Body Armor Suggestions

[bballbaby]

Anyone have any body armor suggestions? I'm looking to invest in my own. I'm hoping to keep it under $500 if at all possible. I don't/won't spend $2000; my life isn't that valuable I guess.

I done a small amount of research and am slightly aware of the different grades and protection levels.

Thanks in advance
G

 

[T-Squared]

Just be wary of your state laws regarding ownership, but here's a site you may want to check:

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Quick_Answers.shtml#1

 

[bballbaby]

Good info there.

 

[smokinghole]

Is this for home or the overseas gig? If the overseas gig I'd get Level IIIA soft vest and multistrike standalone IV plates. If it's for home I have a IIIA Second Chance vest left from when I was EOD (the concealable armor was for USSS work). That would do ya for certain situations. Those vests do not stop rifle rounds however plates do. Your other option would be a IIIA vest with IV plates in a plate carrier that you can take on and off at will.

Are you looking for specific manufacturers?

 

[bballbaby]

adam - This is for home. I'm supplied with some pretty heavy duty stuff over here. It weighs about 30 lbs and i believe it's ceramic plates. for home I'm looking to get something to stop rifle rounds. I don't mind the weight.

So what youre suggesting is buying and empty plate carrier vest and putting IV plates in it? Am I understanding you correctly?

 

[smokinghole]

Just so everyone that might not understand armor. There are two kinds of plates basically regardless of composition. There are plates that offer IV protection from rifle rounds but they have to be used in conjunction with IIIA soft armor. Then there are IV plates called "stand alone" meaning if you wanted IV protection from rifle rounds and slugs you could just hang this thing on your chest in a plate carry vest. The best plates are multi-strike stand alone IV plates but the plates alone are north of $5k typically and closer to $10k the lighter you get. You can save a lot of money by buying some real heavy plates which should protect just fine if weight is not an issue. I had two old steel IV plates at one point and they were like 15-20lbs a piece!

 

[bballbaby]

Here's what i'm looking at.

http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=18147&tabid=548&catid=2759

I'm a real tough guy, a true badass, know what i mean, so weight isn't going to be an issue. The ones i carry now are north of 30 lbs.




j/k about the tough guy stuff.

 

[bdc30]

As a peace loving Canadian who may be somewhat naive - may I ask why you need an item like this for "home" protection from "rifle rounds"? Pm me if it's too personal for public consumption.... opeyes:

 

[smokinghole]

At the risk of sounding like a nut job.....

Waiting for a natural disaster, civil unrest, or an epidemic is not the time to realize you need something. I'd rather have something and never need it, than need something and not have have it at the time of extreme need.

 

[bballbaby]

As a peace loving Canadian who may be somewhat naive - may I ask why you need an item like this for "home" protection from "rifle rounds"? Pm me if it's too personal for public consumption.... opeyes:

Questioned...

At the risk of sounding like a nut job.....

Waiting for a natural disaster, civil unrest, or an epidemic is not the time to realize you need something. I'd rather have something and never need it, than need something and not have have it at the time of extreme need.

And Answered...

And also at the risk of sounding like a nut job...I'm a prepper. Always prepared for ANYTHING!!!

 

[NCost]

I've never seen or heard of rifle rounds flying at you in a natural disaster. :lookaroun and I guess I'm not concerned enough w/ civil unrest or an epidemic enough to buy body armor. I do make sure I'm sitting on 2k rounds for each weapon I own, but if it's bad enough for me to need armor then the armor is really only going to prolong the inevitable anyway.
An epidemic...body armor won't protect your from airborne illness so not seeing the logic there.
Now if you live in the hood, maybe you need it daily. I don't so I think I'm good. :stretchgr

 

[dpricenator]

If you survive an airbone pandemic flu scenario, you will want not only weapons but the armor as well. There will be gangs running the cities, and people willing to shoot first, and ask later. For me, well I hope I don't survive any of the aforementioned scenarios. There is a much nicer place to sit once we die.

 

[bballbaby]

I've never seen or heard of rifle rounds flying at you in a natural disaster. :lookaroun and I guess I'm not concerned enough w/ civil unrest or an epidemic enough to buy body armor. I do make sure I'm sitting on 2k rounds for each weapon I own, but if it's bad enough for me to need armor then the armor is really only going to prolong the inevitable anyway.
An epidemic...body armor won't protect your from airborne illness so not seeing the logic there.
Now if you live in the hood, maybe you need it daily. I don't so I think I'm good. :stretchgr

for your sake and mine, I hope I'm being overly cautious.

 

[bballbaby]

An epidemic...body armor won't protect your from airborne illness so not seeing the logic there.
:stretchgr

OH, and I've already got that covered...SCBA with Level A HAZMAT suits. One of the perks of having been in the HAZMAT business.

So don't anybody think about knocking on my door when TSHTF

for your sake and mine, I hope I'm being overly cautious.

 

[smokinghole]

I've never seen or heard of rifle rounds flying at you in a natural disaster. :lookaroun and I guess I'm not concerned enough w/ civil unrest or an epidemic enough to buy body armor. I do make sure I'm sitting on 2k rounds for each weapon I own, but if it's bad enough for me to need armor then the armor is really only going to prolong the inevitable anyway.
An epidemic...body armor won't protect your from airborne illness so not seeing the logic there.
Now if you live in the hood, maybe you need it daily. I don't so I think I'm good. :stretchgr

Mr Price about covered it. It's not the natural disaster, or the disease causing organism. Body armor is for protection from people because people will turn animalistic given the circumstances where such behavior can be justified. I don't have much concern something is going to happen. The gear that helps out in the unlikely occurrence of such situations doesn't take up much space though. Since it take up so little space I like having it around. I keep lots of beer and alcohol in my house too lol.

It's just like the truck I want. I want a 3/4 diesel. I don't own a boat, or even a trailer. I do a lot of home improvement on my own and if I ever have to do a patio again, I'd rather have more truck than I need when the time comes.

 

[CAJoe]

As a peace loving Canadian who may be somewhat naive - may I ask why you need an item like this for "home" protection from "rifle rounds"? Pm me if it's too personal for public consumption.... opeyes:

You ask why, I ask why not

 

[mwlabel]

Check out videos by Nutnfancy on youtube. While I may or may not agree with a lot he has to say, he is almost always wearing some sort of armour. I believe he has some reviews up as well.

 

[Alwayslit]

...you'll need one of these with the armour if your expecting Sarajovo:wink:

 

[bballbaby]

i really REALLY want one of those little .50 cals. That's gonna be an extremely tough sell to the wife. Trying to explain why I need to be able to shoot something a mile away...Tricky.

 

[Craig Mac]

50 cal and body armor, am I missing something?