Alright, on the Kifaru gun bearer front, I think I’ve found my preferred way.
First, I had it installed on the sternum strap tri-glide the way Kifaru intends it to be used on the three bar slider:
This worked fine. But, I did worry about the strength of that split bar on the Exo piece with the gun bearer putting a lot of stress on the split piece. It also tended to make the sternum strap slide down if the whole system wasn’t under stress keeping it in place.
Then I had an idea. I weaved the gun bearer “ear” through the lowest molle section on the shoulder strap and then through a 3 bar slider. Getting the tab back through the top of the three bar slider required a pick, it is tight.
I then tucked the top of the tab into the next slot:
I then tested it by pulling the pack up by nothing but the gun bearer upper. The pack has about 45 pounds in it here:
Yeah. I think this is going to be the ticket. As noted earlier, I still have the Exo setup on the upper strap of the pack and I’m using their lower. So if I want to go to the pack carry it’s no problem.
Side note, I found the perfect use for the angled stuff pockets on the side of the pack, have my rain jacket and pack cover in one side, and my Seek Gunnison tarp in the other. All my inclement weather gear ready to go and quickly accessible without even taking the pack off first.