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Member |
Same here; closing on 50 and just wanted some emergency plates/carrier to have in the car or at home. If younger, maybe the curved lightweight plates to run the range in but alas those days aren't happening anymore. Bought their $89 special. Might wear it occasionally for weight training. But I will have it for emergencies. | |||
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Go ahead punk, make my day |
Of course it is. Heart rates haven't been north of 100+ in a decade, except after the Thanksgiving feast. | |||
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Telecom Ronin |
Good post, thank you | |||
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Oriental Redneck |
And, a thank you from me, too. Q | |||
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Knows too little about too much |
Me as well. RMD TL Davis: “The Second Amendment is special, not because it protects guns, but because its violation signals a government with the intention to oppress its people…” Remember: After the first one, the rest are free. | |||
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War Damn Eagle! |
To Mark: I "inherited" a plate carrier and a set of plates. 90% of the time it sits next to the safe, and the other 10% of the time I'll wear it while working out or cleaning around the house. 10 years ago I'd have said it was overkill, but times are changing. And with it being so cheap nowadays - I kinda view it as "why not?" | |||
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Repressed |
Serious question: what sort of plates/armor make the most sense? I'm pretty novice at this, but am interested to obtain a practical set up. I'm a paper-pusher, so it would only see use for range training and practice, or, if time permitted, as something to slip on to check out whatever just spooked my dogs.... or if zombies invade or whatever. Thus far I think I understand: Steel is heavy, but offers excellent protection against penetration, but should be paired with an anti-spalling solution and trauma pads. Ceramic/composite plates are lighter weight, but can degrade over time and impacts can compromise further utility. Some carriers permit "soft" armor to pair with plates for supplemental protection, provided you can handle the weight and bulk. Armor gets heavy, and the rigs get heavier, fast, the more pouches and stuff you start packing on. Better not skip leg day if one plans to be able to endure wearing a loaded up plate carrier. -ShneaSIG Oh, by the way, which one's "Pink?" | |||
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Bolt Thrower |
I got a full set of Hesco level 4 on sale. They were affordable, thick, heavy, and held up to multiple hits during youtube tests. | |||
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That is my spot. |
I am losing weight but due to work and my love of all foods, I am over weight often. I train. I practice. But I am currently incapable of completing an Ironman while wearing a PC not to mention even my normal EDC. I guess I should just stay home. Thank you, OP for posting this- I am only 40 and most people would not view me as a target at my 6'7" 290lb frame. Still, not having plates/ Kevlar/ whatever has always been in my mind as a deficiency. Also, Mark- I hope you don't mind my signature line update. ***************** Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin | |||
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Member |
What I haven't really seen addressed in this thread is what should come first. An evaluation of both the expected threat level you are protecting against as well as anticipated use. The right armor for a patrol cop is way different than for a soldier and different still from a home defense rig and still different from a SHTF rig with a bug out vehicle. For home defense, the threat level likely is handgun/shotgun, so soft IIIA with a good trauma pad will do. Personally, I opted for a IV ceramic plate in front only (really helps with blunt trauma) backed by soft armor and just the soft armor in the back. I already had this though. For my wife, I set up a plate carrier with a III+ steel plate swimmers cut in front and soft IIIA in back, both backed by gel trauma pads for decent blend of protection that exceeds the likely threat level. For a vehicle bug out rig, I'd do a III+ steel plate carrier. For combat, I'd do the full soft armor, front, rear and side IV plates. For a do-it-all bigger budget civilian set up. I'd go with a high end carrier and the level III UHDPE plates front, rear, and side. This would be the best blend of multi rifle hit protection plus light weight. “People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.” –Chuck Palahnuik Be harder to kill: https://preparefit.ck.page | |||
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Member |
Do you add any protection for face and head? | |||
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Bolt Thrower |
I would like to get a ratnik helmet, though getting one by sending money to a random Ivan isn't something I'm comfortable with. My COM is protected though, so that's something. | |||
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Member |
Me or the OP? For myself, generally, I think that is a bit much on the cost/benefit/time to put on, analysis. I do have a spare MICH helmet, but it is buried with other misc. gear. However, here is what would tilt me personally in favor of setting up a helmet. Night vision. If I could afford it, a PVS-14 already helmet-mounted with an IR laser on the AR would be the primo HD set up. “People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.” –Chuck Palahnuik Be harder to kill: https://preparefit.ck.page | |||
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Drill Here, Drill Now |
One thing that hasn't been discussed is spalling from rounds striking steel plates can cause injury or death. The OP selected a kit that has a .26" base coat of anti-spall and there is a $29 option to increase anti-spall to .48". Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. | |||
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Sigforum K9 handler |
