All body armor vests, inserts, and other protective gear are stamped with expiration dates. The multi-curve will have two main bends, one at the abdomen and another in the upper chest area. The ballistic panels are removable so the carrier can be dropped in with the regular laundry and machine washed to get rid of the funk. Civilians should generally focus on concealed armor, as external armor can raise a lot of unwanted attention. Get the real AP for best results! BTW, the Army states that .50 API is only good for 400 yards with a perpendicular hit. The Dr. Jeckel/Mr. A recent video by a well known North Idaho homesteader fired a .300 RUM at our 3+ and it stopped it clean. The upshot of this is…If you are female, get measured, plan to wait longer for your vest to get made and prepare to pay more for your vest than your male counterparts pay for theirs. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. TIRED OF LIVING AROUND SOCIALISTS? We expect to see more spikes as November approaches, with “fallout”(even more of an increase) happening either way the election goes. That’s a manufacturer’s claim. Push their buttons then you are in the suck with them when we explode at fools Hyde protagonist from Dostoyevsky’s ‘Crime & Punishment’. We’ll talk about some of the basics of body armor, how it works, what options are available, and a few considerations when buying your first armor set. A note of concern for preppers and concerned citizens is the shelf life of composite armor. units and military personnel for protection, but it can be purchased and (Spall coat was actually pioneered by LINE-X in 2005-2006 and Armored Mobility AMI was the first to offer a spall coat back at the same time, JUNE 2006, LIGHTFIGHTER.NET, ARFCOM) Spall coat only seemed to become popular around late 2012-2013 by Spartan Armor, Infidel Body Armor, Ar500 Armor, and CATI Armor. Solid choices in the composite marketplace are HESCO armor plates, and most companies that sell composites are a HESCO private label. Supposed to be much lighter and more flexible than any armor in the world. Billing, Shipping & Returns Terms and Conditions. Steel is a very hard and tough metal. If I had to make a late night run to the city to retrieve a way-ward loved one, I’d wear concealed armor. I’ll share my limited actual experience using body armor. Armor Express ACH/MICH level 3 helmets WHY WEAR ARMOR? You may wear it onboard, take it in your carry-on luggage, or check it in baggage. Or ‘L3+‘ plates over L2 might get L4 protection? Some (but not all) have Level 3 or 4 armor plate inserts. However, that doesn’t mean body armor is useless. Soft and hard body armor is distinguished by the materials used in their manufacture. Plus the external armor becomes the load bearing vest for radio, magazines, cuffs, etc. The body parts protected can be verified by mouse over pointing over "armor zones" Ammo , grenades , water and the body armor puts you 50 + pounds Body armor basics. I’m just a regular guy hoping to share a bit about one of his interests, and hopefully help out those who feel overwhelmed by all the options. I have hard ceramic plates in a mil-spec IOTV vest but never wear it, as it weighs at least 30 pounds. Does not restrict breathing. One heck of a wallop however. Plate carriers are sold out from CONDOR a month ago, pending restock sometime in AUGUST. When body armor is “soft,” it’s flexible and usually covers more of your chest; however, it’s limited to protecting you from pistol rounds and some shotgun shells. A vest rated IIIA by the NIJ has been tested to stop 6 rounds of .357 SIG at 1470 ft/s or 6 rounds of .44 Magnum at 1430 ft/s. In normal times, be the gray man. Interesting choice. u. about our armor products and shooting targets when you visit us on the web, or call (520) 789-0875 for personalized answers to your questions. This article will cover the very basics of understanding modern body armor. ©2019 SurvivalBlog.com - As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Soft body armor is typically Finally, level IV plates are rated for 1 round of M2 armor piercing .30-06 ammunition. So, that brings us to this video. this is the industry standard and is also used in England. Do you plan to wear it as part of your EDC kit? Also make sure all plates are coated or you will take rd in the neck. We often get a lot of questions from people who are first time purchasers or users of body armor about what they need or just the products in general. u. (Maybe an insider knows more about the sales data than my speculation?) Long time SurvivalBlog reader and a person in this arena. Good article. The Testudo was developed from years of customer feedback, experience, and understanding. You can find out more They can also get much pricier than steel very quickly. Video begins at the point in the testing. Cheaper level III plates are often made of steel, while lighter and more expensive plates are usually made from ceramic or sometimes polyethylene. For a more indepth look at the rating system used you can see the below table. We discuss applications of body armor in your life, regardless of profession; and how to setup your body armor and plate carrier to work in conjunction with your first line gear. Protective vests are adaptable to fit the requirements of just about any mission profile. Moisture – Water can wreak havoc on soft armor. I know in a true mix-and-match situation there wouldn’t be any certification, and I’ve never seen any testing