I’m inclined to agree with you but in grand scheme of things if dude is not assigned to combat and is a civilian he’s most likely inviting a world of bad into his life
The first time I regretted giving away all of my body armor as I retired, was the first time I went to a public range in twenty five years. And, the whole time, watching some of the gun handling and shooting, wishing I was wearing some.
I’m a former police officer I have 35 years of firearms training and as a trainer, I also over the 35 years have washed the progression of body armor improve over that time, and I would like to call myself a novice or well educated body armor person. the same with firearms I have the same years of training, and I have to say that you are one of the most informative knowledgeable people I have found on UA-cam. Anyone who comes across your channel and is thinking about body armor should follow your lead. As I want your video I know everything you’re gonna say ahead of time with a few surprises that I did not know here in there. I’d like to congratulate you for educating this old dog with some new tricks. Good job man.
@GuyFawkes-cv9dc Why do you cop nerds get on military vet channels and bring up being a cop. You're not a warfighter. You're actually more cowardly than the average citizen. Get lost, clown.
I have wondered what folding the edges inward so that any fragments from hitting plate eventually collide with a barrier of steel as the coatings get blasted away.
@@jamessouza7065 Look up some of the testing videos. The only "coatings" that get blasted away in a few rounds are the ones people apply themselves. Granted, if you're taking multiple magazines worth of bullets to the plate you've got MUCH bigger issues. The point is that you don't need to worry about the manufacturer coating.
We the civilian class appreciate your knowledge and teachings. A person or group of individuals is only as good as their coach / coaches. You are one of many that have put your life on the line for us to live the lives we have. You are loved and appreciated beyond measure. Thank you!
The answer is yes. It was a purchase I made during the 2020 "Summer of Love". Who would have thought we'd ever live in a country where anarchists can roam the streets and burn down houses?!
My man… samesies, I bought my first set of armor, and figured out a way of carrying my Glock 34 with a streamlight and extra mag daily over my Glock 26 that summer. My wife and I moved to florida in April and this damn hurricane has made me add more and more to my bug out plan. Felt great bringing in 27 firearms and 5k rounds of ammo into a hotel in 7 trips with no one noticing. But I felt like crap not having a jet boil to cook our food with in our hotel when Uber eats and the whole town shut down. Point is you never know what you may need until you need it. If you have the time and the money make it a priority to be prepared. I have a grey ghost apparition backpack I can put my AR, a backup Glock 2 extra 30 rounders, with a coupled 30 rounders in the pipe ready to go and some tourniquets and I fak (extra batteries for everything) and that is pretty awesome but shoot this hurricane made me realize a lot. That bag is great for road trips and going into hotels so I can always have a rifle (I will always have it with me). But that backpack doesn’t do shit about being hungry or cold or needing to help a family member stay dry and warm. I’m reevaluating everything right now and I really need to add more of the less sexy (MK18 with glocks on glocks and combat loadout to more of a how am I gonna eat and be able to sleep type set up)
@@T20-c8f Great reply. I hope everything is going well for you after Ian. It’s an interesting perspective when the shit actually hits the fan. The 27 firearms you carried can’t help much in many situations. Food, water and shelter are also extremely high priorities when things go sideways. Glad you made it out ok and have the ability to already be addressing the details where you can improve. 👊
"Anarchists." Lol. Those are not "anarchists." Considering "democide" (death by government) has been the #1 cause of death for the last 2000+ years, blaming fake anarchists (closet commies) for that is weak. They don't even know what bathroom to use, so them wielding the word "anarchist" is also weak. Statism is the disease of tyranny masquerading as it's own cure. People should be responsible for their own liberty/security. Government is historically always wielded by the ultra wealthy elite... Yes, body armor is extremely handy.
I am really taking a liking to this dude and his content. As a former soldier, I wrongly thought all SEALs were arrogant bastards, but Chad seems really down to earth and comes across as a fine fellow. The takes on our "government's excesses is so on target it makes all the sense in the world. More please!
This one is down to earth and a fine fellow. He's just gone off the conspiracy theory far right wing nutcase cliff unfortunately. Gonna be 80 and have trenches with razorwire built around his house with spotlights, and a minefield, thinking the gov is coming for him. The same gov that sent him after people. Oh the irony.
when you don't live life in ego ridden "professions" its easy to learn that every big "hobby" (as in people make their jobs their personality) that comes from said professions always have the D-Bag bastards. Its another needed "Grown Up" thing to understand these days.
Here in NY state. Apparently the “officials” in the government feel that we don’t need body armor .. in fact we civilian’s are not allowed to have it anymore!! I don’t understand how something that could save my life ,and in no way do any harm to anyone else,be banned!
Your channel is blowing up my feed all of the sudden. Love that I found it! This means the algorithm is popping for you! Hopefully you see a surge in growth man!
Fuck yes we need armor. Even if just for training, level III is mandatory (& should be) in most tac-rifle classes, & IIIA for tac-pistol. Train like you fight, fight like you train.
I run RMA class 4 ceramics as the price point is easier to justify for your average every day white collar civilian. I really like Agilite's philosophy when it comes to body armor for civilians- its basically like a reserve parachute. You will rarely ever have to use it and chances are that you'll go through your entire life never having to use it, but if you find yourself in a seriously bad spot, having access to it can really save your life.
I really like this guys approach!! He’s not focused on buzz words or clickbait for views. His opinions are based on experiences not perceptions and assumptions.
It’s crazy you said that brother, the Army always told us “Better to have it & not need it, than need it & not have it!” Constantly when we would wonder why the hell we we’re taking snow gear to the field in July…. We’ll we were 10th Mountain that’s why! Lol I hated most lessons the Army taught until I was out, then I realized how much they had instilled into me. Hooah, Climb to Glory!!
I used to manufacture Ball Ceramic & Polyurethane plate products in TN. The ceramic balls were made by Coors in Golden Colorado. These products were not fragile and would not crack like the solid ceramic plates. After seeing the results at the test range, I'm a firm believer in ceramic protection. However, I run with Duritium plates only because they fit in my carrier and conform to my body better. LOL - like you said, I'm more nervous at the gun range than I am at the grocery store. Be aware of your surroundings and stay safe in this crazy time.
Keep in mind, technically there is not a "NIJ 3+." For hard armor there is only NIJ level III and IV. III+ was developed from manufacturers and rounds completely depend on testing from that manufacturer.
Idk if it's just my body type or mechanics, but no matter how strong I am plate carries fuck my shit up. I spent $3000 on Hesco 4800 plates just to have lighter ones with the protection I wanted, and they were worth every penny.
Exactly! I can’t understand why in 2022 we’re talking about steel plates and spalling when there are a lot with built-up coat. I went through CaliberArmor and they’re great…heavy but comfortable with a very performing anti-spalling coat. Steel 20 years shelf life - Ceramic 5…
I'll probably never have a need for this BUT i absolutely love hearing you talk about the why and how of just about everything. It's insightful, thought-provoking and fascinating. Most reviews on every topic, subject or item, the reviewer says.."These are the top 5-10....etc etc" but you always explain all angles of things which i really love. Thank You!
I made the mistake of purchasing plates last year before I did any research. I bought steel plates and I ended up upgrading to polyethylene a few months ago. I will say the nice thing about steel is I wear them when I’m hiking and running for the extra workout. Haha hopefully I’ll never need them but I think there’s a pretty good chance I will since I live in commiefornia.
