At Tactical Shit we love high quality gear. That is one of the reasons we chose to begin offering the Tacprogear line of Carriers and Tactical Gear. There are many styles and models of Tacprogear carriers including their Elite Brand; Tacprogear Black.
This article is a review of the Tacprogear Rapid Assault Plate Carrier with Pistol Pocket. You heard me correctly, with PISTOL POCKET. The innovation in this carrier is amazing since it allows you to securely carry a full frame handgun concealed and secure within an ambidextrous zipper pocket on the inside of your front molle, yet in front of your armor plate.
The pocket has tough zippers on either side that allow almost instant access to your pistol with a quick down-zip of the zipper. Additionally, the inside back wall of the pocket is milspec hook and loop which receives the Tacprogear Pistol Wheel which is fully adjustable to secure most full frame handguns.
To be clear, this is the same carrier I wear when streaming live or recording video in Ferguson. It is perfect for civilian, news media or security contractors working in a NON CARRY non permissive environment since you can be armed and ready without showing or printing your weapon. It also provides security and retention through stealth. Nobody can take from you what they cannot see or access. Many police officers also choose the pistol pocket carrier to carry a backup weapon.
However, this innovation does not come without concessions. The downsides to the Tacprogear Rapid Assault Carrier with pistol pocket are two fold. First, the addition of the zippers on both sides of the carrier front causes the outside vertal molle to be out of spec (too skinny) to mount anything, so in essence you are giving up some realestate if you have lots of mag pouches and gear to mount to your rig. Secondly, without a handgun in the Pistol Wheel, the excess material sags a bit in the front when weighted down by pistol or rifle magazine pouches.
So in short, if you are looking for the ability to conceal a full frame handgun INSIDE your molle body armor carrier and willing to sacrifies some gear mounting space and asthetics, the Tacprogear Rapid Assault Carrier with Pistol Pocket is for you. If not, they make the same carrier without the pocket and now the same carrier using the new more durable laser cut molle system.
Learn more at http://shop.tacticalshit.com/tactical-accessories/body-armor/rapid-assault-plate-carrier-pistol-pocket