Tactical Vests

GeeRawkz · October 5, 2013, 12:26 AM

Hey all,

Currently in the market for a good tactical vest that I can carry my g17 in with all the typical tactical vest perks. Do any of you have any recommendations from experience? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Polinese · October 5, 2013, 12:38 AM

Having worn a tactical vest for work, my suggestion is to look at chest rigs instead. Especially if you aren't wearing armor I personally don't see advantage to a vest other than they're more umcomfortable (were for me at least). I currently use a TAG Phalanx type 4 Fury, or something like that...

Sorry to be one of those guys who comes in and suggests something other than what was asked about... just relaying my personal experience.

GeeRawkz · October 5, 2013, 01:11 AM

Well going off of that happy to look into armored vests. The ones I have come across were $1000+.

Was thinking getting shoulder holster for glock and tactical vest to hold ar mags, extra mags, knife etc.

trg42wraglefragle · October 5, 2013, 02:20 AM

You must live in a bad part of town......

ClydeFrog · October 5, 2013, 06:30 AM

There are a few top brands you can look at...
If you are looking for a SWAT/PSC/tactical vest & not a low profile 5.11 type garment.
See: www.blackhawk.com www.csmgear.com www.cryeprecision.com www.natchezss.com www.cheaperthandirt.com www.uscav.com .
Blackhawk was started by a retired US Navy SEAL. Many of their clothing items & boots have +/- reviews overall but they are well known for spec ops gear.
Safariland, www.safariland.com may have a corp partner that sells vests too.

Clyde

FireForged · October 5, 2013, 06:57 PM

BDS tactical .. they build to your specifications.

Venom1956 · October 5, 2013, 09:41 PM

Tacticool vests? Who uses those anymore? Just get a nice plate carrier Attach whatever goodies you need to feel properly tactical.

ClydeFrog · October 5, 2013, 11:18 PM

I'd add that a smart idea maybe to get a MOLLE or Blackhawk vest where you can switch pouches or holsters where you want.
They come in black, desert tan, OD, camo etc.
For body armor, I'd look at Dragon Skin.
Inserts & class IV armor are worth buying if your ops get really dicey.
I heard recently that the 5.7mm FNH round can punch thru class III body armor.
It's in use with the select fire FNH P90 version for the US Secret Service.

GeeRawkz · October 6, 2013, 02:44 PM

Thank you all for responses. Not a bad part of town more wanting for going hunting to test convenience vs. mag carriers and for the sake of just wanting one to add to collection of things. Not necessarily thinking the world will ever get to that point.

ripnbst · October 6, 2013, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeRawkz

Thank you all for responses. Not a bad part of town more wanting for going hunting to test convenience vs. mag carriers and for the sake of just wanting one to add to collection of things. Not necessarily thinking the world will ever get to that point.

For hunting? What are you hunting???

Mag carriers may not be illegal but the 5 round mag limit I suppose could be overcome by carrying a bunch of 5 round mags on a vest in pouches.

GeeRawkz · October 6, 2013, 03:36 PM

Wild boar. That's actually a good point I need to look into that aspect.

Powderman · October 6, 2013, 04:27 PM

Hey, Rawks....

From experience, I'll tell you this...wearing one of those vests is NOT a picnic, unless you don't plan to move around a lot or perhaps are in excellent physical condition.

First thing, your back will hate you after a couple of hours.

Second, if you wear one without good ventilation, you will feel like you're walking around in a portable sauna before very long.

If you're going hunting and have a rifle as a primary arm, consider a chest holster with a double magazine carrier. That will hold all the spare ammo you need.

If the handgun is your primary arm, I'd definitely go with the chest holster. Make sure that you get a good harness that you can adjust to put the support/cross point close to the center of your back. That way, the handgun is out of the way, your arm is not flopping on it or sitting on it and cutting off circulation and the gun is easily accessible.

ClydeFrog · October 6, 2013, 10:57 PM

I read over a few of the posts & I agree.
If your only basic need to to safely tote a Glock 17 pistol(with no major optics or large add-ons), a Bianchi M12 or UM92II nylon field holster might fit your requirements.
The Bianchi M12 is the US armed forces M9(Beretta) holster. It's been in use since the mid-1980s. The Bianchi holsters come in woodland or desert camo, black & OD. In 2013, there are several attachments & modular pieces you can use to switch the Glock 17 holster from right to left, belt(strong side or cross-draw), SAS or "drop leg" carry, tanker or chest style carry, shoulder, etc. You can carry the pistol with or w/o a protective flap(that won't make any loud Velcro type noises) or use a simple nylon thumb break. The M12s/UM92s fit most belts; 1.25" to 2.25" wide.
If you want to carry the Glock 17 with any white-lights or lasers, get the Bianchi Cobra series holster. It has many of the same milspec features of the UM92II.
Clyde
www.bianchi-intl.com

October 5, 2013, 12:26 AM	#1
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Tactical Vests Hey all, Currently in the market for a good tactical vest that I can carry my g17 in with all the typical tactical vest perks. Do any of you have any recommendations from experience? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

October 5, 2013, 01:11 AM	#3
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Tactical Vests Well going off of that happy to look into armored vests. The ones I have come across were $1000+. Was thinking getting shoulder holster for glock and tactical vest to hold ar mags, extra mags, knife etc.

