Is body armor necessary for a civilian?

MarinePMI · Jun 29, 2023

Body armor and weapons are just like a seatbelt in a car. It won't keep you from getting in an accident, and it might not even save you in a car accident. But it's just something to stacked the odds in your favor of surviving, should you get in an accident.

Been driving a car for 35+ years now, and never been in an accident. But, I still put my seat belt on whenever I drive my car. It's not about being paranoid, it's about being prepared IMHO.

Jscb1b · Jun 29, 2023

MCSO1357 said:
This terrifies me due to the likelihood, personally speaking. View attachment 8172637

Midget?

strikeeagle1 · Jun 29, 2023

I would like someone to invent the analog of a automobile airbag body armor suit...although its deployment could not be triggered by the sound of the shot, as that would be too late. If you hear the shot, they missed.

WindstormSCR · Jun 29, 2023

so a friend of mine decided to do the same thing I do and keep a ballistic insert in the back of his daily commute backpack. Just saved him from a serious injury today. not by stopping a bullet but by stopping shrapnel from something in the maintenance shop near where he works exploding. shattered the window and luckily the bag was between him and the window. he dug three pinky sized fragments of metal out of the insert.

still no word on what caused the kaboom, his guess is a mishandled acetylene cylinder (train maintenance yard)

anecdotal, but food for thought all the same

Budrichard · Jul 1, 2023

If I were watching Nascar in Chicago this weekend in person, I would certainly wear Body Armor!
I haven’t been in the City proper for at least three years, first Covid and now the explosion in Crime.
Road America so so much safer, there is no comparison!
-Richard

hlee · Jul 1, 2023

Always put your body armor on before engaging in a gunfight…

person911 · Jul 1, 2023

Imo iff you have to ask if you need something, you probably don’t.

30calDeath · Jul 3, 2023

It's probably the last or 2nd to the last thing I'd buy. I can see it as insurance if SHTF but for me it's not worth me dropping $1000+ ATM. Honestly I wish I had everything already and body armor was the last piece to my puzzle.

Bakwa · Jul 3, 2023

I'd get NV and a PEQ before getting body armor. There are a lot of things that are worth getting, and taking the time and money to train on before getting body armor. But I do advocate for body armor.

Cheers

Oldloser · Jul 3, 2023

HOOFER said:
I think it’s overrated…

Cover/concealment using terrain > armor

Prone > standing

I have been in multiple firefights and I have witnessed 1 person hit in the plate majority are limb abdominal. Face. Hits.

heard/close account of another shot 6 times to plate point blank at Traffic control point AK at close range… he got back up and killed the entire car with his M4 BSM with V recipient.

Now obviously that was mostly undertrained shooters with an iron AK with or without aiming…. Who’s to say.

Most of the combatants I have seen dead were hit center mass( abdominal wounds).

Body armor/soft armor really saved lives with regards to IEDs/explosives…

I would venture tourniquets on limbs and stopping majors bleeds saved far more lives than plates stopped lethal hits.

Close range it’s more intuitive to shoot chest. That’s the only time I would say it’s necessary…. But you should be avoiding those situations to begin With

Come to the big parade situation. 9/10 guys will be running optics…. All of which would/should assume. Everyone else is wearing armor… and thus I am Shooting for pelvic girdle. And I’ll finish it once they are on the ground….

I’m not saying it doesn’t have any place… but. Utilizing cover.. IMTing and being mobile beats immobility and restrictions it can cause.

Additionally I have seen the fitness level of most of the guys pounding their chest about body armor…. Them in their gear. With water and ammo. They won’t make it to the fight…

Well said.

Think about the opposition. Most people will scatter when shooting starts. Very few will stand and fight. Even fewer will use basic tactics. Fewer still will use team tactics. The latter are extremely dangerous if you are on your own.

Taking a basic individual CQB class that covers room clearing - and the use of cover and movement - will go a long way to solving 99% of the things you will run into. At least you will know what NOT to do.

That CQB class is a higher priority than plates.

Milf Dots · Jul 3, 2023

Pbgt said:
probably get one for the doggo too....

This! Perhaps the first family member that should have it is the dog because of the rate of terrorism against family members being committed by feds/nazis... If you have "kids that don't have democrat views"- then they'd get armor too.

cruiserweight · Jul 5, 2023

p9ut878 said:
I can't argue with that. I suppose I should look into that more. With that said. Is level 4 necessary or would something lighter be good?

Lighter. Lvl 4 is not needed at all. I wear armor for a living overseas and we don’t even wear lvl 4. Lvl 3+ is what you should be looking at, generally gonna be lighter and cheaper. A disclaimer though: stick to well known manufacturers (LTC, Highcom, Tencate, Velocity Systems) and realize that unlike lvl 4 and lvl 3, 3+ is not a standardized criteria and each model of lvl 3+ plates is gonna protect against differing threats. Some lvl 3+ plates might stop 7.62x39 API, some might not. Some might stop M855A1, some won’t. So read the description

Then you’ve gotta consider how much weight and thickness you’re willing to tolerate. The more expensive the plate, the lighter and thinner it typically is. Some plates will also require a soft armor lvl 3a “backer” to achieve their rated performance, so keep that in mind if you decide to go with an “in conjunction with” (ICW) plate instead of the more typical “stand alone” plates that are popular these days. Some plate carriers won’t fit both a plate and a soft armor backer.

