How long does it take to don one of these BA vests?

You hear the infamous "bump in the night", get up and don your vest, get your self defense gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
How long does it take to don one of these BA vests?

You hear the infamous "bump in the night", get up and don your vest, get your self defense gun.

I can get into my IOTV in about a minute maybe less. It's like putting on a sweater vest with an extra movement to attach the cummerbund.

Soft armor vests and some basic plate carriers are pretty quick to don.

I typically leave both shoulder straps and the left set of side straps already in place. Then you just toss the armor over your head and left arm, attach the right side straps, and you're good to go.

About as quick as putting on a coat.

Plate carriers with cummerbunds and side plates take a bit longer. And the full-on military-style IOTV armor most likely takes even longer.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Soft armor vests and some basic plate carriers are pretty quick to don.

I typically leave both shoulder straps and the left set of side straps already in place. Then you just toss the armor over your head and left arm, attach the right side straps, and you're good to go.

About as quick as putting on a coat.

Plate carriers with cummerbunds and side plates take a bit longer. And the full-on military-style IOTV armor most likely takes even longer.

See my post above, I use the same technique for my IOTV as you do for your armor. It goes on very quickly.

However I have over a decade of practice :-) YMMV

For those still looking, DSG just put out a sale notice on Grey Ghost minimalist carrier and plates for $339

https://dsgarms.com/grey-ghost...teel-plates-included

quote:

Originally posted by bigredfish:
For those still looking, DSG just put out a sale notice on Grey Ghost minimalist carrier and plates for $339

https://dsgarms.com/grey-ghost...teel-plates-included

Only $289 if you qualify for their generous LE/Mil discount.

Here's the armor that's included in the package:

(Front) http://internationalbodyarmor....-plates-stand-alone/

(Back) http://internationalbodyarmor....-plates-stand-alone/

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
How long does it take to don one of these BA vests?

You hear the infamous "bump in the night", get up and don your vest, get your self defense gun.

It depends on plate carrier type and practice with the PC system, on your ability to don or doff quickly. Many plate carriers have cumberbunds and seperate inner cumberbund straps and clips that will that will take more time to properly put on. Most will have the ability to remove the cumberbund and just run the clip portion which would be the fastest. Just using the clip straps is quicker and lighter, but you lose the ability to carry side armor/pouches, leaving you with only front and rear armor and whatever you have attached to those panels. Everything is a trade off when you are dealing with this type of equipment, faster=less equipment/protection and slower=more equipment/protection.

There is a carrier that First Spear makes, specifically the Strandhogg that is quick to put on/off with their proprietary 'tube' system, which retains pouches and side armor, but will cost you more cash to have that capability. With this set up the carrier cost more and then you will need additional soft plate backers(IIIA)/hard plates (Level III-ICW-in conjunction with) or IV stand alone, and cumberbund IIIA inserts if you don't already have/need them. In addition to side plate pockets if that is needed/required, and ammo pouches and IFAK as needed as well.

For the specific question and set up inquiry mentioned in reply, I would recommend a plate carrier without cumberbund, sort/hard armor as discussed above. Then set it up with pouches that correspond with with the firearm you will be grabbing to defend yourself i.e. pistol, rifle, shotgun.

Finally get your self an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit), either assembled by yourself, surplus, or preassembled like AR500, N.A.R., and attach that to your kit where you can access it with either hand.
Learn through available resources such as forums, youtube videos, and people in the know on how to apply the contents of your IFAK/Blowout kit. Keep a tourniquette on the outside of your kit for easy access.

I get IFAKS form this guy he is legit:
http://www.stormseekermilitary...roducts/show/6551994

http://www.stormseekermilitary...roducts/show/6551732

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Super Shooter,

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by bigredfish:
For those still looking, DSG just put out a sale notice on Grey Ghost minimalist carrier and plates for $339

https://dsgarms.com/grey-ghost...teel-plates-included

Only $289 if you qualify for their generous LE/Mil discount.

