillips screw drivers
Both magazines are easily tensioned or opened up to accomodate magazine systems from the M14 to the AICS . I don’t have my beloved FNC1A1 magazines any more.....
I find that the ability to tension your magazines is a major advantage since some of us may be deployed in airmobile operations and some of us need the tension while negotiating the “Stairway to Heaven Stage” at Meaford LRSC, thanks to Ryan-Mcle (the best MD around).
Some of us may prefer greater or stronger mag pouches retention, some might want a loose grab instead of a firm tug on the magazine retrieval, all done under stress, of course...
Right now they are both adjusted for my AI AW magazines. And then I left them there.
Both magazines have ample water drainage openings on the bottom. The Highlander Tactical unit has a generous 1/8” gap along the entire bottom to get that sand or gravel away from the magazine body. That’s for those of you who find yourself carrying out beach / gravel pit assaults.
View attachment 215321
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
In Summary:
Don’t buy ONE, buy TWO of them! Ha ha ha ha. You M14 dudes knew that was coming, Yuk Yuk Yuk....
I’m still tossed and undecided which securing gate I prefer (TekLok or DOTS) but I will use the DOTS supplied Gray Fox Solutions on my battle belt/ riggers Belt on the firing line and the TekLok outfitted Highlander Tactical holder on my rucksack. Both can easily be switched if I need 2 magazines on my belt. For now the DOTS outfitted Gray Fox Solutions will sit on my belt.
I love both these units....if I had to select one over the other, it would be a tough choice BUT I have them BOTH so decision averted! One on my pack and one on my belt....DONE!
Both these vendors / makers can be found on the ‘net’ and on Facebook. Both of them are Canadian so I heartily say, “Make Canada Great Again”. Ha ha ha ha
Support Canadian Small Business!
Cheers and warmest regards,
Barney
No doubt I could have returned to my roots as a Service Rifle shooter or CQB shooter since I do have a myriad of Tactical Tailor doubles and triple AR15 mag pouches on my vest. And my plate carrier and battle belt are outfitted with HSGI Taco (both double and singles) for rifle and pistol.
So I want to explore the new Kydex options, especially focusing on the local sources / businesses and both these makers are in Eastern Ontario (Petawawa and Ottawa). Seems to be a recurring location for me...
I do have to warn you I am old school (2018 celebrates my 40th anniversary from my 1st deployment in Nicosia, Cyprus) and I’m trained to return and empty mag to the pouch. Or simply put, don’t leave your empty magazine behind at the “Tank Trap” stage..... uh, they are expensive!!
I’ve been in contact with the great people like Ryan at Highlander Tactical and Eric over at Gray Fox Solutions. They each sent me a magazine holder and I thought I should share some observations with you super folks in the PR/PRS Forums.
Disclaimer: I don’t have a mandate for hostile operations against enemies of the Queen, both foreign and domestic (I’ve been attested many times in my careers) so I ain’t writing this for those of you who have to deploy and capture Bin Laden/ Mullah Omar/ Al Baghdadi....Mind you I would take this kit overseas if I had to defend my subdivision in the event of a zombie invasion.
Most of the time, this tough as nails gear will fall apart long after I’m dead and gone. I’m impressed with the build materials, that’s what I’m saying. Both these magazine holders will hold M14 5/20, AICS Dbl stack and single stack (steel and polymer), and even my 5 rounder PMag AC Magpul AICS.
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam...
Both these magazine holders employ easy to manipulate TekLok and DOTS gates. The TekLok gate has a hinged safety gate I had to manipulate with my fingernail (hard to do with Mechanix Gloves) so that I could squeeze the 2 latches. I do have to say those latches were a challenge (Hey, I’m 60 years young) to operate while the mag holder was mounted on my Riggers Belt. I had to reach underneath while twisted and my “love handles” got in the way of accessing the retainers to be squeezed from an odd angle. Honestly one will likely not be doing this mag carrier removal/rearranging while on the firing line. Usually I wait until I’m back in the kit line (at CQB) or off the mound (at Service Rifle and PR) or at the squadding area (at PRS matches).