@@glidewell19 your better off not wearing any armor if steel is the only option. Poly plates have "expiration dates" because they're required to with government regulation. Kinda like medication. Unless your super hard on your plates they will be just fine for many years.
@@rebel_scum_ saying better off with no plates than wearing steel is like saying don't bother carrying if all you have is a .22. I'd much rather deal with frag than a hole in the chest. The coatings work to some degree to mitigate spawl and the carrier too. Not the best scenario but certainly better than nothing. Plus steel plates are backup for someone else, rage targets when you upgrade, or a weight vest for training as mentioned. Better options today as armor has gotten more popular. You can get cheap level IV nowadays.
the smaller lighter plates fit great inside your truck and car doors. Pop off the door panel and use super double tape or construction adhesive to mount inside the door. Reinstall the door panel
I would like to add that the “bed liner” type coating on the steel plates is there for the purpose of catching fragments and reducing spall on the back of it. Some companies call the coating frag wrap. Thanks for the video, Chadd! I really like them all and always learn something that I didn’t know!
Hey, 307 project ! If you run out of that Hoist take my advice. 1 Luke warm Quart of Water, 1tsp of Baking Soda, 1 tsp of salt. Now, you have a satisfactory electrolyte solution in the field. Brought to you by a Retured Navy Corpsmen. Have a great day, and keep on soldiering !
The Hillbilly seal- you have become one of my go to channels ….. !!! I started hiking with my tactical vest and weight just to get used to it….. gonna research plates now…. I keep safelight 3A+ in my car …… you never know!!
A buddy who spent nearly 20 years in Iraq said absolutely not ceramic he said after wearing for six months it’s trash. I’m researching now for a setup that won’t put me in the poorhouse but last and provide sufficient protection 🤷🏽♂️ also what about soft in the front of the plate for stopping the fragment spray??
Outstanding HOLD THE LINE OF FREEDOM INTEGRITY JUSTICE TRUTH AND HONOR AT ANY COST EVERY VETERAN ACROSS AMERICA REMEMBER YOUR OATH TO GOD AND COUNTRY TO DEFEND THIS GREAT NATION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC STAND UNITED AS ONE
I keep soft vest in my closet in case immediate threat. But my truck and man cave is the ar500. I'm going to change now that i have seen this. Thanks. Going to send a thanks too and I subscribed because you have useful info.
I use my sapi plates to ruck up mount yonah. Steele plates front,back,sides. 3 30-round mags and glock 19x ( bear/coyote) protection cause i obviously ruck at night. That's about 35-40 lbs. Then my backpack with ddm4 pdw, several mags and ammunition boxes, ears batteries, etc. Adds another 40 lbs. Long answer, i know. In short, yes, i use them every night to train.
There are several types of steel used with varying properties such as impact resistance and weight. Ar500 is the cheapest. Ar550 offers better protection but is heavier. Are 650 offers basically the same protection as ar550 but is lighter and more expensive.
I like steel plates for the weight for using my carrier like a weight vest. I get the benefits of tactical training and also a workout. For actual real world use I would go with the lighter option.
It's that fuzzy math, where 20% more coverage may mean 50% greater survivability. Good words, Brother, Thank you. Having narrowly dodged Ian, I just realized my rig is far from buoyant. I think I will check out West Marine for one of those self inflating collars.
I purchased a set a few years ago, even I thought I was being a bit paranoid, but then last year I had to put them on to extract someone from a hairy situation. Freedom is a fragile thing.
I put together a vest of full steel plates, front, back and sides. The weight is ridiculous, and really has to be felt to be believed. You would have to be a real prime specimen to operate wearing it. I feel that vest would do me more harm than good! It also makes you realize how much an extra 40 pounds of body weight (which I carry right now) is dragging you down.
You can make very effective body armor out of a fiber glass welding blanket and a can or 2 of fiber glass resin for around $30 bucks. I watched a video where a guy did just that and it easily stopped a .22 long rifle, 38 caliber, 9mm, .45 caliber, 12 gauge double 00 buckshot and even a 10mm round from a Glock.
My Dayton armor plates weigh about the same and can take multiple hits for 308 AP rounds. They also provide edge to edge cover as opposed to Shot Stop...
I run steel with spall coating but the most important part is the anti spall sleeve to put around the actual plate made out of kevlar. But realistically the goal is to get hit once and avoid further rounds. Ceramic is lighter but long term I like my steel due to the durability if anyone were to unload say 9mm into it. It's really just a safety net, the first line of defense is training and positioning.
I had the same thought about layering soft armor under hard armor. I would think that should there be a round that makes impact, the durable soft layer will disperse some of the force around the surface area of the pad. There will still be injury, but I would think that it would be the difference between bruised/hairline-fractured ribs to full-on broken ribs. As to which I would purchase, I think of prioritizing the harm I am prepping for in terms of statistical likelihood and level of harm. If I was a convenience store worker, it would be double plates. As an office guy, it would be the soft pads that can fit underneath a dress shirt, in case someone tries to rob me on my way to the parking lot and things get sloppy. I know people are prepping for much worse these days, but my priority is the immediate and likely harm before the less likely harm.
There's been a few times at the outdoor shooting spot where someone shooting a gun for their first time flags the entire firing line with their finger on the trigger. In those moments I've often thought it would be nice to have body armor.
Chadd, only Military and Police are taught to shoot center of mass. A hunter will never shoot you center of mass. He will kill you instead ;) A hunter looks for a profile shot so he can penetrate both lungs and the heart, just like facing a bear. But full front on a chest shot may kill but not instantly!! You can hit the heart or either lung, all three will kill but not before he can fire and kill you! The hunter if he is face on will aim at either hip, or throat or head, never center of mass ;) Shatter either hip and he is out of the fight. The pain is so much he will scream the 90 seconds it takes to bleed out from the femal artery, he is out of the fight the instant the bullet hits!!!
Good video bro, I have two plate carrier setups for my wife and I. You never know when the crap is going to hit the fan, plus we use them when we're at a target practice location.
Good stuff. Personally I like 3+ Fras armor. It's lighter than steel plates, flexible, no spalling, multi hit capable and offers better protection than 3a soft armors
@@kmac720 Guard Dog Body Armor actually tested better than Safe Life in a video I saw. They are the only other brand I know of that offers something like that
@@HighlanderThisIlldefend Thanks! Found their site, I see some 3+ stuff, didn't see anything labeled FRAS. Looks like plates only? That's my debat too, getting plates vis a vest
HI CHADD ... BOBBY NOLL HERE IN LONGMONT COLORADO ... TYPING IN CAPS BECAUSE OF 4 RETINA SURGERIES ... I'M HITTING 73 AND HOPING THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES YOU WILL SEE MY POSTING !!! I CAN'T BEGIN TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR VIDEOS ... AND TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT GREAT MEMORIES THEY GIVE ME ... I WAS IN MY UNIFORM FROM '57 TO ABOUT '59... YEP ... 3 RUGGED YEARS IN DEN 7 PACK 52 ... WE TRAINED HARD AND WE FOUGHT AMONGST OURSELVES HARD ... HA HA HA HA HA !!!!! WELL THAT'S ALL I GOT !!! ... BUT ANYWAY EACH DAY THAT I GET TO WATCH ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS IT MAKES MY DAY !!! ... I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FAMILY LEFT SO IT JUST FEELS LIKE A GREAT VISIT FROM AN OLD PAL !!! GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY !!!
