Plates for SHTF - what is your take?

[BJJ223]

I am a civilian looking into plates for a SHTF societal breakdown situation.

1. What is your take? Are they worth using?

My reason for asking is that they only cover a small portion of your body. In a military situation, if you are hit in an extremity, you get airlifted to a medical facility. So, protecting vitals makes sense. Extremity wounds can be treated. Plates make sense here.

As a civilian in a SHTF scenario, medical attention may be severely limited. So, your whole body becomes a vital area - a hit anywhere could end up being fatal eventually without medical treatment. Since plates come at a cost of bulk and weight, does it make more sense to maximize your mobility and go without them?

2. If your answer is to have plates, do you choose ceramic vs steel?

For a war fighter with resupply, Level IV Ceramic makes sense. But, they have a limited shelf life, are more fragile, and not as multi hit as steel. If you are a war fighter, the negatives are no big deal. You can get new plates as needed.

But, for a civilian with no resupply, would steel be better? They are multi hit and durable. Level III+ plates are rated to stop M193 at 3100fps. M193 will probably be the most common round encountered. The big downside is that steel is heavy. Heavy means fatigue and you move slower. Slower means you get shot more.

What do you think?

[LeadFarmer74]

Yes they are worth getting IMO. I went with steel plates because they can be thrown around without fear of cracking. Steel will take more hits than ceramic of the same level. Will I ever need my plates? God I sure hope not but for under $500 I say it's worth the investment.

[Beelzy]

Install some 1/4" steel plate in the house. If SHTF, you're going to be hiding out in your house the first few days.
After that, then borrow armor from the dummies who ran around and got head shot.

[p7m8jg]

Install some 1/4" steel plate in the house. If SHTF, you're going to be hiding out in your house the first few days.
After that, then borrow armor from the dummies who ran around and got head shot.

[kel-tec-innovations]

The whole idea of body armor is increase your chance of surviviability, not so much being invincible like Robo cop or Iron man suit.

So yes its definitely worth it as its the largest portion of your body and the most vital part that moves the least. Head shots, arms and legs moves alot vs. the body.

Yes on installing plates around the house. But since your house isn't mobile I recommend a cheaper approach. Sand bags, cheap and stops pretty much anything. Just have them ready to be filled and stacked up at your best defensive positions.

[omega]

I agree, instead of body armor, I would rely more on sand bags or steel plates / cinder blocks to make your home protected against drive by shootings

[AceGirlsHusband]

To be honest, if the scenario went that far south, body armor will be the least of your problems. Buy it if it makes you feel better: that's priceless.

[L84CABO]

I think they're worth it. Do give some thought to the possibilities though. I think the need to be able to move around unassuming is as great or greater than the need to be walking around in a chest rig and full kit. This speaks to a more low profile rig that can be worn discreetly under a jacket. So lighter and low profile is probably better.

I also think there are some newer options on the market besides ceramic and steel. Like this...polyethylene plate. Not sure how good this stuff is so you'll have to do your research...and then let us know. ;-)

http://americanblastsystems.com/nij-iii-icw-1-6-plate-15-year-warranty/

[BJJ223]

I ended up getting

Ultra-light Level III PLUS
Ceramic / Polyethylene Rifle Plates
Stand-Alone

They will defeat .308 FMJ, M855, M193, and most 7.62x39 rounds.

Weight is 4.7 lbs per plate.

I like what Keltec said. It just increases your chances. Doesn't make you invincible.

[command_liner]

I am so tempted to write about Wedgewood 12 piece set, and those cheap Corningware sets from KMart.

But really I wonder about the A600 (not A500) steel plates from Bulletproome.com. Does anybody have an opinion on those?

[BJJ223]

I purchased the above plates from bulletproofme.com

I liked the fact that they weigh 4.6 lbs per plate. Steel is much heavier. I want to be as mobile as possible.

[bruss01]

Yes they are worth getting IMO. I went with steel plates because they can be thrown around without fear of cracking. Steel will take more hits than ceramic of the same level. Will I ever need my plates? God I sure hope not but for under $500 I say it's worth the investment.

^^ this ^^

We have a medic on our team who is a health care professional. He can sew up a hole, set a broken bone, etc - however a perforated kidney or liver is an entirely different matter, you will bleed out pretty fast. Also, you can put a tournequet on an arm or leg, but have you tried putting one on a torso?

Protecting the vitals is a good thing, and nature agrees, that's why you have a rib cage, along with every other vertebrate.

It's difficult to envision a likely scenario that medical help isn't available at all unless it's well beyond SHTF and more into TEOTWAWKI territory. Usually for SHTF we are talking about help that is normally an hour away, being 3-5 hours away instead. And limiting hits to non-vital areas which are easier to control hemorrhaging does expand that golden hour for you a bit.

I went with steel because they will take repeated hits and not shatter.

Hope I never need them but I do have them just in case. It's important to realize that the plates do not make you bulletproof and invincible... you can still be killed by any number of shots to vital points that aren't covered. It just reduces your odds of a center mass hit being a quick game ender for you.

Most prepping is about giving yourself options/choices that the unprepared simply do not have. For example, we keep food and water, so we have the option to not have to loot those essentials or rely on unpredictable handouts that may come with strings. Having the plates gives you the option to use them or not.

[CouchOperator]

Its situationally dependant, however if you expect to need a rifle that sends bullets, you might as well have the option of something that may stop bullets too

[Doheny]

I am so tempted to write about Wedgewood 12 piece set, and those cheap Corningware sets from KMart.

When I first saw the title I thought it said pilates

[deckhandmike]

I got steel. They last forever and I'm not really concerned about the weight. I'd use for around the house or while driving if SHTF. I'm not going to bother with even the lightest plates if I'm hoofing it. I'd be carrying much more valuable items.