Body Armor

[azmjs]

I wonder how many of you own body armor.

I think that anyone even remotely concerned about protecting his own life ought to own at least some basic body armor.

After buying one or two guns, the marginal utility of additional guns for personal safety plummets to almost nothing.

For the price of one or two decent guns, you can get first-rate armor, and a simple second-chance vest costs even less.

 

[geekWithA.45]

The reality is that the armor hangs in the closet next to the house defense gun. I've owned it for perhaps 10 years, and worn it about 4, 5 times, most of which were "bump in the night" events.

 

[azmjs]

I think wearing it to the range or out shooting in the country is good practice for wearing it in a home defense situation, and has the built in advantage of saving your life if you catch a ND.

 

[dusty14u]

Gecko45 writes:

hello friends,

Last year I made the decision to trust my life on the street to Second Chance body armor. I got the level IIa because it stops the most rounds. plus I got the Trauma Plate for the front.

What scares me is that, although I can fit an extra trauma plate in the front, I cannot fit a second one in back. As of late I have taken to duct-taping a second trauma plate to the area of my back where the heart and vital organs are located. Then I put my vest on.

Here is the questions. The ducttape solution, although tactically sound, is hot and painful to remove. I would like to go to the single-plate solution in back. What I am worried about is repeated hits to that area with .308 ammunition. I have a high-risk security job and I fear that I would be the target for repeated long-distance shots to my back.

Are any of you aware of a thicker plate that could stop, say, .338 Lapua or something like that? Is there a better way to do the second plate?

BTW, I am, of course, usually carrying a pair of ceramic plates in my briefcase so that I can shield my head. My SO (we work as a team when necessary) has a similar accessory containing a breakdown NEF single-shot 300 WinMag with an 18" bbl. The plan is that I shield us with my body and “catch the rounds” while she assembles the NEF. I lay down covering fire with my 23 (Bar-Sto .357 Sig barrel) and she makes the long shots. I will then throw smoke grenades to obscure the area while continuing to lay covering fire. The problem, of course, is when I have to turn my back to run, and then the problem crops up.

Thanks!

 

[M-Cameron]

honestly.....your "average" person has little need for body armour.

so much so.....that its expense is not off set by its percentage of use......or quite simply.....its most likely going to sit in your closet and you will curse spending the money on it every time you see it.


would armour be helpful in a home invasion.....i suppose........but then again, so would my own personal army, a panic room, and a pack of trained dogs..........

...but the chance of a break-in is so slim, that im not going to waste the money.....

 

[Chopdoktor]

I've had a level IIIa "concealable" (only under a hooded sweatshirt or a coat is it concealable) vest, and I decided that it wasn't worth keeping around, based on the likelihood of threats in my lifestyle. I'm not against owning them, but I think that unless you live in the worst ghetto imaginable, and plan to wear it to the grocery store or gas station, it'd only be something to keep by the bedside in case of home invasion. I do, however have a level III plate in my MOLLE vest, but that's because if I'm ever in a situation to need a load-bearing tactical vest, I'll probably need armor, too (an extremely unlikely scenario).

 

[Pigoutultra]

Another point is that it also comes down to comfort. Some people find it uncomfortable to cc for long periods of time. Body armor is even more uncomfortable. Also, if you intend to use it for home defense, just how much time do expect to have once alerted to a home invasion till engaging the threat? I've never had experience with body armor that goes on fast as a shirt.

 

[AZ]

Gecko45 writes:

hello friends,

Last year I made the decision to trust my life on the street to Second Chance body armor. I got the level IIa because it stops the most rounds. plus I got the Trauma Plate for the front.

What scares me is that, although I can fit an extra trauma plate in the front, I cannot fit a second one in back. As of late I have taken to duct-taping a second trauma plate to the area of my back where the heart and vital organs are located. Then I put my vest on.

Here is the questions. The ducttape solution, although tactically sound, is hot and painful to remove. I would like to go to the single-plate solution in back. What I am worried about is repeated hits to that area with .308 ammunition. I have a high-risk security job and I fear that I would be the target for repeated long-distance shots to my back.

Are any of you aware of a thicker plate that could stop, say, .338 Lapua or something like that? Is there a better way to do the second plate?

BTW, I am, of course, usually carrying a pair of ceramic plates in my briefcase so that I can shield my head. My SO (we work as a team when necessary) has a similar accessory containing a breakdown NEF single-shot 300 WinMag with an 18" bbl. The plan is that I shield us with my body and “catch the rounds” while she assembles the NEF. I lay down covering fire with my 23 (Bar-Sto .357 Sig barrel) and she makes the long shots. I will then throw smoke grenades to obscure the area while continuing to lay covering fire. The problem, of course, is when I have to turn my back to run, and then the problem crops up.

Thanks!

Who is this Gecko45 genius? First that mall ninja post and now this, guy must be a real character.