You’re answering all the questions I have as a engineering nerd that doesn’t have time or much interest in being all tactical. Just want to have the stuff that I need when my military buddies tell me they need help defending the neighborhood/state/country. I don’t have time for all the expensive cool nonsense. Do night vision or FLIR or whatever it is called next… need that on the cheap.
I was forward thinking enough 10 years ago to develop, make, and test my own BA. No, I didn't use any bathroom tiles or duct tape. I wound up with a combination of UHMWPE, Kevlar, and truck bed liner for spalling. I stops everything up to at least L2 and possibly L3, but I don't have a .44 mag to test with. I also wound up putting extra layers of Kevlar behind the plates for added blunt force trauma. My total weight for my PC is just over 21 lbs. You only NEED 5 layers of Kevlar to stop most rounds. The question is, can you survive the impact? EDIT: I forgot to mention it also protects against sharp pointy things. Soft armor Kevlar does not.
@ryanmcmuffi6137 that's definitely nobody's business what you own in my opinion. you have a god given right to defend yourself. it's not given to you by another man!
I didn't much think about body armor in terms of civvie gun ranges until roundabout 2017 when an older but newbie guy at a range pointed an AK pistol at my chest twice within 10 minutes. Twice! After that IDGAF what the old timers at the range think of me (they talk trash, snicker etc). Whatever old man, this is guaranteed to be cheaper than a GSW to the chest or back. At a range where I don't know absolutely everyone I'm rocking rifle plates and an IFAK the entire time. Also, if you need them for a real-world situation, most likely you're not getting them if you don't already have them. Finally, great piece of workout equipment too, as long as you don't use UHMWPE plates.
I got soft and 500 steel. I combine soft plates beind those steel as trauma plates plus offer ballistic protection as well. If you are running steel plates you must get kevlar sleeve for them.
From what I’ve been told is, if you’re getting shot at in close range, i.e. kickin in doors, raiding homes, plates are good. If you are headed to the woods for a while, doing long rucks, ceramic is the way to go. Each type has it desired effect and purpose. Each has its advantages and disadvantages
If you own a gun then you need body armor. Most crime involves handguns so soft armor has its place. 3A Backpack armor inserts 10”x12” are $50 or a vest type carrier/ 2 plates is $100 at Botach. It’s good stuff. If you have kids in school put an IFAK & a backpack ballistic panel into their backpack. 👍🇺🇸👍
I have full length soft on my sides behind the molle. I think I am going to put a small ceramics on the outside, towards the front of the sides. The more I think about rifle in the front and back and soft pistol only on the sides isn't going to cut it.
Thank you for keeping these type videos on line. I've been looking for information on the types and differences on the types and functions of body armor. This sir is all I need to know. Excellent presentation.
Hey, 53 year old Canadian civilian here. I was in respectable shape till I damaged my hip 2 years ago. Up til then I was confident that armour would slow me down and if I get shot, at my size and weight, vest or no vest, my day is over. Now of course while I can still walk a distance with a "full pack" 60 pounds is pretty full considering all the stuff I am not allowed to carry, and I can still move quietly. I dont move fast. I could really use some suggestions for name brands to look into both for plate carriers and plates. The lighter the better, and if the carrier doesnt look military? So much the better. I prefer to live my life in the background.
The lightest plate option is UHMWPE - maybe 3.5 pounds per plate. There's no real way to make rifle plates concealable. You can of course get a carrier that is not camo pattern and might look less "military." If you want a truly concealable everyday armor, go with the thinnest IIIA like Hyperline or something similar. It will afford no rifle protection, but it's the most wearable and most threats to civilians are handguns.
I'm amazed that someone in the steel plate community of manufacturers hasn't given the upper part something like knight armor had, a bevor lip at the top. There is also shoulder plates. I have both side and shoulder plates. Level IV all the way around. I wish there was a way to make level IV helmets without them being extra heavy.
Great presentation. Used to work security. Wore soft body armor with a front steel trauma plate, soft trauma plate behind it. One thing to be aware of with soft armor and it's carrier, it will absorb moisture and if you sweat profusely, absorb a LOT of it. Remember one day it was so hot that by the time got off shift and home, it felt like I was wearing and extra 25lbs from that stuff. Saw one channel test the cheapest you could get, and if SHTF, nothing else could be found this could save your life. The guy tested 3 large ceramic floor tiles and it repelled most small arms fire up to a 12ga, but the 00 buck shattered it. Would probably suggest 4 tiles together wrapped entirely a couple times in duct tape. Ceramic will crumble if hit hard enough and this mitigates chances of fragments flying or bullet fragments. Interesting story I heard once: Wyatt Earp was said to have never been hit by a bullet or fell in a gun battle, remaining very calm. One eyewitness said the he actually did get hit once, saw the hole appear in his clothing and heard a loud clank that caused him to back up a step before dispatching the bad guy. It was rumored that he may have been the first ever lawman to use body armor. Speculation was that two doors maybe from a big pot belly Ashley wood stove were used and suspended over the shoulders with rope or cloth, much like a plate carrier with AR500 plates.
In Australia body amour and plate carrier’s are classified as lethal weapons so civilians can’t buy or obtain them, I’d love to have a set plate carrier and pouches for training, I’ve seen U.S army using crye precision AVS plate carrier in Afghanistan which looked cool but I don’t have any alternatives, maybe can get a plate carrier without the ballistic plates?
Used to love Australia and the people after I spent some time there during my military days. I thought is was the closest thing to the USA, but after seeing how the government went straight authoritarian during the pandemic, I just see it as another tyrannical led government and I no longer wish to return. Sorry, your country, your choices, but I couldn’t live there. Not even for a few days. You all really need to demand your guns back.
@@Fng_1975 Yeah it’s true unfortunately, the alternative is to move to somewhere else, that’s somewhat of a lengthy and expensive endeavour, I do know the ADF enjoys working alongside your military. I do know where’s theirs a will there’s a way, times are changing around the world, so wherever I am now, Is the best place to start prepping for SHTF
Been doing some research on body armor, mostly considering the ar500 steel plate due to budget and understanding the pros and cons of it. Really appreciate this video and learning about the shot stop plates, thank you.
Steel also has sleeves you can put over it to stop frag, or you could even use duct tape around the edges to keep the anti frag coating from separating
I think that there are several things that are massively overlooked regarding soft body armor. The soft kevlar inserts you showed are not what police typically use. Most soft kevlar vests used by the police have a insert that wraps around covering most of the side of the torso and often a bit of the shoulder. This provides far greater protective coverage than plates can offer against pistols which is what the vast majority of criminals are carrying. On top of that, many of these vests are concealable and as such can be worn in public without attracting much attention. I'm not saying one shouldn't buy plates, however unless you're preparing for a civil war or preparing to fight the government, then the chances that you'll run up against an opponent wielding a rifle (5.56mm or more powerful) is not very likely. Likewise for those of us living in cities, if we wear a plate carrier in public, people would constantly call the cops on us unless we're with a large group of individuals wearing body armor such as at a protest. Some also argue that for home defense it's useless because you won't have time to put on body armor. I disagree. I've thrown mine on several times during suspected burglary attempts and one actual home invasion attempt. What buys time to do this, is having #1 a loud dog, #2 keeping your doors and windows locked, and #3, using interior bedroom locks. Now I do have a plate carrier with ceramic plates, but it ALSO has wrap around kevlar inserts (like on a police vest) protecting the sides. So I have the best of both worlds and can pull out the plates if I want to go lightweight. But...for an extreme emergency where someone just kicks in my bedroom door I train to use the back "drag" strap of the vest to hold it up with my non-shooting hand in order to use the vest as a ballistic shield while I shoot with the other hand. So just having your vest (hard or soft body armor) by your bedside where it can be quickly grabbed, allows it to be used as a lightweight improvised ballistic shield. Nobody does training videos showing such practical aspects of body armor usage for civilians. I would make them, but I'm fat and ridiculous looking so nobody would take me seriously despite me being ex-Army. You might consider making some videos like that showing a more likely civilian application.
