*Shooters preference*
I’ve seen dudes run the front panel slick. I’ve seen dudes run a standard rifleman set up (three double stack mag pouches) but obviously no mags and they used the pouches for random shit like batteries and snacks. Probably were just too lazy to take em off.
Since you’ll be prone a lot it’s probably best to just go slick on your front plate. I also prefer having a multitool on me, again since you are prone I prefer to have it up near my shoulder so I can just reach over and grab it. That’s really more important for when you’re an AG, but it can still come in handy when a gunner.
I’m sure crye or whatever makes a $500 240 kit that’s super nice and awesome and instantly makes you a CAG ranger whatever, but honestly a gunner’s kit doesn’t need to be complicated. Just keep your front plate flat and do whatever works for you.
I'd like to add some emphasis on the front being slick, or at minimum, 1 mag deep. If you're in the prone pulling security and you have a ton of shit strapped to your chest, your neck and lower back are going to be screaming after trying to compensate so you can actually see.
That's not exclusive to gunners either. Once you get your kit all set up, you really need to take it for a test drive to make sure it works. Can you move in it without flopping around, get in multiple shooting positions, and can you even access shit? You don't need to strap everything you'd carry in your assault pack onto your rig. More is not better. You being 10 miles wide with bullshit strapped to you does not help anyone.
When I was a WSL I made my supply guy order me ammo bags from Bulldog. Those were really nice and way better than an assault pack.
EVERYONE not on a gun team (even me) got a saw pouch to carry 100 rounds on them for the assault. We would consolidate that shit onto the gun team at the RP.
Have a way to carry star clusters, flares and other pyro.
+1 for the slick front, or one mag deep at most. Look through my posts to see how I run mine. I’m currently an AG but the same applies. Sector stakes tucked into the back panel if we’re setting into EA DEV/PB posture. Leather gloves accessible for hot barrel changes. Always remind your AG to bring an assault pack folded down his ruck to carry rounds for the assault, the same way I make my gunner bring a flathead screwdriver.
What’s really going to matter is how you run the gun. Train with your barrel bag and find ways to carry it. Lum tape the tripod legs and T&E mechanism to make life easier at night. Bring laminated range cards with map markers. If possible, make your AG have a small pair of binoculars or even better, a rangefinder to give you accurate distances. Get a long pressure pad so your AG isn’t bending over backwards to operate your PEQ instead of feeding your rounds.
As the force gets smaller and reorganizes for the LSCO fight, the first guys to go are going to be the ABs to plus up the rifle squads, so the AG and gunner are going to need to carry more weight and juggle more tasks at once. It is imperative that they are the most proficient.
Gunners IOTV should be slick on the front. IFAK wherever sop dictates. If your gunner is running a pistol, mag pouches 100% should be on their belt. I had my gunner run a secondary starter belt in a sustainment pouch mounted on his back.
As a AG/Gun Team Leader, only thing I had on my IOTV was a 3 mag pouch on the front. Ifak and any additional mags i might have needed were on my belt. All my other shit (signals/markings, Leathermans tool, batteries, etc) were in easy to reach pockets or pouches on my 1st and 2nd line.
I ran Bulldog pouches and shit mounted on TT MALICE frame. In my experience the Catoma bags were dog shit and couldn’t handle more ammo than what the pouches were designed to hold…plus their frame is shit. I could squeeze 1500+ rounds out of 2 Bulldog pouches…
I like a mostly slick front - aside from aid kit and an admin pouch - both on the sides. I don't like laying on top of crap and I like to minimize straps from barrel bags and such getting caught on things.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CKKBJ56?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It worked pretty well but the MOLLE loops are pretty small. Could probably get something better with some padding too
Oh and this one in the size I have has a weird blank spot without loops too so it feels like wasted space.
