Cold War (1980's) US Army .45 magazine pouch--correct item?

[82Trooper]

Hello:
Can anyone advise me which magazine pouch is appropriate for training/field use for an 1980's era US Soldier? I see pix of military policy with shiny black leather ones,....was this what everyone would have used? By this time were the WW2 style canvas pouches out of service?

Any insight anyone can offer would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Mike

[browningautorifle]

From what I remember, single snap canvas pouches were in use with .45 mags. Certainly earlier. The double snap were gone and that leather one was strictly MP as you suggest. I bought all mine from the PX in Ft Lewis in the '80s new.

This pouch... 45 Mag Pouch

[82Trooper]

Thank you sir.

[browningautorifle]

There should be a few more guys wander by yet, there were some like Bear that were serving then too...

[BEAR]

The twin snap .45 pouch as shown in Jim's post is what was issued when I first went in the Army. In my Airborne unit in Alaska only officers were issued this pouch. I was a 60 gunner and we used one M14 pouch with two .45 mags. Medics wore the same. Rattled like crazy so I went to the Army surplus store in Anchorage and purchased a tan WW2 .45 pouch and used it, until the CO. told me to take it off because it was not the same color as the OG gear. When we got a new CO. I got an up-to-date .45 pouch from the clothing sales store and wore it until I became a team leader. Still had to wear the M14 pouch but that was OK, carried pogie bait in it.

BEAR

[browningautorifle]

one M14 pouch with two .45 mags.

Never heard that one.

I got an up-to-date .45 pouch from the clothing sales store

That was it, which was attached to the PX in Ft Lewis. Brand new gear, still have them here full of mags I haven't used since I got them...about 28 mags for 1911A1.

[82Trooper]

Thanks for the info...this is what I was hoping to clarify.

[BEAR]

Never heard that one.

Did you mean you never heard of the M14 pouch (M1956 Universal Ammunition Pouch)???
Or did you mean carrying two .45 magazine being carried in the said pouch????

Here's pictures of M60 teams in Alaska. Notice the single M14...uh.....M1956 Universal Ammunition Pouch

[browningautorifle]

carrying two .45 magazine being carried in the said pouch

Yes, I was well aware of M1956 pouches...just using for pistol mags.

Not what I would have pictured either...two little mags rattling around in a big box, waiting to rattle right out. I built my own fighting order in about 1977 using two M1956 pouches and an "H" harness, Cdn M45 web belt, US issue butt pack. Looked like US gear and held together, held FN mags like it should.

[82Trooper]

Hey Bear, what year would those photos have been?