ZEV Tech OZ9V2 Combat Quick-Reaction Rig

The ZEV Tech OZ9V2 Combat is a great starting point for a defensive pistol build, but there’s always room for improvement. That’s why I added a Trijicon SRO, SureFire X300U-A, Safariland ALS holster, and some True North Concepts goodies to my setup.

When things get ugly, awareness, avoidance, de-escalation, and getting away from a situation should always be your first line of response. But when none of those options are on the table, you still want your defensive setup to be readily available, without drawing attention to it or compromising your mobility.

Instead of reaching for the plate carrier or chest rig, consider a quick-reaction belt. Inside a vehicle, around lots of people, or moving through situations where you don’t want to look like you’re ready to start a war, a belt will still get you the kit you need without turning you into a walking gear locker. And just as important as the gear itself, is making sure that belt also factors in what happens after the immediate threat is dealt with.

That’s why I added a tourniquet next to my Safariland ALS holster. It only takes up a little bit of space, doesn’t get in the way, and still keeps that critical piece of medical equipment ready and accessible, assuming you’ve practiced with it, for myself or someone else.

But don’t get me wrong. This isn’t about packing on as much gear as possible. If a piece of kit isn’t solving a problem for me, it doesn’t deserve a spot on my belt.

ZEV Tech OZ9V2 Combat

Custom polymer-framed 9mms are hardly novel, but what sets the successful companies apart from those that aren’t around anymore? In our thoroughly explored world of handguns, true innovations are rare. Progress is often in the little things, figuring out the minutia of what makes a handgun a better platform to shoot, customize, and carry.

ZEV Tech hasn’t tried to convince you it has some revolutionary innovation. Instead, the company has taken one of the most well-known handgun platforms there is and improved it. Case in point, the OZ9V2 Combat. It includes a windowless OZ9V2 Combat slide, PRO match barrel, PRO Curved Face Trigger, and uses a Glock-compatible magazine. The slide uses a Gen5 Glock barrel and internal components, but with a Gen3-style recoil system. The OZ9V2 Combat is available with a FDE slide and grip, and can be ordered as a Full-Size, Compact, or Compact X.

Each model has the same basic concept, just with different slide/grip length combinations. For instance, the Compact X has the standard compact-size receiver, but uses ZEV’s longer X grip for more gun in your hand without the slide length and added weight. The Full-Size has a longer V2 slide and barrel. You could probably list out all the possible combinations, but here’s the rub.

The OZ9V2 uses a compact steel receiver as its serialized component rather than the polymer frame. The receiver contains the trigger and locking block, with the polymer frame attaching around it. It uses a single pin to secure the frame, so it can be swapped with no other disassembly required. There are different colors and sizes, but again, it’s not the number of possible combinations I’m most interested in, but the fact that you are no longer stuck with your configuration.

The steel receiver isn’t just for modularity, either. It gives ZEV a solid foundation on which to mount the slide, which the company claims results in less vibration and channels recoil through the receiver and frame. And I’ll attest, shooting the OZ9V2, you can certainly feel the difference. The grip positions your hand higher and farther forward on the gun, and its updated angle makes it easy to achieve a firm two-handed grip. The sights track straight and smoothly. The pistol returns to battery without fighting you, with little wasted motion. Recoil impulse is markedly milder than its polymer-framed peers. It’s still a 9mm, don’t think ZEV found a way around the laws of physics, but if you’ve fired these guns before, you’ll notice.

I’ve shot a lot of polymer-framed 9mms over the years, and I’ve enjoyed plenty of them, so take this with the proper amount of salt, but the OZ9V2 might be my favorite polymer-framed 9mm I’ve shot. And that’s a hell of a foundation on which to start building a QRP.

Trijicon SRO

A larger window isn’t going to cure inconsistent presentations or bad fundamentals, and if you’re having to search for your dot every time you present, a bigger piece of glass isn’t necessarily the answer. But if you already have those fundamentals in place, a larger window can help you keep your focus on target more easily. That’s where the Trijicon SRO really stands out over something like the RMR, along with its top-loading battery compartment that doesn’t require removal of the optic to change the battery.

The Trijicon SRO isn’t anything particularly new or innovative, but that’s likely why it has a cult following. That larger window makes it easy to keep your focus on target, and combined with the smooth tracking of the OZ9V2, makes it easy to track the dot and come back on target through recoil.

Surefire X300U-A

For my EDC flashlight, I’m not going to stray from a tried and true favorite: the SureFire X300U-A. At 1,000 lumens with a nice reach, but still plenty of peripheral light, this aluminum bad boy is waterproof and built to last. The ambidextrous switches are easy to use and its proven track record of durability makes it my go-to for EDC lighting.

