Why do people own plate carriers?

One thing to keep in mind. Hard armor plates (level 3&4), need to be worn ON TOP OF 3a soft armor. Unless your plates are specifically made to be "stand alone"

Using non stand alone plates does not offer the protection you think. Backface deformation and spalling can be lethal under these plates if struck even if hit by rounds they are rated for.

Stand alone plates in a simple carrier = good to go
Non stand alone plates on top of soft armor = good to go
Non stand alone plates with just clothing under = NO GO
 
MB21 said:
And again, I am speaking about situations within 1-3m where the odds of you getting hit in places other than a plate with a 30 round capacity AK is quite high.
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Are you sure you're in the military? Because, as you would know, we wear body armor for this PRECISE reason. Our enemies use AK47s with 30 round mags. We often react to contact in an instants notice in a 360 degree fight. And magically these vests save lives!

Now, of course, if someone dumps a full mag into your torso the vest will be defeated. But it is designed for one or a few hits to the torso, which the bean counters figured was the most likely and practical defense versus weight and cost.
 
I mention that some plates are stand alone but most commonly encounted ones are not

Im glad you have the stand alone ones
 
But the professionals that wear them all the time are in a combat zone. I don't think anywhere stateside qualifies as combat zone.
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I have been through several military publications so far. None specify that this gear is only for combat zones. I have gone to the product descriptions for 3 so far and none specify combat zones. The issue at hand isn't whether or not you are in a combat "zone" but if you are in combat. Somebody shooting at you is combat. It may not be military combat, but it is combat.

I find it ironic when other people tell me what I do not need when it comes to my safety when they are not involved in my safety or situation.
 
Its because you know, when the mafia comes knocking on your door, or some gang does a drive-by shooting...

And the ultimate reason: 'Murica!

Why do you need that 'Assault rifle' with high-capacity magazines and that shoulder thing that goes up???? :D


In all seriousness, even if you are a civilian, if you wanted that extra level of protection, its nice to know you can buy it and have it for your personal use. You may not be running with it, but maybe you will be. Maybe bad guys you will encounter have AK's instead of just 9mm pistols. Ever been to LA, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, or Detroit???

Of course you only want to wear the plate carriers with the appropriate armor plates in them.

Modern Level III AR500 armor are rated to defeat multiple shots of M80 NATO Ball (7.62NATO/308Win). They are also very affordable now at around $200 for a set.
http://www.ar500armor.com/sentry-plate-carrier-w-armor-and-pouches-black.html

I don't own one, but if I had a few hundred dollars laying around, you bet I'll buy a few. Would I wear it all the time? No. But If the need arises, then you bet I will.


My question is, why don't we all have IronMan suits yet?
 
AR500

Check out the AR500 site. It is they that have the carbon fiber soft inserts that weigh a pound and can be worn alone or behind the AR 500 anti spall plates. If I am remembring right they have a couple carriers that you can use the soft armor and there is room to slide the AR500 plates inside too so you done have to take a big bite at once. You can start with the carrier and carbon and then upgrade to adding the hard plates as you can afford it.

If I lived in Seattle I would have body armor but I live in hickville Yakima WA.
 
I could see wanting body armor in a true "the Russians are invading" SHTF scenario, but not for anything else.
 
It is kind of like needing more than 5 shots for self defense. You don't need it until you need it, but folks will tell you all the reasons why they can see needing it and others will tell you that it is the realm of professionals and how you aren't a professional in the realm.
 
You'll likely find it's because they can. Much like having a CCW permit.
"...the Korean shop owners who stood their ground..." They won because criminals are cowards and won't tangle with somebody who fights back.
 
I could see wanting body armor in a true "the Russians are invading" SHTF scenario, but not for anything else.
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So, a group of meth heads at your front door trying to pound their way in and threatening to kill you would not be enough reason to defend yourself with a gun? That wouldn't qualify as SHTF? And if you had armed people threatening to kill you, perhaps they may have guns. Body armor might come in handy, no?

There's a thread right now on here about a member who's son was followed home by angry meth heads and there was a near deadly altercation at his home, with the meth head group threatening to kill.

Apparently only an invading Russian force is able to kill some members on this forum! :p
 
By the time I get my body armor off the hanger inside my closet, strap on my body armor and insert plates and pick up my gun and shoot, I think my skull would probably already be bashed in by the hoards of zom... I mean meth-heads.
 
its a constitutional right to have something you dont need.

get a 300,000 dollar mortgage to buy a house you dont need or a yacht you dont need, and no one thinks its wierd or unusual. but say you bought a plate carrier, and people go nuts on ya.
 
By the time I get my body armor off the hanger inside my closet, strap on my body armor and insert plates and pick up my gun and shoot, I think my skull would probably already be bashed in by the hoards of zom... I mean meth-heads.
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Kinda like saying... "by the time I get my gun part out of the safe, assemble them, find the ammo lock box, unlock it, get the ammo out, load the magazine, put the magazine in the gun, and take the safety off..."

Total nonsense. A plate carrier with plates and accessories sits at the ready with steps of the bed. Pick it up, put it on. Takes as much time as putting on a T-shirt. Can be armed, with body armor on, and cell-phone in hand, in 5 seconds. Might take 10 seconds if I had to run to the bedroom to put it on...

If it's not for you, then so be it. The OP asked a question. Folks are entitled to chime in as to all the reasons they think they are useless. Funny, because all of those reasons listed, are basically the SAME reason that anti-gun people don't "need" guns for home defense.

- won't happen to me
- too expensive
- not needed
- I live in a safe area
- illegal here
- too awkward or cumbersome
- nobody needs one of those except police and military
- there are better ways
 
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By the time I get my body armor off the hanger inside my closet, strap on my body armor and insert plates and pick up my gun and shoot, I think my skull would probably already be bashed in by the hoards of zom... I mean meth-heads.
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Do you store your HD gun disassembled in a box and unloaded in the closet? That would be rather naive of you, wouldn't it?

Well, if you store your safety gear in a location and condition where it is not readily accessible, then I am sure that you probably correct. However, there are numerous instances where people have had plenty of time to do a lot of things before the events took place.

One thing is certain. If you don't have the gear or access to it, then you can't use it for your defense.

That is your choice.

It is amusing that the George Carlin driving attitude has reared its ugly head again (if you drive faster than me, you are an idiot and if you drive slower than me, you are a moron). So if you delve into higher levels of protection (more than just gun X), you apparently in the fantasy zombie attack mental world and if you have less protection, then you are in the naive world.
 
If someone were breaking into your home, why would you not spend five seconds to put it on? They're easy to setup. You could attach a Safariland ALS holster to it and several mag holders (with a light on one of them). At that point, you put on the carrier, draw the gun and do what you need to do. Pants optional.

Or would you rather face home invaders nekked?

US Palm already thought of this concept.
 
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