Carbine carrying case suggestions...

[Cpt. MelonBuster]

Here's one for you guys. Need one that has room for a scoped M1a, AK, at least one handgun, with room for ammo and mags in compartments. All for under $100, and preferably comes in Coyote.

Two carbines, two pistols, and room for mags for 'em all

What kind of bag is that?

[DannusMaximus]

Thanks for all the suggestions, gents. I checked out each bag that was described or linked. Lots of good ideas out there.

I ordered the Spikes Tactical bag that bigfrank87 reviewed. The wife will roll with it for awhile and see how she likes it and how it holds up, and if there is any hate then I'll usurp it for my own range use (my current cheapy bag is falling apart) and check out some other options for her.

Dave, the shoulder sling magazine carriers are something I've been researching as well (not that particular brand, but similar items). There simply is no good way for your average beat cop to carry an extra AR magazine - - their belts and pockets are already stuffed full, buttstock magazine holders for collapsible stock carbines are rather user hostile, and when you start strapping mags on top of each other or side to side it makes the weapon heavier and funks up the balance. The slung bags don't get much love from our acquaintances on the job either, unfortunately. The flap around, get hung up on things, throw off the balance, yadda yadda. That said, a sling bag seems like about the only solution if you don't want to stick mags in your pocket.

I've been seriously considering something from the Maxpedition Gearslinger series, possibly the Remora or Lumada (linky: http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/GEA ... ies-c2.htm). Small, but able to hold a few spare mags for rifle and pistol, some flex cuffs, a blow out kit, etc. Another option I've just become aware of is the patrol rifle integraged magazine pouch (linky: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=3178 ... _MAG_POUCH). Kind of slick, fits behind the pistol mags, in between the pistol mags and your duty belt, and just waits silently for an AR mag to be slapped into it.

Anyway, thanks again for everybody's input. I might post a review when it arrives. After all, pics or it didn't happen...

[bigfrank87]

Glad my review helped out in the end with you selection process.

As far as the linked mag pouch; here is some other options from brownells.

I use a brownells branded kydex mag holder, but it came with a tek-lok on it, which other then being adjustable for ride height and tilt, it allows the user to keep their belt on and simply attach the pouch while wearing the belt.. obviously easier when your not wearing it..but not impossible to put on either.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23088/Product/BROWNELLS_reg__AR_15_M16_TEK_LOK_MAGAZINE_POUCH

its 26 bucks instead of 40..but the only thing I can think of that might not work is that it only fits belts up to 2 1/4"
I use it on a 5.11 operator belt (which is 1 3/4" wide) and so far so good; only tested with Pmags..but it has adjustment screws for pressure on the mag body, so I see no problem using standard GI mags.

good luck to you and your wife with the new gear set up

[Big B]

I use a brownells branded kydex mag holder, but it came with a tek-lok on it, which other then being adjustable for ride height and tilt, it allows the user to keep their belt on and simply attach the pouch while wearing the belt.. obviously easier when your not wearing it..but not impossible to put on either.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23088/Product/BROWNELLS_reg__AR_15_M16_TEK_LOK_MAGAZINE_POUCH

its 26 bucks instead of 40..but the only thing I can think of that might not work is that it only fits belts up to 2 1/4"
I use it on a 5.11 operator belt (which is 1 3/4" wide) and so far so good; only tested with Pmags..but it has adjustment screws for pressure on the mag body, so I see no problem using standard GI mags.

I have one of those mag pouches (it's made by Blade-Tech). I used to have it on my duty belt, but to be honest we already have so much gear around our waists I took it off.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great pouch! It holds Pmags and USGI mags securely, I just had a hell of a time finding a place on my belt where the AR mag wouldn't be uncomfortable. Standing/walking/running was not bad, but sitting for hours on end in my patrol vehicle was where I had trouble. I couldn't figure out where to put the mag pouch without getting rid of other gear I need on my belt. I know the OP's wife doesn’t have as much real-estate around her waist as I do, but maybe it would be worthwhile to get one and see if she can find a spot for it.

Right now any time I grab my patrol rifle I either throw on my plate carrier that has 5 AR mags or my "active shooter" bag that has 5 mags in it.

[BigDaddyTX]

Necro.

Anyone have any new favorites? I'm looking for a new soft case for my AR and while I like some of the ones listed, I'm just wondering if there are any new/better offerings that have showed up in the last few months.

[DannusMaximus]

Necro.

Anyone have any new favorites? I'm looking for a new soft case for my AR and while I like some of the ones listed, I'm just wondering if there are any new/better offerings that have showed up in the last few months.

I don't have anything new to add, but here's a link to a follow up post I made that shows how I ended up setting up this bag for the bride.

viewtopic.php?f=107&t=79605&hilit=active+shooter+bag

So far the Spikes bag is holding up great. It spend it's days getting bounced around in the trunk of a police cruiser, but isn't showing any overt wear and tear. It's a high quality bag, I was impressed from the get go. Not cheap, but not crazy expensive either. It's rather stripped down for a general use range bag, but you could MOLLE different pouches to it to make it hold more stuff if you needed to.

[Jeriah]

Necro with purpose: Thread, arise from the dead, to serve me.

