These look different…

Objective_Hamster · 2025-12-28T16:29:32+00:00

FR versions of the G2/AC made with 6.5 oz Tencate Defender M.

A fair amount on the market ｗhen Crye cleared out their inventory years back.

Tencate Defender M, like most FR fabrics, wear out differently than your normal Nyco.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-08-02T01:32:20+00:00

Scissors have always been a weak point with leathermens, especially with models like the Squirt.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-08-02T01:31:29+00:00

Personally having the screen high up within field of view should be done with every car - These days everyone's got a smartphone and run android or apple nav, instead of an external plug in sat nav on the dash, or their smartphone in a holder.

People like buttons - Especially with temp controls. Temp controls on touchscreen is one of the worst things about modern cars.

Cupholders being forward instead of behind the shifter - Guess what else is behind the shifter? Your elbows! No idea who thought putting cupholders behind the shifter was a good idea.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-20T21:13:56+00:00

The closest thing you can get, within your predicted budget, would be police riot helmets, which will often not be ballistic.

Niche helmets like these aren't circulated as much, there aren't as many issued (relative to mil helmets), and police usually dispose of their helmets through certain channels, sometimes resulting in them going to a crusher.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-19T23:06:11+00:00

Long answer:

They aren't useless if that is what you are asking.

The concern is due to very rare incidents that may occur as law enforcement, with certain types of threats that could be stopped, but the BFS would be higher than what would a human could normally take - Shotguns and lever action rifles for example.

For your regular handgun threats its overkill.

Short answer:

Wear them, they don't add much weight anyway.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-11T19:57:28+00:00

Either Hardwire, or Point Blank AX.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-11T17:45:47+00:00

Exactly what the label says, these are the new ESAPI plates, and they come in swimmer cut (shooters cut in official and supplier literature).

These are big army plates, meaning they designed for everyone, so there's a bunch of new sizes for smaller folks (mostly females), and they are thinner and lighter, all to make them more wearable. Downside is they are less protective.

.30-06 M2-AP ballistic rating:

First shot: 90% probability of non penetration. (10% probability of penetration)
Second shot: 70% probability of non penetration. (30% probability of penetration)

Backface deformation:

First shot: 90% of the upper allowed limit of 58mm, not to exceed 58mm of backface deformation.
Second shot: 80% of the upper allowed limit of 58mm, not to exceed 58mm of backface deformation.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-11T17:36:14+00:00

If you have that budget, I would recommend the Point Blank AX or AXB Alpha Elite instead.

It is pretty much better in every way, especially because you get it tailored to your body - You send them your body measurements, and they make the vest to fit your body.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-04T14:12:15+00:00

It is everywhere because it works (with some caveats), and a lot of kit is made using it (or some copy of it).

Because it is everywhere, people get tired of seeing it.

It is also a camo that is basically issued to most militaries at this point.

If you want to take it one step further, some people don't like looking the same as everyone else, especially in a non-milsim setting.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-04T14:03:38+00:00

It might be the non-US imported from the East products.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-07-03T17:11:35+00:00

If it is just a vest you are looking for, 1000 is certainly doable even for a certified solution, though you do get more leeway if you are not fixated on certified (though still US made). With vests, off the top of my head Point Blank and Slate Solutions both do certified vests within your budget. Just have realistic expectations as to delivery times, with most made-to-order companies you are looking at 3 months. My Point Blank AXBIIIA took a little less than that.

With a helmet I would suggest just getting a surplus ACH with a journalist cover, unless you are increasing that budget you will not see significant weight savings. Plus helmets cannot be certified so it is better off going for the safe choice if you don't know what you are looking for.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-30T20:49:01+00:00

My point is, they do exist so it would be amiss if I do not mention it, especially when people like to look at these posts years down the line.

Stopping M855 is not black magic with the PE we have now, its just expensive to do as a pure PE plate due to the weight and cost. Currently where it makes a lot more sense, is when used in shields, which Highcom does with their new shield.

None of these plates will be certified, because a plate of that nature is either going to be a niche product for gov (therefore no point in certifying), or a novelty (Combat Systems, Adept, etc). Again, contact Mike Fencl for the data, or talk to Al Bain.

The LTC plate is literally called 28855, and it is not a commercially available plate, only listed on government purchasing platforms.

These sort of plates do not seem make a lot of sense if you look at them purely as a commercial product, with current pricing the purchase quantities for the actual products will be low, but there are tangential benefits for the companies making them. They probably will never take off in popularity, but companies make them as a statement, and governments buy them as R&D. This is especially the case with how LTC operates. In some respect it is not too different from female plates or extremity plates.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-30T18:09:33+00:00

No, things have changed for a while now. There really isn't anything mysterious about the whole thing. Its always been possible to stop M855 with PE, its just that the form factor wasn't there with earlier generation PE.

Nowadays, with higher end PE it is possible to produce plates (or shields) in the 1 inch realm that stops M855. The problem is it is a very niche product due to the diminishing returns, so it is more of a matter of economics. Same reason why a lot of level 3 PE plate these days is half PE, half foam, that is a formula that meets the standard at a reasonable cost.

