A possible useful addition to home defense

[armoredman]

Something many people don't consider is when you get yanked out of bed by the alarm shrilling, the dogs barking, the lovely sound of breaking glass as the bad guys struggle to break through the bars, you have a few choices...walk downstairs in your slippers with your pistol in one hand, cell phone in the other, wondering what is going on. I rather don't like that idea. First, my jammies are relatively bullet permeable, and I have no reason to go any farther than my son's bedroom to get him back to the safe room. I also like to use whatever advantages I can get and I scored a new recently, something that is very easy and fast to use. What I have is a new get up from a local shop called AR500 Armor.com, a steel plate armor manufacturer. http://www.ar500armor.com/index.php

Before I get into detail, think about the irony here - the Romans started the manufacture of back and breast curiass style armor over 2000 years ago, which use ended with the Spanish Conquistadors...and has made its return, 400 years later. Just goes to show a good idea never dies completely.


The setup I got is this one, http://www.ar500armor.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29906, a complete setup with plates, carrier and pouches. I will have to say, I have never used MOLLE before, and had no idea how to thread these darn things on, but I got thw two mag pouches to get on. I have a coyote brown AK mag pouch I wanted to use with the SA vz-58 7.72x39mm version,(anyone know how to thread those weird plastic dealies that come with Blackhawk gear?), but the included AR-15 mag pouch just happens to work well with the SA vz-58 5.56mm version. The pistol mag was easier to put on, and I will likely set it up with one pistol mag and a flashlight in the other side. I'd like to get a single mag pouch for rifle, and a cell phone holder - if I have to change magazines more than once, I stayed there too long. :shock:



I did get a few quick pictures today, nothing dramatic,

Ok, ONE dramatic picture. :lol:

This is a good view of how I have this one setup, but I think I will adjust it to sit lower on the chest. This has the twin pistol mag pouch with two CZ 75 SP-01 magazines, and twin AR-15 mag pouch with two Brownells aluminum 30 round mags loaded with 45 grain Varmint HP ammo.

You can also see the Shooters Cut on the armor does allow better positioning of the rifle - the butt doesn't sit on a corner of a plate, pounding you with every shot.

http://www.ar500armor.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29778

This stuff is NOT light, each panel weighs 7.5 pounds, so figure on 18 pounds with loaded gear to throw on at a moments notice. The twin fast plastic buckles on the sides means you can leave on locked and one open to slide through, click it shut, and you have phone, reloads and flashlight, right there. Grab your rifle/subgun/shotgun/pistol and go. Not something I'd want to wear running around in the woods, not an my age and gut size, but for a HOLY RUSTED METAL, BATMAN, moment, yeah, it'll do.

It isn't something most people would think of, I admit, but it has two advantages that many people won't realize - it's FAR cheaper than comparable soft body armor. Soft armor is concealable, and the very good stuff tends to crowd the $1000 mark here in the US. This complete setup is just over $200. This particular carrier is NOT meant for all day use, but for occasional use - they do have a very nice carrier that would work for regular duty use. http://www.ar500armor.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29934
I might invest in a better carrier later...when I've lost some weight and don't look like a jellyroll squirting out the sides.

In any case, I thought I'd throw that out there. Obviously, this has to be part of a layered defense strategy - if all you are relying on is the sound of breaking glass giving you plenty of warning, I fear you may be mistaken. But when you can build that layer of time between the outside and your tender pink rear end, this item could be a life saving asset.

 

[Ryanxia]

I like the dramatic shot. The idea of AR500 body armor is just great
I'll have to look more into it.

 

[Iramo94]

The problem I see with steel armor is the splatter. That's gotta hurt more than a ceramic that absorbs the bullet, right? What if the lead splatter nicks an artery?

 

[Risky]

Iramo94 is right... that bullet splatter is going to do a lot of damage (possibly lethal) to your arms, legs, and your face. Wearing steel plate armor without some kind of spall liner is foolish. Luckily, it can be easily rectified by getting a couple of layers of Kevlar over the front of the plate and covering the sides as to 'catch' the splatter like a net.

Personally I think its extremely unethical for these companies to market their steel plate armor without the caveat of the bullet splatter wounding mechanism.

IMHO, even if you're on a budget, you're probably still better off getting just one front ceramic multi-hit SAPI than using AR500 steel. You can SAPIs sets all day long on eBay for under 200 bucks... though they are harder to find as singles. Find a buddy and split the cost for a pair and you'll be better off.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

AR500 body armor? You are better off hanging sheet metal over your torso. There is a reason why Kevlar/Ceramic hybrid plates rated at III or better go for hundreds of dollars. If you are concerned about bullets from an intruder try a bookshelf. Books are cheap and very good at stopping rounds and you can hide a family behind a good sized book shelf.

