Best Body Armor

[krb]

Hi everyone.

I've been thinking for a while of purchasing body armor. Something to put in the car in case say traffic is stopped and bad guys are coming around like a George Floyd (?) situation. Or if similarly riots occur for a home defense situation.

What do you think is the best lightest level IV armor that I could store in a trunk and that wouldn't deteriorate? I figure in such a situation I would not be wearing it 12h a day. So level IV to include at least most rifle rounds, assume no 30.06, as light as possible? And something that will not deteriorate if left in the car for a long time. Does ceramic stay good forever? Or like soft armor would I need to replace every few years? I'd like something light like ceramic, not heavy.

What would you recommend? LA Police Gear? AR500?

I'm looking at Safelife now.

TIA!

[momoney1970]

I would also like to know! watched some youtube videos but I need some more input, dont have time to do a lot of research.

[madland]

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=498169

Here you go. Over 42 pages and 1600+ responses.
Have fun..good luck!!

[krb]

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...d.php?t=498169

Here you go. Over 42 pages and 1600+ responses.
Have fun..good luck!!

I don't think I'm prepared to go through 42 pages and >1600 responses! Plus the most current response is >8Y old so I don't think the knowledge as to specifically what to buy is relevant anymore. 8Y is a lot of time and I bet there's a lot of new technology. The safelife stuff looks cutting edge.

Still... looking to buy some armor and looking for the braintrust to recommend what's current.

TIA!

[colossians323]

bought one of RTS tactical ceramic plate kits for my wife. Good value and way lighter than my ar500 with trauma plates

https://rtstactical.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=8970759247&utm_content=93372046471&utm_term=rts%20tactical&gadid=573259002904&gclid=CjwKCAjws9ipBhB1EiwAccEi1L4tkjaY7fyHcNoAhVmF6W2-uQH-hz-M3-budSQvsOG5UJSK-oM3PRoCQAAQAvD_BwE

Not following Calis laws as close as I used to, I thought Gavin just signed a law, outlawing civilians from having body armor?

ETA, holy cow have their prices gone up

[krb]

I don't think I'm prepared to go through 42 pages and >1600 responses! Plus the most current response is >8Y old so I don't think the knowledge as to specifically what to buy is relevant anymore. 8Y is a lot of time and I bet there's a lot of new technology. The safelife stuff looks cutting edge.

Still... looking to buy some armor and looking for the braintrust to recommend what's current.

TIA!

So sorry! I saw the wrong page! Still... not prepared to go through 42 pp! Braintrust?

[sigstroker]

Afaik there's only one maker of flexible rifle rated armor, so you're probably looking at plates in a plate carrier. If you get ceramic similar to military, you prob don't have to be worried about heat. It was used in Iraqistan, which is generally hotter than most of kali.

You can spend 1500-ish on military or near military grade stuff, or 300 on chinese stuff. The chinese doesn't have official NIJ certification, but guys like Mrgunsngear blow holes in it on youtube, so it's not complete bunk. The chinese level IV stuff is probably going to be a hybrid ceramic/plastic lamination that performs similar to military stuff. How similar, I don't know.

[enorbit3]

Idk if it's the best. But here's an option. Level 4. Lightweight. Not cheap.

https://www.trex-arms.com/store/Hesco-4800-Level-IV-Plate-Set/

Or you can consider the L210. Popular choice. Inexpensive.

https://www.trex-arms.com/store/Hesco-L210-Special-Threat-Plate-Set/

[tradecraft]

For a trunk setup, I like the Hesco 4800 (not the 4800LV).

[krb]

Idk if it's the best. But here's an option. Level 4. Lightweight. Not cheap.

https://www.trex-arms.com/store/Hesco-4800-Level-IV-Plate-Set/

Or you can consider the L210. Popular choice. Inexpensive.

https://www.trex-arms.com/store/Hesc...eat-Plate-Set/

YIKES !!! $2500 plates only!!!

[L.A. Saiga]

YIKES !!! $2500 plates only!!!

*aand that's why you go through 42 pages to learn about body armor and what other (perhaps more affordable) options you have.

Good luck OP!

Cheers

[twinfin]

Hi everyone.

I've been thinking for a while of purchasing body armor. Something to put in the car in case say traffic is stopped and bad guys are coming around like a George Floyd (?) situation. Or if similarly riots occur for a home defense situation.

For the situations you describe, why not level IIIA soft body armor? Based on my reading of past events of civil unrest, handguns are by far, the threat to be concerned about.

A properly fitted level IIIA vest will give you much more body coverage than a rifle rated plate which covers a much smaller surface area with zero side of body protection. This trade-off between rifle vs. pistol, small area of coverage vs. large area of coverage needs to be carefully weighed.

Do not underestimate the decrease in protection when using a rifle plate to go up against a handgun which is by far, the most likely threat in the scenario you presented.

[hermosabeach]

My suggestion - grey man


Soft armor that disappears under a shirt.


Chaos happened - now can you blend away?


Do you look like a target or invisible?




Soft armor covers more of you. If you are not sitting, you can get longer armor.

The odds of a center of plate hit with an AR versus some hit in an arm, leg or gut......



A dark hoodie is good too. Armor on, hoodie on, hoodie up, walk away.



I wore soft armor in a 4 day class. A few cops in the class. I know the instructor and he knew from lunch that I had armor as I stripped down.



During the failure drill training - head / pelvis transition drills he mentioned armor. He asked if anyone was wearing a vest in class? Did anyone notice the student wearing armor? No one had noticed my vest.


Same with jury duty, no one noticed my vest.



Be the grey man. Soft armor for a lot more coverage area than a plate.

[krb]

For the situations you describe, why not level IIIA soft body armor? Based on my reading of past events of civil unrest, handguns are by far, the threat to be concerned about.

A properly fitted level IIIA vest will give you much more body coverage than a rifle rated plate which covers a much smaller surface area with zero side of body protection. This trade-off between rifle vs. pistol, small area of coverage vs. large area of coverage needs to be carefully weighed.

Do not underestimate the decrease in protection when using a rifle plate to go up against a handgun which is by far, the most likely threat in the scenario you presented.

Hi. The specific reason for hard not soft is I want to keep it in the trunk forever and not replace it every 5y. I wonder if steel plates are appropriate, where I would buy, and how heavy.

[BC9696]

Call me crazy but if an angry mob wants to F with the old white guy minding his own business, a tactical vest isn't gonna help. I carry pepper spray, a knife and G22. I will drive away when possible but if you are boxed in your choices are few. If they bust the window I am spraying, if they open the door I am shooting and stabbing. Probably still go down but will go down fighting and take some with me. Civility is dead today. Disrespect, violence and the mob mentality is something you are smart to be aware of. Drive away if possible...even if it means driving over offenders. I gotta steel bumper. :-)