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BODY ARMOR: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

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  • crufflers
    I need a LIFE!!
    • Jul 2011
    • 12722

    Does anyone know a good place to order 10x12 spall pads? Cati armor has sets of four, but are there any alternatives that have two 10x12 pad sets without the 6x8's?

    Comment

    • smashycrashy
      Veteran Member
      • Sep 2011
      • 2999

      D-r makes custom spall liners shoot him a pm.

      Comment

      • crufflers
        I need a LIFE!!
        • Jul 2011
        • 12722

        Originally posted by d-r
        The Patriot plates are overall a better deal, and they are good folks over at Maingun Surplus.

        I recommend a thin Line-X coat on all steel plates for corrosion protection, and it does not hurt to have a little extra spall mitigation. Spall guards should be worn with all steel plates, and many ceramic plates also benefit from them.

        Updated links in thread for guards.
        That's good then... I got my Main Gun set tonight and it is definitely a thin coating of Line-X on the front. The back is paint. Some of the other places I looked (Cati Armor for example) have a frag coating that is very thick. At least I don't have to paint these like bare plates. I do like the cut and curve of my bare Cati Armor plates though.

        Overall I think the Condor CPC with the Main Gun plates will be a good backup carrier with spall liners added.
        Last edited by crufflers; 05-13-2014, 1:06 PM.

        Comment

        • crufflers
          I need a LIFE!!
          • Jul 2011
          • 12722

          Originally posted by d-r
          That depends on intended role. If it is to be used only as a "bump in the night" rig, a Beez Combat Systems semi-MOLLE would be optimal. If for use concealed, their slick is good, as well as the TAG Slick carriers.

          For full house plate carriers, the three I like the best currently are the Hardpoint Axis, The Mayflower APC, and the SKD PIG is still in the running.

          Avoid cheap carriers made of poly, they are crap. Straps are usually able to be changed out for thicker or thinner, as your needs dictate.
          What do you think of the Shellback Banshee? It ends up at the same price as the Beez with padded options.

          Shellback Tactical Banshee Rifle Plate Carrier features 5 rows of PALS webbing and two 2 inch rows of Loop sewn on for flags and other identifiers.

          Comment

          • d-r
            Senior Member
            • Aug 2009
            • 1086

            The Banshee (made by Shellback, there are two "Banshee" PC out there) is a good piece of kit.
            Need good info on body armor and custom gear? Follow me at http://www.drmorgear.com
            Now on instagram, @drmorgear
            *Proud, publicly declared American!*

            Comment

            • dogabutila
              Junior Member
              • May 2014
              • 8

              Thoughts on the Midwest Armor Venture series plates?

              Comment

              • d-r
                Senior Member
                • Aug 2009
                • 1086

                Originally posted by dogabutila
                Thoughts on the Midwest Armor Venture series plates?
                The Venture FM3 is a pretty nice UHMWPE lightweight plate. If you need positive buoyancy (they float) and protection against M80, AK, and M193, they are the cat's meow. Remember they will not stop M855

                The FM4 looks like it may be the best overall plate in the sub-1K per plate range (still kissing the 1K price point) that will stop pretty much any threat. Ceramic over UHMWPE, so there are still fragility issues, but profile is .5" thick, weight per plate is sub- 6 lb! Looks good, people. Keeping my eyes on this, will try to get my pennies saved and do a review (non-destructive for now! Not a millionaire).

                Overall, I really like what Midwest Armor is doing. They offer a good range of options, from affordable and effective (the Guardian series) to plates that will compete favorably with the latest and greatest Ceradyne high-speed, low drag releases. If anybody is looking for a good place to purchase their armor, head over to Appalachian Training. Mike is a great guy to deal with!
                Last edited by d-r; 05-01-2014, 11:28 AM.
                Need good info on body armor and custom gear? Follow me at http://www.drmorgear.com
                Now on instagram, @drmorgear
                *Proud, publicly declared American!*

                Comment

                • Ajcrash
                  Junior Member
                  • Jun 2008
                  • 21

                  Soft armor recomendations

                  A lot of great information here. I scored a pair of TAP Gamma plus plates recently (I wish I had bought them a year or so ago when they were abundant on eBay, had them on a watch list forever just never bought them). Anyways, now that I have the hard plates, I'm looking for backers. I understand the plates themselves are standalone; I'm considering them mainly as blunt trauma protection, as well as a bit of extra insurance.

                  Does anyone have some good recommendations? Presently I'm looking at the Spartan IIIA from The Targetman.

                  http://http://www.thetargetman.com/p...semi-flexible/

                  Thanks

                  Comment

                  • CrossedRifles
                    Senior Member
                    • Apr 2011
                    • 2430

                    Looking to fill my Crye CPC with Level IV standalone plates.

