Question? Taking my 1st Tactical Carbine Class

[EliteCorp]

[Calico1404]

Rifle, a sling , mags and ammo.

You will be able to answer all your own questions after your first class. I changed a lot of gear after a few classes and finding out what works and what doesn't.

I like the Vickers sling or the magpul 2 point.
Mags on the hip may work better than a chest rig.

Again, you may want to just go in semi blind, take your rifle and lots of ammo (300 rounds min) once complete you will decide on your changes.

[BigFatGuy]

cleaning kit and lube

[FeuerFrei]

Hmmm? Most good "trainers" will tell you what to bring.
Tested and known good - mags, ammo, reliable pre-flighted (lubed & sighted in) rifle/pistol are always SOP items so...
Everything else is on the job training.

*If you're not having fun you're doing it wrong.

[Thoughts]

Belt side mag pouches are fine, in my experience.

Unless you are doing some precision work at some point, the brand of sling doesn't much matter for a first course. I'd go for a simple 2-point sling. Some people like 1-points, though.

There must be 100 "best slings" for an AR. I have a number of them. They all keep the rifle off the ground.

[L84CABO]

The instructor should be able to provide you with a list of items you need. If they didn't put one on their website, shoot them an email and ask. If all you need is a couple of mag pouches for reloads, I'm a fan of running them off a belt vs. a chest rig...more comfortable. At least I find it to be.

Make sure your mags are numbered and have your name on them in a way that is easily identifiable to you. Mags have a habit of getting mixed up during a class.

It's also ALWAYS a good idea to have an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) on your belt.

Make sure you understand if the course will still go off if it rains. If so, you may need some rain gear. Don't forget things like sun screen, lots of water, sunglasses, a hat, and some protein bars or similar to snack on.

[sigstroker]

Knee and elbow pads, the hard kind.

[the Scholar]

Have fun is the most important thing.

All others have been mentioned but I'll give my input as well.

Needed:
- Good operating rifle (sighted in, optic optional but recommended)
- The necessary ammo amount
- Sling
- 4-6 mags
- A method of holding ~2 mags on your person (belt pouches are easiest for now as well as back pockets in on your jeans).
- Ear pro
- Baseball style cap
- Eye pro
- Food/snacks
- Water/drinks
- Outerwear for the conditions of the day
Since it's a tactical class I am assuming you need the following as well:
- Pistol
- The necessary ammo amount
- Holster
- 4-6 pistol mags
- Mag carrier

Optional:
- Knee/elbow pads
- Battle belt/chest rig/plate carrier
- IFAK/tourniquets

Again, have fun. Tactical carbine classes are a blast. I want to take more of them as well.

[Casual_Shooter]

the Scholar has a good list.

In the class I took there were guys in full chest rigs down to guys who stored mags in their jean pockets. I had some 5.11 type pants that worked good enough for holding mags. Someone loaned me a pistol mag holder for my belt which I also liked.

Everyone did fine with what they used.

[Daze]

Lost of great suggestions,I would third The Scholars list.
My first question is sling related. Does your rifle have sling attachment points? If so where, what type (HK hook, or QD points.) That will dictate what type of sling you can attach and where. Some prefer a nice 2 point, I myself after a class realized I was a single point sling person, personnel preference. I like the Blue Force Gear padded bungee slings, but there are a lot of good ones out there, Some will convert from single to two point like the Magpul slings as I recall. If you can figure out which you prefer before the class so your not fighting with making gear work while trying to absorb new material.
Mag pouches are another personnel preference. Lots of folks default to a chest rig for magazine access. Chest rigs are great until you have to go prone and shoot laying on the ground. Uncomfortable in a training scenario, but if your in a two way firefight, you'll want to be as low as possible. Lot of folks have gone to belt mounted magazine carriers or a battle belt that is easy to throw on and off. Lube and basic multi-tool are also nice to have. Good electronic ear protection that will allow you to hear what is being said was also a big one for me, I tried earplugs the first time and was constantly missing what the instructor said as I tried to pull them in and out each time we paused. If you have old joints knee pads are nice ( especially if your kneeling on rocks and rocky ground. ) Good eye pro that DOES not fog up when you sweat in them were also a tough one for me (Wiley X were my choice for good air flow.)
If your not familiar with carrying a pistol and rifle together try to dry run your gear at home ( unloaded ) so you can see where stuff fits for you. I shoot my rifle left side but run my pistol right side, so single point works well for me. Dropping my rifle on the sling it positions center chest and I can push it under my left armpit allowing my right side clear to unholster my pistol quickly. If I shot both right side I might prefer a sling that allowed better positioning to get around other gear.

[beanz2]

Try out your knee and elbow pads way before class. I never liked the hard kind as they make my aim unsteady. I'd rather have the thick but supple kind.

Zero your rifle at 100 yards.

Test your equipment a couple of times. If it makes you look like a mall ninja at the range, so be it. Your ear pro may not work with your buttstock shooting from the prone. Your hat's brim may get in the way, learn how to wear your hat the best way that when you go into prone, you don't have to readjust your hat and lose time. If your chest rig fully loaded may not be comfortable to lie on in the prone, or prevents you from crouching or sitting; maybe you need a battlebelt instead. If the class involves shooting in an open terrain, try out your gear out in the different positions, very different than shooting from a bench at the range.

Exercise by holding your rifle steady for 15-20 seconds while standing, aiming at an imaginary target at a distance. Very hard to do when you are tired.

Try to reduce the rifle's weight. If no night shooting portion, get that flashlight off. If not shooting past 300 yds, maybe take the bipod off. If no transitioning to side arms is taught, leave the Glock at home or in the car. Weight can be a liability

Bring a dump pouch for empty magazines, and an extra pouch or extra pants pocket for loose ammo.

Bring a magazine loader for a high round count class. 4 magazines is a minimum.

Bring clear eye pro if there is a night shoot portion.

[the Scholar]

Another quick note, I would suggest not going out and buying a bunch of stuff you think you will need. Most likely you will come out of the class and figure out what worked with what you have and what didn't. You will also get a chance to observe others and see their challenges/advantages with their gear.

Personally, I wear a plate carrier and some belt mounted stuff when I do tactical classes with a rifle, but I run a limited amount of stuff on my chest (3 single AR Taco pouches) so that if I go prone and still be pretty comfortable/low to the ground. I'm also not a big guy so I run out of real-estate quickly.

I've become more of a minimalist when it comes to gear, especially after seeing a lot of guys fight their own equipment because they have too much crap hanging from their body.

[splithoof]

I'll be the first to ask: Where is this class, and who is the lead instructor?....Others who may have taken a particular instructor's class likely have insight into what exactly is/was covered, and what gear, etc. is necessary.

[Doheny]

[Tasty]