does anyone here keep a bulletproof vest close to their home defense weapon?

[mbdolfin]

i am curious if anyone here keeps a bulletproof vest close to their home defense weapon?
i am sure that everyone here has at one time or another loaded their home defense weapon and cleared the house... because they heard something go bump in the night.
i just want to make sure that i am not the only one here that puts a vest on for protection.
i would have never went out and spent the money on one... but it was given to me so why not use it.
i know the proper thing to do is stay in the bedroom and call the cops with the gun loaded.....but i have a family to protect and i am NOT waiting for the cops to show up too late.

 

[Picard]

That's a great question. If I had one, or knew where to buy a decent one, I would definitely keep one close by. Good body armor is as important as having a good weapon IMO.

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know where one can purchase good body armor for a good price?

 

[FourNineFoxtrot]

I have one, but I wouldn't put it on to check out a "bump in the night". Not that I have anything against enlightened, self-interested paranoia, but it's mainly a time issue. The time I spend tossing the vest over my head, even if I don't fasten it, is time I could have spent getting to where the noise is. In an apartment like mine, a few seconds means the difference between finding a threat, and the threat finding me.

Also, there may be a legal issue. I don't have to mention how messed up it is to have to consider the courtroom ramifications of wearing a vest before shooting in self-defense, but there it is. Some bright lad in the D.A.'s office who gets a "kudos" for convictions is going to say that putting on a vest means that you were looking for a fight.

As for getting a vest cheap, eBay used to be a good place. They had lots of "pre-owned" (I don't want to say used, because used for a vest means "shot") vests. There is a risk involved, of course, and you can't get it fitted when buying "pre-owned". However, I don't know if eBay still accepts vests for auction. In any case, most likely, this is something it's best to buy new, and from a well-regarded manufacturer.

 

[marktx]

Have a vest that sits in the garage with a bunch of other junk, have never even thought of putting it on for bumps in the night. Wouldn't put on the kevlar helmet either, the gas mask (what if they use gas!), the kevlar codpiece nut protector or any of the other stuff. I have it all for work but busting it out for home defense seems very mall ninja-ish to me. Maybe I would feel differently if I lived in a neighborhood/city with regular shootings but I would probably be saving money to move someplace better rather than buying a vest.

 

[possum]

my home defense handgun is on the night stand, my plate carrier with plates, is in my closet next to my hd shotgun, i would use the handgun to fight to the long gun if need be, and then go with the 870. i agree with the above poster i wouldn't wear body armor to check out a bump in the night either. but for me it just happens to be where i have my armor stored.

 

[xsquidgator]

If it didn't cost $400 and up, I might look into buying it. I believe in being prepared and all but in my judgement I can get a lot more "prepared' bang for my buck buying groceries, duct tape, and other stuff than buying body armor. If I ever did get shot at, sure I'd want to have some armor, but I can only prepare for so many emergencies and hurricane season is what's really on my mind right now.

 

[Aaryq]

I considered doing it once. Then I went to Iraq. Uncomfortable and difficult to put on in a rush. Granted it's a little bulkier than your standard vest, but yeah...no.

 

[possum]

if you are getting a whole set of armor for $400 or less, you are either getting crap or there is something shady going on with it.

 

[B yond]

where can you get black body armor with a cape and bat-cowl?

 

[Gord]

Sure hope the threat doesn't bust down your bedroom door while you've got your arms above your head trying to wriggle your body armor on.

Nor is clearing a house yourself a good idea unless you have to (spouse or children). Take cover, call the cops and keep your eyes on the door...

 

[Nivek]

where can you get black body armor with a cape and bat-cowl?

You gotta order them in pieces from separate companies, and put them together yourself. Of course, they'll have to be large orders to avoid suspicion... say, 10,000?

Seriously though, if you feel the need for body armor to complement your HD plan, then perhaps you should consider a new place to live? If your job puts you in situations that may lead you to desire body armor, then by all means, do what you must to stay safe!

 

[B yond]

Nor is clearing a house yourself a good idea unless you have to (spouse or children).

He's right! Make your spouse or children clear the house for you!

 

[xsquidgator]

if you are getting a whole set of armor for $400 or less, you are either getting crap or there is something shady going on with it.

Just out of curiosity, what does armor run (say the type that would stop most handgun rounds)? I saw some at a gunshow recently for $450, don't know what it was or anything. I figured $400 would be a fair price if the gunshow price was $450 for whatever it was.

 

[dogmush]

I have body armor in my house, but I have never even considered putting it on to clear the house. Short of a looting/rioting scenario I think I would find better uses for that 30 or so seconds. Also, putting on armor is rarely quiet, so you might lose a little surprise there.

