F.A.Q

Do you have any other colors than those listed?

The only colors available are those shown. If enough people request a certain color, I’ll add it to the lineup. To add a color I have to buy not only fabric; but three different types of webbing, matching hardware, thread, shock cord, elastic webbing, matching Velcro, and so on. It is a big investment just to add one color, so I’ll only add a color if enough people request it.

I like the Grab and Go bags; but I want one wider (or narrower), or I’d like to add more pouches.

On every model of Grab and Go I’ve done multiple prototypes before settling on the sizes they are now. If they’re made any wider, they will start sagging in the middle, and if a small sheet of HDPE (high-density polyethelene) plastic is put in the rear panel to prevent sagging, it will also prevent the Grab and Go from wrapping around your hip, which helps keeps the Grab and Go in place. Also, each Grab and Go is made to hold quite a bit of ammo. Adding more pouches (and more ammo or more gear) would make the Grab and Go so heavy that it wouldn’t be able to be used the way it’s intended—as an over-the-shoulder ammo carrier. Remember, the entire weight you’re carrying is centered on one strap that runs up and over one of your shoulders, and the bag is not centered on your body. All of that means that the Grab and Go feels heavier than that same amount of ammuntion would be on, say, a chest rig, where the load is centered and carried by both shoulders. I have made Grab and Go bags slightly larger by adding a 2” wide flashlight pouch to the front; but I wouldn’t make it any wider or larger than that.

Each Grab and Go has a pouch on the back, and if the overall Grab and Go is made any smaller than it is, I found that the pouch becomes so small that it’s not much use. While I won’t make the Grab and Go much larger, I will make it smaller if that’s what you want—as long as you realize that you’ll be losing some of the usability of the rear pouch. One other option that I have made for people is to make the rear panel the same size as the regular Grab and Go; but only put three pouches—centered—on the large rear panel. That way you can carry less ammo (and corresponding weight) but still have a large, usable rear pocket.

As you may be able to tell, there are many things that can be done in the limited space that there is to work with. But I wouldn’t go any larger on the rear panel for the reasons already mentioned, and I would think twice about making the rear panel smaller.

What are Lift-the-Dot snaps? What are the pros and cons of Velcro, and of the Lift-The-Dot snaps?

Lift-The-Dot snaps were used by the US military from World War I through the Korean War. They have been combat proven in every climate and terrain. Here is a photo of a Garand Grab and Go with Lift-The-Dots, and one with Velcro:


Coyote Tan/Khaki Garand Grab and Go with optional Lift-The-Dot snaps


Coyote Tan/Khaki Garand Grab and Go with standard matching Velcro

Velcro is the best all-around closure. It is versatile. You can use long strips of it in place of zippers (zippers have a tendency to break teeth and become useless; but Velcro will close an opening very securely), it can be used as a single dot closure (like a snap), or it can be used in larger pieces making the closure adjustable for size. After-action reports from Marines and Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan state that the only downside to Velcro is that it doesn't work in the mud (when the loop side--the fuzzy side--gets saturated with mud). The fuzzy side of the Velcro (the loop) will wear down over time and need to be replaced. In a combat environment this can happen during one combat tour. For civilian use, though, you may never wear out the Velcro.

(There are a number of people who don't want Velcro on their pouch flaps because they think the noise will give away their position. Stop and think about it: You should already have a magazine in your weapon. When do you need to pull open the pouch flap? Once you've emptied your initial magazine and you need to reload, of course. So what noise do you think will give away your position: the Velcro on your pouch flap as it's pulled open, or the 30 rounds of rifle fire you just sent downrange?  Haha!)

Lift-The-Dot snaps are high quality snaps. They work well in the mud.  The stud will push any mud that has accumulated through the hole in the center of the snap. However, Lift-The-Dots are single-point closures (like all snaps). They are not versatile. If you need to tighten down your pouch flap, you can't. The stud can get damaged, making the snap useless. Lift-The-Dots are much more expensive than Velcro, and take more labor to install (which adds to the cost also).

There is no perfect closure for field gear. They all have pros and cons. Based on my testing of gear, here is my experience on the closures:

For any pouches that carry one magazine or en bloc clip per pouch (Garand Grab and Go, M1 Carbine Grab and Go, 9mm Grab and Go, etc), Lift-The-Dot snaps are good to go, especially if you want a "World War II" look to your gear. For any pouches that carry two magazines per pouch (the AR15 Grab and Gos, the 7.62 Grab and Gos, the AK Grab and Gos, etc.), Velcro is the better closure. Once you have drawn the first mag from the pouch, you can pull the flap down tight over the one remaining mag in the pouch and the Velcro will hold it just as securely. You can't do that with snaps because they are a single-point closure, and there's a chance you could lose the second mag in that pouch.

I noticed that the stock pouch options are LH (left hand) and RH (right hand). Which do I need?

If you are a right-handed shooter, you need the right hand stock pouch; if you are a left-handed shooter, choose the left hand. Even though right hand is much more common, the computer lists all of the options in alphabetical order, so on the computer LH comes first. I've tried to change it--to make RH the first option--to no avail.

You mentioned adding a flashlight pouch. Can I get a Grab and Go like that?

Right now the flashlight pouch is no longer an option. In an effort to streamline production--and speed up orders--I have discontinued that option for the time being. I plan on having all of the gear in stock all the time, and ready to ship in 1-2 days. Once I get to that point, I'll go back and look at adding back some of the options--like the flashlight pouch.

 

I see the Shotgun Grab and Go comes with a waist belt. Can I get a waist belt on the other Grab and Go  bags?

Yes, I've added the waist belts as available options to each Grab and Go on the website.

 

Can I use the Grab and Go as a chest rig?

When I first designed the Grab and Go I tried using it as a chest rig. It does not work well in that role at all. That’s why I won’t even advertise it as some kind of “last ditch” chest rig. It is an ammo carrier. That’s what it is made to do, nothing more. I finished the design of the Chest Rig/Grab and Go Combo. If you're  looking for a chest rig, that's the one to get. You can use it as a chest rig, or a Grab and Go bag.

Why is Multicam more expensive than the other colors?

Very simply--Multicam fabric is about 60% more expensive than the other fabrics; and--this is where the pricing really jumps--Multicam webbing is 300% to 400% more than solid webbing. (That's not a typo. If one yard of a particular webbing is, say, 70 cents a yard, the same size Multicam webbing is about $2.80 per yard--400% more.) I tried to absorb those extra costs for a while and price all colors the same; but I can't do it any longer.

What are your shipping charges? How do you ship?

I charge a flat $6.50 shipping per order in the United States and for APO/FPO. Shipping outside of the good ol' USA will be whatever the actual shipping charges are. (I'll email you with the price for shipping outside of the United States.) I only ship via Priority Mail. Priority Mail is faster, cheaper, and better than UPS or FedEx. I've shipped hundreds of orders through Priority Mail and not only have zero orders been lost; but none have even been damaged (knock on wood!). Through the years I have been as critical of the USPS as anyone; but their Priority Mail shipping is good to go.

I'll send you an email after I've shipped your order to confirm that it shipped. You'll also get a confirmation email from USPS.

Why don't you have a phone number listed?

As I've stated elsewhere, I'm a one-man band. Not only do I cut and sew everything; I also do all of the shipping and follow-up and photography and web updates and so on. (I'm the CEO, CFO, Ad man, sweat shop manager, sweat shop employee, and janitor, all rolled into one. Haha!)  Right now (as I write this) I'm about 4 1/2 months out on orders. If I spent all day answering phone calls, I'd be about 7 or 8 months out on orders. Every minute I spend on the phone is a minute I'm not sewing someone's gear. I check emails multiple times a day, when I take a break for lunch and dinner and first thing in the morning, and since I'm checking emails during a normal break in the action, I'm not taking away from gear-making.

 

Do you have a walk-in store so I can look at your gear?

No, this is an internet-based enterprise only. I’ve been so busy since I started this affair that I don’t have any inventory to look at anyway. I make the gear as it’s ordered. Once I get enough history to know how much of each type to keep on hand, I’ll make some back stock—but even then I won’t have a physical store.

Olongapo Outfitters? How did you come up with that name?

Ah, one of the eternal mysteries of life, young Grasshopper. "What is the meaning of life?"; "What is my destiny?"; "How big is the Universe?"---and, "What is the meaning behind the name 'Olongapo Outfitters'?" When you can snatch the M2 Ball round from my hand, you will be ready to understand.....

Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshiping their Commandant almost as if he was a god, and making weird noises like a band of savages. They’ll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest SOBs I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man’s normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, the United States Marines I’ve come in contact with are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have had the pleasure to meet.          
—Anonymous Canadian


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