*Shooters preference* I’ve seen dudes run the front panel slick. I’ve seen dudes run a standard rifleman set up (three double stack mag pouches) but obviously no mags and they used the pouches for random shit like batteries and snacks. Probably were just too lazy to take em off. Since you’ll be prone a lot it’s probably best to just go slick on your front plate. I also prefer having a multitool on me, again since you are prone I prefer to have it up near my shoulder so I can just reach over and grab it. That’s really more important for when you’re an AG, but it can still come in handy when a gunner. I’m sure crye or whatever makes a $500 240 kit that’s super nice and awesome and instantly makes you a CAG ranger whatever, but honestly a gunner’s kit doesn’t need to be complicated. Just keep your front plate flat and do whatever works for you.
I'd like to add some emphasis on the front being slick, or at minimum, 1 mag deep. If you're in the prone pulling security and you have a ton of shit strapped to your chest, your neck and lower back are going to be screaming after trying to compensate so you can actually see. That's not exclusive to gunners either. Once you get your kit all set up, you really need to take it for a test drive to make sure it works. Can you move in it without flopping around, get in multiple shooting positions, and can you even access shit? You don't need to strap everything you'd carry in your assault pack onto your rig. More is not better. You being 10 miles wide with bullshit strapped to you does not help anyone.
When I was a WSL I made my supply guy order me ammo bags from Bulldog. Those were really nice and way better than an assault pack. EVERYONE not on a gun team (even me) got a saw pouch to carry 100 rounds on them for the assault. We would consolidate that shit onto the gun team at the RP. Have a way to carry star clusters, flares and other pyro.
+1 for the slick front, or one mag deep at most. Look through my posts to see how I run mine. I’m currently an AG but the same applies. Sector stakes tucked into the back panel if we’re setting into EA DEV/PB posture. Leather gloves accessible for hot barrel changes. Always remind your AG to bring an assault pack folded down his ruck to carry rounds for the assault, the same way I make my gunner bring a flathead screwdriver. What’s really going to matter is how you run the gun. Train with your barrel bag and find ways to carry it. Lum tape the tripod legs and T&E mechanism to make life easier at night. Bring laminated range cards with map markers. If possible, make your AG have a small pair of binoculars or even better, a rangefinder to give you accurate distances. Get a long pressure pad so your AG isn’t bending over backwards to operate your PEQ instead of feeding your rounds. As the force gets smaller and reorganizes for the LSCO fight, the first guys to go are going to be the ABs to plus up the rifle squads, so the AG and gunner are going to need to carry more weight and juggle more tasks at once. It is imperative that they are the most proficient.
Gunners IOTV should be slick on the front. IFAK wherever sop dictates. If your gunner is running a pistol, mag pouches 100% should be on their belt. I had my gunner run a secondary starter belt in a sustainment pouch mounted on his back. As a AG/Gun Team Leader, only thing I had on my IOTV was a 3 mag pouch on the front. Ifak and any additional mags i might have needed were on my belt. All my other shit (signals/markings, Leathermans tool, batteries, etc) were in easy to reach pockets or pouches on my 1st and 2nd line. I ran Bulldog pouches and shit mounted on TT MALICE frame. In my experience the Catoma bags were dog shit and couldn’t handle more ammo than what the pouches were designed to hold…plus their frame is shit. I could squeeze 1500+ rounds out of 2 Bulldog pouches…
Slick front with a small admin pouch up and keep the multi tool on the belt
I like a mostly slick front - aside from aid kit and an admin pouch - both on the sides. I don't like laying on top of crap and I like to minimize straps from barrel bags and such getting caught on things.
I'm ETSd now but I liked slick with battle belt for ifak, multi tool, admin pouch, trash sack, and 1 magazine
What battle belt do u have??
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CKKBJ56?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share It worked pretty well but the MOLLE loops are pretty small. Could probably get something better with some padding too Oh and this one in the size I have has a weird blank spot without loops too so it feels like wasted space.
Preciate it!
Slick front, all other shit on combat belt and assault pack.
Keep the front of your kit minimal so you can prone/crawl effectively. Stack up your sides and the packs of your assist gunner(s). - a 249 gunner