Machine Gunner/ SAW Gunner belt Set-up

In this video I break down my Machine Gunner/ SAW Gunner belt set up and talk about how it’s different then a rifleman’s set up. Enjoy! And stay tuned for more!

[@3566remi]

It’s refreshing to see kit considerations specific for the infantry. I feel it is quite lacking at times

[@TheGruntPerspective]

It absolutely is, that’s why I started this channel

[@nathanielmoore9627]

@@TheGruntPerspectiveas a prepared citizen I think it’s really easy to idolize the kit and load outs of cool guy operators but I also think it’s important to pull from multiple sources of information and perspectives. It’s not realistic for most civilians to be loaded down with a 80 pound ruck and tons of equipment to sustain yourself but we also don’t have the support of a lot of these sof units to only run a slick(ish) plate carrier with 3 mags. A good blend of sustainment and speed. Thank you for your content.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

@@nathanielmoore9627 thanks for watching!

[@theimmortal4718]

When i was a saw gunner, i carried a 200 round pork chop under each arm attatched to my side plates, 2 pmags on my belt on my non ahooting side and 2 100 round nutsacks high on my chest. All pouches upside down to ease loading. I also had a couple of bottles of CLP in flashbang pouches and both a flathead screw driver and a paint can opener stuffed into molle loops and tied down to my vest. Everything was attached to my armired vest to cut down on weight. Always had a nutsack stuffed in the gun. 760 rounds total. Any more ammo than that was carried by my team members and leader. Sometimes we had nearly 2000 rounds of SAW smmo in the team, depending on the job at hand

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Sounds like you knew what you were doing

[@theimmortal4718]

@@TheGruntPerspective I survived

[@MunitionsDudTester]

Shoutout to all the 0331 knuckledraggers that keep a 100rd security belt loaded.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

GUNS UP

[@RickSanchez167]

When I was a 240 gunner on my first trip to Afghanistan, I carried a 100 round starter belt on my 240L and if we were doing a long movement I would carry another 200 rounds on my kit. On shorter movements like say a raid or village clearances I would sometimes carry upwards of 500 rounds on me. My AG and if I was lucky that day and had an AB too, they would carry the rest. Thats shitty that they dont issue your MG/SAW/Grenadiers/etc kits to actually do their job. The way it works in the Army is everyone gets a rifleman kit, and then each company supply has equipment for each MTOE position and issues them to the platoon leaders to issue to individuals

[@Rapture_11B]

Thank you for your service!

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

How did you like the Lima specifically?

[@12345678971926]

I know Brother I went to the same shit to 240 Lima we always get screwed over we are 70% of squads fire power by tell you what I was always on the single mindset that I can’t depend on my guy to help me on average I always cared at least 500 to 700 rounds of pre-stocky guy. Most importantly, I always make sure I had water and power bars and never forget one whole log of Copenhagen

[@theimmortal4718]

I liked using the zippered butt pack they gave us. Molle it high on the chest. It'll hold 200 rounds of 7.62 pretty easily. Maybe 50 rounds on the gun. I was carrying a MK48, though

[@desertsh1eld]

Love a belt/harness. These things were so underrated when I was in between 07-17. Anytime I could get away with it, I'd put as much crap as I could on mine vs slapping everything on a chest rig or plate carrier. I've found a combi worked best for me. A couple mags on the vest, every-damn-thing else + more ammo on the belt/harness. Worked wonders for the few times I carried a SAW. 👍

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Thanks for watching!

[@Doug807]

I like your explanations about why you choose gear. Keep this series going. Thanks

[@ajmanglona]

I like seeing how the Marine Corps is progressing through the gear from my years in 2/8. Keep it up man.

[@Wandrew223]

Well done! Looking forward to more content. Semper Fidelis 🇺🇸💪🏻🇺🇸

[@chk6194]

Appreciate all the videos and explanations of the thought process, regarding the ifak placement for this case and with the aim to keep the nods pouch on the belt line, how about swapping the ifak for a roll 1 type, velcro it on the belt hanging at your 6 and place the nods pouch where the ifak is now. Liked, subscribed and shared, keep em coming, interesting to see more setups, daysack etc

[@TheGruntPerspective]

That could definitely work! Thank you!

[@mexicanmonkeyop540]

I learned something today. Rah.

[@12345678971926]

Damn Brother Wells at 240 Gunner this is the exact same kit set up I did but except agent carried a bought four bags on the LBA and additional two more boxes in my assault pack with extra cleaning kit and an extra pair gloves on patrol at primary carry more ammunition because what you’re saying is true good video

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Thanks for watching!

