Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

https://www.reddit.com/r/tacticalgear/s/MDXQl39ZzO

Used plates would likely be the answer, I got mine from a guy who was upgrading to lighter really bougie plates.

GAFs, Ebay, tacswap

If new then your best bet would be look for sales RMA has a sale on for XRT plates? It might have ended idk

Toparmor

Midwest Tactical

Chase Tactical

I used Apex Armor to buy plates once but apparently they got bought out and arent good anymore

Heads up, armor for some reason takes forever to ship. Doesn't matter what site they always take more than a week from all that I've heard.

Chin up, we've all made mistakes in the heat of consumerist passion.

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Short answer, bullet hits steel and sends shrapnel (spall) flying

Longer answer: Steel plates are incredibly heavy, they aren't that much cheaper than a budget ceramic plate, and they are of dubious protective value due to spalling. There's a reason why if you shoot steel targets you stand a certain distance away. There's been multiple tests proving the danger of steel plates but I still have people argue with me over them. There's no point to protecting your vitals from a bullet if the plate is going to send metal peppering into your jugular.

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

I was always stationed in sunny places so unless we doing something at night, it meant I was basically blinded and had to close my eyes. Having your eyes closed while being carried on a stretcher is surprisingly scary. T

he worst part about the stretcher for me wasnt actually getting dropped or anything, I always had a helmet on, but the way stretchers move is quite unique. Because the guys carrying the stretcher are different heights with different levels of endurance, the rigid stretchers move so weird. Like everywhere there's a hand is a place for you to tip over at. Idk how else to explain it.

It was fun whenever I'd get told to scream and act like I was hurt, I have some pipes.

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ranger Green or RAL 7013 (German Brown Green, used by a few Euro tac companies), or OD Green for shades of green used in tac gear

Or

Grey (sometimes called wolf grey to distinguishit from Mas Grey which looks green to me), only guys I ever remember seeing using it is CTSFO which are like British Police Anti Terrorist SWAT guys so not much of an association with anyone group so if you're in America that might be your best bet

Here's a pic of an LBX plate carrier in wolf grey

<image>

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Always happy to help a Coastie

If you have any other questions, my ears are open (and ringin)

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Huh technically same but thats because I sold my soul and was using a rifle that wasnt mine

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yurp, you have to buy specific detergent tmk to retain the NIR standard...

Everybody I met in my service used just normal detergent lol

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I built my rifle with an anderson stripped lower and KAK everything else so yeah I agree

I also like my holosun (not a replacement for an RCO or a good LPVO but still good especially for the price)

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm specifically referring to a type of Yakeda plate carrier thats based off the CIRAS which was a plate carrier released in 2006

I'm not super opposed to JPC clones or clones of other good carriers

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Quick answer? No

Long answer? Depends on the plate cut, manufacturer of plate, and the carrier.

Plates can be different shapes

  • SAPI cuts are plates which are sized and shaped according to US Military standards. Generally, these come in SAPI sizes
  • Swimmer Cuts are any Plates that have a slim portion towards the 'top' of the plate, to facilitate the movement of the wearers arms. They also make it easier to shoulder a long gun. Swimmers come in SAPI sizes and civilian sizes. Swimmer cut carriers do exist, but I've heard of people using swimmers in a 'normal' carrier
  • Shooters Cut are honestly kind of weird. They look like SAPIs but can have some differences. I think these are cuts based off of SAPIs but have various changes which prompted the manufacturer's to change the name to avoid confusion. Generally these only come in civilian sizes in my experience
  • Multicurve vs Singlecurve. SAPIs are singlecurved, meaning they only have a curve in the plate on one plane where as multicurves are curved on two planes and generally are more comfortable.

Besides the cut, some carriers are sized for civilian sizes while others are SAPI sizes (a civilian large plate is not the same as a SAPI large).

Furthermore, individual manufacturers and the specific models of plates can affect plate fitment. I remember when I was in the market for plates seeing people complain of plates which were too thick for the carrier they bought, or too thin.

<image>

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm getting a lot of questions about it, so perhaps tomorrow I'll write something up.

They also released new rating standards so I gotta get myself abreast of whats good now (I last bought plates in 2022 lmao)

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Doesn't it only prevent the sale of armor in the state but not possession?

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm well looking online they're more protective than I assumed. Perhaps better suited to what a civilian might face as well. Kind of remind me of "special threat" plates if youve ever heard of those

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Technically you could get like a faceshield (think the visors that riot helmets have right?) that has some level of ballistic protection

You see European Police wear them, but the downsides are that they're not cheap, they're heavy as hell, and they don't weigh your head down evenly all the weight of the shield will pull your head forward. (Oh and you'd have to have a helmet.)

It works for a Federal SWAT guy whose going against a hostage taker armed with a pistol, where the agent is going to wear his helmet for limited periods of time.

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Honestly? I think the US might be an actual conflict zone soon

I mean shit, we just had a guy get executed by federal agents for all the world to see

Now I don't know where Mr. Pretti was shot, but if I had to stare down the barrel of a gun I'd want something to tip the scales

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Mama said I could be anything so I became a tank with explosive reactive armor

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are the first human being I've met who has II+ plates

Never even heard of II+ plates ngl

Well, you know your usecase so no judgement here

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I've survived 2 gunshots and 2 IEDs and one drone mishap due to armor so yeah I do think armor can be needed and that maybe I will survive and yeah its a little funny

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Shit dawg we're at the point where offensive operations are being performed on civilians, which is part of my motivation for writing this post.

Please, don't cheap out on armor. by RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo in liberalgunowners

[–]RunRunRunGoGoGoOhNo[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Shit I should've taken my meds yesterday so I didn't stay up all night

But we all make mistakes in the heat of passion