Having body armor is great. Being in good physical fitness is even better. I'd argue even better than having body armor. If I had to choose between having body armor and being in good physical shape, I'd choose fitness every time.
@@smh9902 That doesn't make much sense. It doesn't matter what physical shape you are, you're not going to outrun a bullet or dodge them like you're in the Matrix movie. You might be able to charge someone fast in a close quarters situation and over-power them, but typically home invaders operate in groups. You'd just end up dead doing that in most cases. You're best option is to setup a strong point guarding a hallway where bedrooms are located. Being physically fit is great, but it's not a substitute for having a kevlar vest right next to your nightstand pistol that you practice throwing on rapidly. You won't ninja your way out of a typical home invasion no matter what your physical fitness level is. Solid CQB/home defense training with a firearm coupled with a reliable firearm and high-coverage soft Level IIIA body armor is the best way to go. For those who can't afford CQB firearm training, I recommend investing in airsoft Co2 operated training pistols and joining an indoor airsoft match event for some force on force training on the cheap. It's fun, excellent cardio, and you learn REALLY fast what tactics work and which do not.
Done all the work except for the hard kind. All that training and you’re overweight? No excuse for that. A warrior should be fit. If you’re not it’ll get you killed quicker thank not having kit.
Those who are unable to purchase a full body armor aparatus, there are several videos on how to make your own with steel and fiberglass and they show the testing. Stops .308/7.62 ball as well as .223/5.56 green tip. Highly effective, albeit maybe not as high quality in endurance. Search it up but I encourage any serious prep type individual to have armor of some kind. You just never know.
Note on ceramics, the new Gen stuff is a tile system on PE. The tiles herlp reduce the likelihood of damage due to accidental impact or dropping due to the smaller size and overlapping of the tiles. The old Gen ceramics were a solid sheet and were very fragile as you said. Great vids ,🤘🏻
I have plates for me and my family and besides the obvious reasons, I live in an area prone to tornados. When we have to take cover from possible flying debris, what’s it going to hurt?
While you make valid points about steel, if things go down in the future and you can't buy ceramic armor after it gets a shot in it or breaks due to an accident, steel would seem to be a better option for people long term with out unlimited cash.
Most steel armor I've seen now is around 5 lbs . They make frag bags (Kevlar bags) that go over the steel plates to capture any fragments. With a small amount of searching it easy to solve the ar500 problems
I have that same spartan armor. I have soft armor behind and in front of the plate to cut down on spalling and bruising. I chose it because my department didn’t provide plates at all, I could afford it, it never expires, and if I drop it it won’t crack and can take multiple hits unlike ceramic plates which suck
If the government tells you that you don't need it, or they want to regulate it. You need it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐YEP.!🤔
What about drugs or alcohol
@@TexasNationalist1836drugs are good alcohol is poison
@@TexasNationalist1836they can tax it
@@marsiloficino5060 so are you ok with them taxing guns or body armor?
My dad told me growing up it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have . I have lived by that .
That applies to everything but condoms!🤣
yep, one of the best JKF quotes I've ever heard. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
THAT'S A FACT!!!!!
Very smart words to live by 👍
Better to be a warrior in the garden than a gardener in a war 🤷
If cops and the military need it then we need it. That's how the second amendment works. Thank you for your service brother! Subbed!
Well said
Facts! Enough of this sheep mindset the govt/police are more important than us! It’s the opposite
You need nukes?
@@coolbreeze2.0-mortemadfasc13 No one needs nukes
@@TexasReaper92 but what if I REALLY want a nuke? For home/personal defense of course...
If you think you need body armor, you do. Doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.
Even if you don’t, with body armor, it’s better to have and not need, than need and not have.
💯
I’m inclined to agree with you but in grand scheme of things if dude is not assigned to combat and is a civilian he’s most likely inviting a world of bad into his life
@@michaelbiniakewitz2329 How is purchasing body armor inviting bad into your life?
@@Fng_1975 This is true, but only if you are wearing it.
The first time I regretted giving away all of my body armor as I retired, was the first time I went to a public range in twenty five years. And, the whole time, watching some of the gun handling and shooting, wishing I was wearing some.
Yes sir, I've almost been hit by a deflected bullet when putting out targets by another shooter not waiting who just arrived.
Or range qualification for retired law enforcement. It’s scary.
“Get fragged in the eyes and the neck, those are placed you do not want to get fragged at” ! Very true
The most straightforward dude in every subject matter. Much appreciated 🇺🇸
💯
I’m a former police officer I have 35 years of firearms training and as a trainer, I also over the 35 years have washed the progression of body armor improve over that time, and I would like to call myself a novice or well educated body armor person. the same with firearms I have the same years of training, and I have to say that you are one of the most informative knowledgeable people I have found on UA-cam. Anyone who comes across your channel and is thinking about body armor should follow your lead. As I want your video I know everything you’re gonna say ahead of time with a few surprises that I did not know here in there. I’d like to congratulate you for educating this old dog with some new tricks. Good job man.
How many times did you ask “got any weapons?” 😢
@@deanbraden7695he probably stole a good amount of them
You are being kept as a slave that was marketed as a police officer?
@GuyFawkes-cv9dc Why do you cop nerds get on military vet channels and bring up being a cop. You're not a warfighter. You're actually more cowardly than the average citizen. Get lost, clown.
It looks like Shot stop investigated For selling cheap Chinese plates
The rubberized coating on the steel plate helps with the Spalding and fragmentation. It is a major improvement on steel
Companies now are coating them with Kevlar also. And the plates are getting much lighter, 7.5 lbs in some cases.
😂 ok!
I have wondered what folding the edges inward so that any fragments from hitting plate eventually collide with a barrier of steel as the coatings get blasted away.
@@jamessouza7065 Look up some of the testing videos. The only "coatings" that get blasted away in a few rounds are the ones people apply themselves.
Granted, if you're taking multiple magazines worth of bullets to the plate you've got MUCH bigger issues. The point is that you don't need to worry about the manufacturer coating.
I got steel plates a couple of years ago. They are definitely heavy & uncomfortable, but better than nothing!
We the civilian class appreciate your knowledge and teachings. A person or group of individuals is only as good as their coach / coaches. You are one of many that have put your life on the line for us to live the lives we have. You are loved and appreciated beyond measure. Thank you!
The answer is yes. It was a purchase I made during the 2020 "Summer of Love". Who would have thought we'd ever live in a country where anarchists can roam the streets and burn down houses?!