October 5, 2013, 06:30 AM	#5
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Blackhawk.com?.... There are a few top brands you can look at... If you are looking for a SWAT/PSC/tactical vest & not a low profile 5.11 type garment. See: www.blackhawk.com www.csmgear.com www.cryeprecision.com www.natchezss.com www.cheaperthandirt.com www.uscav.com . Blackhawk was started by a retired US Navy SEAL. Many of their clothing items & boots have +/- reviews overall but they are well known for spec ops gear. Safariland, www.safariland.com may have a corp partner that sells vests too. Clyde

October 5, 2013, 06:57 PM	#6
FireForged Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 1999 Location: Rebel South USA Posts: 2,074	BDS tactical .. they build to your specifications. __________________ Life is a web woven by necessity and chance...

October 5, 2013, 09:41 PM	#7
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	Tacticool vests? Who uses those anymore? Just get a nice plate carrier Attach whatever goodies you need to feel properly tactical. __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

October 5, 2013, 12:38 AM	#2
Polinese Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2010 Posts: 947	Having worn a tactical vest for work, my suggestion is to look at chest rigs instead. Especially if you aren't wearing armor I personally don't see advantage to a vest other than they're more umcomfortable (were for me at least). I currently use a TAG Phalanx type 4 Fury, or something like that... Sorry to be one of those guys who comes in and suggests something other than what was asked about... just relaying my personal experience.

October 5, 2013, 02:20 AM	#4
trg42wraglefragle Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2008 Location: new zealand Posts: 856	You must live in a bad part of town......

October 5, 2013, 11:18 PM	#8
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	modular systems..... I'd add that a smart idea maybe to get a MOLLE or Blackhawk vest where you can switch pouches or holsters where you want. They come in black, desert tan, OD, camo etc. For body armor, I'd look at Dragon Skin. Inserts & class IV armor are worth buying if your ops get really dicey. I heard recently that the 5.7mm FNH round can punch thru class III body armor. It's in use with the select fire FNH P90 version for the US Secret Service.

October 6, 2013, 02:44 PM	#9
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Tactical Vests Thank you all for responses. Not a bad part of town more wanting for going hunting to test convenience vs. mag carriers and for the sake of just wanting one to add to collection of things. Not necessarily thinking the world will ever get to that point.

October 6, 2013, 03:36 PM	#11
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Tactical Vests Wild boar. That's actually a good point I need to look into that aspect.

October 6, 2013, 04:27 PM	#12
Powderman Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,166	Hey, Rawks.... From experience, I'll tell you this...wearing one of those vests is NOT a picnic, unless you don't plan to move around a lot or perhaps are in excellent physical condition. First thing, your back will hate you after a couple of hours. Second, if you wear one without good ventilation, you will feel like you're walking around in a portable sauna before very long. If you're going hunting and have a rifle as a primary arm, consider a chest holster with a double magazine carrier. That will hold all the spare ammo you need. If the handgun is your primary arm, I'd definitely go with the chest holster. Make sure that you get a good harness that you can adjust to put the support/cross point close to the center of your back. That way, the handgun is out of the way, your arm is not flopping on it or sitting on it and cutting off circulation and the gun is easily accessible. __________________ Hiding in plain sight...

October 6, 2013, 10:57 PM	#13
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Regular/field carry of a Glock 17 9x19mm.... I read over a few of the posts & I agree. If your only basic need to to safely tote a Glock 17 pistol(with no major optics or large add-ons), a Bianchi M12 or UM92II nylon field holster might fit your requirements. The Bianchi M12 is the US armed forces M9(Beretta) holster. It's been in use since the mid-1980s. The Bianchi holsters come in woodland or desert camo, black & OD. In 2013, there are several attachments & modular pieces you can use to switch the Glock 17 holster from right to left, belt(strong side or cross-draw), SAS or "drop leg" carry, tanker or chest style carry, shoulder, etc. You can carry the pistol with or w/o a protective flap(that won't make any loud Velcro type noises) or use a simple nylon thumb break. The M12s/UM92s fit most belts; 1.25" to 2.25" wide. If you want to carry the Glock 17 with any white-lights or lasers, get the Bianchi Cobra series holster. It has many of the same milspec features of the UM92II. Clyde www.bianchi-intl.com