I need a combination of range bags and rifle cases to allow me to transport, to rifle ranges, training courses, and similar events, the following:

1x AR-15, collapsible stock, 16" barrel, no muzzle device (crowned muzzle), carry handle mounted optic
1x AK-47, 16" barrel, no muzzle device, fixed wooden stock, donkey dick fore-end
Magazines for both of the above
All the usual range shit: ammo, cleaning kit, binoculars, etc.

I do NOT need to place a high importance on this being an "active shooter" kit. It should share the traits of being a compact package, ready to go bang-bang, but being honest about my needs, this kit is to easily, cheaply, and compactly carry guns on road trips to the places I can shoot, which means renting a compact car and usually driving hundreds of miles, due to living in Chicago.

Bags need to be not black, because black shit gets hot in the sun.

I'm thinking this for the range bag: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/939259 ... -range-bag

As long as I'm ordering from Midway, I thought I'd pick up a pair of these (one for the AK, one for the AR): http://www.midwayusa.com/product/939141 ... cm_vc=S014

Here's the trick: I'd like to get the most compact case possible, for ease of stowage in a compact rental car, but obviously it needs to fit. Anyone own the 35" version of this case and know how well it fits a fixed-stock AK, and a collapsible-stock 16" AR? (I've read the reviews and the answers vary.)

[alptraum]

Necro with purpose: Thread, arise from the dead, to serve me.

I think you're good to go with that range bag choice. I bought the compact one as a gift for a friend and it's quite nice. But for all you want you'd definitely want the larger one (the one you linked). Just about everybody I know that has one likes it.

I'd go a different way with the rifle bags though. I really like my Eagle discreet case. Natchez has them on sale all the time. It's very well made. Lots of MOLLE stuff inside to attach whatever. They have varies sizes and colors in two main versions. The LE just has a smooth interior in the rifle compartment. I have the standard ones. Anyways, I highly recommend them. For $60'ish I don't think anything else even comes close to it.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?co ... c=exrbSrch

EDIT = took one of mine out and snapped some photos of the case.


IMAG0161 by alptraumhg, on Flickr


IMAG0162 by alptraumhg, on Flickr


IMAG0163 by alptraumhg, on Flickr

[PackLemming]

I have one of these. Practicality wise, indestructible and can be left on your patrol with little cause of concerns regarding internal soaking.

Gun Guard Tactical - Plano - $125. You wont find them on the preowned market space very often (unlike the fabric gun slips with MOLLE) this should translate into something....

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Plano is some good swag. I have a Plano case (un-form-fitted, $80) and it kept my Hakim pristine, even through the whole ordeal of airport luggage handling.

[alptraum]

Plano is some good swag. I have a Plano case (un-form-fitted, $80) and it kept my Hakim pristine, even through the whole ordeal of airport luggage handling.

Yeah, for a hardcase they are good stuff. I've always used Pelican but Plano is quite nice. Having said that for general carrying around I MUCH prefer softcases to hardcases. Much less bulky. I really only use hardcases for airports myself.

[Jeriah]

Ended up buying the Spikes bag that Frank recommended and the OP ended up with. In tan, because black gear gets too hot in the sun.

I was looking at the Midway range bag, but between concerns about it being undersized (called a 35" bag but in fact only about 33" long inside) and constant complaints about the shitty zipper and seams coming apart after a year, I decided to pay the extra dough for this one. $80 vs. $40, but looks to be worth it. After all, a $40 bag becomes an $80 when you have to replace it after a year...

alptraum: Shit. If I'd seen your post about two minutes earlier, I might have bought that $60 Eagle bag, in MultiCam, instead of the Spikes. Because I'm a sucker for MultiCam. The one thing I don't like about the Eagle, though, is that it's got paracord zipper pulls, whereas the Spikes has metal YKK pulls. While I realize that a luggage padlock on a soft rifle case is more about the appearance (and legality) of a locked case than any actual security, and anyone who wanted to could easily just cut through the side of the case, I'd feel more comfortable (in a state that requires guns to be transported in a locked case) to have the lock attached to something a bit more than a glorified piece of string. Although maybe I could put the lock through the sliders themselves...

Anyway, I only bought one, for my AR, with the idea of seeing if my AK fits in it. If the AK fits in the Spikes, I may get the MultiCam Eagle for my AR. Any idea if it'd be possible to lock the zipper sliders together (not the pulls but the sliders themselves)?

Re: hard cases, I have a bunch of shitty ones, which I'd use if I needed to fly with my guns. I've looked at quality hard cases but they seem more difficult to pack, since they are rigid and can't sort of smoosh into a space like a soft case can.

[alptraum]

. Any idea if it'd be possible to lock the zipper sliders together (not the pulls but the sliders themselves)?

I just looked at them and the answer is yes...sort of. You'd have to use a cable lock. Something like this = http://reviews.rei.com/review/765688/REI-Cable-Lock

That's just one I picked at random from a quick search to illustrate they type I am talking about.

[Jeriah]

. Any idea if it'd be possible to lock the zipper sliders together (not the pulls but the sliders themselves)?

I just looked at them and the answer is yes...sort of. You'd have to use a cable lock. Something like this = http://reviews.rei.com/review/765688/REI-Cable-Lock

That's just one I picked at random from a quick search to illustrate they type I am talking about.

Good to know! Thanks for checking. If the AK fits in the Spikes case, I'll look into one of those Eagles for my AR, and I'll get a cable lock while I'm at it.