My man… samesies, I bought my first set of armor, and figured out a way of carrying my Glock 34 with a streamlight and extra mag daily over my Glock 26 that summer. My wife and I moved to florida in April and this damn hurricane has made me add more and more to my bug out plan. Felt great bringing in 27 firearms and 5k rounds of ammo into a hotel in 7 trips with no one noticing. But I felt like crap not having a jet boil to cook our food with in our hotel when Uber eats and the whole town shut down. Point is you never know what you may need until you need it. If you have the time and the money make it a priority to be prepared. I have a grey ghost apparition backpack I can put my AR, a backup Glock 2 extra 30 rounders, with a coupled 30 rounders in the pipe ready to go and some tourniquets and I fak (extra batteries for everything) and that is pretty awesome but shoot this hurricane made me realize a lot. That bag is great for road trips and going into hotels so I can always have a rifle (I will always have it with me). But that backpack doesn’t do shit about being hungry or cold or needing to help a family member stay dry and warm. I’m reevaluating everything right now and I really need to add more of the less sexy (MK18 with glocks on glocks and combat loadout to more of a how am I gonna eat and be able to sleep type set up)
@@T20-c8f Great reply. I hope everything is going well for you after Ian.
It’s an interesting perspective when the shit actually hits the fan. The 27 firearms you carried can’t help much in many situations.
Food, water and shelter are also extremely high priorities when things go sideways.
Glad you made it out ok and have the ability to already be addressing the details where you can improve. 👊
"Anarchists." Lol. Those are not "anarchists."
Considering "democide" (death by government) has been the #1 cause of death for the last 2000+ years, blaming fake anarchists (closet commies) for that is weak. They don't even know what bathroom to use, so them wielding the word "anarchist" is also weak.
Statism is the disease of tyranny masquerading as it's own cure. People should be responsible for their own liberty/security. Government is historically always wielded by the ultra wealthy elite...
Yes, body armor is extremely handy.
So did you actually come under fire from any of these marauding anarchists, or even see one in real life vs on some Fox coverage?
@@T20-c8f you can't shoot a hurricane.
I am really taking a liking to this dude and his content. As a former soldier, I wrongly thought all SEALs were arrogant bastards, but Chad seems really down to earth and comes across as a fine fellow. The takes on our "government's excesses is so on target it makes all the sense in the world. More please!
I used to have a neighbor that was a former Seal and a very humble guy but not someone to mess with.
I knew some seals too.
This one is down to earth and a fine fellow. He's just gone off the conspiracy theory far right wing nutcase cliff unfortunately. Gonna be 80 and have trenches with razorwire built around his house with spotlights, and a minefield, thinking the gov is coming for him. The same gov that sent him after people. Oh the irony.
when you don't live life in ego ridden "professions" its easy to learn that every big "hobby" (as in people make their jobs their personality) that comes from said professions always have the D-Bag bastards. Its another needed "Grown Up" thing to understand these days.
We're not all arrogant. Former Frog Doc, that just did his job. Now I'm a professional Beach Bum.
Side plates are a must. A junctional hit is hard to treat in the field.
Here in NY state. Apparently the “officials” in the government feel that we don’t need body armor .. in fact we civilian’s are not allowed to have it anymore!! I don’t understand how something that could save my life ,and in no way do any harm to anyone else,be banned!
Because they realize it could save your life without you relying on the government.
They wanted to stop the sales that way there is no more vest being sold and distributed now the armor that you see criminals with is 9/10 times stolen
Can own...just cant buy online in ny state any longer. PA or Vermont and drive back.
Because your govt. Wants you dead
I think you can own it, just can't buy it in NY state.
“Better to have it and not need it….. Then to need it and not have it”.
- Words to Live by
Your channel is blowing up my feed all of the sudden. Love that I found it! This means the algorithm is popping for you! Hopefully you see a surge in growth man!
Fuck yes we need armor. Even if just for training, level III is mandatory (& should be) in most tac-rifle classes, & IIIA for tac-pistol. Train like you fight, fight like you train.
I run RMA class 4 ceramics as the price point is easier to justify for your average every day white collar civilian. I really like Agilite's philosophy when it comes to body armor for civilians- its basically like a reserve parachute. You will rarely ever have to use it and chances are that you'll go through your entire life never having to use it, but if you find yourself in a seriously bad spot, having access to it can really save your life.
Just like a gun hopefully
I've got the Agilite K19 plate carrier with Spartan Armor steel plates. Thinking of upgrading to Shot Stop Duritiun plates.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
Agilite gear is the way to go i wear it daily
Not so sure about them these days with their plate failure and how they didn't even want to pull the effected lots.
I really like this guys approach!! He’s not focused on buzz words or clickbait for views. His opinions are based on experiences not perceptions and assumptions.
How many train for pelvic/head shots and avoid training center mass because of the prevalence of body armor?
clint smith quote "shoot them in the dick!!" they will go down!!!
Master AmeriKen insists on the double groin stomp. Same applies to gunfighting.
It’s crazy you said that brother, the Army always told us “Better to have it & not need it, than need it & not have it!” Constantly when we would wonder why the hell we we’re taking snow gear to the field in July…. We’ll we were 10th Mountain that’s why! Lol I hated most lessons the Army taught until I was out, then I realized how much they had instilled into me. Hooah, Climb to Glory!!
I used to manufacture Ball Ceramic & Polyurethane plate products in TN. The ceramic balls were made by Coors in Golden Colorado. These products were not fragile and would not crack like the solid ceramic plates. After seeing the results at the test range, I'm a firm believer in ceramic protection. However, I run with Duritium plates only because they fit in my carrier and conform to my body better. LOL - like you said, I'm more nervous at the gun range than I am at the grocery store. Be aware of your surroundings and stay safe in this crazy time.
Were the ball ceramic & polyurethane plates manufactured for body armor?
Better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Applies to most everything in life.
I bought Predator Armor AR650 steele plates with a kevlar coating for anti spalding it's heavy but it's an NIJ Level 3+
Keep in mind, technically there is not a "NIJ 3+." For hard armor there is only NIJ level III and IV. III+ was developed from manufacturers and rounds completely depend on testing from that manufacturer.
Idk if it's just my body type or mechanics, but no matter how strong I am plate carries fuck my shit up. I spent $3000 on Hesco 4800 plates just to have lighter ones with the protection I wanted, and they were worth every penny.
You can also get steel plates with a build-up coat which prevents frag pretty well.
Exactly! I can’t understand why in 2022 we’re talking about steel plates and spalling when there are a lot with built-up coat. I went through CaliberArmor and they’re great…heavy but comfortable with a very performing anti-spalling coat. Steel 20 years shelf life - Ceramic 5…
I'll probably never have a need for this BUT i absolutely love hearing you talk about the why and how of just about everything. It's insightful, thought-provoking and fascinating. Most reviews on every topic, subject or item, the reviewer says.."These are the top 5-10....etc etc" but you always explain all angles of things which i really love. Thank You!
I made the mistake of purchasing plates last year before I did any research. I bought steel plates and I ended up upgrading to polyethylene a few months ago. I will say the nice thing about steel is I wear them when I’m hiking and running for the extra workout. Haha hopefully I’ll never need them but I think there’s a pretty good chance I will since I live in commiefornia.