[@ExplosiveFetus]

I think if the pistol is considered an afterthought I would take it off the belt and move it up to the plate carrier. I would put it centerline in a pouch inside the kangaroo pocket and then put two pistol mag pouches in there as well, or up above on the top MOLLE field on the carrier. It should still let you get prone well, but it's accessible if you need it.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

That would probably work well! I’ve seen people do that but never myself.

[@JEJAK5396]

You can use an Eagle Industries Double Mag pouch as a Field Pistol Holster.

[@michaelwhite9199]

Everything old is new again. It kills me when the youth think they“invented” something yet it’s really just thing the previous generation already did. That’s basically the same setup as the same as the old school 782 gear SAW set minus a pair of canteens. Amazing how the old timers actually knew stuff.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Exactly, the war on terror the past 20 years really got the conventional infantry away from its roots.

[@rando3098]

Could you put in the description the gear you used id love to buy it

[@JohnDoe-mp1yn]

this is exactly what i was looking for; it's like a modernized ALICE kit. how is the harness under a plate carrier?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

It’s super slim, the harness will come with some padding on it but I took it off. I don’t even feel it under a plate carrier.

[@cscearce2000]

The army only has one CIF issue from what I’ve seen. Grenadiers might get a belt issued from the company and Automatic Riflemen might get 1 Saw pouch, also issued from the company not CIF.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Ahh, thank you

[@papa_crow]

Awesome set up dude, might end up doing something very similar myself!! Also would love to hear why the decision to go for a rigidized 2 piece belt rather than a standard padded battle/war belt?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Basically just for stability, you could definitely go with a padded belt though

[@GruntLife-yi6xv]

Now were talkin Dawg!!!!! I LIKE THIS MY DEVIL!!!!! could it ever be outfitted or kitted up to run either a claymore or some teip flares on the otherside then the ifak?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

I’m sure you could make it happen, you’d just have to put the IFAK somewhere else

[@vulcan5567]

This setup is awesome! I plan on going into the infantry and if I get a SAW or 240 I’m really thinking of doing this. Although I’m wondering do you wear the suspenders over your plate carrier?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

No I wear them underneath

[@vulcan5567]

​@@TheGruntPerspective Ah okay, thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

[@bthemedia]

6:50 A: Velocity Systems Jungle H harness Q: Where do you find these suspenders/harness for a belt? I’ve only seen harness for chest rigs.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

I’m not sure what you’re asking. But I got the harness off of velocity systems website, they sell it individually

[@EliasAbejo-jy3vy]

Is that the Velocity Systems Jungle H-Harness that's $46? Looks amazing.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

I don’t know the price but it is the jungle h harness

[@frozennorth6527]

Wish I'd been allowed or issued a sweet belt kit like that with the 240. Towards the end I wound up somewhere that had "shooters preference" on gear and that made things slightly better, still had to use only issued gear though. Belt kits are making a come back.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Command: “you can only use issued gear” “I’m not even issued 7.62 pouches” Command: “didn’t ask”

[@frozennorth6527]

@@TheGruntPerspective facts. Canteen pouches worked well for 100rnd belts and frag pouches worked great for dip cans.

[@almartin9500]

EF’n whaaaa if you pissed somebody off!!! Excellent video!!! You should be at SOI mentoring these boots! Goons Up! On a side note, plan on doing something from the combat-hunter/tactical tracker job?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

I actually am an instructor, and I’d like to go to course like that one day but I have not had the opportunity yet

[@almartin9500]

That’s awesome! I wish we had instructors like you when I went ITS (SOI). Luckily I had some good Nam era recondos Sr SNO’s that taught us well. I’ve been trying to get tactical tracking as part of the curriculum at BRS. Big green doesn’t want to pay for civilian contractor instructor.

[@arshdeepgill7068]

How does this setup work while patrolling with a ruck on? I have chest rig setup for being a C9 gunner (Canadian equivalent of SAW). I am sure a belt setup will be more optimal but I’m not sure how it would work with a ruck on? I need to have everything accessible while patrolling so I can ditch my ruck and fight if ambushed. During deliberate attacks we ruck and stash our rucks when we get close to the objective, conduct the attack and ruck out. So I have to have my chest rig/ load bearing while also wearing my frag/flack vest with a ruck on. How would you change this setup to use with a ruck?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

It works well with a smaller pack like a assault or patrol pack, but with big rucks it can be a bit uncomfortable over distance. I usually take my belt off when I know I’m gonna be walking a while.

