Which body armor?

[smrtprts]

Hey guys,

I am looking at getting a vest for armed security work. I am pretty set on getting III-A, but I do not know which brand, from where etc. How much should I expect to pay?

Thanks.

[JM2012]

Hey guys,

I am looking at getting a vest for armed security work. I am pretty set on getting III-A, but I do not know which brand, from where etc. How much should I expect to pay?

Thanks.

No idea on cost, sorry, as I've never bought my own.

If you're not already settled on a brand, though, I'd highly recommend Xtreme Armor. The vest I had from them was lightweight, offered great protection, and fit like a glove. The POS I have now from Second Chance is heavy, unyielding, doesn't breath, and the manufacturer (apparently, since I have to go thru a specific retailer for work) has very poor support when the vest doesn't fit properly.

[solanoshooter]

No idea on cost, sorry, as I've never bought my own.

If you're not already settled on a brand, though, I'd highly recommend Xtreme Armor. The vest I had from them was lightweight, offered great protection, and fit like a glove. The POS I have now from Second Chance is heavy, unyielding, doesn't breath, and the manufacturer (apparently, since I have to go thru a specific retailer for work) has very poor support when the vest doesn't fit properly.

Xtreme is made by American Body Armor. They run a couple hundred more. Our department pays for a Second Chance vest, we can upgrade to an Xtreme at our expense. It's been a few years but I feel like it was a $200 difference.

[smrtprts]

How about something like this?

http://www.galls.com/CGBCSTYL?PMSTYL=BP383

[trob]

we wear new ones from Point Blank. no complaints. stiff enough so they dont roll over when you sit down and they are pretty light. We dont pay for ours, but i think they cost 550-600.

[JM2012]

How about something like this?

http://www.galls.com/CGBCSTYL?PMSTYL=BP383

I'm not sure who manufacturers the Galls body armor (Point Blank, since it says "more products by Point Blank"? Maybe someone else can answer.)

This old thread: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=91174 depicts the style of vest I used to have. The thread is from 2008, which was just a few years after I was issued that vest.

If I had to buy my own, I'd probably go with this one:

http://www.americanbodyarmor.com/EcommerceProduct.aspx?ProductID=24&ProductCategoryID=12

Looks like it's between $700 - $850. Not cheap, but I think body armor is largely a "get what you pay for" proposition.

[CBR_rider]

Not sure how serious of a vest you want or how you will wear it; but here is an option of it will be worn over your uniform. I have heard some good reviews about US Palm gear but have not checked it out in person yet. I used to use an Xtreme, it was fairly breathable/flexible but supposedly it did not protect as well as other vests in similar price range/materials from shots to the outer edges. I don't know how much they cost, but Xtreme might be worth looking into as well.

[smrtprts]

Sorry, I should have specified - it will be worn under a uniform.

How do you all feel about purchasing used armor?

[CBR_rider]

I would not purchase used armor unless: I knew/trusted the source and that was all I could afford. My agency donated used ballistic armor to police overseas. The beneficiaries of this program initially received the vests with much suspicion until they were taken out to the range and blasted a few. All vests (though no longer under any kind of warranty) held up as they should have. That being said, just about all ballistic armor degrades over time and if it has been abused (or is just plain real old) its life-saving properties may be compromised. If you don't trust someone to know 100% what they are selling and that it is not compromised, don't buy it.

[ncortez11]

SECOND CHANCE IS A GOOD BRAND AND REPUTABLE, BUT NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE. ALSO, ARE YOU THINKING OF GETTING A BALLISTIC PLATE? THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

[drewXD/G23]

Second chance and American Body Armor(ABA) are the two best combines out there..... Depending on the account store you deal with you can get a true fit for it and you have 15 days after picking up the vest to get it resized! But like I said, depends on eho you get it from

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I appreciate the information in this thread. I am planning on buying a new vest this fall, as I was not very happy with mine. I have to look at the MFG to verify who made it, but it was not cheap or issued, as I bought it myself. Extremely hot to wear and it bunched up at the bottom near my gun belt. The result is an ugly bulge that makes the wearer look fat and creates an unsightly uniform appearance.

For those of us who have worked patrol in hot weather, I think we would all agree that it is worth spending the money on a good comfortable vest that won't roast you alive during summer. I am guessing that a good one will run 1K or so nowadays.

[LCU1670]

Go to bulletproofme.com

They sell police surplus. Depending on your size you can get away with $350 for vest, trauma plate and trauma pad! My wife got a concealment vest with a k30 plate for $300. They go over all your dimensions over the phone to insure a perfect fit.

[Notorious]

Never buy from Gall's unless you like paying full retail and then some.

Bulletproofme has been given consistent ratings from everyone I know who bought their own.

I never bought my own but I have gone to the uniform store to get fitted and seen how much they can cost.

Stick with IIIA, they are thinner and more comfortable than the II that I used to wear back in the day.

[smrtprts]

Go to bulletproofme.com

They sell police surplus. Depending on your size you can get away with $350 for vest, trauma plate and trauma pad! My wife got a concealment vest with a k30 plate for $300. They go over all your dimensions over the phone to insure a perfect fit.

Any idea if they get resupplied? It looks like they only have medium longs in the III-a surplus right now