Steel last forever, poly last 5 years. Pro and cons to both.
that's ok man we all make mistakes! I did the same thing when I got into armor a few years back lol.
Premier body armor has 50 dlar spall liners.
@@glidewell19 your better off not wearing any armor if steel is the only option. Poly plates have "expiration dates" because they're required to with government regulation. Kinda like medication. Unless your super hard on your plates they will be just fine for many years.
@@rebel_scum_ saying better off with no plates than wearing steel is like saying don't bother carrying if all you have is a .22. I'd much rather deal with frag than a hole in the chest. The coatings work to some degree to mitigate spawl and the carrier too. Not the best scenario but certainly better than nothing. Plus steel plates are backup for someone else, rage targets when you upgrade, or a weight vest for training as mentioned. Better options today as armor has gotten more popular. You can get cheap level IV nowadays.
the smaller lighter plates fit great inside your truck and car doors. Pop off the door panel and use super double tape or construction adhesive to mount inside the door. Reinstall the door panel
👍👍👍
There's not a lot of spare space in a car door. Even if you can somehow sandwich one in, you probably won't ever be able to open that window again.
@@kenofken9458 lmao wrong
I would like to add that the “bed liner” type coating on the steel plates is there for the purpose of catching fragments and reducing spall on the back of it. Some companies call the coating frag wrap. Thanks for the video, Chadd! I really like them all and always learn something that I didn’t know!
Just like a firearm. Better have it and not need it , than to need it and not have it .
Hey, 307 project ! If you run out of that Hoist take my advice. 1 Luke warm Quart of Water, 1tsp of Baking Soda, 1 tsp of salt. Now, you have a satisfactory electrolyte solution in the field. Brought to you by a Retured Navy Corpsmen. Have a great day, and keep on soldiering !
The Hillbilly seal- you have become one of my go to channels ….. !!! I started hiking with my tactical vest and weight just to get used to it….. gonna research plates now…. I keep safelight 3A+ in my car …… you never know!!
I’m glad your taking about spalting. (Frag) with certain plates.
A buddy who spent nearly 20 years in Iraq said absolutely not ceramic he said after wearing for six months it’s trash. I’m researching now for a setup that won’t put me in the poorhouse but last and provide sufficient protection 🤷🏽♂️ also what about soft in the front of the plate for stopping the fragment spray??
Outstanding HOLD THE LINE OF FREEDOM INTEGRITY JUSTICE TRUTH AND HONOR AT ANY COST EVERY VETERAN ACROSS AMERICA REMEMBER YOUR OATH TO GOD AND COUNTRY TO DEFEND THIS GREAT NATION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC STAND UNITED AS ONE
I never really thought about using a carrier plate but the practice like u fight got me on board. Great video man
I keep soft vest in my closet in case immediate threat. But my truck and man cave is the ar500. I'm going to change now that i have seen this. Thanks. Going to send a thanks too and I subscribed because you have useful info.
I use my sapi plates to ruck up mount yonah. Steele plates front,back,sides. 3 30-round mags and glock 19x ( bear/coyote) protection cause i obviously ruck at night. That's about 35-40 lbs. Then my backpack with ddm4 pdw, several mags and ammunition boxes, ears batteries, etc. Adds another 40 lbs. Long answer, i know. In short, yes, i use them every night to train.
Thank you. Never thought about the soft armor underneath the plate, or side plates. Sounds worth it
They sell Padding for that Last time I looked they were 25 bucks
Belay my last. I was mistaken. Sorry
There are several types of steel used with varying properties such as impact resistance and weight. Ar500 is the cheapest. Ar550 offers better protection but is heavier. Are 650 offers basically the same protection as ar550 but is lighter and more expensive.
I like steel plates for the weight for using my carrier like a weight vest. I get the benefits of tactical training and also a workout. For actual real world use I would go with the lighter option.
Unfortunately, Shot Stop's website has a pop-up that says they are not taking orders until further notice. 😞
It's that fuzzy math, where 20% more coverage may mean 50% greater survivability. Good words, Brother, Thank you.
Having narrowly dodged Ian, I just realized my rig is far from buoyant. I think I will check out West Marine for one of those self inflating collars.
I purchased a set a few years ago, even I thought I was being a bit paranoid, but then last year I had to put them on to extract someone from a hairy situation. Freedom is a fragile thing.
I put together a vest of full steel plates, front, back and sides. The weight is ridiculous, and really has to be felt to be believed. You would have to be a real prime specimen to operate wearing it. I feel that vest would do me more harm than good! It also makes you realize how much an extra 40 pounds of body weight (which I carry right now) is dragging you down.
Also have to take in consideration shrapnel. Projectile might not go thru, but pieces could go into face, arms legs. Needs a coating.
Especially nice to have plates, hard or soft, in the winter... like wearing a weighted blanket!! All warm and cozy..🙂
You can make very effective body armor out of a fiber glass welding blanket and a can or 2 of fiber glass resin for around $30 bucks. I watched a video where a guy did just that and it easily stopped a .22 long rifle, 38 caliber, 9mm, .45 caliber, 12 gauge double 00 buckshot and even a 10mm round from a Glock.
None of those are rifle rounds.
@@SpecOpsGearI never said they were...
My Dayton armor plates weigh about the same and can take multiple hits for 308 AP rounds. They also provide edge to edge cover as opposed to Shot Stop...
I run steel with spall coating but the most important part is the anti spall sleeve to put around the actual plate made out of kevlar. But realistically the goal is to get hit once and avoid further rounds. Ceramic is lighter but long term I like my steel due to the durability if anyone were to unload say 9mm into it. It's really just a safety net, the first line of defense is training and positioning.
Ar5000 with Kevlar pouch.
3A Spartan soft double stacked as well.
Double stack 3A wonder if it will act as level 4 or close.
I had the same thought about layering soft armor under hard armor. I would think that should there be a round that makes impact, the durable soft layer will disperse some of the force around the surface area of the pad. There will still be injury, but I would think that it would be the difference between bruised/hairline-fractured ribs to full-on broken ribs.
As to which I would purchase, I think of prioritizing the harm I am prepping for in terms of statistical likelihood and level of harm. If I was a convenience store worker, it would be double plates. As an office guy, it would be the soft pads that can fit underneath a dress shirt, in case someone tries to rob me on my way to the parking lot and things get sloppy. I know people are prepping for much worse these days, but my priority is the immediate and likely harm before the less likely harm.
Thanks for having those plates available for viewing, it helps
There's been a few times at the outdoor shooting spot where someone shooting a gun for their first time flags the entire firing line with their finger on the trigger. In those moments I've often thought it would be nice to have body armor.
Chadd, only Military and Police are taught to shoot center of mass. A hunter will never shoot you center of mass. He will kill you instead ;) A hunter looks for a profile shot so he can penetrate both lungs and the heart, just like facing a bear. But full front on a chest shot may kill but not instantly!! You can hit the heart or either lung, all three will kill but not before he can fire and kill you! The hunter if he is face on will aim at either hip, or throat or head, never center of mass ;) Shatter either hip and he is out of the fight. The pain is so much he will scream the 90 seconds it takes to bleed out from the femal artery, he is out of the fight the instant the bullet hits!!!
Why wouldn't we have armor? Great video brother!
Good video bro, I have two plate carrier setups for my wife and I. You never know when the crap is going to hit the fan, plus we use them when we're at a target practice location.
