Archive | Tactical Handyman

Cat Tails are rings with a protruding lever that clamp onto the magnification adjustment ring of an optic to make it easier to turn so you can move between magnification ranges quickly. They are very handy for jut about any magnified optic but they are especially useful on the low power variable magnification optics that are so popular in tactical shooting and 3 Gun Competition.

Typically, these Cat Tails cost $50-60 for one since they must be precision machined from aluminum to fit an individual optic. However, you know that when the Tactical Handyman comes around, you aren’t going to pay $50-60. I’ll show you how to get 2 of them for around $20.

The secret is a product that is designed to hold fishing reels on a fishing rod – Breakaway Nylon Coasters (NC-1 Universal). I first saw this handy hack posted on the Sniper’s Hide Forum by a user named strat81. They are somewhat like a cross between a hose clamp and a cable tie. You simply wrap the nylon cable around your optic’s magnification ring, turn the knob until it is tight, and then trim the excess cable. It is that easy.

They can be purchased directly from Breakaway.

Plate carriers (PC) with removable external cummerbunds can sometimes be a little annoying to don when the cummerbund is slipping to one side or the other. This is especially true when the cummerbund slips far enough that the ends catch on the sleeve that retains it, making it nearly impossible to correct without removing the PC and starting over.

Some manufacturers, like Diamondback Tactical, have provided solutions to this problem on their PCs in the form of cummerbund stops. These stops physically block the cummerbund from sliding too far in the sleeve that retains the cummerbund on the back of the PC. In this installment of the Tactical Handyman, we will look at some easy ways to make your own cummerbund stops with materials that you probably already have around your Tactical Handyman workshop.

This image shows both types of cummerbund stops that we will discuss.

Lashing

One of the most common methods to prevent cummerbund movement is to lash it in place. Para-cord or zip-ties are commonly used for this. However, I prefer to use shock-cord. Shock-cord is similar to para-cord except it has elastic inner strands that allow it to stretch like a rubber band.

You simply weave the cord through the MOLLE webbing on the cummerbund and the MOLLE webbing on the retainer sleeve, lashing them together. You can close the ends of the cord with a cord-end as I do or use a simple knot. If you are using a static lashing like a zip-tie or paracord, you will want to leave some slack to allow for how the cummerbund stretches when you don the PC. If you are using an elastic lashing like shock-cord, you can weave it fairly tight and rely on the elasticity of the shock-cord to provide the stretch needed when donning the PC.

The advantages of the this method are that it will typically allow you to still utilize the MOLLE webbing that you tie together so you don’t lose any MOLLE real estate. However, the biggest disadvantage is that it is not as easily adjustable as our next method…

I like to use ITW cord ends to close off the end of shock-cord.

MALICE Clips

I typically just use MALICE Clips as cummerbund stops. You simply place the MALICE Clips on the cummerbund on both sides of the retainer sleeve so that the tabs of the clips prevent the cummerbund from sliding through the sleeve.

The disadvantage of this method is that you lose the use of a couple of columns of MOLLE webbing but they are in a location that you can’t really reach anyway and if you need to put a pouch there, the pouch itself will serve as a cummerbund stop. The advantage is that it is easily removable and can be easily adjusted.

MALICE Clips make perfecct cummerbund stops.

Give it a Try!

Installing cummerbund stops can help ensure that you are able to quickly and easily don your PC. They are extremely easy to make with materials that you probably already have. Give it a try.