A shooter in a plate carrier kneeling with a rifle on a hillside

Resources / Tactical Preparedness

Build Your Loadout, Tier by Tier

The practical order most people build in, not the perfect one. Not sure which tier you're on? Take the 8‑question loadout check.

See Where You Stand The Path

Quick Wins

Checklists You Can Use Today

Shooters in eye and ear protection on an indoor rifle range

Range Bag Checklist

Everything to pack for a day of training.

Checklist · 12 items
Hands packing a simulated wound during a bleeding-control class

IFAK / Trauma Kit

The bleeding-control basics to carry on you.

Checklist · 8 essentials
A tan holster with black belt attachments

Gun Belt Setup

A common layout for holster, mags, and medical.

Setup · 5 steps
A team in plate carriers and helmets stacking up on a doorway

Body Armor Levels

IIIA to RF3: what each rating actually stops.

Explainer · 4 ratings

The Gear Pyramid

Build From the Bottom Up

Start at the bottom and work up at your own pace. Tap a tier for its step-by-step guide.

Tier 8 · Night Vision Tier 7 · Helmet Tier 6 · Rig or Carrier Tier 5 · Radio & PTT Tier 4 · Packs & Bags Tier 3 · Gun Belt Tier 2 · Ammo & Mags Tier 1 · Rifle & Pistol
Then Go Back and Fill the Holes Find what failed or what you don't like, and upgrade that first.

The Guides

The Path, Step by Step

A shooter in ear pro and multicam firing a rifle with a red dot at an outdoor range

Tier 1

Rifle & Pistol Setup

A 16" rifle and a pistol set up right, basic protection, a pocket tourniquet, and a secure place to keep them.
Black magazine holders lined up on a wooden rail

Tier 2

Ammo & Magazines

Start with 3 mags per gun, shoot a lot, then build toward 6, 10, and a reserve you never touch.
Two operators in multicam with belt kit climbing through rubble

Tier 3

Gun Belt Setup

The holster most people forget, reloads, and a full IFAK on a belt you can train in.
A pack laid out with gloves, a multitool, a helmet, and other gear

Tier 4

Packs, Get-Home & Truck Bags

A daypack, a get-home bag, and a truck bag with a designated, secure place to live.
A shooter in a headset and plate carrier laughing while talking on a handheld radio

Tier 5

Radio & PTT Setup

A cheap handheld radio, a license, a PTT that plugs into your ear pro, and reps with a team.
A team in plate carriers and helmets stacking up on a doorway during room-entry training

Tier 6

Chest Rig or Plate Carrier

Your fighting load: which one to buy first, how many mags, armor ratings, and how it should fit.
A tan high-cut helmet with side rails on a mannequin head

Tier 7

Bump & Ballistic Helmets

Bump or ballistic, a fit that stays put, and the rails and shroud for ear pro and night vision.
Silhouette of a shooter in a helmet with night vision against a dusk sky

Tier 8

Night Vision Setup

The top of the pyramid: a Gen 3 tube, a mount that holds it steady, and the reps to use it.
A group in multicam and belt kit running drills at an outdoor range

Then

Fill the Holes

Go back through your kit, find what failed or what you don't like, and upgrade that first.

Looking for the household side: water, food, power outages, and go bags? Emergency Preparedness →

Common Questions

What order should I buy tactical gear in?

The most likely path for someone getting started: a rifle and pistol (with basic protection, a tourniquet, and secure storage), then mags and ammo, a gun belt, packs and bags, a radio and PTT, a chest rig or plate carrier, a helmet, and night vision last. It's not the only order, just the practical one. After that, go back and fill the holes.

What should I buy first for a tactical loadout?

A rifle and pistol that run reliably, set up with a light, sling, and optic, plus eye and ear protection, a tourniquet, and a locking place to store them. If you're not sure where your gaps are, the free Loadout Check scores all 8 tiers and points you to the one to build next.

What is the difference between first, second, and third line gear?

First line is your belt: pistol, a few reloads, and medical you never take off. Second line is your chest rig or plate carrier: your fighting load. Third line is your pack: water, food, and resupply.

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