I would think for most encouters like you're talking some Class II or Class IIIA would work. IIIA will take you up to .44mag, IIA will protect you against .357's. From what I remember about $600-$800 will get you a decent set.

To contrast that, I seem to recall when I signed the hand receipt for my Interceptor and plates it was worth about $3300.

 

[MaterDei]

Umm...no.

 

[thegriz]

Wear it if you want to

It doesn't really matter whether others wear it or not. If you want to wear a vest or whatever it's your business. I don't because it's inconvenient and I my wife would constantly make fun of me. That doesn't mean that I won't wish I had worn it some day.

Pretty much every post about body armor gets a lot flack around here when it's for civilian use. You either are not professional enough to need it or you're a paranoid nut job who lives a fantasy mall ninja life.

If you can afford it, can stand to wear it, and you have time to put it on then go for it.

One valid point some folks make is if you're on a limited budget and you have to choose between a vest or taking a shooting class, etc, then you may want to take a pass on the vest for now and save up for later.

 

[Pat-inCO]

does anyone know where one can purchase good body armor for a good price?

Any good COP shop has them.

Which threat level do you want? II-A, III, III-A? I've seen level II for $300, but that's rather marginal protection. Each level upgrade from there goes up almost $100 per level upgrade. Anything but inexpensive.

Then there is the weight issue. The heavy ones are less expensive than the "light weight" I've see some III-A light weight for $900, just for the vest.

Then there is the trauma plate. Most LEO wear a trauma plate and that runs $50 to $150 over and above the cost of the vest.

And don't forget that the vests "expire". The manufacturers decline to assure integrity of the vest after four years (every one of them has the manufacture date stamped on it).

 

[FLoppyTOE]

Sure hope the threat doesn't bust down your bedroom door while you've got your arms above your head trying to wriggle your body armor on.

Nor is clearing a house yourself a good idea unless you have to (spouse or children). Take cover, call the cops and keep your eyes on the door...

A valid point. I imagine a home defense scenario being fast, scary, and possibly very hectic. Seems like body armor would be a cumbersome peice of equipment to apply quickly. I think good training and practice would be more effective.

 

[Wopasaurus]

where can you get black body armor with a cape and bat-cowl?

wanna see a magic trick?

 

[Picard]

For situations such as civil unrest, mobs, etc. body armor could mean the difference between life and death. Defense against thieves is quick and hectic, so in that situation, it probably wouldn't make that big of a difference.

When the funds allow, however, I would like to invest in a set. Better to have and not need...

 

[leadcounsel]

A $500 vest will stop most .357 and below handgun rounds.

How many people have died from torso shots with .357, .38, 9mm, .380, .40, .45, .32, .22, etc. caliber handgun bullets that could have been stopped with a $500 piece of equipment?

Clearing the house when there is a real perceived threat is not tactically smart unless their is a REAL need, such as children in the other rooms to secure.

Best advice where no need to clear is to:
1. Secure gun and phone
2. Lock bedroom door(s) (if not already locked)
3. Take covered or concealed position behind dresser, bed, safe, etc. with focus on the entry point(s)
4. Call police and keep them on the phone
5. Put on body armor
6. Have spare key handy to throw out the window to the cops (keep it on a large key ring so it's easy for them to locate).

 

[Kingcreek]

Body Armor
don't have it. don't need it. don't want it.
I also don't get out of bed to clear my house when a coon knock a flower pot over on the front porch. Does that mean there is something wrong with me?!?
I sleep very, very well. I wake feeling rested and restored every day after 7-8 hours of condition white.
I have layered home security, 2 big dogs, a good alarm system, cell phone, powerful flashlight and loaded G23 next to the bed, shotgun and CQ AR at the ready. I can ramp up fairly quickly if needed. By the time a threat gets to where I am, they are gonna have more to worry about than I do.
save the money you would spend on armor and put some thought into where and how you live. If you have the kind of enemies that would launch a full throttle dynamic assault on you, then you need more than a vest.

 

[NG VI]

What protection level is the Interceptor minus plates? I brought mine home this weekend, am planning on using it for pushups, and the most convenient place to store it happens to be behind the bedroom door, where my shotgun often resides. I suppose if I felt there was both a threat and enough time to slap it on I definitely would, but the bigger priority would be to have the shotgun or AR in hand and the police on the line.

 

[Kingcreek]

Maybe Sam's Club or Costco will start offering some cheap imported body armor for the occaisional home user.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I've got a level IIa from when I worked as an armored car driver in Detroit, plus my Army issue IBA. But neither of them are close to my HD weapon. The IBA is in my Army crap crate, and the IIa is in a closet somewhere. I guess it wouldn't be a terrible idea to keep the IIa close by, but I've never really given it much thought.