Here's the armor that's included in the package:

(Front) http://internationalbodyarmor....-plates-stand-alone/

(Back) http://internationalbodyarmor....-plates-stand-alone/

It looks like it's listed now for $299!

Anyone found any other deals?

Boz, Did you get your plates from Highcom?

quote:

Originally posted by P226RN:
Anyone found any other deals?

Boz, Did you get your plates from Highcom?

http://outerarmortactical.com

He was running a small group buy, you may want to check with him to check availability.

There is also a pretty interesting read on AR500 plates you may want to check out.

Yep... Got the plates. Sorry, lost track of this tread.

The plates arrived 4 days after my order and confirmation of eligibility (ensuring I was a citizen).

Long story short, 1 of the plates appeared to have a manufacturing defect and the other plate had a very slight cosmetic defect. I e-mailed customer service and they offered to return all of my money and apologized profusely. I told them I did not want my money back and wanted a single replacement plate. They insisted I send both back and accept a new pair of plates. I accepted and had the new plates the next day (Saturday via FedEx) along with a return label to ship back the defective plates.

The defects I attribute to the high volumes of orders and push to service their customers quickly. I also believe the defects would not have degraded the plates ability to stop the rounds within its certification.

The new plates are pristine and remarkably "lite" in my SKD PIG Plate carrier. I am not sure if this is a function of the plates only weighing 7.2 lbs each or the PIG being an incredibly comfortable PC.

I plan on purchasing some other armor products from Highcom based on the experience, the value, the quality and a $50 credit offer for writing a review for their website. I am writing the review now and will include the issues with the first set of plates and what they did to make it right.

Buy with confidence.

Thanks for sharing the results on all of your research Boz. On the PIG plate carrier, did you go with the elastic or soft armor compatible cummerbund?

For side protection do most people run plates, soft panels, or leave it open?

I went with the MOLLE cumberbund. There are only 2 choices of cumberbund now, the elastic and "the other one". I went with "the other one". I am not running side plates but may pick up a pair with the $50 discount that has been offered.

I found an article by jjones on the Modern Service Weapons website that solidified my choice of the SKD PIG. The article is here

I am going to get another set of plates for the wife and a couple of level IIIA "civilian armor" inserts for a couple of backpacks my wife and I carry when we travel and are out and about for an afternoon.

Lots of great info, and for me i went with AR500 steel plates, but in hindsight, i kind of wish i had waited and did more research.

Just saw the mention of a recall, and i am going to look into that when i get home.

I read over this thread, and did not see this company mentioned but they seem to be picking up steam.

DFNDR $125-190 for IIIA plate that weighs less than 1 lb

http://www.dfndrarmor.com/

some videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWcqbbweFcA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpzSpQgmsg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpwmN8f8l64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXBUWtb5QI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvDTCDcWbNw

Do people who want body armor plan on wearing it as part of their EDC or is it something for a special occasion like riots or civil unrest or TEOTWAWKI?

quote:

Originally posted by Gundawg:
Lots of great info, and for me i went with AR500 steel plates, but in hindsight, i kind of wish i had waited and did more research....

Gundawg, what would you have done differently and why? just curious since I am looking at possibly picking up some armor. Would you have stepped it up to ceramic plates, or would you have stepped down to lesser armor choice (soft armor)?

Or is there some other choice you wish you would have made?

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Do people who want body armor plan on wearing it as part of their EDC or is it something for a special occasion like riots or civil unrest or TEOTWAWKI?

I have mine set up right now in my closet which is 5 feet from my side of the bed, set up in a condor sentry carrier, chose the condor because it's simple ease of use never used outside of the house.

Back to the top, because it's still a dangerous world.

I was given some ceramic plates. What would be a good carrier for them?

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:
I was given some ceramic plates. What would be a good carrier for them?

Measure them and maybe go to a police supply store and try some carriers on. Then you'll have a better idea of what fits you and what you're looking for.