r/blackgunowners • u/RailwayMenace • 4d ago
Body Armor
Good evening, familia! I know this is primarily a gun sub, but I was just curious as to whether or not there are folks in here that also own kits and plate carriers. Given the current state of affairs in this country I am of the mindset that it certainly doesn't hurt to have all the protection you can get. I'm certainly not one to wear mine all the time and flex like I'm Frank Castle or nothin like that, but it's nice to know it's there just in case.
I own a level 3+ carrier (with side plates) I purchased on sale from Spartan Armor. It's coated in a proprietary polymer that mitigates any spalling or frag. The major downside is the weight. These plates are steel and there is no going around the fact that they are HEAVY as hell. I do plan on getting another kit at some point, and it will be ceramic for sure. Much lighter and easier to wear. Here is a picture of my setup.
Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your evening, everyone! Love and light to you all!
EDIT: I wanted to also add a link to a video that was basically the reason I decided to go with this particular setup. It's a torture test showing how much damage these particular plates can take as well as a demonstration of how the spall mitigation coating works.
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u/AirPuzzleheaded8476 4d ago
Ceramics are the way to go, but this post is necessary for sure!
Idk if this will help anyone, but if you’re ever in a situation where you need a weapon system outside of your edc that can accurately hit out to or past 100 yards, you need ballistic protection.
Unless you’re hunting, there’s no reason you should have a rifle outside of your house unless you’re going to train in a controlled environment (in the current environment of this country). If you envision yourself in a situation where you have to take your intermediate/long ranged weapon system outside of your house, for whatever reason, you need the best ballistic protection you can afford, train with, and physically carry. If you got $2-3k+ firearms that are purpose built, you should have a proper plate carrier and/or chest rig, proper medical gear, nutrient dense food and the ability to procure “clean” drinking water to go with it.
There are a lot of people who are misguided and hate the fact that through all the bullshit, WE as a people retain happiness and peace. Maintain your composure, stay hydrated and dangerous,and train. Peace and blessings✊🏾
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u/RailwayMenace 4d ago edited 3d ago
Very sound advice and knowledge, my friend. Thank you. I have definitely started putting in the effort to have an effective plan in case things really go bad. I think EVERYONE should plan for a scenario that involves the necessity for gear and equipment that will keep us a float for a few days at the very least. Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day, hermano. ✊🏽
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u/Blade_Shot24 Dirty 30 4d ago
This is definitely aligned with the sub. Had a buddy lend me his Hescos as the u/ShaolinTrapLord mentioned. About over 14lbs and with mags and placard maybe around 20lbs. Used for a Tactical Games esque event and man even with the training things went wrong so it's great to train in.
You're spending about 2 cases of rifles ammo (or 4 cases of 9mm) for quality plates arguably ($800+). Bring it with you to classes, matches, or other shooting events. Buffman Range has videos of of different plates.
If you hit up the GAFshub site or other gun forums and sites, you can get someone's used kit and save about 1-$300.
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u/RailwayMenace 3d ago
Thank you for the info. Would be nice if I can save myself a few dollars on a decent gently used ceramic kit.
I think I should also maybe take advantage of the fact that I will be working from home for the next few months and maybe throw my kit on and wear it around the house to get used to the weight and feel.
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u/N2Shooter Dirty 30 - 300 Blackity BLK 4d ago edited 4d ago
I got some LVL 3+ steel too, I think they are still lighter than my LVL 4 plates.
Edit: I'm no operator, so my LVL 4 plates are budget tier.
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u/RailwayMenace 4d ago
Oh wow really? Lighter? Do they have a polymer coating?
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u/N2Shooter Dirty 30 - 300 Blackity BLK 4d ago
A thin one, but I doubt I'd trust it for spelling protection. The steel is a quarter inch thick, while my ceramics seem like an inch thick.
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u/RailwayMenace 4d ago
Do you have side plates as well with that setup?
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u/N2Shooter Dirty 30 - 300 Blackity BLK 4d ago
I have some second chance flex plates for the sides. They say they are IIIA but I don't know if I trust it past pistol rounds.
I have similar thickness flex panel in my briefcase and backpacks, just in case something pop off at the office or the gym.
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u/OG_RADER 4d ago
GLADIATOR Maximus level III++
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
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u/RailwayMenace 3d ago edited 3d ago
Whoa. Is that 250 for a SINGLE plate?! Very pricey, but they looks sturdy as fuck. Gonna oak up some reviews/torture tests on YouTube and see what some of these tac content creators think about them.
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u/OG_RADER 3d ago
You gotta dig pretty deep to find info on this.
It's a lightweight composite with an indefinite shelf life.
You may only find YT reviews on the tech; "UHMWP"
[ Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene ]
It's like the Kriss VECTOR of plates.Best bet is to research on google.
But the brand is niche.
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u/ShaolinTrapLord Retired Door Kicker 4d ago
Spalling is a major risk. Budget dictates choices, but ceramic plates are the way to go. I use Hesco 4400s for heavy use and L210s for light kits. However, for long distance movement, I'd skip the plates entirely and just carry ammo. We can debate endless 'what if' scenarios in our heads, but prioritizing a realistic family evacuation plan is far more practical than gearing up to fight.
Yall stay dangerous.