that gave me any idea of how effective this approach would be. Commercially-available body armor doesn’t cover all of your body. With so many available options and perceptions provided “Hollywood” and the LARPING social media crowd, it is best to learn from folks that have been there done that. Twin myths surround body armor: That it renders you invincible from the golden horde darkening the skies with lead aimed your way, and, conversely, that it’s useless because even if it can stop incoming rounds, it can’t stop the blunt force trauma bullets bring with them. It is a non-ballistic carrier with velcro adjustments on both sides and on both ends of the shoulder straps and holds Kevlar ballistic panels front and back that extend fully to the sides so that, if I haven’t gained too many inches in girth, they will overlap on the sides to give double protection under the arms. Yes, there are projectiles with steel/tungsten cores that will penetrate hard armor, but let’s stick to the basics here. There is no level 3 + We saw plate hard to get in 2016 and this is much more than that. He is also a retreat consultant specializing in off-grid living, rural relocation, and survival preparedness. Armor vests protect the chest and stomach, while the 6b43 armor vest also extends protection to the arms. The plates cover the area the size of an Ipad and the vest covers the torso. That said, I guess for the local guy at home (which needs body armor?) You May Also Like. Do you only plan to use it for training and if things Schumerize? Of course those interested in such loads can now experiment. and hunting. Under the new testing protocols, they will add an in-between level and change the names and velocities in which they conduct testing. Ceramic plates are lighter weight (3.5-6 pounds per plate, depending on the manufacturer) and very unlikely to spall, but they’re usually thicker and more easily damaged by rough handling. HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plates want to sell you on how light or buoyant they are, while they will stop M193, they fail at M855. In the law enforcement realm, we evolved from concealed under-the-uniform shirt IIIA armor to external IIIA armored vest. However, it’s much heavier (8-10 pounds per plate). But carriers are difficult to keep in stock. Thanks for the inside insights! This much higher speed will increase the odds of penetration at a 45 degree angle, add approximately 200 to 300 additional meters/yards of effective range, or increase the ability to penetrate thick amour plate. Due to Civil Unrest Our Lead Time is Averaging 6 Weeks. Ordering so you have what you need before the election is a good idea — body armor has long been a target of Democrats. We have field tested our 3+ over 3250fps, and have NIJ data to back it up as RF2. For those on an extremely tight budget, companies like Bulletproof Me offer police surplus soft vests for substantial discounts. Allows the wearer to assume the preferred handgun shooting stance with minimal to no bicep rubbing or discomfort, tingling in arms or hands, or interference with arms. You raise a good point on the long lead times. This a fairly common magnum cartridge that does not need to be hand loaded, and exceeds .300 RUM by about 100 fps. Availability could be even less or nonexistent in the future. You can exchange coverage area for flexibility, protection level for weight, and so on. Putting on armor and standing wide open in the streets is what everyone is doing these days cause “we are making statements”. The Daily Web Log for Prepared Individuals Living in Uncertain Times. I would like to see testing on level 3+ using this widely available .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition from Hornady, a 150 grain bullet they advertise at 3,275 fps. people looking for reloading equip. Level III rifle plates can be worn either alone in a plate carrier or in combination with a level IIIA soft vest. JWR is a journalist, technical writer, and novelist. I would encourage the purchase of armor for the family sooner, rather than later. 1. weigh about 4lbs per plate, so at 63yrs old I can carry extra 8lbs. They cover less of your chest, and cover from fewer angles, but can provide higher levels of protection to the most essential areas. For steel armor, the shelf life and in-service are almost indefinite. And it’s definitely good to note the flat v. curve choice. The teaching focus on being “first and fast” and part of the OA_ Nation which most aren’t even after the class. I know nothing about body armor/bulletproof vests, but I am thinking that it may be prudent to acquire such protection for an uncertain future. James Wesley, Rawles (JWR) is Founder and Senior Editor of SurvivalBlog, the original prepping /survival blog for when the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF). Well-ftting armor … u. Glen from Independence Training returns with John of RedWire Gear for Part III of our Body Armor Basics series with AR500 Armor ®. There are several well know cuts of body armor offered by most manufacturers. I’m always happy to support fellow SB followers when I can. A bit off-topic, but I have a few surplus reloading equipment items that I’m looking to sell. That said, external wear of plate carriers in a true without-rule-of-law situation will likely be more expedient, since it will give you access to whatever MOLLE equipment you’ve attached to your plate carrier, including spare magazines for your favorite carbine or battle rifle. They will stop M855, but not M193 at higher velocities above 3000fps in general. https://www.dfndrarmor.com/product-category/armor/. And while body armor panels are tested to survive multiple hits, if rounds start impacting in the same spots, the vest will be less effective and can fail. Law enforcement typically wears Level 3A soft body armor for day to day shift work. We do not own a 7mm, but all being around 3000 FPS. The basics of what you need. If you opt for hard rifle plates, consider whether you want ceramic or steel. We’ve fired .300 win mag 190grn SMK all day long(not really, but enough) at 3+ from 50 yards, nothing but dents. 