Tactical gear fans...check this out...

[Norton]

I don't understand one certain thing. Why do you buy magazines and knives and that stuff by yourself? Don't the Army provide you that kinda gear? Or is it common between soldiers to customize their gear by buying their own special stuff?

[DRM]

I don't understand one certain thing. Why do you buy magazines and knives and that stuff by yourself? Don't the Army provide you that kinda gear? Or is it common between soldiers to customize their gear by buying their own special stuff?

The Army issues equipment that's made by the lowest bidder. I don't know a single serious soldier who doesn't purchase their own gear. No, we're not issued knives...liberals sticking their noses into our shit ruined that for us. And by the way...the Browning M2 .50 MG is no longer allowed to engage human targets...it's considered inhumane. We can only use it to "disable equipment".

As for magazines, the GI issue mags are the crappiest AR mags on the planet. They're made of soft aluminum and the follower is infamous for double-feeding and stacking rounds offset as you load, causing jams and feed problems as you shoot. I purchased the HK mags because when it comes down to it, whenever we do have to fire our weapons overseas, I want the confidence to know that my equipment is going to work properly the first time...when it counts. A misfire in combat can get you killed with a quickness and a double feed, if a round is jammed against another in the chamber, takes too much time to correct than we have in a combat situation. If you aren't putting rounds back downrange gaining fire superiority, you're dead.

[Ripley7t]

Nice gear. Man, I read this thread this morning and it reminded me I needed to go buy a pistol today. I decided on a Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP and brought it home with 50 rounds of ammo. I got tired of having to fumble around for a speed loader in the dark to load my revolver. Hopefully Monday it is off to the range to practice. I remember in the early 80's using old M16's that were so loose that I was afraid the upper and lower receiver were going to just come undone. The magazines were indeed horrible as well.

[AK47]

Have you tried Pmags I know a few contractors that swear by them?

[DRM]

Nice gear. Man, I read this thread this morning and it reminded me I needed to go buy a pistol today. I decided on a Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP and brought it home with 50 rounds of ammo. I got tired of having to fumble around for a speed loader in the dark to load my revolver. Hopefully Monday it is off to the range to practice. I remember in the early 80's using old M16's that were so loose that I was afraid the upper and lower receiver were going to just come undone. The magazines were indeed horrible as well.

Congrats! You scored a great handgun. If I had to purchase a sidearm, I'd get either an HK USP .40 or a SIG P226 in 9mm. Let me know how that Springfield performs.

[DRM]

Have you tried Pmags I know a few contractors that swear by them?

Yes I have. I don't like the fact that the peak window has been broken by a few guys in my unit on their PMAG's. That makes it so that sand, mud, water, whatever can get up in the follower. It takes a lot more torture than normal conditions to do that, but we've done it. For a civilian, they're the best mags you need to buy. If you put your mags through torture daily, spring for the HK SA80's. They're made of retarded strong steel and I've never, ever had a problem with one. I've fired it from every angle imaginable and it feeds like a champ. Plus, as you load rounds into it, the follower stays straight...no matter where you apply pressure when you load rounds. This keeps it stable and consistantly seats rounds in the mag so that you don't have rounds get offcenter which causes jams. The HK's are the only AR mags that have that feature.

But for the difference in price, I recommend the PMAG as well as the SA80's. For a civilian or sport shooter, go for the PMAG's. If you're dead serious and your life could depend on the performance of your magazine, go for the HK's.

Just my .02.

[Outlander]

What is all of this equipment used for?

Target elimination/Survival or Killing/not being killed

[Jayster]

I decided on a Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP and brought it home with 50 rounds of ammo.

Congrats! You scored a great handgun. If I had to purchase a sidearm, I'd get either an HK USP .40 or a SIG P226 in 9mm. Let me know how that Springfield performs.

I carry a springfield xdm-9 on daily basis, it's comfortable - not to hard to conceal and reliable. So what I mean is oh shit yeah, welcome to the party.

The .45 acp has a little more stopping power/depending on what you're loading with. But I know you feel as good as a new guitar day!!!!

[AK47]

This is going to be my next hand gun purchase. I need a 9mm and want something that will be a collector item. As some of you know Blackwater is being rebranded as Xe.

[AK47]

What is all of this equipment used for?

Target elimination/Survival or Killing/not being killed

I look at it more as the equipment is being used to protect our rights and freedom.

[DRM]

This is going to be my next hand gun purchase. I need a 9mm and want something that will be a collector item. As some of you know Blackwater is being rebranded as Xe.

OUTSTANDING choice! I've put hundreds of rounds through a P226. It's an absolute joy to fire. I just can't decide between it and the USP .40, another great gun.

[AK47]

OUTSTANDING choice! I've put hundreds of rounds through a P226. It's an absolute joy to fire. I just can't decide between it and the USP .40, another great gun.

I had the same desicion to make as you.

I went with the HK USPf .45 then got a Glock 23 in .40 so the Sig is going to be my 9mm.

I knew I needed one of the three main calibers so I decided to get one from each manufacturer.

The reason I chose the Glock 23 is its compact and no hammer design allows it to be a excellent choice for concealed carry. Most .gov agencies use them. The HK .40 I thought was not that great for a concealed carry even in compact config. If I am going to get a full size pistol may as well go with a .45

I chose HK USP as the 45 in full size because its a big bad ass gun with a big hammer, not practical for concealed carry but awesome in everything else including stopping power. I could not afford the Mark23.

I was going to get a Glock 19 in 9mm and still probably will in the future but the Sig 226 is a awesome gun. Add Blackwater and you cant go wrong.

[DRM]

The Mk23 is the ultimate .45.

It's just too big for my hands. :ROTF:

[VinceV]

I have an HK USP .45 and love it, just recently added the HK45 and that is even nicer.

As for mag I hear nothing but praises for the PMAG(I have them and like them), just get the non windowed one. The HK mags are cool, but they are just plain overpriced(no surprise HK). I've been hearing from some guys who are using the the HK416 that they are real picky about mags.

I'm surprised you like the Eotech stuff, they have been having some reliability issues with them, where as the Aimpoint stuff seems rock solid. I recently got rid of my Eotech and got a ACOG TA11.

For fun mounted my ACOG behind my Eotech.

[DRM]

My biggest problem with the ACOG is because we never know how we're going to fight. If I had 100% confidence I'd never engage within 300m, I'd have bought one for my M4. But because we have to do CQB as well, I didn't get a fixed magnification optic. We have reports of ambushes from anywhere ranging from 10m to 600m...we just have to be ready for it. (Honestly, if someone is 600m out shooting at me, I'm screwed. My M4 won't do shit to them...shitty 5.56...)

There's a Ranger from 2nd Batt who recently recieved a Silver Star for killing a hadji in hand-to-hand combat. We just never know what's going to happen.

And I don't know what EOTech's they're using, but the 555 is standard issue for USSOCOM over any other optic available from any company.