Load Outs

Sniper got me thinking on what one would need to carry for different missions. What I would like to create, ideally, would be a flexible list. It would contain the basics that one would need to recon, fight, evade, and survive. It is meant to be something that could have gear added to it if needed (think modular).

I set it up in 3 lines. Line 1 would be always on you when awake, 1 reach away when asleep. Line 2 to be used when leaving your perimeter, or when you need to feel more secure when inside. Line 3 for when you are going to be outside your lines for more than 1 day.

1st line:
-Side arm with extra mag (or ammo)
-Fixed blade knife
-Compass
-Light source
-Fire source

2nd line:
-Long arm with sling, butt stock mag pouch, cleaning kit, extra batts (if needed)
-Ammo (for me its 4 mags for a long arm, 2 for a side arm)
-Kitchen (Nalgene, cup, spoon, esbit stove, fuel, matches, soap, towel/rag)
-Food (3 meals for 3 days, freezer bag cooking)
-H2O (Hydration bladder, chemical water treatment)
-Rain Gear (Top and Bottoms)
-Electronic (Personal Radio, GPS, Headlamp, extra batts for all)
-Blow Out Kit (GI field dressing, bandanna, neosporin, band aids, gloves)

3rd Line:
-Shelter (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad)
-Full cook set
-Mechanical H2O filter
-Ham/SW radio
-First Aid Kit
-Extra (Food, Water, Ammo, Clothing)
-Mission Essential Gear (Bolt cutters for instance.....)
-Seasonal Related Gear (Winter Hat & Gloves.......)

Let me know what you think.

phishi

 

If you look at that list again, I did a lot of what you are talking about. For example, on the recon gear, what you are wearing is a one day sustainment, the pack extends it out to three days and has the special gear. The combat gear is just that. If you are planning a combat action for more than one day, you are in deep doo-doo. If you look at each section, you will see a load-out time. That is the expected time to load all that gear for a BO situation. If you see actual time, that is the physical time it took to load out all that gear and get the truck rolling. If it is estimated, then I never physically loaded it out.
Another thing, I build ABLs or Ammunition Basic Loads. These are large ammo cans that have the basic load of ammunition for every weapon that I have to take. For example, one can contains 500 rounds 5.56, 300 rounds 7.62X51, 300 rounds 9mm, 120 rounds 12 guage special purpose, and two bricks of .22. This way, if SHTF and I have to leave immediately, I grab those guns and that one can of ammo and I am set. By the way, make sure you have a BO bag with a MBL! Magazine Basic Load! Can't forget the mags!

 

It makes a lot of sense, the only thing I would question is line 1. Do you ever, ever want to leave your rifle at home? I think a rifle with at least two mags would be ideal. Then you don't ever get caught with your pants down.

 

I have six mags and 180 rounds to load it in an ammo can right in front of the safe. I have a couple of more cans with stripper clips in bandoleers, right behind that one. I use the cotton bandoleers for 7.62, and nylon for 5.56. I'm thinking about trying .308 strippers for .45 ACP, a couple of hundred rounds would fit in a bandoleer.

 

... and 9mm fit in 5.56 strippers.

 

Roger, some of the 7.62 x 39 strippers will hold the larger .45 ACP case rim.

The four pocket bandoleers will also hold 4 30 round M16 mags or 4 20 round AK mags. After you load the mags, use the bandoleers to carry your mags.

 

I like the multi tiered aproach. I do kind of the same thing with the things I keep in my pockets being first level (2 fire sources, cordage, 1-2 good folders, bandana and once I get the CCW will add a handgun and a couple reloads) a fishing vest is the second level and if not just doing the mundane things like going to the store, working or walking around my 13 acres its generaly on so if I go someplace fishing or hunting and am going to be more than a hundred yards or so from my vehicle it goes and it has the basics for shelter first aid, food, hydration, food procurement, more fire makeing stuff etc, then the third level is a school type back pack that expands all above further and has 100 rounds of .38 and 50 rounds of 20 guage shells a large fixed blade knife, hatchet, mess kit lots more dry food etc. The 20 guage single shot and this pack stay in my truck all the time and the pack goes with me if leaveing the truck for the day for work or anything like that (sometimes ride to job site with the boss) then if going out of town or if there is any reason to be nervous the pump 20 guage and .357 are added to the truck. I also carry more 'module' stuff in the truck like a small tool kit that fits on the belt, tent, sleeping bag, foot locker with plenty of food, more ammo, extra clothes and so on. This way I should be able to get by with just whats in my pockets but with whats in my truck at all times, as long as I have the gas, I could take off at any time without even stopping at home and go for a month or more without resupply (aside from water and supplemental meat/food) with no problem. On the ammo I keep each cali in a different can clearly marked on the outside whats in it. That way whatever gun I grab I just grab the coresponding can. That way I have plenty of ammo for each gun I grab the ammo can for and no ammo that I dont need and also if we take multiple vehicles the right ammo for the guns in that vehicle is all there. This is just the set up I have found works best for me, but I think a certian level of modular leveling is a must.