Finally, on the subject of terrain and utilization of cover vs the need for plates, it all depends on your environment obviously. But urban/CQB environments pretty much require plates.

(Sorry, I nerd out hard on gear and get made fun of for it all the time.)

Joe-n-TX · Oct 30, 2024

I know this is an old thread….. But primary arms has guard dog IV ceramic on sale for $129. Look at the reviews on YouTube. mrgunsngear

Rerun7 · Oct 31, 2024

Got cliff notes from the review? At work so can’t look it up for a while

K1vsteen · Monday at 8:03 AM

Whether body armor is necessary for a civilian depends on your situation and what you’re worried about. For most people, it’s probably not something they need to consider daily. But if you live or work where safety is a more significant concern, or maybe you’re into certain hobbies like private security or extreme sports, having a bulletproof vest jacket might give you peace of mind.
That said, wearing body armor does have its downsides. It can be uncomfortable, especially if it’s hot outside, and people might find it odd or intimidating if they notice. Plus, it would help if you looked into local laws, as not all places allow civilians to own or wear body armor freely.

babyguppy · Monday at 11:01 AM

The accuracy from our police force, nuts on cars, walking across traffic, going to wrong address, and shooting innocent victims; it's probably a good idea to wear it.

hlee · Monday at 11:04 AM

babyguppy said:
The accuracy from our police force, nuts on cars, walking across traffic, going to wrong address, and shooting innocent victims; it's probably a good idea to wear it.

The thing about body armor… For it to be effective, your adversary needs to be good enough to hit you in it.

faylix · Monday at 12:52 PM

I keep a set of plates / plate carrier in my trunk "very-bad-things" safe, but when I go to the range I generally just rock a chest rig.

3x AR15 mags or 2x AR10 mags, 2 pistol mags, a CAT TQ and a spot for some snacks.

its cold these days and my spiritus systems chest rig fits nicely under my jacket.

I look at it like, I carry a pistol, its for me to break contact and get away from any situation. If I'm taking a rifle to said situation I'm wearing plates and at least an IFAK if not a whole med kit. I wouldn't pop my "very-bad-things" hidden safe to just grab my rifle.

I haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone brought up the fact that you can probably save more lives statistically with a med kit than body armor?

Fig · Monday at 2:41 PM

No ballistic helmet?

MadDuner · Monday at 7:18 PM

faylix said:
I keep a set of plates / plate carrier in my trunk "very-bad-things" safe, but when I go to the range I generally just rock a chest rig.

3x AR15 mags or 2x AR10 mags, 2 pistol mags, a CAT TQ and a spot for some snacks.

its cold these days and my spiritus systems chest rig fits nicely under my jacket.

I look at it like, I carry a pistol, its for me to break contact and get away from any situation. If I'm taking a rifle to said situation I'm wearing plates and at least an IFAK if not a whole med kit. I wouldn't pop my "very-bad-things" hidden safe to just grab my rifle.

I haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone brought up the fact that you can probably save more lives statistically with a med kit than body armor?

I’m mainly interested in preserving my own life… PC and IFAK. But I bring a med kit in the vehicles - just in case it can help.

babyguppy · Tuesday at 9:44 AM

MadDuner said:
I’m mainly interested in preserving my own life… PC and IFAK. But I bring a med kit in the vehicles - just in case it can help.

make sure you are close to your vehicle when you need it

MadDuner · Tuesday at 10:33 AM

babyguppy said:
make sure you are close to your vehicle when you need it

The vehicle born med kits are for boo boos at outings.
If on foot - usually just a better prepped IFAK in the pack.

efl15 · Tuesday at 12:38 PM

I tend to err on the side of caution but haven’t gotten into armor. Maybe even never.

Just depends on your risk tolerance.

faylix · Tuesday at 12:57 PM

babyguppy said:
make sure you are close to your vehicle when you need it

I'm just gonna put this here since for maybe a year I didnt know that IFAK meant individual first aid kit ..

And my ifak is better packed than most people's first aid kit.

ironman56 · Tuesday at 2:44 PM

Rerun7 said:
Body armor seemed expensive so I decided to go the natural route. Lots of pizza and wings.

Combined with virtually no exercise I’ve got a pretty good layer built up at this point. I’d say I’m about level IIIa.

I remember watching one of those true crime shows where a 400lb Amish tub of lard , got shot like 7 times with a 25 cal pistol iirc , and none of the bullets got past his layer of fat , survived to eat more pizza's.

faylix · Tuesday at 2:49 PM

ironman56 said:
I remember watching one of those true crime shows where a 400lb Amish tub of lard , got shot like 7 times with a 25 cal pistol iirc , and none of the bullets got past his layer of fat , survived to eat more pizza's.

I'm trying to follow this route myself.

oldrifleman · Tuesday at 2:56 PM

faylix said:
I'm trying to follow this route myself.

I resemble this remark

Fig · Thursday at 10:41 AM

The problem with that rout is your vulnerability to flame throwers. Don't let it stress you though, they make that kind of armor in XXXL sizes.

Rerun7 · Thursday at 12:25 PM

Fig said:
The problem with that rout is your vulnerability to flame throwers. Don't let it stress you though, they make that kind of armor in XXXL sizes.

View attachment 8572789

Nah man, that’s the beauty of it. When you get hit with the flamethrower the enemy is suddenly mesmerized by the distinct smell of bacon frying. At that point they lose the will to fight and you can escape.

As a bonus you can eat the outer layer like a pork rind.

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