Good stuff. Personally I like 3+ Fras armor. It's lighter than steel plates, flexible, no spalling, multi hit capable and offers better protection than 3a soft armors
I've been looking at doing FRAS plates or just gettin getting a vest from SafeLife. Any other brands but them that make FRAS?
@@kmac720 Guard Dog Body Armor actually tested better than Safe Life in a video I saw. They are the only other brand I know of that offers something like that
@@HighlanderThisIlldefend Thanks! Found their site, I see some 3+ stuff, didn't see anything labeled FRAS. Looks like plates only? That's my debat too, getting plates vis a vest
HI CHADD ... BOBBY NOLL HERE IN LONGMONT COLORADO ... TYPING IN CAPS BECAUSE OF 4 RETINA SURGERIES ... I'M HITTING 73 AND HOPING THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES YOU WILL SEE MY POSTING !!!
I CAN'T BEGIN TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR VIDEOS ... AND TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT GREAT MEMORIES THEY GIVE ME ... I WAS IN MY UNIFORM FROM '57 TO ABOUT '59... YEP ... 3 RUGGED YEARS IN DEN 7 PACK 52 ... WE TRAINED HARD AND WE FOUGHT AMONGST OURSELVES HARD ... HA HA HA HA HA !!!!! WELL THAT'S ALL I GOT !!!
... BUT ANYWAY EACH DAY THAT I GET TO WATCH ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS IT MAKES MY DAY !!!
... I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FAMILY LEFT SO IT JUST FEELS LIKE A GREAT VISIT FROM AN OLD PAL !!!
GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY !!!
You’re answering all the questions I have as a engineering nerd that doesn’t have time or much interest in being all tactical. Just want to have the stuff that I need when my military buddies tell me they need help defending the neighborhood/state/country. I don’t have time for all the expensive cool nonsense. Do night vision or FLIR or whatever it is called next… need that on the cheap.
Garandthumb did a great video on NVG and Thermal about mountain camouflage. Worth checking out. Thermal optics on the cheap iRay
I was forward thinking enough 10 years ago to develop, make, and test my own BA. No, I didn't use any bathroom tiles or duct tape. I wound up with a combination of UHMWPE, Kevlar, and truck bed liner for spalling. I stops everything up to at least L2 and possibly L3, but I don't have a .44 mag to test with. I also wound up putting extra layers of Kevlar behind the plates for added blunt force trauma. My total weight for my PC is just over 21 lbs. You only NEED 5 layers of Kevlar to stop most rounds. The question is, can you survive the impact?
EDIT: I forgot to mention it also protects against sharp pointy things. Soft armor Kevlar does not.
Noice
there should not be a law about owning body armour. it's your business.
I live in canada in some provinces you need a license to own body armor but I live in sask so I can own it without a license
@ryanmcmuffi6137 that's definitely nobody's business what you own in my opinion. you have a god given right to defend yourself. it's not given to you by another man!
Outstanding . very informative video. You keep things real .
I didn't much think about body armor in terms of civvie gun ranges until roundabout 2017 when an older but newbie guy at a range pointed an AK pistol at my chest twice within 10 minutes. Twice!
After that IDGAF what the old timers at the range think of me (they talk trash, snicker etc). Whatever old man, this is guaranteed to be cheaper than a GSW to the chest or back. At a range where I don't know absolutely everyone I'm rocking rifle plates and an IFAK the entire time.
Also, if you need them for a real-world situation, most likely you're not getting them if you don't already have them.
Finally, great piece of workout equipment too, as long as you don't use UHMWPE plates.
Twice!!
Thanks for the solid information and no nonsense.
Great info, I trust your judgement and definitely will be looking into side plates.
I got soft and 500 steel.
I combine soft plates beind those steel as trauma plates plus offer ballistic protection as well.
If you are running steel plates you must get kevlar sleeve for them.
thank's my man.your videos are very informative ,big fan of your content
Thanks Chad. Bought a hat and labels. Got to get out of Illinois before I buy body armor, September!!!!
Great advice and insight. Most likely will never need them, but they are great to have if you ever need them.
From what I’ve been told is, if you’re getting shot at in close range, i.e. kickin in doors, raiding homes, plates are good. If you are headed to the woods for a while, doing long rucks, ceramic is the way to go.
Each type has it desired effect and purpose. Each has its advantages and disadvantages
If you own a gun then you need body armor. Most crime involves handguns so soft armor has its place. 3A Backpack armor inserts 10”x12” are $50 or a vest type carrier/ 2 plates is $100 at Botach. It’s good stuff. If you have kids in school put an IFAK & a backpack ballistic panel into their backpack. 👍🇺🇸👍
Crime is fictional. Do you lie about human slaves and what they do with that fiction?
Are you being kept as a slave thats marketed with fiction?
I have full length soft on my sides behind the molle. I think I am going to put a small ceramics on the outside, towards the front of the sides. The more I think about rifle in the front and back and soft pistol only on the sides isn't going to cut it.
Solid Dude and such a straight shooter. Much love and respect 🙏
Thank you for keeping these type videos on line. I've been looking for information on the types and differences on the types and functions of body armor. This sir is all I need to know. Excellent presentation.
Agilite level 4 ceramics. Light weight, multi hit capabilities and not very obtrusive as far as thickness.
Nuff said!
Hey, 53 year old Canadian civilian here. I was in respectable shape till I damaged my hip 2 years ago. Up til then I was confident that armour would slow me down and if I get shot, at my size and weight, vest or no vest, my day is over. Now of course while I can still walk a distance with a "full pack" 60 pounds is pretty full considering all the stuff I am not allowed to carry, and I can still move quietly. I dont move fast.
I could really use some suggestions for name brands to look into both for plate carriers and plates. The lighter the better, and if the carrier doesnt look military? So much the better. I prefer to live my life in the background.
The lightest plate option is UHMWPE - maybe 3.5 pounds per plate. There's no real way to make rifle plates concealable. You can of course get a carrier that is not camo pattern and might look less "military."
If you want a truly concealable everyday armor, go with the thinnest IIIA like Hyperline or something similar. It will afford no rifle protection, but it's the most wearable and most threats to civilians are handguns.
I'm amazed that someone in the steel plate community of manufacturers hasn't given the upper part something like knight armor had, a bevor lip at the top. There is also shoulder plates. I have both side and shoulder plates. Level IV all the way around. I wish there was a way to make level IV helmets without them being extra heavy.
Great presentation. Used to work security. Wore soft body armor with a front steel trauma plate, soft trauma plate behind it. One thing to be aware of with soft armor and it's carrier, it will absorb moisture and if you sweat profusely, absorb a LOT of it. Remember one day it was so hot that by the time got off shift and home, it felt like I was wearing and extra 25lbs from that stuff. Saw one channel test the cheapest you could get, and if SHTF, nothing else could be found this could save your life. The guy tested 3 large ceramic floor tiles and it repelled most small arms fire up to a 12ga, but the 00 buck shattered it. Would probably suggest 4 tiles together wrapped entirely a couple times in duct tape. Ceramic will crumble if hit hard enough and this mitigates chances of fragments flying or bullet fragments. Interesting story I heard once: Wyatt Earp was said to have never been hit by a bullet or fell in a gun battle, remaining very calm. One eyewitness said the he actually did get hit once, saw the hole appear in his clothing and heard a loud clank that caused him to back up a step before dispatching the bad guy. It was rumored that he may have been the first ever lawman to use body armor. Speculation was that two doors maybe from a big pot belly Ashley wood stove were used and suspended over the shoulders with rope or cloth, much like a plate carrier with AR500 plates.
another great video from you guys. I love your channel, having recently discovered it. You guys are always straight forward to the point with no BS.
