Body Armor- Five Things You Might Not Know

Buy it now. After yesterday's terror attack it will be on the short list to be banned for us regular citizens.

 

Available in your stores is our situation also.

Earlier, I posted some suggested searches; even in Afghanistan and Iraq, the pictures show a lack of body armor. Recon specialists are not regular infantry As our military gets the latest and greatest; why aren't they wearing it?
I'll side with Chimo's speed and mobility if traveling and I won't be traveling. My reasoning is here, we must fight so body armor would be wise.

The problem is when being shot at, as one most expose their head to acquire and shoot back. Very few deer rifles with a 3-9 aren't capable of 1-2 MOA.

 

The same can be said for the shooters, especially in combat.

 

Quite true and as you said shooters; that means more than one would be head hunting.

 

Even staying put, as I plan on, doesn't mean I am going to stick around and go toe-to-toe with some well-armed group, should they come a knocking. I'm gonna scoot...hunker down in my extremely large "back yard" and wait them out...and if I do need to shoot, it's going to be from a distance, in a position of my choosing, at a time of my choosing...rinse and repeat as necessary.

Now if I was living in an urban area where just going foraging carried the risk of a firefight or snipers, or part of a defense force or QRF...yeah, I'd armor up. I know that I could get caught out by an armed group where I am at too, but if that happens, body armor isn't gonna save my butt anyway.

But I'm like Col. Flagg...I'm like the wind...preferably without breaking my leg.

 

Engaging groups is best left to infantry or the soon to join the departed.

If a group forces us to leave home; we will do the same and welcome them to a game of shoot and scoot.

 

Weight is not really negligible and the ceramic plates are bulky being about an inch thick on top of the roughly 1/2 thick soft panels. AR500 plates in a carrier weighs more but is far less bulky, however there are gaps between plates. The army IOTV has gaps between plates but those are well filled with soft armor. The soft stuff stops most pistol round and can deflect long range center fire rifle if it hits at a swallow angle. A size medium full up IOTV vest with lumbar and groin panels and plates is pretty hefty at about 30 pounds and the large size is about 5 pounds more. A lot of troops try to fit into smallest size acceptable to try and shave weight. Alternatively fitting into the largest size feasible gives more ceramic coverage.

That said, I would still rather have it too. A pessimist would figure there may be a few month period after the initial die-off of sheep while some wolves are still on the prowl before they have been eliminated or penned up. They may try a bit of sniper action as we say go to collect eggs, feed the livestock, water the garden, etc. Would be good just for moving about the homestead until it can be more certain things are clear. Along those lines, having some electronics to deploy after SHTF as a force multiplier to monitor the area may be critical.

AT

 

How long the wolves will remain is a good question with too many answers.

With a "military surplus" type rifle and a 3-9, hitting a clay bird (~4.1") at 200m with a 7.62N using military surplus ammunition isn't really a challenge and I'd bet quite a few people here can do it easily. Adding movement, reduces the number.
The value added of body armor while outside would be dependent on the skill of who is shooting at you. Hopefully, the shooter will be lacking in the skill department.

Yes, we have it and we also accept its limitations.

 

Snipers are my biggest worry...less so here than when I lived in the city, but still a big concern. If you are on your own or the only real armed threat in your group, body armor isn't going to save you from a competent sniper. You might survive the first shot...but a decent sniper isn't going to just come prancing down to collect his booty without ensuring that you are down for good and that there are no other threats. The only defense against a good sniper is to never leave cover...which isn't practical for most of us.

(I am not saying not to use body armor...I'm just sayin ;-))

 

The first shot can have a few purposes.
One is to wound and create a screamer to draw others out or to watch for movement as they look to see what happened. A sniper could easily shoot one person, then return in a few days...

The military wears body armor to prevent a soldier from being killed; it does not prevent them from being wounded. Just sayin..

 

My brother lives down South, and in the 15 years he has lived in his current house, his neighborhood has changed as the old residents died out and were replaced by section 8 types.
A year or so ago back around the time of the national ammo panic he was unlucky enough to have a drive by on his street and some of the rounds penetrated his houses walls.
I made sure to send him some ammo, paid for updates to his AR and provided him with one of my many soft armor vests.

