LBV vs Plate Carrier

[The22Man]

1st I'm not a sniper, I am a precision shooter. With that said, I am re-reading The Ultimate Sniper and thinking of creating a precision rifle specific vest, not my standard patrol vest but one specific sniping.

I want to know what you actually have, why and what you plan on changing if anything.

I am not sure whether a load bearing vest is a "better" item compared to a plate carrier.
While it would be best to have nothing on the front of my chest for going prone, I don't see how I could carry an 8 - 12 hour essential kit (vest only) without having stuff "up front".
With the LBV, it can be opened to allow me to get lower to the ground. Plate carrier would have to be removed. A LBV, if big enough can go over a slick plate carrier. This I have thought of for all my gear. Get one or two slick plate carriers (medium and large [more coverage]) and then building a patrol, sniper, home defense vests that could be put over it. The other benefit of a LBV is I don't have to wear the plates and thus lighten the load.
A plate carrier can load gear just like the LBV (some of course have less coverage area for MOLLE et al) and provides (long as I have plates in) some protection. I can choose what plates to put in based on METT-T, or of course pull all plates out.
This may seem like a ramble, I apologize. Just tired of buying the wrong items and want wisdom from you who have them and used them.

Thanks a million for your time.

 

[Srikaleak]

A slick plate carrier, a few pouches on your belt (one pistol, one rifle, IFAK), and everything else in a backpack. That would be my first and foremost recommendation.

If you must have a 8-12 hr kit on the vest, I'd personally go slick plate carrier with LBV on top of it. I like being able to shed one or the other, gives more options. But you're not gonna really know until you schlep in it.

 

[bourbonbent]

I use an LBT Rhodesian vest, holds an RMA Level IV stand-alone swimmer cut plate. Makes it easy to wear a pack/ruck, and they used to make back panels that carried a plate, but I missed out on buying one. Finding one is the hard part, Eagle stopped making them years back and LBT hasn’t done a lot of them. Bought mine years back.

I like plate carriers because armor front and rear. I hate plate carriers because armor front and rear. I also hate plate carriers because in the summer, it’s a heat trap. I love them because when it’s freezing ass cold, it’s a heat trap.

I guess you have to decide what real world needs you have. Do you live in an area where sticking a PC or armor of some sort in the car is recommended? I have in the past, but don’t now. Have you spent much time wearing armor?

Also, armor does no good if it’s not on you. If you need armor, you NEED it. That’s problematic in civilian life. You can’t just walk around the local Harps in plate armor, and it takes time to don it.

Having said that, plates are expensive. Good PC’s aren’t cheap. The pouches and everything get expensive quick. It’s best to determine what your real world need is; if it’s to have armor for the zombie apocalypse, that’s all well and good, but be realistic about it. The reality for home defense is you’re not gonna have time to don armor if some fuckhead all tweeked out on some home brew meth runs through your window.

If you’re specifically looking for a way to carry around your rifle gear and a pistol or something, a belt and pack will be a safer bet. Shooting rifles in armor isn’t the same as shooting slick. It’s much easier to carry around a well made pack with your kit in it than it is to wear a full blown plate carrier around. Especially if you don’t have to.

TL;DR: if you need armor, you need it. Good armor stops bullets. If you don’t, consider the alternatives. Armor is heavy, hot, expensive, and physically limiting.

That’s just my opinion, so value it based on price paid.

 

[Aaros143]

FWIW. I'm in a job that can require armor. If it was my choice I'd go without. And with a bolt rifle a simple belt setup is all that's required. IF something more serious is required then a chest rig and a 556 is a better solution.

 

[Dthomas3523]

What’s the purpose and how much movement/return fire you planning on taking?

 

[Strykervet]

I'd go with suspenders and a battle belt. You want something you can open in the prone.

I hated wearing molle shit, even without the plates, trying to get in prone with all that shit on is impossible. If you have to wear armor, a slick armor (maybe with an option to rack it out) with a battle belt would again be ideal.

It's all about the prone man. You can also sew bags or pockets onto your ass and back of legs to reduce shit carried in a belt.

 

[Rendrizzi]

I run a slick plate that i can throw the velocity systems chest rig over or the lbt rig with the zipper in the middle... if i need to direct attach it, it has swift ckips to clip different chest rigs/racks into it .. i highly recoment spiritus sytems or ferrow concepts slickster... in a matter of minutes you can go from assaulter to dmr with just 2 clips and some velcro

 

[The22Man]

What’s the purpose and how much movement/return fire you planning on taking?

Purpose is over-watch in a foothills area (hot humid, bugs, reptiles and animals). Movement will be to and from over-watch positions. Direct fire is never expected. Gear is based on Major Plastor's list: It seems long to me. Other items not listed go in a pack.
Vest / web gear: for 0 to 8 hour use
Rifle ammo, 3 magazine's, plus 1 in rifle AR-10
Handheld radio
Mini binoculars
Compass
Canteen, 1 quart,
Whistle
Insect repellent, small pump or wipes
Mini thermometer
Beef jerky
Alcohol wipes
CamelBak
2 spare pistol magazines
Ear protection, electronic, connects to radio
Pen light with filter
Mace, too keep animals away
Camo face paint
Pressure Bandage
Pencil and notepad, waterproof
Laser range finder
2 pack hand warmers
Lens cleaning pen for binoculars and scope

 

[The22Man]

Here is a video, not for a sniper per-say but it could work.