Here's the thing. What do you want to spend? That is what this comes down to. Body armor threads come down to cost, at the end of the day. Body Armor is just like the guys that say "I want a 1911 with a match grade barrel, beavertail, magwell, a good set of sights, undercut under the trigger guard, and I want it for under $400". Because it is "as good as" a Springfield Pro, all the same parts, right? We won't argue those who want to be pedantic about "high end guns" or in this case "high end armor". I have been wearing plates and carriers since about the time it became the cool guy thing to do. We transitioned from "heavy" vests with a front plate, to some earlier style plate carriers, to a mixture of our own stuff, to London Bridge 6094s. The carrier needs to be comfortable, whatever you choose. Good shoulder pads are a must. Those folks who say "I want plates and a carrier for when the SHTF" seem to write like they think that the SHTF is only going to take 15 minutes tops. If people are going to be putting on plates and carriers, you probably are going to wearing them for a while, and the ones that buy the $89.99 Earl Scheib special will regret it after the first hour. Poorly made and designed carriers absolutely suck to wear. The shoulder straps will cut into your shoulders after about 15 minutes. Those plate carriers have cummerbunds that won't help distribute the weight and cause it all to draw down on the shoulders. Any movement at all will cause it to be worse. Some of the potato sack carriers (they look like a potato sack with molle and plates in them) do not have any padding or air channels in them. If you aren't running stand alone plates, you MUST have the padding, or a backer that goes in the plate pouch. Otherwise, you take a round to the plate, and it will break something. Particularly a rifle round. My recommendation is do your research, and purchase the best carrier you can if you are going to go with cheap (steel) plates. At a minimum, the carrier has to have either shoulder pads for the straps (or the ability to add pads), internal padding in the carrier, and at least a back air channel made into the carrier. Plates go from less than a pound to nearly 10 pounds each. The steel plates have no shelf life, and you don't have to worry about getting them wet or if you accidentally drop them. The lighter composite stuff you have to be a little careful. You can find composite plates in the 4 pound range that offer decent pricing, and are pretty stable to exposure to shock and water. Any carrier that doesn't come with the pictures of the padding inside, I would steer away from. I would stay with brand name carriers as well. The Crye JPC with a backer and steel plates would be my best on a budget suggestion. The Crye JPC is about $225 if you shop around, and then plates and backers are whatever you find them for. That is the cheapest I would go based upon wearing plates a few times per week. Once the plates start to hurt you, you will be less likely to function in an already stressful situation, or you will just take the thing off entirely because it will be heavy and cumbersome. Like I said, people want magic for little money and claim to be "on a budget". But, buying a Jennings .25 for self defense because you are "on a budget", and then arguing it is as good as a SIG P226 is in that same vein. The two pistols aren't even close, and only distantly can be put in the same category. Skimp now, pay later. | |||
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Doin' what I can with what I got |
Bruh, biteproof stuff for the zombies. My scouting team has had good luck with that synthetic stuff they made for motorcycle riders. Any time we see a motorcycle shop we check to see if any of that stuff is still around and hasn't been looted. I guess we got lucky with the zombies coming in the spring and all, nobody wants that stuff now that it's August. Get a group together and go grab it now, before people start using it just to keep warm when the seasons change. Riding jacket, riding pants, riding gloves are a bitch to hike and shoot in but they work. Keeps ya safe from the asphalt, keeps ya safe from the chompers. Some of us run plate carriers over that but for the most part we rely on speed, so we wear old school no-plate load bearing vests and stuff. ... Thought this thread could use a little humor ---------------------------------------- Death smiles at us all. Be sure you smile back. | |||
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Member |
Thanks jljones. Link - https://www.cryeprecision.com/...le-plate-carrier-jpc Lead time is 3-4 months. This thread got me thinking about armor again, especially since I only looked at the unlikely SHTF event and not the more likely home invasion or other short-term usage event. During a home invasion, will I have time to put body armor on, I guess that would partly depend on the size of the home and their point of entry. Like the SigMonkey says, continual re-evaluation is good thing. | |||
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Sigforum K9 handler |
Hey look around at places like OPTactical, SKD, and other places. They often have the stuff in stock. | |||
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Sigforum K9 handler |
You could also throw in the recommendation to buy the airsoft knock offs, with the dense foam imitation plates. | |||
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Repressed |
I'm willing to buy what needs buying, as long as it's reasonable/worthwhile to buy it. I don't want to pitch money away on stuff that doesn't have an advantage, but I want a useable and reliable solution. If I have to put it on for 15 minutes or 15 hours, well, I want something I can count on. It seems that level III+ or IV steel with a thick anti-spalling coat and a trauma pad is what I'm after, since that configuration doesn't really have a shelf-life. I have an LBT chest rig, and it's top notch, so I'd have no problem going with an LBT carrier. But, if there are better ideas, I'm all ears. -ShneaSIG Oh, by the way, which one's "Pink?" | |||
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