I wear l3 hunting. Just for stray shots and when im at the cabin re poachers. Lots of poachers in the addington highlands where I roam.
great video, Thanks brother. Ive been thinking about getting some but want to know more and your advice is priceless
The whole point of the coating on the steel plates is to mitigate the fragmentation. From the tests I've seen it works very well.
In Australia body amour and plate carrier’s are classified as lethal weapons so civilians can’t buy or obtain them, I’d love to have a set plate carrier and pouches for training, I’ve seen U.S army using crye precision AVS plate carrier in Afghanistan which looked cool but I don’t have any alternatives, maybe can get a plate carrier without the ballistic plates?
Wow, that's madness.
@@KennyInSubic after the port Arthur massacre, the government banned all semiautomatic guns as well
Used to love Australia and the people after I spent some time there during my military days. I thought is was the closest thing to the USA, but after seeing how the government went straight authoritarian during the pandemic, I just see it as another tyrannical led government and I no longer wish to return. Sorry, your country, your choices, but I couldn’t live there. Not even for a few days. You all really need to demand your guns back.
@@Fng_1975 Yeah it’s true unfortunately, the alternative is to move to somewhere else, that’s somewhat of a lengthy and expensive endeavour, I do know the ADF enjoys working alongside your military.
I do know where’s theirs a will there’s a way, times are changing around the world, so wherever I am now, Is the best place to start prepping for SHTF
Australia has had one mass shooting in 26yrs, no real need for body armour champ
Great content. This is exactly what most people need to hear regarding the necessity and application for the types of plates. Good stuff Chad!
You can get a spall liner for steel plates pretty cheap, they’re a Kevlar sleeve that encloses the plate and adds padding as well
Even a simple piece of level 3 soft armor in front of steel will work.
I have soft body armor, given to me by a friend from law enforcement, it's similar to the flak vests we wore back in the stone ages in the infantry
Chadd is the man NUFF SAID
Been doing some research on body armor, mostly considering the ar500 steel plate due to budget and understanding the pros and cons of it. Really appreciate this video and learning about the shot stop plates, thank you.
If you live in this time, you need it.
Steel also has sleeves you can put over it to stop frag, or you could even use duct tape around the edges to keep the anti frag coating from separating
I think that there are several things that are massively overlooked regarding soft body armor. The soft kevlar inserts you showed are not what police typically use. Most soft kevlar vests used by the police have a insert that wraps around covering most of the side of the torso and often a bit of the shoulder. This provides far greater protective coverage than plates can offer against pistols which is what the vast majority of criminals are carrying. On top of that, many of these vests are concealable and as such can be worn in public without attracting much attention. I'm not saying one shouldn't buy plates, however unless you're preparing for a civil war or preparing to fight the government, then the chances that you'll run up against an opponent wielding a rifle (5.56mm or more powerful) is not very likely. Likewise for those of us living in cities, if we wear a plate carrier in public, people would constantly call the cops on us unless we're with a large group of individuals wearing body armor such as at a protest.
Some also argue that for home defense it's useless because you won't have time to put on body armor. I disagree. I've thrown mine on several times during suspected burglary attempts and one actual home invasion attempt. What buys time to do this, is having #1 a loud dog, #2 keeping your doors and windows locked, and #3, using interior bedroom locks.
Now I do have a plate carrier with ceramic plates, but it ALSO has wrap around kevlar inserts (like on a police vest) protecting the sides. So I have the best of both worlds and can pull out the plates if I want to go lightweight. But...for an extreme emergency where someone just kicks in my bedroom door I train to use the back "drag" strap of the vest to hold it up with my non-shooting hand in order to use the vest as a ballistic shield while I shoot with the other hand. So just having your vest (hard or soft body armor) by your bedside where it can be quickly grabbed, allows it to be used as a lightweight improvised ballistic shield. Nobody does training videos showing such practical aspects of body armor usage for civilians. I would make them, but I'm fat and ridiculous looking so nobody would take me seriously despite me being ex-Army. You might consider making some videos like that showing a more likely civilian application.
Having body armor is great. Being in good physical fitness is even better. I'd argue even better than having body armor. If I had to choose between having body armor and being in good physical shape, I'd choose fitness every time.
@@smh9902 That doesn't make much sense. It doesn't matter what physical shape you are, you're not going to outrun a bullet or dodge them like you're in the Matrix movie. You might be able to charge someone fast in a close quarters situation and over-power them, but typically home invaders operate in groups. You'd just end up dead doing that in most cases. You're best option is to setup a strong point guarding a hallway where bedrooms are located.
Being physically fit is great, but it's not a substitute for having a kevlar vest right next to your nightstand pistol that you practice throwing on rapidly.
You won't ninja your way out of a typical home invasion no matter what your physical fitness level is. Solid CQB/home defense training with a firearm coupled with a reliable firearm and high-coverage soft Level IIIA body armor is the best way to go. For those who can't afford CQB firearm training, I recommend investing in airsoft Co2 operated training pistols and joining an indoor airsoft match event for some force on force training on the cheap. It's fun, excellent cardio, and you learn REALLY fast what tactics work and which do not.
@@wigon I was just saying for life as a whole, in the uber specific situation of a home invasion by one to two bandits, I agree with you.
Done all the work except for the hard kind. All that training and you’re overweight? No excuse for that. A warrior should be fit. If you’re not it’ll get you killed quicker thank not having kit.
@@wigon you talk too much bro.
Those who are unable to purchase a full body armor aparatus, there are several videos on how to make your own with steel and fiberglass and they show the testing. Stops .308/7.62 ball as well as .223/5.56 green tip. Highly effective, albeit maybe not as high quality in endurance. Search it up but I encourage any serious prep type individual to have armor of some kind. You just never know.
Note on ceramics, the new Gen stuff is a tile system on PE. The tiles herlp reduce the likelihood of damage due to accidental impact or dropping due to the smaller size and overlapping of the tiles. The old Gen ceramics were a solid sheet and were very fragile as you said.
Great vids ,🤘🏻
I have plates for me and my family and besides the obvious reasons, I live in an area prone to tornados. When we have to take cover from possible flying debris, what’s it going to hurt?
Great channel, very informative executed with excellence.
Sure I may not NEED a vest, but considering my workplace was robbed at gunpoint 3 times in 2 years, it's a nice thing to have.
Dayum!!!!
While you make valid points about steel, if things go down in the future and you can't buy ceramic armor after it gets a shot in it or breaks due to an accident, steel would seem to be a better option for people long term with out unlimited cash.
Most steel armor I've seen now is around 5 lbs . They make frag bags (Kevlar bags) that go over the steel plates to capture any fragments. With a small amount of searching it easy to solve the ar500 problems
I have that same spartan armor. I have soft armor behind and in front of the plate to cut down on spalling and bruising. I chose it because my department didn’t provide plates at all, I could afford it, it never expires, and if I drop it it won’t crack and can take multiple hits unlike ceramic plates which suck