 

[HavelockLEO]

I didnt vote cause I wear both..........................
I wear kevlar everyday and I got a composite trauma plate to go in the front carrier with the soft plate my body armor came with.
Youre preaching to chior about it getting uncomfortable after hours and hours of wear, but it is what it is, I'll take the discomfort during the work day.
On a different note though, I shoot IPSC and local CQB matches and I wear my armor and leather gear during each, for onr simple reason, if I'm so used to both that they dont get in the way, I'm already a step ahead of most guys in my line of work.
But thats just my opinion.......

 

[RX-178]

I've got a good bit of armor around the house.

Kevlar, ballistic plate, flak jackets, chainmail...

I'm a collector of stuff like this though, so I don't figure my vote means much to an everyday person, or even an average gun nut.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

honestly.....your "average" person has little need for body armour.

Sort of like the average person has little need for a firearm?

 

[forindooruseonly]

Who is this Gecko45 genius? First that mall ninja post and now this, guy must be a real character.

Gecko45 was the ORIGINAL mall ninja, and originator of many mall-ninja ideas, such as the tactical wheelbarrow. Google him for a good laugh.

All joking aside, I'm not LE and don't want to wear that around all the time. Have you ever worn body armor? That stuff is not comfortable, especially in a hot climate. In a home break in situation, I'm not going to waste time trying to button that stuff up.

I'll trust to my judgement, and if absolutely necessary, my training to keep me alive.

 

[AlexanderA]

I have a set of replica 17th century pikeman's armor. Does that count?

There's a reason the musketeers of that day didn't wear armor. It was very mobility-limiting, and heavy.

The same rationale applies to some degree today.

 

[SleazyRider]

I have Kevlar armor that was given to me by a LEO because it was showing signs of wear and the department replaced it. I'm seriously thinking about wearing it under my coat during the next (New York State) rifle hunting season. Hey, one never knows.

 

[Ramone]

I have both a Second Chance III vest and a Circa 1980 USMC 'flac jacket'- the first I was given by a LEO buddy when his agency issued new ones, and the other I ended up with when I got out of the Marines (really, I have no idea how or why I wound up with it- not high on my list of souvenirs, but there it is).

They do make a good 'Safe Direction' (as in rule 2) when clearing/clearing/handling weapons at home- they hang in the closet, and on the opposite side of the wall they are on is an old sighting in target.

Other than that, I don't have much use for them. I believe that the time spent grabbing checking and donning one would be better spent finding good cover.

 

[esheato]

I acquired a vest a few years ago.

Tried it on to adjust the fit and hung it in the closet. Haven't touched it since.

 

[Robert]

I wore armor every day for work. I do not wear it now. Buy it if you like. I am fine without it.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

.


That Gecko45 stuff is some of the funniest stuff I have ever read. lol


.

 

[M-Cameron]

honestly.....your "average" person has little need for body armour.

Sort of like the average person has little need for a firearm

no, not what i meant.

.....a firearm isnt overly uncomfortable to wear.......and you can use a firearm for other things other than defending your self.......unlike armour.


now when i said that, i didnt mean people shouldnt be allowed to buy body armour.....

..i meant it on the same lines as, your average person doesnt need a bulldozer....so it makes no sense for them to go out and buy one......

and since the chance of them ever needing a bulldozer in the future is so slim......it doesnt justify the cost of buying one.

 

[longshot7.62x51]

i have my issue and a IVa vest with ESAPI that i bought before we where issued them but i would never ware in out side a combat zone. hell given a choice i would only ware a plate in country

 

[JAV8000]

Body armor with SAPI plates is very mobility limiting, plain and simple. I wear my issue IOTV body armor every day in 120 degree heat.....there comes a time after a three or four click movement in this rig that all you want is someone to scrape your tail end off the sand so you can tear it off and breath again. In any civilian environment, I can't imagine the need for level 4 body armor. Unless you're trained to wear it and train with it on the regular, you'll never, ever, ever, wear it. If you've got yourself in a situation as a civilian where you really need body armor of any kind, hold tight for back-up. Self defense with a firearm is last resort, if you're operating properly, you should have the jump on the assailant since he shouldn't know you had a weapon to begin with.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

that dragon skin armor looks pretty good. saw it on the military channel. little ceramic discs.

there's another type of body armor in development, i believe they said it was made of similar material as spider webs, but it's exact makeup is "classified".



i googled Gecko45, and he says he is in a "high risk job" and "doesn't work at mall of america, but he doesn't work at a podunk mall either", and went on to say he carries ceramic plates in his briefcase to protect his head from gun fire LMAO!!!

 

[HammerheadSSN663]

why did you feel its important to include names?

I certaintly would not respond to such a poll.

BTW, I only wear mine with my tighty-whiteys when I play COD Black Ops in the basement while the wife is sleeping.

 

[skoro]

I have one of the old M1 steel helmets. It still has the camo cover, too. Does that count?

 

[danprkr]

I know some range officers who wear it at work, and of course cops. But I got mine via a strange occurrence. It was in a rental unit I cleaned out. But I see no reason not to have it since it was literally given me. Actually considering the back rent we were owed it may very well be the most expensive piece of body armor ever!