NO body armour for me

[JToth]

Plate carriers are bit of overkill. Soft armor up to IIIA on the other hand is not a bad option. Most vests weigh between 3-6LBS and provide protection on the vital areas up to 44MAG. I have a plate carrier from the military and would not use it unless I was expecting a real gun fight. I also have a IIIA since I work armed security and I wear it every day with no complaints. In my opinion it is better to have some armor and not need it, then need it and not have it.

[N01]

I have to care to much body armor for my work and i really hate it
you can't move in it

[Boom40mm]

I have to care to much body armor for my work and i really hate it
you can't move in it

What armor are you wearing that you can't move in? I've worn the interceptor, MTV, Spartan II, FSBE and SPC and found mobility only to be an issue in the MTV (although the interceptor was not particularly comfortable, you could still move). These more modern systems are greatly improved (head and shoulders) over the gear of yesteryear. Pair any modern carrier with multicurve (a luxury many members probably didn't have) plates and a modicum of physical fitness and you should be golden on movement.

I understand you probably don't have a choice about what you wear because of work, others reading this will have more flexibility if making a private purchase.

[ZomCon Sargeant]

Bugging IN: Body Armor (Level III NIJ)
Bugging Out: No Body Armor (Long Sleeve Shirt)

[clarence]

Some people think they need to were body Armour and all the most tactical crap around, if thats what gets ya off then go for it. I choose not to have it because it is a lot of weight to carry around. If im bugging out then I have a good possibility to have to be moving 15+ miles a day I don't want an extra 30 pounds.

30 pounds?? My US Palm Defender (IIIA) weighs 2 pounds (edited to correct: 1.6 pounds with the front panel only, 3 pounds total with the back panel).

Secondly, I don't know about you but were I live ill be heading for the woods were I might never encounter a single person. Its most likely not going to be huge gun battle after another with massive body counts. Its just not something that would suit my needs. Opinions?

Carry a gun into the woods? Why not protection from a gun?

[Das Sheep]

I wear IIIA soft body armor, it's not that bad. It's not nearly as heavy as you'd think (about five pounds) and if properly fitted, doesn't restrict movement a whole lot. Beats the hell out of being perforated with 9mm bullets.

It is expensive, and the idea of wearing used seems.... Gross. (Trust me, nobody wants to wear mine after a hot summer afternoon. Moist.) Maybe if you wrapped it in Saran wrap under a freshly-cleaned carrier. Don't do that, btw, bad advice.

Ironically a number of light fast 9mm loads blow right through IIIA. The all copper super fast .357 and 9mm and .40 loads just wreck soft body armor.

[kiltedninja]

I have an IMTV that I acquired from my last duty station, and then my plate carrier for work, but in a SHTF situation, you wouldn't see me with armor on. My carhartt, some arm protection and gloves. I have a chest rig and belt for all my ammo and stuff. I'd sacrifice the protection from small arms fire in order for more speed and mobility or the ability to carry things that are more likely to save my life like more ammo, chow and water.

I've spent four years wearing body armor and walking around deserts. I'm sure as hell not gonna wear it if I don't have to.

[AS556]

I wear IIIA soft body armor, it's not that bad. It's not nearly as heavy as you'd think (about five pounds) and if properly fitted, doesn't restrict movement a whole lot. Beats the hell out of being perforated with 9mm bullets.

It is expensive, and the idea of wearing used seems.... Gross. (Trust me, nobody wants to wear mine after a hot summer afternoon. Moist.) Maybe if you wrapped it in Saran wrap under a freshly-cleaned carrier. Don't do that, btw, bad advice.

Ironically a number of light fast 9mm loads blow right through IIIA. The all copper super fast .357 and 9mm and .40 loads just wreck soft body armor.

Can you cite your source for this please?

[Doctorr Fabulous]

I wear IIIA soft body armor, it's not that bad. It's not nearly as heavy as you'd think (about five pounds) and if properly fitted, doesn't restrict movement a whole lot. Beats the hell out of being perforated with 9mm bullets.

It is expensive, and the idea of wearing used seems.... Gross. (Trust me, nobody wants to wear mine after a hot summer afternoon. Moist.) Maybe if you wrapped it in Saran wrap under a freshly-cleaned carrier. Don't do that, btw, bad advice.

Ironically a number of light fast 9mm loads blow right through IIIA. The all copper super fast .357 and 9mm and .40 loads just wreck soft body armor.

Can you cite your source for this please?

IDK about all, but some, certainly.

[Hollis]

My thoughts, The more you carry of something means the less you carry of another item.

