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I recently purchased some soft civilian soft concealable body armor.

http://www.bulletproofbodyarmorhq.com/i ... cts_id=142" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Although I've used body armor in the military, I wanted some concealable civilian appropriate (ie not issued by the military and concealable) body armor.

I want to share my reasons for getting it, see if anyone else on the forum has it, and if so how often they use it.

I purchased the body armor primarily because I was at a range quite some time ago when some one in the stall next to me got stupid and pointed the weapon towards my stall. I thought it would be a nice acquisition to get some soft body armor in lieu of purchasing another gun.

I also wanted to have it for higher risk situations like any potential home invasions, or a natural disaster.

My questions to other forum members are who else has used body armor? Who owns civilian body armor (something that wasn't issued to them for military duty)? How often do those of you who have it use it? Do you use it for range and high risk only or is it an everyday carry thing like CHL? What level of protection does your armor offer? What models do you have and how do you like it?

I'll keep you posted when it arrives.

I haven't worn body armor since I quit being a cop 5 years ago. I do still have a vest that I bought back then and the only times I wear it any more are those times I hear a bump in the night and if I'm out hunting. I don't use public ranges so I don't worry about the guy next to me. I think it's a good idea to have one around. If that is the vest you bought it looks like a good one. Just remember it is only rated to stop handgun and shotgun.

Thanks for the write-up. How many years does that vest last for? I know that some have a date inside them and a 3 or 5 or 7 years or something along those lines.
Also, what is with the company using the term bullet-proof...

I would love to have some, for several reasons.

If anyone has read FerFals blog about a societal collapse, one of the things he points out is that in a collapse, most of us can't just stay at home in our ammo fort and defend the castle. We're going to have to go to work, run errands etc, all in a much more violent world than our current one.

For that, I think soft, concealable body armor is a GREAT idea.

If I was setting up a vest for "bump in the night", I think I'd go with rifle plates on a vest set up with a blow out kit and extra rifle/pistol mags. Why not? Invaders might be using long guns, and if its for the purpose of home defense, its not like the weight is going to be an issue on a 10 mile ruck.

In short....its something I've considered, and if things continue to go badly with the economy and leadership of this country, something I might move my purchase of up significantly.

I've been considering buying the Miguel Caballero polo shirt. Obama is reputed to have a Miguel Caballero wardrobe. All other body armor makes you look "puffy" when you wear it except for Miguel Caballero. I'm not sure if it is any good. Anybody have Miguel Caballero stuff and can review it please? I'd like an honest user review before I decide to buy it (or not buy it).

http://www.miguelcaballero.com/cms/front_content.php
...

That looks like a nice vest. Price is excellent!!! I have a protech FAV MKII with the groin, neck, and arm add ons that I got for a decent price. Its nice, but expensive, and not the coolest or lightest. I would like a concealable one like that cabellero undershirt. that looks nice to me.

My wife and I each have one in the "safe room" that is easily accessable when we hear the bumps in the night. We have run drills on what to do if the dogs or the alarm goes off that includes getting them on.

Not paranoid, just ready.

In response to the other posters.

It's 100% kevlar, so the NIJ cert is good for five years. There are tests showing no discernible decrease over 10 years with 100% kevlar.

I have heard that newer, european and asian fibers such as twaeron, pe and others last only 3-5 years and that the former second chance had failures with them. As such, I will only be purchasing 100% kevlar.

Kevlar is susceptible to UV degradation, but if you store it properly UV degradation should not be a problem.

Having a vest for the range is a good idea. My uncle took a bullet once at a shooting range because of some idiot fooling with a gun during a cease fire. Fortunately the bullet was an FMJ .38 Special and my uncle wasn't seriously hurt.

I do believe concealable is the way to go for civilian body armor, for similar reasons that we carry our handguns concealed. It shouldn't bother anyone being concealed, surprise, etc.

I think you do want at least Level II armor, as Level IIA is far less certain to stop a bullet.

The primary disadvantage of armor is it can be HOT to wear. Wintertime is okay, but wearing armor outdoors in the Texas summertime can cause you substantial heat issues.

If you ever do force-on-force training, the tremendous value of having armor will become quickly evident.

Dr Joker:

Here is a review that led me to purchasing the product that I did that also reviews a Caballero product. It looks to offer great protection albeit at a heavy pricetag and not as inconspicuous as the manufacturer makes his product seem.

Looks cool and like a great conversational piece. It definitely has the cool factor though.

Body Armor would be good for the range, especially a public range. I don't have any armor anymore but I do take a trauma kit to the range (usually the woods) as well as hiking and camping. I'll have a couple of Isreali or Osealas bandages along with some Quik Clot and some z folded gauze. I'm still working on getting the tourniquet.

remington79 wrote:Body Armor would be good for the range, especially a public range. I don't have any armor anymore but I do take a trauma kit to the range (usually the woods) as well as hiking and camping. I'll have a couple of Isreali or Osealas bandages along with some Quik Clot and some z folded gauze. I'm still working on getting the tourniquet.

tourniquet
a 57 year old is alive and walking today because we had 1 for one leg, and I borrowed a drunk man's belt to put on the other leg... 43 years ago, when we were 14 years old and his legs went through a plate glass window which acted like a guillotine. 25 minutes till ambulance arrived, arteries were cut in both legs. I talked to him a few months ago, he owns a large company in California now.

Body armor
I had a big blue one in the 80s, I forget the type and brand, traded it to an officer for his 100 club issued one which wasn't as good and he wasn't wearing the issued, but said he'd wear that one so we traded, and I had a T-shirt type
Have none now.

RSJ wrote:Thanks for the write-up. How many years does that vest last for? I know that some have a date inside them and a 3 or 5 or 7 years or something along those lines.
Also, what is with the company using the term bullet-proof...

Depends on how they're treated. If the kevlar stays inside the protective covering and doesn't get wet (water or sweat) they're good for probably your whole life. The kevlar will deteriorate when exposed to water or other substances, and from what I understand, a wet vest is useless. The people selling these try to make you believe they're only good for five years, but that simply isn't true if the vest is properly taken care of. Vests that have sat on the shelf for 30 years have been tested and found to have no degradation in stopping power.

Ive got level III plates from ami in an ami low pro plate carrier. The front plate is a tac3s and rear is the sapi3, to cut down on weight. Really I only have it because I can, but it's nice to know should I ever need it I have something that can stop rifle fire. Having shot at lots of public ranges I can definitely see why you would want some protection from the less well instructed.

Well the body armor showed up in the mail today and it is simply awesome.

I did the wally walk with it and forgot I had it on.

I really like it and am glad Itook the plunge. It is a bit much for everyday carry, but is definitely concealeable.

It was like doing my first concealed carry wally walk.