body armor identification

[Mick-Boy]

If you could ever envision needing wear this armor while facing an armed threat, I would strongly advise against buying plates/soft armor you found on ebay or craigslist.

The thing about armor is that how it's been treated MATTERS. If the plates have been abused (dropped, stepped on, slid around in the trunk of a cruiser for a couple of months, etc.) they may be damaged. If they're damaged they may not stop what they're rated to stop. The only way to tell if they're damaged is to have them x-rayed.

This is less important but still a factor with soft armor. Extreme temperature fluctuations, direct sunlight, exposure to chemicals, etc. can all degrade the integrity of your soft armor to one extent or another.

Finally you have your carrier. The old adage "you get what you pay for" applies to an extent. Do you need to drop $2k on the latest and greatest from Crye Precision? No. Do you want to rely on a POS knock off vest made for Airsofters? No.

Your carrier is going to be holding up your loadout (magazines, med gear, commo, water, etc). It needs to be durable, threat appropriate, and fit properly.

It's your life your trying to protect. Don't go cheap.

[Mick-Boy]

If you're just looking for a training/SHTF rig, Tyr Tactical has a basic plate hanger and two new NIJ level IV stand-alone plates for $325. Link

[josh7328]

If you're just looking for a training/SHTF rig, Tyr Tactical has a basic plate hanger and two new NIJ level IV stand-alone plates for $325. Link

WOW! That's a hell of a good deal!

[TheBelly]

OP, how do you know that the original deal is on the up-and-up?

[02ducky]

If you're just looking for a training/SHTF rig, Tyr Tactical has a basic plate hanger and two new NIJ level IV stand-alone plates for $325. Link

Dang it looks like its not available for civys. Good deal tho. Mick you sure know your stuff about plates and carries. I enjoy reading your stuff.

[Mick-Boy]

Dang it looks like its not available for civys. Good deal tho. Mick you sure know your stuff about plates and carries. I enjoy reading your stuff.

It looks like it's available to civilians. you just have to send them the affidavit from their website saying that you're the end user and aren't a felon.

Trust but verify my man. Any nonsense I spout should be idiot checked against guys who actually know what they're talking about.

[josh7328]

I've read that alot of vendors that say that they require the proper creds will sell to civvies with a driver's license and such. Also, ceramic plates ARE relatively fragile, but it has been proven that even damaged plates are exceptional at stopping rounds. That's why they can be shot many times with no penetration. Granted, a cracked plate may fail at a lower round count than a fresh plate, but we are still talking about a very high round count. DocGKR's work has verified this as well. http://www.m4carbine.net/archive/index.php/t-32839.html

A video of a cracked ESAPI plate stopping rounds even after it is destroyed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIarVbfERq4

[NMB2]

we abused the shit out of our IOTV's in afghan, I don't think the plates are as fragile as some make them out to be.

Went to all of the local surplus and none of them have iba's or iotv's anymore... CID raided them out.

Local retailer has huge discount for active military on legitimate IOTV's. Picked one up today.

Its just like my issued one, came with the kevlar blankets.