I was watching the news last night, and seeing the Taliban walking around in US body armor made me realize...if the SHTF, the opposition will possibly have body armor. I don't generally consider myself a prepper per say, but, I'm thinking of spending a few dollars on some body armor just in case. If you've bought body armor, what did you get, and why?

I almost did when you could not find it anymore and have since said screw it. Too hard to find and just not worth the energy.

I ain’t that worried about it. I’m just going to burn up as much ammo as I can, in their direction, until they gun me down. I’ll have better things to do, at that point.

Look at FRAS- flexible rifle armor.

It isnt the cheapest but it offers level 4 protection and its flexible with flank protection so your sides are covered some as well. I was looking at BA a while back for the reason you stated, havent pulled the trigger yet but if i do, it will be rhat system.

WOW, no kidding it ain't cheap. I guess one has to ask himself what his life is worth. I'll put the link for other interested folks.


Linky

I’d pass on the FRAS, at least until it receives NIJ ratings. I also wouldn’t spend that much money and I wear a vest everyday and have worn both soft armor and heavy armor, never felt under protected. I think my ceramic plates were about $600 and that included steel side plates instead of ceramic simply because the thickness of the ceramic side plates interfered with me getting my pistol out.

If you're only going to spend a little, there's really no point. Waste of cash. If wear good stuff next to cheap stuff, good chance you'll find wearing cheap stuff to be uncomfortable, poorly fitted, and overly heavy. Add to it common 5.56 rounds will go through cheap hard armor like butter. All you've done is just strained and tired yourself out if ever decide to run around wearing it.

If things get that ugly, I want to hunker down with a buffer between us and them.

Some bulletproof vests used to have a 5 year shelf life don’t know if they still do or not.

Check out the LAPG level III or IV plates. Mr Guns and Gear has a video on them. I have the level III plates and they’ll stop 30-06 which is good enough for me. I’m sure if I get hit with a 30-06 round I’m going to be hurting pretty good. They’re in stock and LAPG is always running a deal register and add them to your cart and within 24 hours they’ll send you a 10-20% off code.

Paired with their slick carrier I’m in for about $250-$300

They do, but if they're just being stored in a climate controlled environment they'll be good a lot longer. The five year thing is primarily the manufacturer saying they won't guarantee their performance beyond five years and it's based on regular wear.

EDIT - I should clarify I'm just talking about the soft body armor.

I have an IOTV with level 3+ soft armor and level 4 ceramic plates as my main carrier. I have 2 other carriers with level 3+ steel plates only (no soft armor). These are set up with rifle/pistol mag pouches, dump pouches, med kits, and tourniquets. I have a Kevlar helmet also. I would rather have this stuff and not need it then need it and not have it. I have some other things that I need to improve on as far as being fully prepared. I am not 100% prepared or ready for all situations if the SHTF. But I do know that if SHTF I have the offensive/protective stuff where I can get what I need.

Yes, "spending a few dollars" is just a colloquialism. I realize that good armor won't be cheap. That said, $1600 for the FRAS would definitely be above my paygrade.

This.

They have had stuff like that for years but honestly they and us would rather not wear it because it’s heavy and a huge burden. I’d rather be lighter and faster without the body armor.

Reminds me of the Pan Shot scene from this movie.....

I could see 2Beez wearing pans like this.

I would not weigh myself down with this equipment.......better to not be exposed for a shot in the first place......make yourself a skinny moving target when you have to be exposed......

no need for the common man

unless you go on a vigilante mission

I do not and will not ever recommend steel for the main plates due to fragmentation and bullets ricocheting into me. Don’t think it will or can happen? We had an officer killed when a bullet hit his badge and fragments hit his carotid artery.

There are some steel plates that have a coating on them that supposedly prevents the above mentioned, but I have a hard time believing that some thin material will stop a rifle round at normal speeds from fragmenting or ricocheting

See?