                    Budget is $750 for F&R plates. Is this possible within the price range for ceramic plates? (If recommended) Made by a solid manufacturer? I quickly skimmed through this thread and most links were out of date / unavailable.

                    I have a high back Crye BLAST belt with it's default soft armor insert but I'm unsure what level it is to be honest. Crye doesn't specify and only says "NIJ frag and handgun protection" whatever that means. I also bought it used and I'm guessing/hoping it's kevlar since it can take a beating.

                    Would it be weird to run rifle plates for carrier and then soft armor in the hip area? better than no protection and the weight isn't really noticeable when the kit is comfortable. It is a world of difference between the issue IBA that's for sure.

                    Comment

                    • d-r
                      Senior Member
                      • Aug 2009
                      • 1086

                      The only commercial backers that I can recommend with 100% certainty as containing 100% woven Kevlar aramid would be the Midwest MASS backers. Appalachian Training has these in-stock currently:



                      The Spartans contain UHMWPE, and so are no-go.

                      Originally posted by Ajcrash
                      A lot of great information here. I scored a pair of TAP Gamma plus plates recently (I wish I had bought them a year or so ago when they were abundant on eBay, had them on a watch list forever just never bought them). Anyways, now that I have the hard plates, I'm looking for backers. I understand the plates themselves are standalone; I'm considering them mainly as blunt trauma protection, as well as a bit of extra insurance.

                      Does anyone have some good recommendations? Presently I'm looking at the Spartan IIIA from The Targetman.

                      http://http://www.thetargetman.com/p...semi-flexible/

                      Thanks
                      Need good info on body armor and custom gear? Follow me at http://www.drmorgear.com
                      Now on instagram, @drmorgear
                      *Proud, publicly declared American!*

                      Comment

                      • d-r
                        Senior Member
                        • Aug 2009
                        • 1086

                        Couple posts up, I mentioned the Midwest Level IV Guardians. $290 for a set:




                        Get a set of the MASS IIIA backers from the same place, and you are $260 under budget, with a good setup that can be used with or without plates.

                        Originally posted by CrossedRifles
                        Looking to fill my Crye CPC with Level IV standalone plates.

                        Budget is $750 for F&R plates. Is this possible within the price range for ceramic plates? (If recommended) Made by a solid manufacturer? I quickly skimmed through this thread and most links were out of date / unavailable.

                        I have a high back Crye BLAST belt with it's default soft armor insert but I'm unsure what level it is to be honest. Crye doesn't specify and only says "NIJ frag and handgun protection" whatever that means. I also bought it used and I'm guessing/hoping it's kevlar since it can take a beating.

                        Would it be weird to run rifle plates for carrier and then soft armor in the hip area? better than no protection and the weight isn't really noticeable when the kit is comfortable. It is a world of difference between the issue IBA that's for sure.
                        Need good info on body armor and custom gear? Follow me at http://www.drmorgear.com
                        Now on instagram, @drmorgear
                        *Proud, publicly declared American!*

                        Comment

                        • Ajcrash
                          Junior Member
                          • Jun 2008
                          • 21

                          Excellent, thanks d-r. I'll check out a set. I've got a minimal amount of plate slop in my current PC, backers ought to solve that though. If not I' may take the plunge on SKD's PIG and run my current PC as a slick.

                          Thanks again for the great info you provide.

                          Comment

                          • CrossedRifles
                            Senior Member
                            • Apr 2011
                            • 2430

                            Originally posted by d-r
                            Couple posts up, I mentioned the Midwest Level IV Guardians. $290 for a set:




                            Get a set of the MASS IIIA backers from the same place, and you are $260 under budget, with a good setup that can be used with or without plates.
                            Thanks again d-r. I can't tell whether you're telling me I should use both in conjunction of just run them separately. The first one you linked says standalone, but would it hurt at all to have IIIA backers?

                            Comment

                            • d-r
                              Senior Member
                              • Aug 2009
                              • 1086

                              Originally posted by CrossedRifles
                              Thanks again d-r. I can't tell whether you're telling me I should use both in conjunction of just run them separately. The first one you linked says standalone, but would it hurt at all to have IIIA backers?
                              Always run plates with backers, regardless of which plates you use. The extra thickness is minimal compared with the additional peace of mind. When you don't need the plates, the backers provide pistol protection.
                              Need good info on body armor and custom gear? Follow me at http://www.drmorgear.com
                              Now on instagram, @drmorgear
                              *Proud, publicly declared American!*

                              Comment

                              • DeliveryBoy
                                CGN/CGSSA Contributor
                                • Apr 2012
                                • 268

                                Is MissionTactical the only place to acquire TAP gamma plates these days?

                                I'm kicking myself for not picking up a pair years ago when they were on my radar!
                                WTB S&W Model 10 or S&W 357 (of various models) 3 or 4" barrel.

                                Stay Safe and Shoot Straight.

                                Comment

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