Body Armor

[Guest]

Anyone have suggestions on good body armor. Good sources?

[xdpatriot]

Join the USMC, they'll hook you up

[WiseOwl]

Duct tape 4 phone books to your chest. In like Flynn

[hidden_waldo]

Duct tape 4 phone books to your chest. In like Flynn

I thought it was cut up car tires layered under a Carhartt jacket.........

[WiseOwl]

I thought it was cut up car tires layered under a Carhartt jacket.........

Let it rip tater chip!

[hidden_waldo]

OP…..
To attempt to get back on topic…. To get more serious responses about your topic, let the group know what you are trying to achieve with the body armor. There is: “soft” armor, “Hard” armor, Level II, Level IIA, Level III, Level IV and some other levels I am missing. Are you only worried about pistol rounds? Do you need a solution for rifle rounds? Does it have to be concealed under a T-shirt without “Printing”? Do you care if you look like the State-Puff marshmallow man while wearing armor? Do you need to go on a 10 mile hike while wearing it? Is there a price range you want to stay under? This type of information will help tailor the responses you receive.

[xdpatriot]

OP…..
To attempt to get back on topic…. To get more serious responses about your topic, let the group know what you are trying to achieve with the body armor. There is: “soft” armor, “Hard” armor, Level II, Level IIA, Level III, Level IV and some other levels I am missing. Are you only worried about pistol rounds? Do you need a solution for rifle rounds? Does it have to be concealed under a T-shirt without “Printing”? Do you care if you look like the State-Puff marshmallow man while wearing armor? Do you need to go on a 10 mile hike while wearing it? Is there a price range you want to stay under? This type of information will help tailor the responses you receive.

No. Actually, don't come on a site like this, post a few times and start asking about body armor. Especially with the recent violence that has occurred and how the psychos have carried it out. Ever heard of a search engine? I'm pretty sure you can find civilian body armor on the web by search engine without coming here with an agenda. Have a nice day

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Anyone have suggestions on good body armor. Good sources?

http://bulletproofme.com/

[Stephen]

http://bulletproofme.com/

I have dealt with BulletProofMe.com in the past. I was well impressed with their helpfulness. There was none of that "Oh, you're just a civilian" (said in a voice dripping with disdain) at all. They know their stuff, treat you well, and don't try to over-sell you on stuff you don't need.

I have ordered from them twice, and am looking into a third order - this time for a small backpack shield to slip in the hydration pouch of the Maxpedition Sitka bag that goes everywhere with me. It just seems like a good way to have some level of protection available at all times. Try as I might, wearing armor in the Summer is way too easy to skip, but the Sitka is with me all the time.

Just an aside - while body armor isn't as "sexy" as something you can shoot, I'm rather puzzled by those who carry for self protection, but won't spend the money for something that will help protect you from taking a bullet. We can easily loose track of the idea that the PRIMARY objective is to not get hurt yourself. Stopping the bad guy is secondary to that. Body armor helps with that Primary objective.

Just my thoughts on it anyway.

[Stephen]

I should have asked on my previous post - Does anyone here have experience with adding a shield to the hydration pouch of a pack? While I like to keep my pack as light as possible, I think that would be well worth the added weight. I'd still like to hear from any others who have done it though. The Sitka, being a single strap pack, makes it fast and easy to swing from normal back carry to front coverage if needed.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I should have asked on my previous post - Does anyone here have experience with adding a shield to the hydration pouch of a pack? While I like to keep my pack as light as possible, I think that would be well worth the added weight. I'd still like to hear from any others who have done it though. The Sitka, being a single strap pack, makes it fast and easy to swing from normal back carry to front coverage if needed.

Interceptor vest groin panel fits in a pack, dunno bout a hydration pouch, most of mine are a little skinny for that (and for my body LOL)

[Stephen]

Interceptor vest groin panel fits in a pack, dunno bout a hydration pouch, most of mine are a little skinny for that (and for my body LOL)

Thanks, Matt.

You're right about the packs being a bit narrow, and I need to give it some more thought in front of a mirror to see just how much area would be covered. To make it even more so, when the pack is swung around to the front, it sits cross-wise. It would cover just fine from side to side, but not much up and down. I like the concept - in theory, anyway. I just need to get a better feel for whether it would truly provide a decent level of last-ditch protection, or if it would just be just giving me a false sense of security (which can be a part of using any body armor if you aren't careful). In the end, the real answer may be to just be more consistent about wearing the conventional body armor (it really is a good fit, but there's no way to get past the heat retention). As life here in America gets ever stranger, that's probably going to be the best strategy.

If I go ahead with it, I'll start a post on the project. Thanks again!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Got to thinking, the hard plates or soft trauma packs usually worn in the front pocket of soft police style body armor might work in that space

http://www.galls.com/CGBCSRCH?PMWTNO=000000000001643

[Stephen]

I think you're right, Matt. I've got one on mine, so it's an easy thing to try. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks for the idea!

[tarheelsman71]

Where I live there is a huge foundry...Charlotte Pipe and Foundry. I bought some 10x12" 1/4" hardened steel to use as targets. Since they would only sell me by the sheet (8x4') I ended up with quite a few of them. I wanted them to setup a pistol course. .223 will almost go through them so rifle is out. Anyway I ended up with 14 of them. Anyway, I had all this steel so I got the wise idea to round off the corners and smooth out the rough edges. At 7 lbs they arent light, but the are effective. I took them to a turck place and had them rhino line a couple of them, and I now put on in the backpack that I take to work. It is a laptop bag from swiss gear. It had a sleeve already in for a laptop, so I just slid in the insert. I paid $358 for the steel, another 60 for them to cut the large sheet into small pieces and I had my targets, and some Level III protection for my person. As an IT professional, it isnt out of the ordinary to have my backpack everywhere I go. I still have 3 pieces left, and I am of bending the metal on a press a little and see how it fits in my plate carrier, but I havent done it yet. Price to rhino line them was 20 bucks per piece, but didnt want to deal with rust later. Still trying to figure out how I can sew them into my kids backpacks for school, but I dont think they want to drag around an extra 7 lbs...:)