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Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:21 pm
by 74novaman
Took some pictures to answer a question on another forum and thought I'd come back to this one with a few extra thoughts.
Two ways to do things:
1) Traditional molle attachment system. Secure, but can be a pain to get set up initially, not super customizable once it's set up.
2) Velco/buckle attachment using placards. Much easier to change things up quickly.
Example of each: Ferro Slickster (not complete yet) on the left, Grey Ghost Minimalist on the right.
Ferro with placard removed:
Anything that uses the QASM buckles and velco backing can be put on a carrier let up like the Slickster. So if you have ARs, AKs, .308s, PCC....someone makes a placard for it, and you can change out what you can put on your carrier in seconds. I have a 3 AR mag placard from Esstac on mine right now, with an additional torniquet holder. As well, you can completely remove the placard and run the PC slick with just plates and nothing attached if low profile protection is what you're after.
Both are good options. Start with buying a carrier, then get plates that fit it, accessories that work with it, and go from there. IMO.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:06 pm
by eyedoc
74novaman wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:21 pm
Took some pictures to answer a question on another forum and thought I'd come back to this one with a few extra thoughts.
Two ways to do things:
1) Traditional molle attachment system. Secure, but can be a pain to get set up initially, not super customizable once it's set up.
2) Velco/buckle attachment using placards. Much easier to change things up quickly.
Example of each: Ferro Slickster (not complete yet) on the left, Grey Ghost Minimalist on the right.
Ferro with placard removed:
Anything that uses the QASM buckles and velco backing can be put on a carrier let up like the Slickster. So if you have ARs, AKs, .308s, PCC....someone makes a placard for it, and you can change out what you can put on your carrier in seconds. I have a 3 AR mag placard from Esstac on mine right now, with an additional torniquet holder. As well, you can completely remove the placard and run the PC slick with just plates and nothing attached if low profile protection is what you're after.
Both are good options. Start with buying a carrier, then get plates that fit it, accessories that work with it, and go from there. IMO.
I run tactical assault panels.
https://www.fortbraggsurplus.us/TAP-Tac ... _3249.html
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 6:13 pm
by bagman45
Thanks for posting this! Really helpful to see your actual carriers and set-up. What plates are you running?
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:50 pm
by Jago668
I got my ceramic lvl 4 plates from Infidel (also based in Texas, East of DFW). I went in person and got them. Currently in a Pig Brig from SKD. Chest rig is pieced from all over SOE, Tyr, Esstac. If I decided to buy another set I'm going for the poly plates that weight less. I've done training classes and shooting competitions in full kit and I need to exercise more.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:19 pm
by RoyGBiv
I've been looking at
Skarr, but I'd be a size medium and they've been sold out for months.
I'm considering a
Chinese brand that has received some solid reviews... Thoughts?
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:35 am
by MaduroBU
The shellback ceramic/PE hybrid plates are level IV rated and surprisingly light. The Banshee II is comfortable, but is big for smaller folks.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:36 pm
by The Annoyed Man
The main reason why I have not yet invested in a plate carrier and plates:
- My MRI, dated 10/07/20
I can barely stand the weight of my shoulder holster or my lightweight chest rig. Heck, I can’t walk to my car without considerable pain. There’s no way in hades that I can bear the weight of a plate carrier.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:17 pm
by Rafe
The Annoyed Man wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:36 pm
The main reason why I have not yet invested in a plate carrier and plates...
Ouch, TAM. That looks like a nighttime satellite image of a train derailment. Well, now I know why you're no longer 6'4".
Prayers that it gets no worse and that you can manage it going forward. Did the doc say that stenosis is on the horizon, or is that already here, too?
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 4:06 pm
by 74novaman
The Annoyed Man wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:36 pm
The main reason why I have not yet invested in a plate carrier and plates:E1C27CEE-B1FF-498A-8FC5-F589F0165C70.jpeg
I can barely stand the weight of my shoulder holster or my lightweight chest rig. Heck, I can’t walk to my car without considerable pain. There’s no way in hades that I can bear the weight of a plate carrier.
Sorry about your health problems. Your issues may make a PC not worth it, but if anyone else without back problems is worried about weight, that minimalist Grey Ghost carrier I posted above weighs only 11 lbs. 3+ polyethylene plates, 2 loaded mags, IFAK.
It can be done in a lightweight way if thats something you need. Just something to keep in mind, you don’t have to go 25+ lbs with level 4 plates, tons of mags, hydration, etc.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 4:25 pm
by The Annoyed Man
Rafe wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:17 pm
Ouch, TAM. That looks like a nighttime satellite image of a train derailment. Well, now I know why you're no longer 6'4".
Prayers that it gets no worse and that you can manage it going forward. Did the doc say that stenosis is on the horizon, or is that already here, too?
Stenosis is already there at L5/S1, L3/4 (L4/5 had already been fused in 2004), L2/3, L1/2, and just starting at T11/12. My neurosurgeon is talking about a fusion from T12 to L4 plus L5/S1, but I’ve got to lose a lot of weight before he will do it.
Anyway, I didn’t want to derail the thread.....just explain why I haven’t given a
serious thought to buying body armor for myself. I would if I could wear it, but I can’t. So I’ve had to alter both my survival tactics, and my survival expectations.....at least until I can get my back fixed.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 5:57 pm
by eyedoc
Just losing a lot of weight by itself might help a lot.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 10:12 pm
by The Annoyed Man
eyedoc wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 5:57 pm
Just losing a lot of weight by itself might help a lot.
My neurosurgeon said that the weight isn’t causative, but it is contributing to the pain.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:40 pm
by eyedoc
The Annoyed Man wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 10:12 pm
eyedoc wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 5:57 pm
Just losing a lot of weight by itself might help a lot.
My neurosurgeon said that the weight isn’t causative, but it is contributing to the pain.
I have seen some great results from weight loss and building up your core muscles. I wish you luck.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 3:17 pm
by RoyGBiv
FedEx says I should be receiving this tomorrow. Hopefully not needed.
Now I need to start researching plates.
Click image for link.
Re: Anybody bought body armor? Thinking about it....
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:45 pm
by Paladin
Jago668 wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:50 pm
I got my ceramic lvl 4 plates from Infidel (also based in Texas, East of DFW). I went in person and got them. Currently in a Pig Brig from SKD. Chest rig is pieced from all over SOE, Tyr, Esstac. If I decided to buy another set I'm going for the poly plates that weight less. I've done training classes and shooting competitions in full kit and I need to exercise more.
There was a day not all that long ago I would do ruck for miles in a weighted pack (for time) and do pull-ups and pushups in a 30lb weightvest. You have to build up to it, but its worth it if you do.
The Waco Tactical Fitness Biathlon was a great event for fitness + shooting + gear