Plates and Plate Carriers

[WARFAB]

Anyone have some insight into what to get and what to look for? Are the AR500 plates and carriers garbage or decent for the money. There's a ton of options out there and I have no idea where to even begin.

[Norm DeGuerre]

unless you are considering urban warfare involving .308
if you have a Carrier, I can plasma cut, and finish a plate that will stop Most rounds, other than the big guy which may require some ceramics to be light enough
I believe the material is still in my storage container

[dwa12479]

I've thought about it in the past, and then I realized that in a SHTF scenario, it would probably be detrimental for me to add a ton of weight to my load out with plates.

[WARFAB]

I've thought about it in the past, and then I realized that in a SHTF scenario, it would probably be detrimental for me to add a ton of weight to my load out with plates.

I've never actually handled a set of plates and a plate carrier. Not sure how heavy they are.

Debating if I should be buying plates, a carbine for the wife to use, a HAM radio, or just holding onto my money.

[big flash]

i personally would buy a spousal carbine before plates and carrier, but that's just how i thought about it and did it. literally once her gun was set i ordered some plates (on sale!). only have one set so far. they are heavy as f*ck. but so is the plate carrier once it has some loaded mags too. i went with CATI AR600 QCB shape and the shape really does help them feel lighter than other steel plates i've run. i went cheap on the carrier too, condor. and it seems fine for me anyway at the moment. i haven't trained with my current setup though, so that's a problem. maybe this weekend, f it.

but anyway, i'd place a fairly low priority on armor unless it helps you to sleep at night. as dwa said, in most situations you aren't going to want the weight. in my mind it'll be great to have for doing neighborhood patrols or something if we have to be our own security, but not much else. or if you know you are heading off to fight and there is no other option.

https://catiarmor.com/

[big flash]

wanted to add that I've never been interested in the little side plates either. don't know why.

also, trauma kits, those before armor. just imho of course.

[gtnorry]

A friend gave me his old plates and carrier. They are heavy! But not as heavy as I thought. I lugged them upstairs thinking they must be close to 50lbs. Nope only 20lbs. I was really surprised

[big flash]

A friend gave me his old plates and carrier. They are heavy! But not as heavy as I thought. I lugged them upstairs thinking they must be close to 50lbs. Nope only 20lbs. I was really surprised

you are right though, it feels like much more for some reason when you are carrying them. they aren't quite as bad on.

i think my steel plates alone are a little over 18 pounds, which still sucks to hump around for any period of time. but mostly because i'm a desk monkey and not in top physical shape.
but i figured if i lose 18 lbs, then i'm breaking even

[dwa12479]

I'm figuring I have a better chance of survival being more mobile than more fortified. That's just me though. To each his own. I've set my wife up with her own carbine that she knows how to run, and my kiddos are coming of age to be able to start to enter the fray as well instead of being hidden under the blankets.

[WARFAB]

I've set my wife up with her own carbine that she knows how to run,

Wish I'd bought a second kit back when I purchased mine. Looks like they're about $200 more expensive these days.

[dwa12479]

Wish I'd bought a second kit back when I purchased mine. Looks like they're about $200 more expensive these days.

Money is no object for me when it comes to setting up my family for survival. I try to look for the best deals for sure, but when I need something now, I get it.

Working on a long term plan brings more opportunities for frugality. Always looking to make sure we're prepared for anything. 6 months ago I would have said, "hell yeah, I'm ready for anything". Then we got COVID and George Kirby Floyd.

NO, I was no where near prepared for Venezuela 2.0. Back to the drawing board...

[ADK2ndClub]

Polymer Level IV Plates. Polymer absorbs some of the round, instead of it hitting the steel and exploding. Its also less than 1/3rd the weight of the steel plates. The negative is it will take way less rounds before its weakened compared to steel. But until you have been hit like 5 or 6 times in the same area, it will stop everything steel level IV will.

[ADK2ndClub]

Oh and I forgot about expiration. Supposedly they degrade after 5 years and have an expiration date. Steel last indefinitely.

[big flash]

aight so i'm reviving an "old" thread. i've run around in my steel plate kit quite a bit since june. literally went out that weekend after posting i hadn't trained in it and put in some work. then the tactical games skirmish came up in the fall so i wore that thing weekly training. i've slowed down training in it since the nov 1st games but have still been rocking it occasionally. i suggest anyone that buys one wears it and even trains in it if they are planning on ever using it for its intended purpose. it's also great to run your gear how you have it set up so you can work out any issues when it's peacetime.

[usmcveteran]

Have you done training where you exercise in it then shoot while your HR is still elevated? How long did you find it took to notice noticeable difference in fitness after starting training with the plates?