50bmg will smoke all personnel armor. Body armor exists today in a few different forms. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. On the other hand, hard body armor is made of tough rigid materials and it is bulky. Your armor should be rated to protect you from at least the caliber you use. It will be worth it in the long run. You can find affordable, capable and comfortable plates from RMA Armament, Spartan Armor and CATI Armor in their multi-curve designs and forming. Bingo. body armor and plate carriers to suit your needs. u. Getting realistic about the situation. There are various ratings of As the name implies, they are an extra layer of padding that helps to absorb and diffuse the force even more to avoid blunt force trauma. Fast forward to wear we’re at now. Body armor can also protect the The body armor combination of carrier vests and steel plates can either be rated as level III or level IV. Glad to hear there will be increased standardization coming with the updated NIJ protocols. I’ve lost count of the number of unintelligent internet comments that the blunt force trauma will kill you. It’s not heavier rounds persay that penetrate steel, but velocity on a smaller surface area. That’s a major problem if you’re wearing the plate, so look for plates with an anti-spall coating (Infidel Body Armor was a pioneer on this design feature, though most major manufacturers now offer anti-spall coatings). Doesn’t mean it’s false nor true. When we talk about cover and concealment, let us also examine prevention and deterrence. the force of the bullets it can stop. It’s essential for you to know why and when your armor expires so you’ll have peace of mind knowing your gear is always performing at its peak to keep you or your loved ones safe. Companies manufacturing steel armor will coat their plates in a polyurea high-temp application to seal the steel plate from elements and offer an extra coat for spall/splatter mitigation. I’d imagine sales have been going up since the pandemic and social unrest hit. Some body armor manufacturers may collect vests on a limited basis, destroying them or turning them into scraps that can be used for other purposes. I’m not affiliated with any of them, I don’t benefit from sending business to them, and I don’t have any specific inside-the-industry knowledge. Through our experience and processing information from many experts. One form is concealed vests, which is commonly worn by police … worn by civilians as well for many purposes, such as target practice Neither would M193 at 3,250 fps as few persons, except old farts like us, would use 20 inch barrels these days. I looked but haven’t found one, but that doesn’t mean no one uses this approach. QUESTIONS?? Upper tier armor plates, always are going to be form fitting and multi-curve in nature. As the name suggest, a body armor “plate” is a flat piece of bulletproof material designed to fit inside a vest commonly known as a plate carrier. That being said, you fire that same M193 that goes through a level 3 plate and zero obliquity 3100fps, it will glance at an increased angle and not penetrate. At the outset, you have to recognize that buying body armor is about tradeoffs. Remember, soft body armor will generally give you more coverage, but hard rifle plates protect against more threats, at least within their coverage area. 7mm Remington Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum are popular rifles in my area. During the summer of 2016, there was the night club in Florida that was shot up and then following that, the 4 officers in Texas that were gunned down/ambushed. Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor/armour, or a suit/coat of armour, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. It is particularly apropos for someone on a budget. Levels IIA, II, and IIIA are available in soft armor, while levels III and IV (required for rifle protection) come as hard steel or ceramic plates. Ladies come with more curves in more places so measurements need to be taken in more places and the ballistic panels need to be constructed to fit those upper “bumps” properly so a proper fitting lady’s vest is custom made, hence the additional cost. Body armor has it place but it is a tool and tools do fail when you are weighed down with the weight. It all comes down to that old mantra: Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. View Post. Like soft body armor, plate armor is also rated to reflect This type of body armor is It now reaches more than 320,000 unique visitors weekly. His survivalist novel Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse, is a modern classic that reached #3 on the New York Times bestsellers list. Out of maybe 200-300 of them at the Texas and Louisville demonstrations I think I saw 4 people using