While there are plenty of new, and cheaper flashlights to choose from these days, when it comes to my EDC lighting I’m not taking chances. I want my gear to perform when I need it to, even in the worst of conditions, and the X300U-A delivers.

Safariland RDS ALS

If there’s one holster I’ve seen in virtually every handgun class, it’s Safariland’s outside-the-waistband option, lovingly referred to as “buckets” by yours truly. There’s good reason for it’s ubiquity: the Automatic Locking System (ALS) holster has been the standard for law enforcement and the holster industry for good reason. I’ve seen some extremely skilled shooters use them, and I can see why after handling one myself. If you need retention from an OWB holster, buckets deliver.

The Safariland 6395RDS is designed to be used with a red dot pistol. Once the gun is in the holster, the pistol is retained by Safariland’s Automatic Locking System without the need for a snap or retention strap over the top of the pistol. The lock is released with a thumb motion that is incorporated into the draw stroke. Once defeated, the pistol simply exits the holster with no additional motions or retention release mechanisms to remember in an already stressful situation.

This is the level of simplicity and effectiveness I’m after on a quick-reaction rig. I want my gun retained while I’m driving, moving around, getting in and out of the car, sitting down, or dealing with any number of issues. But when I reach for my gun, I want it to come out. The bucket does just that.

True North Concepts RHPP

If your belt rig rides too loosely and shifts or moves throughout the day, a good holster mounted on it still results in a lousy setup.

This can become even more apparent when riding in a vehicle for prolonged periods. The good news is that there are rigid options available that can solve this problem, like the Rigid Holster Platform Patrol, or RHPP, from True North Concepts.

The RHPP is True North’s Patrol-style holster platform made from 6061-T6 aluminum. It’s a smaller version of the company’s RHP, coming in at 6.25-inches, compared to the latter’s 7.5.

True North’s Rigid Holster Platform Patrol is a smaller version of the company’s RHP.

The RHPP mounts to belts up to 2.25-inches wide and is compatible with QLS and Safariland’s 3-Hole Pattern mounting system, among others. The RHPP’s curved back provides a full contact surface against the belt. Hardware is also recessed to limit snag points.

The RHPP, however, can still be adjusted to find your preferred cant and ride height. Once adjusted, though, the RHPP will maintain that setting while mounted. No more holster creeping, sliding, or shifting during movement or while drawing.

True North Concepts TQ Mount

Once shooting starts in a violent encounter, the last thing you want is for it to stop. But when people get seriously hurt, it can. In that case, the focus needs to immediately shift from neutralizing threats to calling for help, stabilizing the casualties, and getting them to advanced medical treatment.

It doesn’t do you any good to have a tourniquet tucked away in a pack or stashed in your vehicle when you need one, right then, right now. That’s why the True North Concepts TQ Mount attaches a tourniquet directly to the side of your holster, eliminating the need for another pouch or accessory to consume more of your limited belt space.

Keeping a TQ snug to your holster as opposed to dangling from another pouch or section of your belt also helps avoid snagging on other gear and keeps it accessible without turning your quick-draw belt into a medic belt. The TQ Mount is compatible with popular tourniquets like the CAT Gen 7 and SOF Tourniquet when used with the appropriate elastic or rigid TQ carriers.

But it’s just as important to understand how to properly use a tourniquet as it is to carry one, so you have to pair the right tools with the right training.

Final Thoughts on the System

I like a quick reaction rig because it allows me to keep things low-profile and doesn’t require me to bring along every piece of gear I own to go outside of my front door.

My quick reaction rig consists of an OZ9V2, SRO, X300U-A, Safariland holster, True North platform with TQ Mount. The OZ9V2 is a great performing pistol, SRO provides a large window for use without added complexity, Safariland holster provides reliable retention with a release I understand and trust, the True North platform is rigid and keeps the holster where I want it, and the X300U-A provides reliable illumination when needed. The TQ Mount allows for quick access to medical equipment without having to dedicate another pouch to the platform.

The idea of a quick reaction rig is not to go overboard and bring along more gear than you need. Every piece of equipment on your rig should serve a purpose. The quick reaction rig I laid out above helps me accomplish my goals, while not getting in the way of my primary tasks. Those being, recognize a situation before it gets out of hand, avoid the situation if possible, de-escalate the situation if needed, and get myself and those I am responsible for to a safer location. Should those options not be available and I am forced to deal with a violent threat, my quick reaction rig allows me to accomplish my goal without the added complication of my gear getting in the way.

ZEV Tech Quick-Reaction Build

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