No, I didn't shoot myself. I decided to try what our wonderful service men and women do nowadays, and do some shooting with a loaded plate carrier. It doesn't LOOK like it, apparently, but it has Level 4 High Ground plates in it, 8.2 pounds each. These items were gifted to me for video work I did, which is cool, so I have these laying about. I loaded up with 4 mags in the old Condor quad mag pouch, grabbed my trusty AR, and ran the two miles, (yeah, right, I drove), to the range. I put this on after stepping out of the car until the last item was picked up, target repainted and all else loaded up to leave. This was about 2.5 hours, and I learned a few things. One - Condor mag pouches suck. I hate having to yank that flap open every time. Two, Condor mag pouches suck, because the double mag fits tight but the single flops around - I need to get a slimmer right side pouch, (only holding medical supplies), and replaced the Condor with a real triple mag shingle with bungee holds. Someday when I have money to waste on such fripperies. I also learned that a well made carrier like this TacProGear rig really distributes the weight evenly. Even for a fat old man like myself, I was able to shoot, move, reload with no real notice of the weight. Standing, kneeling, (no prone - I would have needed a lift to get back up), no problem. However, it was HOT. See the sweat on my new CZ hat? Yeah this was me sweating like demon in high 60 degree weather. Nuts. After 2 hours the lower back sent a message - "NOT HAVING FUN ANYMORE!". But being the masochist that I am, I kept suited up until the last minute. Our boys and girls overseas are wearing armor like this for 20 hours a day. When I was in, "body armor" consisted of Vietnam era flak vests in Woodland camo, (very good for hiding in the water...not), virtually useless against anything except fragments. So this was an interesting experience. I am going to keep doing this off and on, and maybe someday I can wear it THREE hours without pain...what a day that will be...
BTW, last lesson - you can't miss fast enough to win. Slow down and be the first accurate shot.
Not quite the range trip we usually talk about, ain't it....