[@Morningstar_Actual]

All depends on how long your torso is tbh and how you set the height on the kit up. For me, even with an ALICE/MOLLE2 sized ruck, my belt kit rides under the ruck so it’s perfect. Assault/patrol pack is most ideal though for obvious reasons. If you have a shorter torso you might run into some uncomfortable issues

[@dustinchang614]

Wear the belt low around your hips and a small size CTS issued ruck should be able to sit on top of the rear pouches. Also, attach your IFAK to one of the front harness straps on the same side as everyone else so that buddy can find it and do first aid on you - even in calm training scenarios, we never think to flip a guy over to see if his IFAK is on the back side, so in a chaotic situation, we for sure won't.

[@MrSwccguy]

Our MG guys had M4s, the M9s were issued but M4s were better. Gun go's down. You are now a rifleman.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Yeah I’ve done that before too, not ideal but in that case I wouldn’t change the belt at all, just add some mags to the plate carrier. Coming up next!

[@MrSwccguy]

@@TheGruntPerspective hell yeah can't wait. Recommendation: longer videos! You actually go into the why behind your kit, thought process, pros and cons, and considerations. Like it !

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Thank you!

[@WeaverMTN]

Are they integrating units that have seen combat with ones that have not? When they can of course …

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Not a lot of guys left around who have, most are SNCOs or field grade officers.

[@99Racker]

Ah, here I find you DO have a pistol plan. Great. One of the few authorized to carry a pistol but you also have to carry (in my era) the heavy PIG. One note, previously we had to carry a bayonet for the issue rifle. I guess the MC no longer reaches FIX BAYONETS and CHARGE.

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

it's a theoretical capability nowadays. non infantry, all our bayonets sit unissued in the armory in the back of the rifle racks next to each rifle... i bought my own and carry it.

[@xbinbyer1055]

How would you set up a 240 AG kit?

[@TheGruntPerspective]

The AG can really set his kit up like a rifleman. He might want to make some changes to allow him to carry some ammo on his person as well, that would be a good idea. The AG will definitely need a way to carry a radio and signals gear. Then he can pack up the gun gear in an assault pack so the abag isn’t so cumbersome, just make sure you retain the heat blanket so you can wrap the barrel in it when it’s hot

[@xbinbyer1055]

@@TheGruntPerspective I'm just getting transferred from a Infantry scout to a gun team and am slotted for the AG so am making some kit changes, thanks for the pointers, If you need a video idea a gun team assault bag or AG assault bag would be awesome for me specifically since I'll be building off what I see other run, thanks for the speedy reply and keep up the awesome work man 🤠🤝🤠

[@TheGruntPerspective]

@@xbinbyer1055 I’d love to do that, but I’ll have to see if I can “source” some gun SL3

[@almartin9500]

Never can figure out why big green or big army doesn’t supply troops with what they need, the proper tools to perform their tasks. No Marine/soldier should have to buy equipment. It’s always been that way.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Because they hate us

[@almartin9500]

🤣🤣🤣🤣true

[@MrSwccguy]

Solution: use your boots 🤣 jk For pouches and stuff try Ventura Surplus, Hella USMC stuff there and at great prices too.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Great website! Bought lots of stuff from there!

[@MrSwccguy]

@@TheGruntPerspective I think ventura offerings should be what cif should be

[@TheGruntPerspective]

@@MrSwccguy SAY IT LOUDER

[@jacobkilman8444]

I'm not gonna fault you for this, but everything you know about army cif is false. I've been army infantry for, getting close to a decade now, and I've NEVER seen machine gun or grenadier specific kit get issued once. Everything that dudes have is either bought, or somehow, their individual unit's supply had onesies and twosies of. We're in the same boat. Great set up though, I used something similar overseas, minus the suspenders.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

Thank you for telling me!

[@jacobkilman8444]

@@TheGruntPerspective No problem, also I agree heavily with so many of your points, mainly gloves, grenades, and ammo. These things in particular are some the things that just irked me when I was running gun teams.

[@TheGruntPerspective]

@@jacobkilman8444 Me too, drives me crazy

[@Clem58xX]

Definitely not issued. I've been in for 3 years and still trying to get a kit together it so irritating that we aren't given a saw kit/grenadier/or gunner kit. I am hoping to get kit togther thanks to your videos! Just wish i had the plate carrier instead of the IOTV.

[@pootytang2872]

sounds like our military is degrading into a third world, second rate force. 2005 - 2013 we were issued most of the necessary pouches for our duty positions. 40mm, 200 n 100 rnd pouches and nutsacks. 240 gunner kit. leatherman tool. only ones who HAD to buy their own mag pouches was few guys with m14s. hate to hear that the leadership, who came up during GWOT and should know better, is failing the joes today...

[@trixer230]

Imagine dying cause you were to stuborn to buy something yourself...... that is gonna be an awk convo with saint peter... like bro... should have spent that 39.99 hey...

[@TheGruntPerspective]

That would be wildly unfortunate