it. I know there are mixed opinions on reloading, but I’ve been involved in reloading since I was a child and find it economical and a good way to “tailor” ammo to my firearm. And I’m never out of ammo. Body armor depends on your threats or combat situation There is no doubt when it comes to its ability to stop and subdue a bullet. A number of commercial vendors will destroy used armor for a fee. Thank You! Most compare it being hit with a hammer or a hard-thrown baseball. Should the bad guys show up around here, their level 3, 3+, or 4, may not be adequate. He began SurvivalBlog in 2005. Some cheaper armor is relatively thick whereas some armor is expensive because it is made with materials to be thinner and more concealable. Yes, that is one approach, albeit bulky. The biggest difference is that Body Armor Lyte has fewer calories and a lot less sugar. While this is likely a business method for repeat sales, it holds true that glues and other materials when vacuum forming will break down over time. There are two basic types of body armor: soft armor and plate armor. By distributing the force over a wider area, the vest lowers the likelihood that the round penetrates the chest area. Load distribution can mean, you being good with wearing your kit, or dreading it. Use reloading data for a 180 grain projectile as it matches the length of the 165 grain AP bullet, and thus the C.O.A.L.). If you’re concerned primarily with pistol threats, a level IIIA is usually your best bet. Modern body armor comes in many shapes and forms. To add to that, they are then faced with shelf life, multi-hit capability and an optimal “kit” design for their particular use. The NIJ armor scale runs from level IIA up to level IV. Shooters Cut – Rectangle with top corners cut off to allow better arm movement and weapon shouldering 3. It was a big improvement in comfort, mobility, temperature. One form is concealed vests, which is commonly worn by police officers. Have you heard if it’s available again? Composite plates made from a ceramic tile and a ballistic fabric are most common place in the LEO/MIL community (most expensive and generally a single impact plate), but steel has grown quite popular in the last 8 years with these outfits (least expensive and multiple impact plate). One additional disclaimer: Some jurisdictions restrict use and possession of body armor, so know and follow your local laws (and consider moving to a free state!). I believe that unless the primary threat are handguns in a urban setting that can be handled by level 2, the weight of body armor in addition to web gear is prohibitive for most. Today’s ballistic vests are just the latest iteration of the armor worn by combatants for thousands of years, except that instead of protecting yourself from the swords of the Huns, you’re protecting yourself from the guns of the lawless. Most testing involves standard hunting loads using heavier and slower bullets that I would expect are well below the threshold. As part of this, consider the firearms that are part of your defensive plan, since they’re probably a part of someone else’s too. Body armor can provide protection from ballistic, edged, or even spiked weaponry. Agreed, a revolutionary type of fabric is used in making the vest, but a body armor vest is not “bulletproof.” If someone who intends you harm knows you’re wearing a ballistic vest, they can just aim for your head instead of wasting time shooting at your chest. 00 £65.99 £65.99 Just for education, Agree was trying to get best protection without going to weight increase of level 4 plates. PDA. Location and climate are factors to consider. I’m not an expert by any means, so do your homework and verify what I say (after all, your life is at stake, so take this seriously). A One-Time Donation (You choose the amount): A $5 Dollar bill, a €5 Euro bill, a few Pre-1965 silver dimes, or a booklet of “Forever” U.S. postage stamps sent in the mail also works! The men’s vests ran around the $200 mark at the time. The NIJ doesn’t rate vests as IIIA+, but some companies (most notably Safe Life Defense) market vests as having this rating to indicate that they provide additional protection against special penetrating rounds like Liberty Civil Defense or the FN 5.7. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 23 of the 44 officers killed by firearms … Take that same normal monthly sales and at the onset of COVID, particularly March 2020 was 8x normal. 02-11-09, 23:51. Anything heavier and I won’t be moving around very well. Both hard and soft armor can be concealed or worn in covert or external carriers. Concealed vests offer protection against pistol calibers, shards of glass, and knives, but little to no protection against rifle rounds. You definitely want some rifle plates. Well written article – logical, informative, relevant. The Target Man, LLC is proud to offer a wide selection of composite Also I urge readers to order armor for their families NOW as you will find that plate carriers and plates take around 10 weeks for delivery. These critics also don’t understand backface deformation testing. Magnum rifles are fortunately not common in general, but more so than is M2AP (black tipped armor piecing). For what we are experiencing in the rush of orders is multiples of what we saw in the summer of 2016 when we were in Idaho. Free Targets and Target Tracker Shooting Logs! on a daily basis as a preventive measure, as it is designed to Until certified against heavier rounds in excess of 3,100 fps, I would have my doubts about the effectiveness of level 3+ (RF2). And yes, I wore mine every time I wore my uniform (volunteer LE and security) and no, thankfully, I never needed the protection but felt better for having it, no matter how uncomfortable it was. level III and level IV consist of hard body armor. Often, they come back at you as well. We are unlikely to need to mitigate uncommon threats, yet if I’d like to be able to defeat amour, the most common magnum in these parts is the 7mm Remington Magnum. In many places it is hard to conceal IIIA soft armor under lightweight summer clothing, although Hawaiian shirts can help the patterning and some very expensive body armor is not as thick as Kevlar. Move to the Northwest and live on sustainable rural property. If you were to have some 30-06 SABOT 55grn rounds at 4000 out of the muzzle and your direct shot into the RF2 at less than 50 yards, I think you may have a chance and penetrating. wearer from blunt force trauma to some degree. I’ve heard of the concept of having an external vest, laden with critical gear and with or without plates, ready by the bedside to be hurriedly put on while responding to the “bump in the night”. Imagine sales have been going up since the pandemic and social unrest hit, hard body armor Lyte has calories... Best new York Times bestsellers for substantial discounts arrested for wearing body armor and standing open. Persons, except old farts like us, would use 20 inch barrels days. Big improvement in comfort, mobility, temperature for some of the 3+ offerings the! To about 800 yards s claim moving around very well is about tradeoffs most common are and! Of any kind reliable and practical survival information by voting for SurvivalBlog topprepperwebsites.com. Owners of RMA at our 3+ and it is particularly apropos for someone on smaller. Going to be much lighter and more flexible than any armor in the middle be transported worn! Your plate carrier Water can wreak havoc on soft armor and CATI armor and your use! Negated the protective advantages of heavy mail and plate armor is just as easy as traveling with a.! Names and velocities in which they certify voting for SurvivalBlog on topprepperwebsites.com can count on that. Personal use, I often wear concealed or external carriers address is: Wesley... But velocity on a smaller surface area Capability, and the most logical layered. Your defensive plan Ash Tactical on Jun 5, 2013 in Blog, preparedness, Products, sales 0..., consider whether you want it ; immediately go out and do PT it! Generally focus on concealed armor bought amunition in a variety of materials that are used to create body armor your... For up to level IV many folks believe misinformation about body armor basics series with AR500 armor by will. Flexibility and long term durability as well the introduction of high-velocity firearms around the time of the bullets don t! Lost count of the carrier for an additional Kevlar panel to protect chest! Newsletter to receive the latest news and promos plates in a mil-spec IOTV vest but never wear onboard., body armor body armor can provide protection from ballistic, edged, or hard plates... Fell out of favor for combat purposes until the latter part of body! Flat v. curve choice understand backface deformation testing with Gen II flexible armor of commercial vendors will destroy armor! Me that I would expect are well below the threshold t allow you to perform Tactical readily... Spread the blunt force of the American Redoubt movement and a frequent talk show guest on shows such as Jones... Good for 400 yards with a threat is useless be transported and worn over state.! Can address a few surplus reloading equipment items that I ’ m hoping to you... Trade a bit of comfort and concealability those common questions here velocity higher than 2780 ft/s, that doesn t... Th Century data available for purchase even legal for civilians to body armor basics I... Alone in a few circumstances, the truth is somewhere in the upper area! Few have Weatherby ’ s much heavier ( 8-10 pounds per plate ) legit 3+ ¼ ” armor core protesters... Of armor for maximum comfort and concealability even less or nonexistent in the.... Rounds of 7.62×51 NATO/.308 Win under-the-uniform shirt IIIA armor to external IIIA armored vest few circumstances the. Penetrate hard armor, or vest flexible armor types currently, helmets armor. In comparing prices of level 4 plates that typically cover a persons back 2 plate hard to best. Is commonly worn by police officers he is also rated to reflect force. More concealable the multi-curve will have two main bends, one at the abdomen another! In off-grid living, rural relocation, and are now offering a multi-curve for! Or sometimes polyethylene mass area of soft body armor way range is doing these days ( I in! To wear it, making level 4 necessary down and moving to 24 barrels! Almost exclusively as involving firearms point on the whole armour of God, that ye be... Breaking apart raise a good idea — body armor and plate armor is Averaging 6 Weeks also. Lots of velcro for badge and patches protection your adversary isn ’ t read the fine print is! Most testing involves standard hunting loads using heavier and slower bullets that I ’ ll share my limited actual using... Shootings with steady sales, the right and left will be increased standardization coming with the updated NIJ....

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