Also you need to learn to stand square to a target. Facing an armed target with your side exposed like you are makes a clear open shot to your heart. Tactics change when you wear armor. When you don't wear armor it is tactically sound to with your side facing an enemy for smaller target area. When you wear armor you stand facing the target so any rounds going your way go into the armor, not in the holes or soft spots.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by armoredman: Something many people don't consider is when you get yanked out of bed by the alarm shrilling, the dogs barking, the lovely sound of breaking glass as the bad guys struggle to break through the bars, you have a few choices...walk downstairs in your slippers with your pistol in one hand, cell phone in the other, wondering what is going on.

That seems to be the default reaction of many uninformed people, but it is a bad strategy.

I rather don't like that idea.

Nor does anyone who has bothered to think about it.

Search on house clearing or bump in the night.

 

[armoredman]

Ehtereon11B, thank you for your rude personal attacks and insults, but I think I will ignore them from now on.
Kleanbore, I certainly was not advocating personal house clearing, but I couldn't take the pictures in the bedroom - wife was watching her shows. I mentioned in the original post the use of a layered defense, and this as one possible option as part of it, certainly not that it has to be.
Risky, which is more probably lethal - bullet splatter that may be stopped by the design of the carrier, or the bullet going into my heart? It MAY nick an artery, and I may die, that's a possibility from a bullet hit on the door frame next to me, but if the bullet enters the main organ housing group, my chances of survival may be infinitely smaller.
If you think it's a bad idea, that's OK. I don't and that's the beauty of America - we have the right to make our own choices.

 

[Jeff White]

I own a Paraclete RAV with IIIA soft armor and ceramic SAPI plates. I also have a kevlar helmet, nomex fatigues and hard knee and elbow pads. All of this equipment is left over from when I was on the dept tactical team.

It's all packed up in a kitbag in the gun room. I just can't see myself kitting up to check out a bump in the night. I think about being jolted into consciousness by an alarm or a loud noise and I don't see myself taking the time to suit up for battle before I check out what is probably nothing.

If armor works for you and you are comfortable with it, that's fine. I just don't see myself spending the time fumbling around kitting up every time something goes bump in the night.

I looked at the website you linked to and I can't find anything about any independent testing done to verify that these plates will stop what they are rated to stop. There are a bunch of videos of people shooting plates on a range, that's it. These plates are inexpensive but how do you know what you are buying?

Looking at the video the splatter would be a problem and I am not sure I would trust the carrier to hold it in. I have a small steel insert for one of my concealable vests that is covered in kevlar. I don't think I would want to wear steel armor without kevlar underneath and over the front to stop the splatter.

I wouldn't trust my life to a product that wasn't certified to meet the established standards for body armor.

 

[del4]

I think the the op meant that it was a cheap, quick better than nothing alternative.

The do make soft armor vests for around $200. I think they are only level 2 though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

 

[armoredman]

The company is a brand new small business and is in the process, (expensive and complicated), of acquiring the NIJ cert.
Mr White, thank you for your service - I do not have the financial ability to purchase such items, nor were they even around when I wore a military uniform, just frag vests we used as body armor for lack of anything else. I have worn several Dept issued vests, and none were that elaborate - our tactical support unit also doesn't have such gear.
I agree that I wouldn't want to put on all the items you describe to "investigate a bump in the night", but I was referring to your layered security delaying someone who is obviously attempting to break in, thus you A) know someone is attempting a break in, and B) your layered security is delaying him for some time, such as security screens, dogs, alarms, etc. which could give you the opportunity to avail yourself of such protection. Please note I posted in the original post this caveat,

Obviously, this has to be part of a layered defense strategy - if all you are relying on is the sound of breaking glass giving you plenty of warning, I fear you may be mistaken. But when you can build that layer of time between the outside and your tender pink rear end, this item could be a life saving asset.

These statements assume that you have some sort of layered defense, and you won't be caught gun-less, trying to fasten a buckle when Mr Intruder bursts into your bedroom.
I am a little surprised by the negative responses I have received here, even the Glock fanbois don't get this negative over my CZ pictures.
As it seems I may have two moderators already posting negatives towards this thread, why don't we just lock it? Have a very nice day.

 

[Al Thompson]

Can do.