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
View attachment 215318
I tried the same antics with the Gray Fox Solutions (DOTS gate), it’s operated by sliding the bottom located safety gate and then pushing UP on the fastener. It’s that simple. Is that a good thing? I don’t want anything releasing unexpectedly on my at the wrong time. Like I said, it worked well even despite my accumulated clothing (hoodie and first layer) and ‘love handles’. Just remember to slide that slider into the Lock position and it ain’t coming undone accidentally.
View attachment 215318
Both TekLok and DOTS gates can handle up to 2” belts. The TekLok retainer can do up to 2 1/4” which can be an advantage.
Both TekLok and DOTS gates come with belt width reducers and they are interchangeable between brands (really cool). These push in belts reducers are easy to use and like my beloved Magpul gear, they are well thought out and executed. It’s just a matter of pushing them out and saving them is a ziploc bag along with extra hardware from your Magpul screws and kit.
Have a look at the pictures and you can locate these (2 issued) horizontal black spacers ... they are employed by both TekLok and DOTS and interchangeable....I like that!
View attachment 215319
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
You will be pleased to know that BOTH my Highlander Tactical and Gray Fox Solutions mag holders can swap the TekLok AND DOTS system of gates since they have the identical spacing of screw / fastener holes. I had a chat with Eric at GFS and he mentioned this fact. I happen to like BOTH fasteners so it’s all good.
I like the TekLok so much that I attached the Highlander Tactical unit to my PR Assault pack, the Maxpedition Condor 2 to hold my double stack AI AW magazine.
View attachment 215320
Now since I am old school and I like re-holstering an empty mag back in the holder, I tried doing this with both magazine holders on my Riggers Belt. Both magazines were inserted with ease while my wife was watching “Say Yes to the Dress”. I need to do something manly all this while!
View attachment 215321
I was curious so I measured the “Flare Standoff” spacing from the edge of the Kydex to the magazine body. This is what I found....
Highlander Tactical = 1/8” space / stand off / opening from the edge of the magazine side wall
Gray Fox Solutions = 1/16” but a generous 1/16” space / stand off from the edge of mag side wall
Both magazine holders employ Phillips screws easily adjusted with #1 and / 0r #2 Phillips screw drivers
Both magazines are easily tensioned or opened up to accomodate magazine systems from the M14 to the AICS . I don’t have my beloved FNC1A1 magazines any more.....
I find that the ability to tension your magazines is a major advantage since some of us may be deployed in airmobile operations and some of us need the tension while negotiating the “Stairway to Heaven Stage” at Meaford LRSC, thanks to Ryan-Mcle (the best MD around).
Some of us may prefer greater or stronger mag pouches retention, some might want a loose grab instead of a firm tug on the magazine retrieval, all done under stress, of course...
Right now they are both adjusted for my AI AW magazines. And then I left them there.
Both magazines have ample water drainage openings on the bottom. The Highlander Tactical unit has a generous 1/8” gap along the entire bottom to get that sand or gravel away from the magazine body. That’s for those of you who find yourself carrying out beach / gravel pit assaults.
View attachment 215321
Highlander Tactical unit in Coyote Brown and Gray Fox Solutions in Multicam....
In Summary:
Don’t buy ONE, buy TWO of them! Ha ha ha ha. You M14 dudes knew that was coming, Yuk Yuk Yuk....
I’m still tossed and undecided which securing gate I prefer (TekLok or DOTS) but I will use the DOTS supplied Gray Fox Solutions on my battle belt/ riggers Belt on the firing line and the TekLok outfitted Highlander Tactical holder on my rucksack. Both can easily be switched if I need 2 magazines on my belt. For now the DOTS outfitted Gray Fox Solutions will sit on my belt.
I love both these units....if I had to select one over the other, it would be a tough choice BUT I have them BOTH so decision averted! One on my pack and one on my belt....DONE!
Both these vendors / makers can be found on the ‘net’ and on Facebook. Both of them are Canadian so I heartily say, “Make Canada Great Again”. Ha ha ha ha
Support Canadian Small Business!
Cheers and warmest regards,
Barney
Attachments
Last edited:
