My Run N Gun Loadout: The Guns

Introduction

When I started researching my first run & gun kit, I spent hours sifting through forums trying to figure out where to save and where to spend.

In this complete breakdown, I walk through why I chose a duty-grade BCM upper, how I set up my retention holster, and the exact chest rig I use to carry medical without bouncing.

As a noob learning to buy my first rifle, I had to figure out which parts actually mattered for durability and reliability. Turns out the AR-15 has two halves: the upper receiver and lower receiver. They're solid chunks of metal that each hold onto different things. The lower receives the magazine and trigger group, while the upper receives the barrel. Since the barrel is what needs to sustain thousands of rounds and send bullets where you want them, the upper is doing the heavy lifting. Money spent on the barrel and its housing directly affects the real business of the rifle, so invest here. The lower isn't getting nearly as much abuse, so “good enough” is okay down there.

BCM owns the “duty-grade” price tier at about $800 for an upper — not the most you can spend, but the most you can spend before diminishing returns set in. Above this tier, brands like Daniel Defense charge significantly more for incrementally better performance. BCM delivers 90–95% of that capability without the steep markup (the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 is the only real competitor at this tier, and it can run double the price). Among forums, BCM rifles are described as “so reliable they're boring.” I'm okay with that kind of boring.

I paid $742 for a MK2 Blemished Upper and another $90 for a MK2 Ambi Charging Handle, size Large. “Blemished” — often listed as “BLEM” — means the part is discounted for a cosmetic imperfection like a scratch or ding, but is fully functional. People who buy blemished parts often can't find where the imperfection is. I intended to bang this thing around anyway — whatever flaw existed would blend in fast. I never found it.

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The second half of the Reddit special and another blind faith purchase that hasn’t disappointed. It’s a satisfying chunk with a professional finish that’s fast friends with the BCM. I’ve been happy with the trigger, although I’m sure I don’t know what I’m missing in a Geissele (the clear upgrade for later). If I had to nitpick, the safety selector could be lighter and smoother- I’m going to try lubing and flicking it a bunch to break it in more.

I went with the version that includes B5 Systems furniture: P23 Pistol Grip and Bravo stock. When compared with the Magpul version, I prefer the look of the B5 and backed up my instinct with some positive Reddit reviews. The Bravo stock is the lighter, streamlined version of the SOPMOD stock, while maintaining the same cushion, adjustability, and most of the cheekweld surface. The P23 grip is more vertical than the Magpul which looks better, has a more aggressive texture to help your sweaty hands, and a thicker beaver tail. If your hands are small, the P22 grip is a version with no beaver tail to give you more reach to the trigger.

Basically the same texture and form factor as the B5 pistol grip. When I got this, I didn’t know B5 made their own foregrip, but the BCM is quite similar. I’ve read some people prefer the B5 because it lacks the collar of the BCM where it joins to MLOK, although they’re practically the same grip.

These things are ubiquitous and seemed like the right intro to foregrips as opposed to something more specialized like a handstop. My philosophy has mostly been to try the more straight forward, time tested options while I figure out what I like. Then if I find myself with a new problem to solve, I’ll try a new, more unique solution. I don’t want to be a poser with specialized stuff when I don’t even know what problem I’m solving. PS: mount the grip angled outward if you want to join the cool kids.

A favorite around Reddit and the one that resonated with me looks wise. Quick adjustments for situating your rifle on the run, and enough width and padding for experimental rifle carrying techniques. It’s about $65, which seemed premium for a piece of strap. Turns out the basic un-padded Magpul option is $40, and their padded version is $70, so the Flatline doesn’t seem so crazy. I think padding is necessary for an RnG sling to mitigate pressure points when running. There are more heavily padded options out there, but they might sacrifice looks.

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With a variety of target distances and surprise stage layouts, it’s handy to have a single optic that can span close to medium distances. A 1-6x LPVO is the entry point: dial it to 1x and it's essentially a red dot, chill at 4x for 200 yarders, crank to 6x and you can hit steel at 500+

.The PST Gen II is the value benchmark in this category. Clear glass, true 1x, daylight-bright illumination, and Vortex's no-questions-asked lifetime warranty. The Primary Arms SLx 1-6 undercuts it on price, but glass clarity may be marginally worse, the reticle is busier, and the build looks cheaper. If you’re on a budget and the difference in price is meaningful, go Primary Arms. On the other end, the Vortex Razor HD Gen III beats both on glass but nearly doubles the cost of the PST.

After an event that threw some 700yd shots at me, I worried my 6x was a little puny. I plan to run 2 more events for more data before deciding if I need more- maybe I’ll be looking for a 10x soon.

The Leupold Mark AR is a one-piece aluminum cantilever that holds zero and puts the scope at the correct height for a standard AR. Straightforward, proven, and reasonably priced. American Defense Manufacturing makes a quick-detach version worth knowing about if you plan to swap optics frequently.

At first I planned to go with the ~$240 ADM QD mount so I had the option to swap easily later, but ultimately was so fatigued by how many $100s I was hemorrhaging that the Leupold at $84 was an instabuy. Reputable brand name, good reviews, looks solid, sent it. I also knew I’d probably leave the 1-6 attached full time, no need for QD.

While I was waiting on my scope to arrive, I grabbed a set of these to tide me over and have some form of optic to break in my rifle. Theoretically these serve as a backup if your main optic goes down or breaks. For my use case in RnG, I think it’s pointless. My probable worst case would be a battery dying which only costs me my illuminated dot, not the entire reticle. It would take a major failure for the scope to be unusable, and I don’t see it happening. Plus, I’d have to take off the scope to flip up the rear sight, and I didn’t opt for a QD mount. I don’t plan on doing scope surgery on the trail, and maybe I’m lame for that. I’m open to adapting if I see a need later.

So basically these are a $100 aesthetic adornment that might make you look 1% more tactical. If you want something usable without having to take off your scope, go for a set of canted irons. These might take some training to get used to, but could actually be useful. Maybe you chose ascope whose minimum is 4x and you come across close range targets in a competition- these could fill that gap.

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I wanted to prioritize ruggedness and reliability over all else while staying affordable. This was my first gun, so I wanted something super versatile. I had been weighing some of the hipster options like the HK VP9 and Walther PDP, but the Glock spoke to me. I love how simple and solid it is, and it feels like a right of passage to own one. I also think the notorious Glock grip angle made recoil feel more manageable. I went back and forth between 19 vs 17 vs 45 and chose the 45 for its visually pleasing grip-to-slide proportions and the argument that a lighter slide could reduce muzzle flip. I did, however, like how the shorter grip of the 19 sandwiched my fingers between the trigger guard and magwell for a solid squeeze. But, since my goal was not to carry this gun, I ultimately decided it’d be lame to sacrifice grip real estate if I didn’t have to.

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The affordable choice when prioritizing durability. The Trijicon RMR is the durability king but costs noticeably more for similar function. I considered some of the competition focused optics like the 507 Comp and SRO, but I didn’t like the idea of sacrificing durability. I found an EPS for $250 on Tacswap and let it rip.

The standard for retention holsters. RnG events will often disqualify anyone whose pistol flops out of his holster unintentionally. Thus, active retention is a must: the kind of holster that requires a lever or button press to allow the gun to come loose. The Safariland has a simple lever, activated by the thumb of your drawing hand, disengaging the retention in a smooth motion. Without pushing the lever, your gun is going nowhere.

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As far as OEM Glock mags, I still only have the 3 I got with my gun. I bought two 21rd Pmags and one 27rd Pmag to see if the price difference was worth sacrificing some reliability. I ran them in a comp with no issues, however I can see evidence of the issues people have reported.When unloading mags, I’ve noticed the spring and follower getting caught on the way up the mag and not feeding with consistent pressure, which risks rounds getting flipped around and jamming. I’d still be happy using Pmags, especially at the range, but plan to get a full set of Glock mags for good measure.

No reliability concerns here, these are a no-brainer. I’m carrying the standard 4x 30 round mags and at least one 20 round for tight or prone shooting positions. I might try 3x 30rd and 2x 20rd. I’ll probably use these to experiment carrying different ammo next match- 55gr in 30s, 77gr in 20s.