I know Viktos as a clothing brand. I love their jeans, they make some of my favorite jackets, and I’m currently wearing a pair of their boots as I type this. Viktos is a high-end, often expensive clothing brand aimed at gun enthusiasts, police, and military. Imagine my shock when I scrolled through Viktos’ post showing off their newest chest holster, the Taculus, which as the name suggests sounds like a minimalist bag for a modern rifle.
Awesome! I clicked on the link and the device was a nice surprise, but the budget-friendly price was the real surprise. That makes the Taculus about half the price of the shoes I wear. Even though Viktos doesn't have much experience in the world of weight-bearing equipment, I had a fair amount of confidence in the company after using their other products.
I knew I had to have it. They generously sent it to me for testing and review, and now I have fully tested the Taculus.
The Taculus is a truly simple device.
You didn't prepare the Tacaulus for use in Fallujah. This thing holds three magazines, with room in each holster for expansion. The nice thing is that you can put either AK or AR magazines in the Tacaulus. The AK doesn't seem to be as popular as the AR, so it's always nice to have other options to choose from.
The magazine pouches are lined with non-slip PVC to hold your stuff in place until you need it. The outside of each pouch has a laser-cut ladder to attach a magazine pouch , or a grenade pouch if you're a real fan. Personally, I wish someone could make a magazine pouch that would fit a roll of M&M minis.
The shoulder bag is as wide as the bag itself and sits low on the rig. It fits perfectly in the rig for medical equipment. It's small but functional for IFAK work. Four straps allow you to carry it all - two on your shoulders and two around the pack, connected to a large, foam-padded back section.
You can also untie the straps and insert the Taculus onto the armor plate as a magazine carrier. The Velcro MOLLE on the back will keep it covered and protected until needed. The Taculus comes in two colors, black and Multicam, and since I like the dripping effect, I chose the Multicam black.
Strapping with Viktos Taculus
Adjusting the Taculus to fit everyone is pretty easy, from a skinny thief to a fighting hippo. It’s the perfect size for a thief, but for a fighting hippo I adjusted it to fit my larger, less mobile frame perfectly. The sizing mechanism is pretty clever, the dangling at the front allows for a lot of size adjustment to complement the small adjustments you make through the straps.
These lanyards save you from having to deal with a lot of slack. The included straps keep everything neat and locked in place. Great! Plus, with no lanyards, there's nothing to catch on. Sergeant will be happy.
All of the straps converge on a large padded section at the back, which is a real beauty. The Taculus can hold three AR magazines or even three fully loaded AK magazines. Three magazines aren’t that much, and the large padding doesn’t seem necessary. However, it is extremely comfortable and very supportive. I could have loaded up my AR with 40 rounds of ammo and still felt comfortable. I don’t want to use the word unnecessary when it comes to superior comfort, but that’s the only word I can think of.
Putting the Taculus on the bag was a breeze, even after adjusting and tightening it. The magnetic buckle is great. It takes off and on with a pull, but it doesn’t budge unless you want it to. This is great care and not something I would expect to see on a budget backpack.
Fire, chest pocket, action
One of the great things about testing equipment like the Taculus is that I can combine training with testing equipment, and it doesn't feel like a chore at the time. Once the Taculus is set up and ready to go, I head to the range without much effort. I start by keeping things simple and focused. I reload in a standing position, perpendicular to the target.
The Taculus magazine pouch eats a fair amount of AR magazines, but there’s still plenty of room to grab and reload. I’ve never had to grab both the platform and the magazine at the same time, and I haven’t had to shift my focus from the target to the magazine to get a free magazine.
Then I moved it to several different positions. The simple design allows the gun to be placed in a tight, low position. The magazine is set high enough for easy access.
The rig never got in the way when I was kneeling low, double kneeling, or working behind cover. After a little dry practice, I loaded the magazine and started testing the retention. I did some sprints, box jumps, and did some exercises like rock climbing and wheelie flips. I was sweating quite a bit, but the Taculus kept the magazine in place without slipping out.
The Taculus gun knows when to hold it and when to let me hold it to reload. I may not be quoting Kenny Roger well, but the Taculus gun holds the magazine very well. Once adjusted properly, it doesn’t move, and I never felt any pinching or pain from the strap.
Minimalist devices don’t usually come with much comfort, but these Viktos devices don’t disappoint.
Credit: https://gunmagwarehouse.com
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