Is body armor worth the extra weight as compared to other items that could be carried instead?

My first thoughts is no. It depends on the likely hood of need VS the other things I could be carrying.

[Das Sheep]

My thoughts, The more you carry of something means the less you carry of another item.

Is body armor worth the extra weight as compared to other items that could be carried instead?

My first thoughts is no. It depends on the likely hood of need VS the other things I could be carrying.

Why do you carry a defensive firearm on a bug out?

Because there is a chance you might need to defend yourself right?

Armor is heavy, but there are options out there that can be had at 5-7 pounds total weight for carrier and pistol plates / armor or slightly more for light weight rifle plates. Maybe 10 pounds for some of those crazy light rifle plates.

I am not saying everyone needs / should have armor. Its expensive. I just have some IIIA armor (several sets) and some AR500 plates because I am not willing to drop $800 on some light level III stuff. But its silly to say that, if you have the resources, its not a wise buy.

Also you should make a plan. Where are you bugging out too? Have stuff there and you will need to carry less and you can wear armor.

[RonnyRonin]

My thoughts, The more you carry of something means the less you carry of another item.

Is body armor worth the extra weight as compared to other items that could be carried instead?

My first thoughts is no. It depends on the likely hood of need VS the other things I could be carrying.

On foot, I tend to agree. But for most people slogging around on foot is kind of a last resort (I hope), out of a car, bike (Ok, I've never ridden a bike with armor on), Bug Out Cart or pack animals a light set of armor starts to look like less of a penalty.

Of course the likelihood of needing armor in any given "normal" emergency are probably even lower then those of needing a gun, when these conversations start up I just assume we are all talking some kind of Red Dawn hypothetical, not seasonal floods or tornadoes.

[LJ126]

I wear IIIA soft body armor, it's not that bad. It's not nearly as heavy as you'd think (about five pounds) and if properly fitted, doesn't restrict movement a whole lot. Beats the hell out of being perforated with 9mm bullets.

It is expensive, and the idea of wearing used seems.... Gross. (Trust me, nobody wants to wear mine after a hot summer afternoon. Moist.) Maybe if you wrapped it in Saran wrap under a freshly-cleaned carrier. Don't do that, btw, bad advice.

Ironically a number of light fast 9mm loads blow right through IIIA. The all copper super fast .357 and 9mm and .40 loads just wreck soft body armor.

Can you cite your source for this please?

IDK about all, but some, certainly.

There are handfuls of rounds that will penetrate soft body armor, even the good stuff. That's not disputed.

I don't know about y'all, but I'd rather stop *most* handgun cartridges - especially the ones most commonly used by criminals - and put some layers between me and those that will punch through, than there be nothing but skin and bones protecting my vital organs. It's worth the extra weight to me. Just because a few specialty and exotic cartridges penetrate doesn't detract from it's overall usefulness.

It's kind of like those folks worried about spalling bullets after striking a hard plate; I'll take that any day over being hit in the chest with a centerfire rifle cartridge. And guess what? There are rounds that completely penetrate that armor too.

Other arguments to body armor are that it's heavy. Not really, not for what it does. Maybe if you're bugging out on foot, or bicycle, sure --- but frankly, doesn't hiking away from your stronghold, and the area around it with which you're probably most familiar, seem like a last-ditch sort of thing anyway? If you have body armor, you can choose to use it or to ditch it in that event. If you don't have it, you don't have a choice: you're going without.

Frankly, I see it as a no-brainer. If you keep a gun for self-defense for the defense of your home in the event of violent civil unrest and rioting, you lose nothing by owning and wearing armor too.

[JeeperCreeper]

Another good thing about soft armor is it fits better with my pajamas so I don't feel it when I sleep in it every night. Always ready, always vigilant. Semper P!!!

[AS556]

Interesting, thanks for the link. I usually follow MACs channel, not sure how I missed that one.

I agree with LJ126, however, body armor, whether level II or IV, is worth the bulk and expense despite some rounds being able to penetrate. A very, very high percentage of people potentially shooting at you (LE, .mil, civilians) will be using generic ball or traditional hollowpoints that the vest/plate will be able to defeat, especially once you get out past across the room distances. That's the way I look at it, at least.

AR500 just released a Level III+ that is supposed to stop 193 at super close range and 7.62N AP. My understanding after some research is that from 7m 193 from a 20" will indeed go through AR500. I'm going to look into that as a replacement for my front plate, then throw the current plate in a cheap PC or possibly shoot and test it against 193 from my 14.5" bbl. Ill post a thread if I end up doing it.