Someone made mention on page one to being an older vet who didn't see the need for armor. The way I see it as a more recent vintage vet myself, my plate carrier is a carrying platform for essential equipment such as plates and soft armor and medical gear and hydration that can save my life and keep me in the fight against those who would do me harm.
It is relatively cheap insurance when you weight the alternatives.

 

As is a current helmet.

 

Yup, it's on my to-buy list, particularly because I need something to mount my NVGs to.
Not looking for a bump helmet, but one with some ballistic capability, and those are pricey if you're looking at newer models

 

I understand the "latest" Kevlar is a bit lighter than the last model.
"I need something to mount my NVGs to." The model I referenced has the holes for that.

 

SOHPC - Paraclete

Good stuff..

 

US Army Military MICH MSA TC2000 1 NV Advanced Combat Helmet


The US Military Issue MSA Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) provides advanced ballistic, fragmentation,and impact head protection, with unsurpassed comfort even with long-term use.

The MSA MICH TC-2000 helmet features a low-profile design that reduces the risk of interference in target acquisition and ensures compatibility with NVGs (night-vision goggles), MSA’s CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Gas Masks, and MSA’s communication devices.

These helmets feature an innovative suspension system of movable comfort pads provides customized sizing and superior comfort.

The sized pads conform to the shape of your head to distribute the helmet’s weight evenly and comfortably. Simply adjust and move the absorbent pads for a flexible, personalized fit. Our TC2000 Helmet features one pre-drilled NVG hole in the fron of the helmet.

The MSA ACH, based on MSA’s original MICH helmet, was developed for the U.S. Military Special Operations Command, meeting the most stringent requirements demands, and setting new performance standards.

Named a Best Invention by U.S. Army Materiel Command, the U.S. Army was so impressed that MSA’s ACH was adopted as the standard of issue for all troops deploying to the Iraq/Afghanistan Operations Theatre.

• The world’s most advanced Level IIIA Ballistic and impact head protection
• NVG Mount Hole Included
• Unsurpassed comfort for long-term use, thanks to the innovative suspension system of movable comfort pads for customized sizing
• Unsurpassed stability, due largely to 4-pt. chin strap system with nape pad
• Low-profile design to reduce risk of interference in target acquisition
• Compatibility with NVGs, CBRN Gas Masks & communication devices
• Ballistic-rated hardware
• Military specification ACH for fragmentation
• 7 Pc 1/2-Inch Modular Padding Included For Comfort, Impact Protection & Stability.
• Weight: Medium 3lbs, XL 3.4lbs
• Impact mitigation, less than 150gs force transmitted to the head at 10 fps
• Minimum static load test of 150 lbs.
• Minimum dynamic load test of 25 fps
• Ballistic performance within the following temperature range: –40°F to 160°F
• No degradation of performance after 3-Foot immersion in salt water for 3 hours
• 100% USA Made

Ballistic Resistance

• NIJ0101.04 Leval IIIA
• NIJ-STD0106.01
• 9mm, 124 grain, FMJ @ 1450 fps, backface < 12 mm
• 44 Magnum 230gr

Fragmentation Resistance

• 2 grain RCC @ 4075 fps
• 4 grain RCC @ 3450 fps
• 16 grain RCC @ 2425 fps
• 64 grain RCC @ 1700 fps
• 17 grain FSP @ 2150 fps

Size Chart:
Size Will Fit
Medium Up to 7 3/4 inches / 198 mm
Large From 7 3/4 inches / 198 mm, up to 8 1/4 inches / 210 mm
X-Large From 8 1/4 inches / 210mm and over

 

Paraclete Triple Curve Level IV Rifle Plate

See the plate?

Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus) means advocate or helper.

 

I wore the ACH overseas on '08-'09
I understand the newer versions are even better than what we had just a few short years ago

 

2 complete vests, both with Lvl IV stand alone plates. 1 with kidney plates as well. 1 stays in my vehicle with me at all times.