As the Mad Duo reported, members of the Breach-Bang-Clear evaluation team have been evaluating the BCS Tactical Shotgun Scabbard and Shot Shell Rig. We’ve finally finished, utilizing both pieces of kit in training, on the range and operationally. We’ll review the shotty scabbard first, as it is undoubtedly going to be the mostly widely appealing of the two (the chest rig being a particularly niche piece of kit, though no less useful for that.)
We liked the shotgun scabbard for potential tactical team and active shooter deployments, where a secondary or tertiary shotgun capability would be beneficial. It’s certainly a better option than slinging a twelve-gauge across the back, which hangs the muzzle out past the edge of the operator’s profile, putting it in the way of furniture, doorways, team members, etc.
We found the “standardâ€, unmodified scabbard was able to accommodate different large-frame shotguns (Remington 870 w/ 18†barrel, shoulder stock w/ pistol grip and 6-round sidesaddle for instance) without any issues. The stock on the 870 and the Mossberg 500 sat a little high, but a slightly shorter barreled weapon would have had no issues (and BCS advises they will modify an individual scabbard for specific weapons if needed).
The scabbard was easily donned and simple to adjust for the shoulders and waist size of several officers. The location of the bottom waist strap could be adjusted to fit the torso length of individual officers.
Drawing the shotgun was easily done, requiring just a slight shift of the scabbard closer to the body. Initially evaluators thought they’d have difficulty putting the weapon back into the scabbard but this was not the case. It was faster to have the assistance of a second officer in those cases when the evaluator was jocked up in heavy armor but not required.
In a couple of cases evaluating officers rearranged the outside pouches on their Level IV vests in order to make the scabbard ride more comfortably without binding, but did not suffer any problems with blockage once that was accomplished. Note: all evaluators wore drop-down thigh rigs for their primary handgun during the majority of testing. It was not evaluated with a traditional waist holster at any length, but all believed it could be worn alongside such a holster without difficulty.
Though the butt of the weapon rode just a little high for two evaluators’ preference, there were only a couple of suggestions made at the end of the trial period. The first was to ask for MOLLE/PALS on the back of the scabbard and the second for a wide strip of hook-and-loop centered between the top of the prybar webbing and the mouth of the scabbard. The former would allow for additional modularity, the latter would allow for a large POLICE or SHERIFF tape to be placed across the back in place of the one traditionally worn on the back of a uniform or external armor carrier. Most agreed they’d want to let BCS know in advance what sort of shotgun would be carried in a particular scabbard—though the “stock†version performed well, presumably it would be improved with some specificity.
Overall a sturdy, well-built and useful piece of kit.
Stand by for further traffic.
For more on BCS Tactical, visit them on the web at www.beezcombatsystems.com. Contact the Breach-Bang-Clear evaluation team at www.breachbangclear.com/site/evaluation-team or e-mail BreachBangClear@gmail.com.
-Breach-Bang-Clear Evaluation Team
