Help me figure out my vest

[SquadronROE]

Hey folks.

I picked up a plate carrier style vest recently in a trade, as well as a couple of extra G36 magazines... anyway, this is my first time using a full MOLLE vest, usually I've used crossdraws (and don't have to worry about positioning of pouches).

I know I need to organize myself, so I figured I'd see if any of you have ideas for getting this vest in good shape. Here's some pictures:

http://imgur.com/a/7ICzU#0

Here's what I have to work with:

G&G Combat Machine
2 nunchuck style batteries
4x 120 rd midcap
4x 370 rd hicap
1x 30 rd lowcap
1 M9 gbb
2x M9 magazines

And what I have to work with:
1 MOLLE vest (so far completely open)
1 two-pouch M4 magazine carrier
1 hydration pack w/MOLLE straps
3x pistol magazine pouches
1x grenade pouch (not shown)

I also sometimes run a G36C, so would have to consider space for about 6 G36 magazines.

Feel free to give me any suggestions on pouches to buy, positioning, etc. I've not played using a vest so any advice will be helpful.

[severed]

I think you should put the hydration pouch on the back...haha

are you right or left handed?
Do you use you pistol a lot?

Think about how you use your gear, what hand you use to reload, what you use often and set up your pouches to be most efficient. You obviously need more M4 mag pouches, a good admin pouch and maybe an empty med pouch (I carry a full bag of BB's and 2 speedloaders in mine, any time I'm not in contact I'm reloading)

[SquadronROE]

Hydration pack on the back! Brilliant!

Those are good tips though. I've not played a whole lot yet (read: at all), so I'm not sure how much I'll be using the pistol. I'm assuming it will be most useful for clearing buildings.

I'm right handed (it's the one that doesn't make an L), so I'm assuming the M4 double pouches will go on the right, so I can hold the gun with my left hand while using the right to get a mag out and reload.

A med pouch or dump pouch is probably a must, so I can just drop the empty mags into it. I'm assuming I'll need a leg holster for the pistol, too.

The reason I have a ton of pistol mag pouches is because I liberated them from other crossdraw vests.

[severed]

if you're right handed, don't you shoot with your right hand? You're going to reload with your left!! Primary mag pouches should go middle and left. Grenade pouches, map pouches, accessories that you would need to your your strong hand (R) for would go toward the right as you couldn't use them with your left anyway.

With an M9 you could get a Serpa holster and molle adapter plate for it and mount it to your vest, I hate leg rigs.

[asianhaw808]

I have my mag pouches on my right side since I'm ambidextrous. On my MOLLE vest I have a two M4 mag pouch on the right, a one pouch on my left, water source on my back, a utility pouch on my waist in the back, a drop pouch on my right side for ammo, and 2 waist pistol magazine pouches for my m9. I also have a drop leg holster that i just started using since it was a hassle having my pistol in the way since it was on my waist too.

[SteevoLS]

I used to run a drop leg dump pouch, dropleg Safariland, and miscellaneous other subload gear. I've since discovered that I can move a lot faster (and with less restriction) with everything attached to a belt or my actual rig. Dropleg stuff looks good, but I can usually store everything I need on my plate carrier or chest rig with the added benefit of not snagging my legs on trees, hanging vines, long grass, etc.

[SquadronROE]

I like the idea of everything being centralized. This weekend I'll probably have to run a cross draw since I don't have a holster for the plate carrier.

I'm thinking I'll put the M4 pocket in the center front for easy access no matter what way I am, though. Not sure about the holster though. I like the idea of a leg holster as it's modular, but a vest holster seems to be better balanced.

[SteevoLS]

Most pistols fit great in a single M4 pouch.

[SquadronROE]

Good call. I picked up a leg holster regardless (found one for cheap) and started putting more pieces on the plate carrier.

...and quickly realized that I am going to look like a fool my first day out there. On the positive side, I think I've lost weight. On the negative, I'm still a thin dude, so the sides stick out and I'm not sure I can get a good fit out of this thing. I'll have to play with the straps more...

[severed]

here's 2 tips.
1. Overlap the ends of the cumberbun (parts that wrap around your sides) inside of the back to tighten it up. If that still seems loose, use some paracord and find the best molle loops on each side of the cumberbun and tie them to the first column of molle on the back panel. Do that on each row so the pressure is spread out. If you need pics of what I mean PM me your cell # and I'll text you a pic.

2. Don't take gear advice from people that aren't gear whores. If someone only has 1 loadout or just basic crap they seriously don't know what they are talking about in regards to setting up an effective, high speed, low drag, mission specific loadout.

FYI, you're going to lose the mag out of your pistol if you run a cheap leg holster. Tape it in or don't put it in until you need it.

[SquadronROE]

Good advice. I'll tinker with it a bit more and see what I can squeeze out of it. I'm also not planning on using the pistol mag pouch on the holster (in fact, I can't.. when the pistol is in the holster the extra mag doesn't fit).

I ended up removing the cummerbund entirely and it fit a little better, although I still need to do a little adjustment with the camelbak.

For this weekend I'm just gonna use the cross draw. It fits better and I can stash all the stuff I need into it. After that I'll figure out the optimal configuration for the plate carrier.

[specter]

I carry a canteen full of around 7.5k bb's. it only set me back around 15 bucks for it all. getting it off is a pain. it might work for you though.

[VoidSuicide]

2. Don't take gear advice from people that aren't gear whores. If someone only has 1 loadout or just basic crap they seriously don't know what they are talking about in regards to setting up an effective, high speed, low drag, mission specific loadout.

I take offense. I'm not a gear whore, but I'm not incompetent either. I have ran an LBV, and have moved to a MOLLE platform. It seems to me that its not quite so complicated unless you are rather dense/biased about nonsense with your gear.

That being said, You will be better off with building MOLLE based loadouts the more experienced you are with figuring out how you work/respond. Then build according to getting as much of the gear you need into the smallest number of pouches and in the most comfortable positions. For me, this is three double mag pouches (i don't shoot much), and a medic pouch to carry misc items that I need.