 

One thing y'all need to add, since we seem pretty much devoid of 18 year-olds here, is a small bottle of Tylenol in your ruck, outside of first aid kit needs . If you have to carry it very far, it will make the first couple of days bearable. After that, your feet and shoulders will just be numb, anyway.

 

Learned the asprin thing early. Also, I have sunglasses as part of my basic gear. My eyes are very sensitive to sunlight and I get headaches easy. Also, will help you dark adapt better and easier.

 

Same here.

 

Sniper: I wasn't trying to come down on your list. I was just looking too make it more managable for myself and for the gear that I would be carrying. Some of it overlaps, but other items I have replaced with civi camping stuff. I'm also still trying to have one vest that covers most situations. That may not be possible, but I'm still not convinced that is true.

The ABLs are a great idea. Its something that my father and I have been discussing, but we haven't hit upon the idea of haveing a load out prepackaged. MBLs are important also .

EL: Melbo is correct concerning my line of thought. Ideally my rifle would only be one reach away. However, I know that I'm the kinda fool that would leave the rifle next to my lunch while I hoe a row of corn just because I'm tired of the scope digging into my ribs. 1st line should help you get back to 2nd line.

Everyone else: I do/am trying to incorporate this idea into other parts of my life. For years I have carried a pocket knife and flashlight where ever I have gone (think 1st line) and have kept a Camelbac Mule packed in my trunk with some get home gear (that would be 2nd line). My biggest problem, is that I have a decent selection of camping/survival gear that is stored in various states of readiness. If we had to go now, right this minute, I guesstimate that we would need 1/2 an hour to get the gear in the car. I'm trying to change that.

I'm also trying to make some tough choices on gear. I'm attempting to acheive balance concerning weight, durability, cost, and actual vs. percieved useage. In the end, I want to have dedicated gear packed and ready to go. I'll keep coming back to you for input on what I'm thinking, hopfully with pics and reviews as I assemble and use what is on my list.

Thanks for your help with all of this, and good remainders on the OTC pain meds.

phishi

 

Hey, no offense taken. I was just trying to show you that is how I developed the list, a graduated response to the different needs during any movement. My philosophy is that if you can't take some hits, don't throw it out on the table. It took me almost 15 years to develop that list and my brother and I have been using it every since. I actually had a guy try to submit it for me once in the old American Survival Guide, but that was just as the new owners came in and decided that defending agains mountain lion attacks was more what the readership wanted and my article was declined.
Maybe some day if you are really nice to me, I will share my OPORD with you

 

Actualy from experience I can say that if you are trying to keep a long arm on you at all times once you get to your BO location you wont have to worry about MZBs since you will starve to death or freeze before they can get to you.
When I first moved to my farm I didnt have a handgun and we had TONS of copperheads and other unplesant snakes all over our place, so I tried to always have the shotgun with me when I would go out to work around the place. Fact of the matter is though that you cant get wood cut to heat with, grass cut to put up to feed the critters in the winter or just so you caan move around, work in the garden or do much of anything else productive if you have a long arm filling one of your hands or are trying to keep in place with the sling. It can be layed aside near by if wanted and you can keep a handgun on your hip and still get something done but I know it always makes me wonder if folks have ever tried to do anything to provide for them selves or what they are thinking when they talk about useing a hand gun only to fight your way back to the rifle 'that you never should have put down in the first place'. I can guarantee that if there was a total and moderatly long term SHTF situation the folks who didnt realize that a handgun is the first line of defence when around the homestead would not last long simply due to the fact they would never be able to get anything done to provide for all their other needs beyond security.

 

I agree, but I would have a rifle close by, whether it was in the truck, on the ATV, horse, or whatever.

 

Yeah I mean its great to have one near by that you can use if you have the chance to get to it and a need of it, I just see a lot of folks who try to apply rules for soldiers in a combat zone to everyday life in a post SHTF situation and theres just to many ways that it dosnt apply the same. Yeah security would be likely to be a major concern but of no more importance than lots of chores and daily drudgery work. After all dead is dead no matter if its from MZBs, starvation, freezing for alck of fuel, dehydration because you didnt haul water, or what ever else. Just kind of a pet peev for me that to many forget that the average person isnt going to have the supply lines an army dose and would have to be doing for them selves and conserving and so on and that the other needs are just as important.

 

Not to mention the damage you are going to do by banging it all over the place. Over time, the carrying of weapons will wear them out. During SHTF, you won't have a chance to replace your fine weapons either. Mags get damaged really fast also.