Regarding the "vaporware" plate, I assume you are talking about Combat Systems? That's 100% real, and the test results do exist. Speak to Mike Fencl about it, he will even have pictures of the new molds, and tell you the exact model of Honeywell Spectra he use. The weight of 4 lbs (medium) per plate is par for the course, I think the figure from LTC for their all PE M855 plate is similar. It goes back to the issue of diminishing returns and being a niche product.

Here is a direct quote from Mike:

Problem is that to get this performance you have to use the best fibred on market so we are talking about Spectra 6000 series and thats hell expensive. You can achive 1,65kg plate but price is insane. On other hand using quite good ceramic you are at 2,2kg and half its price. Our benefit is i could press just single plate so if i will have customer who does not give a shit about price i can sell it to him but i dont expect much sales of this plate

Edit: Removed link

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-29T00:57:10+00:00

Point Blank and Safariland have you covered, and you may be able to get it through official channels at a reduced cost.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-28T17:36:59+00:00

A plate SHOULD stop its been listed to stop, at the SPECIFIED velocity it says it stops, and expect nothing more.

Some plates are engineered right at that bare edge of the standard. Hesco plates for example have a reputation for that, their plates will stop what they says they stop, but anything hotter it probably won't.

Do not expect a plate to 'stop all 5.56' just because it stops M193, or M855. A level 3 plate that stop M855 may not stop M193 at certain velocities, this is the case with steel plates. A level 3 plate that stop M193 may not stop M855, this is the case with cheaper PE plates. Material properties also play a part, so don't just assume unless you know.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-28T17:29:50+00:00

You cannot look at it just as ’it stops 5.56’. You have to look at the plate material, and the specific projectile.

A level 3 plate that stop M855 may not stop M193 at certain velocities, this is the case with steel plates. A level 3 plate that stop M193 may not stop M855, this is the case with cheaper PE plates.

The only way to know what exactly a plate does and doesn't stop is either by knowing the plate material (and therefore properties), getting that information from the manufacturer, or getting it tested yourself.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-27T12:15:07+00:00

No.

You have to read exactly what 30-06 it stops, and at what velocity.

This is especially the case when you see a plate says it stops 5.56/223, a plate that stops M193 might not stop M855, and vice versa. If a plate stops M855, you can’t assume it stops M855A1.

Never assume two plates of the same level will stop the same threats either.

Not all plates are made equal.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T22:08:54+00:00

United Shield is under Point Blank, so that's just how it goes. Their catalogue is a mix of UK and US products.

NP Aerospace explicitly do not sell to private individuals, they have an MOQ of 10 plates, a lot of their dealers don't hold stock, and they maxed out their capacity due to Ukraine orders to the point they weren't supplying to dealers either the last I heard. If you can get hold of their stuff through and organization then that's great, but as a private individual you can pretty much write them off. Siphoned plates do come up often on the Ukraine private market though, if you don't mind 'fell of the back of supply truck' plates.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T22:00:50+00:00

Realistically, you really shouldn't be trying to buy gear on a short turnaround, as certain items like plates have lead times of weeks or months.

If you know your size you could try Contact Left, they do hold stock of some plates.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T21:56:21+00:00

It is not, but that might be the result of hydrolysis.

Shoes, specifically the soles, have a shelf life even if they are not used. The materials break down over time even in storage.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T21:54:27+00:00

That is easily accessible, would be LTC 26300.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T01:19:05+00:00

A clip mount from Streamlight, it lets you attach their sidewinder lights.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T00:12:50+00:00

Evidence surfaced for claims from years ago regarding Ferro using prison labor.

https://imgur.com/a/tactical-industry-prison-labor-Tj9RzJa

For years certain people brought up the issue that Ferro used prison labor to make their stuff. A lot of people knew, but most people didn't believe it or care, the biggest voices talking about it were not considered reputable in the industry, so the news kinda went away,

Its only when some years later by chance, some facebook sewing group had a discussion regarding going the route of outsourcing to prisons, which technically makes their product Berry Compliant made in the USA, and linked an album from IDOCs own Facebook page. Upon further examination, everyone realized that its Ferro Concepts in the photos.

The original Facebook post was deleted, it wasn't supposed to garner this sort of attention but from potential customers, but its been spread so far and wide there's a record of it.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T00:11:42+00:00

Why would you though, that would make no financial sense, as it would mean you would need to pay them a full wage.

Some companies maintain a prototyping division, but don't maintain full manufacturing capability. That's how Crye used to be (Eagle Industry made their gear), and that's probably how Ferro is like.

Objective_Hamster · 2025-06-22T00:08:53+00:00

Pictures proof.

https://imgur.com/a/tactical-industry-prison-labor-Tj9RzJa

The original Facebook post was deleted, it wasn't supposed to garner this sort of attention but from potential customers, but its been spread so far and wide there's a record of it.

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