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Ballistic Vests

S

Sheepdawg

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Joined
May 10, 2008
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134
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The High Plains, New Mexico, USA
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marshaul wrote:
Sheepdawg wrote:
open4years wrote:
I'm either paranoid or thinking logically.
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People tell me I'm paranoid. I tell them, "I may be paranoid, but I'm also still alive.";)
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Yeah, but whomever you're speaking to is also alive, and without the paranoia. Unless you're speaking to the corpse of a murder victim, this isn't going to impress them.
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How do you impress a corpse?!:celebrate
 
ODA 226

ODA 226

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Feb 26, 2008
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Etzenricht, Germany
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open4years wrote:
ODA 226 wrote:
I have 4 IIIa vests and SAPI plates for two of them. The only time I'd wear them is in a SHTF situation.
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Who are they made by? Why four vests? Are they different configurations from each other?
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3 of my vests are Second Chance, 1 of the 3 is concealable, the other two are tactical vests. All 3 are military issue. The other is a Paraclete Tactical Vest that I bought for use in Iraq.
 
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ianto94

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At a recent gun show I bought his and her level IIIA body armor just in case things get out of hand, or as one commenter said SHTF. I do walk my dog at 3 am sometimes and I live in a jurisdiction where carrying concealed or open is a felony. Care to guess how safe it is. Nonetheless so far have not felt the need to wear on those late night walks yet, but I want the option. Mine is made of Spectrashield which is supposed to be stronger than Kelvar. I just upgraded the trauma plate to Pro Tech Impac. There are demos on utube showing the trauma plate alone stopping everything up to a 12 gauge slug. Anything above IIIA will be hard body armor -- i.e., ceramic plates. If SHTF that badly, I intend to be hold up under cover with my AR and Mossberg and LOTS of ammo.
 
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unreconstructed1

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Joined
Mar 26, 2008
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Tennessee, ,
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ianto94 wrote:
At a recent gun show I bought his and her level IIIA body armor just in case things get out of hand, or as one commenter said SHTF. I do walk my dog at 3 am sometimes and I live in a jurisdiction where carrying concealed or open is a felony. Care to guess how safe it is. Nonetheless so far have not felt the need to wear on those late night walks yet, but I want the option.
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Where do you live?
Communist Russia, Nazi Germany or Washington D.C.?

honestly, and I really hate to say this, but if you don't have some type of defensive weapon, that vest isn't going to do anything but prolongthe inevitable. If you get mugged, and that vest saves you from the first couple of hits, eventually the thug is going to shoot enough to negate the protective value of that vest, or he's going to get a head shot in.

personally, I wouldn't live somewhere that provides no means of lawful carry. I carry every day, any time I leave the house.
 
V

VtCO

State Researcher
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Messages
64
Location
, Vermont, USA
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AbNo wrote:
deepdiver wrote:
If I were going to buy body armor, I would ensure that it is as resistant to a blade as a bullet.
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Except.... kevlar is very weak against sharp objects.

Stopping a bullet is considerably different than stopping a blade. You are trying to "catch" the bullet, akin to a baseball mitt, but you want to either deflect the knife edge or just plain prevent it from penetrating. There is less force driving the knife, but the sharpened edge makes is what gives it its cutting power.
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Just get dual threat armor, it's not rare, just pricey.
 
L

LEO 229

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Joined
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I can post that I do not know of ANY cop that will wear their vest once they are off the clock. Seems to be little need for it. You are not more a target than any other citizen. Even with the vest... crime will find you. You have to weigh your odds that you will be shot and need a vest.

There are a few that get them for free... and refuse to wear them on duty!

They are not very comfortable and I doubt you would keep up the practice.

If you live in an area that you must don a vest and pack a gun..... you may want to just stay home!! :lol:

But feel free and get one if it makes you feel safer.

I leave mine at work and take my gun with me. The chances on me needing that vest are far less than my needing to use my gun.

And that is going to be remote.
 
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ianto94

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
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unreconstructed1 wrote:
ianto94 wrote:
At a recent gun show I bought his and her level IIIA body armor just in case things get out of hand, or as one commenter said SHTF. I do walk my dog at 3 am sometimes and I live in a jurisdiction where carrying concealed or open is a felony. Care to guess how safe it is. Nonetheless so far have not felt the need to wear on those late night walks yet, but I want the option.
Click to expand...

Where do you live?
Communist Russia, Nazi Germany or Washington D.C.?

honestly, and I really hate to say this, but if you don't have some type of defensive weapon, that vest isn't going to do anything but prolongthe inevitable. If you get mugged, and that vest saves you from the first couple of hits, eventually the thug is going to shoot enough to negate the protective value of that vest, or he's going to get a head shot in.

personally, I wouldn't live somewhere that provides no means of lawful carry. I carry every day, any time I leave the house.
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DC. I do carry defensive weapons but not a gun. Still working on that one.
 
deepdiver

deepdiver

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2007
Messages
5,820
Location
Southeast, Missouri, USA
imported post

AbNo wrote:
deepdiver wrote:
If I were going to buy body armor, I would ensure that it is as resistant to a blade as a bullet.
Click to expand...
Except.... kevlar is very weak against sharp objects.

Stopping a bullet is considerably different than stopping a blade. You are trying to "catch" the bullet, akin to a baseball mitt, but you want to either deflect the knife edge or just plain prevent it from penetrating. There is less force driving the knife, but the sharpened edge makes is what gives it its cutting power.
Click to expand...
My point exactly. If I am going to spend the money on one and go through the discomfort of wearing it on the street at some point, I'm going to get dual threat armor.
 
J

Jizzzle

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Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
394
Location
Holloman AFB, , USA
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In the military we have a thing called ORM "Operational Risk Managment". Does your need to wear a vest or yourpersonal risk in not wearing the vestout weigh the factors of it being uncomfortable/costly/bulky et?

I wear my Walther OC because my need/want to wear it out weighs the factors of uh.. damn.. there arn't really any down sides to it.
 
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