Body Armor Conundrums.

[Joe_K]

I currently work as a Contracted Armed Security Professional for the U.S. Govt.
I am issued a concealable Level IIIA vest that is white in color. The carrier has to be white in order to be worn on duty.

Due to the cultural climate and general attitude towards uniformed persons carrying a gun and wearing a badge I have decided I would like to up armor myself with either Level III +/Special Threat plates.
Capable of at minimum stopping multiple impacts of:

All 5.45x39mm excluding AP
All 5.56mm excluding AP and M855A1.
All 7.62x39 threats excluding AP.
All 7.62x51 NATO ball ammo.
All 7.62x54R COMBLOC ball ammo.
Shotgun buckshot and slugs of any guage up to 12.
All handgun rounds capable of being defeated by Level IIIA rated armor.

My issued armor carrier cannot accommodate hard plates of any decent size, (it has the heart 6x8 plate pocket in the front and thats it)

After using my Google-Fu and contacting several custom tactical gear makers, and big names like Blue Force Gear I haven't come up with anyone offering a concealable hard rifle plate carrrier that is available in white in color.

So in short I need a concealable hard armor carrier that can accomadate a 10x12" plate front and back similar to these designs....except in white.





If anyone has any leads for me on carrier options.
Or recommendations on level III + plates that are NOT steel, weigh less than 4 lbs each and are under 1" thick I would appreciate it.
I am currently leaning towards the DFNDR Armor offerings.


Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi

[Joe_K]

https://youtu.be/UbpzSpQgmsg

Heres a good review of the DFNDR Armor.

Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi

[Snowman78]

Here is my set-up:
http://www.rmadefense.com/shop.asp
and
http://www.lapolicegear.com/tg-xpc-exo-carrier.html

I got my plates yesterday, here is my set up. I am happy with it. Total weight is a little over 16 lbs with 2 full mags.
With both the soft and PC my total armor weight is right around 24 lbs.
Total cost is right around $465.00 (my soft armor was around $700.00.

Attachment 67492Attachment 67493Attachment 67494Attachment 67495

Attachment 67496Attachment 67497Attachment 67498


My plates have a fabric cover, maybe you can contact RMA and ask if they can do a white cover for you.

http://www.rmadefense.com/

[Skip]

I don't think I've ever seen a white PC.

Could you get something like you have above and have white fabric sewn over it? You could see if any tailors in town would do it for you. The fabric would need to be thick enough to conceal the original color.

Be aware, some reviews of the PIG Brig (your first pic) say it sticks up too high in the front to conceal. So you'd need to start with something lower profile or with adjustable front straps.

[fitz19d]

Diy white cover or perhaps even solid white fabric paint

[Snowman78]

You asked for " level III + or IV plates that are NOT steel, weigh less than 4 lbs each and are under 1" thick" I don't believe you will be able to find anything that meets this requirement. My set up without mags is over 14lbs, no way I could wear it all shift with all the other shit I have to have.......

[Ronin13]

You asked for " level III + or IV plates that are NOT steel, weigh less than 4 lbs each and are under 1" thick" I don't believe you will be able to find anything that meets this requirement. My set up without mags is over 14lbs, no way I could wear it all shift with all the other shit I have to have.......

This.
I have an AR500 6"x8" III+ steel plate in my trauma plate pouch on my Second Chance vest I wear on duty. It fits just fine, and due to the location doesn't really add much additional weight that I can feel (the vest is good at weight distribution). My "other" rig is a standard plate carrier with AR500 level IV plates. Despite the weight, they fit without being too "bulky" feeling (As the SAPIs feel like they're more full inside the PC). If you want lightweight but thin, I don't think you can get that as SAPI and other new-age ceramics still tend to be much thicker than a comparable steel plate rated for level III, III+, and IV.

[wctriumph]

Bleach the material. Chlorine bleach should take any color out of the fabric.

[Joe_K]

I don't think I've ever seen a white PC.

Could you get something like you have above and have white fabric sewn over it? You could see if any tailors in town would do it for you. The fabric would need to be thick enough to conceal the original color.

Be aware, some reviews of the PIG Brig (your first pic) say it sticks up too high in the front to conceal. So you'd need to start with something lower profile or with adjustable front straps.

Ideally I would like a ready to go off the shelf, or custom made carrier.

Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi

[Joe_K]

Diy white cover or perhaps even solid white fabric paint

Never tried fabric paint before, thats an interesting idea.

Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi