Shellback is where my search started. They didn’t have plates but did have the carriers or vice Vera. There was a reason I didn’t bug with them but cannot remember it now. Bullet proof I put an order in with them. And over night my lead time went from 2 days to 3 months. Didn’t cancel, but still need my second set faster than that. Have never looked at gadgetize.
Don’t buy air soft shit that will fall apart and use ceramic plates to not die from spalling wounds. Just spend the money and buy the same shit that’s army issue.
Yes I did mean NIJ. Phone auto corrects to NOJ because it’s an acronym we use often at work. Regardless, yes they are about 1.5 - 2 lbs lighter per plate. I have worn both ceramics and steel. So long as you buy multi curved plates the ceramic is no more comfortable. Steel plates are stab proof regardless. The NIJ rating does not change from ceramic to steel. The differences are weight and cost. With a total weight savings of about 5 lbs the cost increase is not worth it. Not even close to worth it.
Ceramic saves me 1.5 lbs per plate when compared to other NIJ level iii plates. That’s three lbs for front and back, and 1 lbs for side plates. At an additional cost of 1000+ dollars I fail to see the value in this.
Good for you. I didn’t say they were bad. I said I can’t justify the increased cost for the same level of armor just to save a total of 5 lbs.
And before I get the “you will wish you saved 5 lbs when you are in the shit.” I’ve been there, I know the difference whether kicking doors or humping for days.
My ka-bar full size, may switch it up for a smaller knife for space
IFAK
2 - My Father toros
1 pint flask of old forester 1920
And I’ve been hauling that with shooters cut Spartan plates. I needed a second set and now I’ll be hauling that load with swimmers cut front and rear. None of this was about weight savings. It’s literally because I need a second set.
I am a 6’4 220 lbs man who runs 5 miles every day as well as keeping up a calisthenics routine 4 days a week. Brother, I’m in shape. Maybe better shape than when I was fighting.
Gadgetize has armor in stock and shipping. Bullet proof it has in stock and shipping.
I ordered from Shellback and had mine in 3 days.
Shellback is where my search started. They didn’t have plates but did have the carriers or vice Vera. There was a reason I didn’t bug with them but cannot remember it now. Bullet proof I put an order in with them. And over night my lead time went from 2 days to 3 months. Didn’t cancel, but still need my second set faster than that. Have never looked at gadgetize.
I got mine right before the election. They were shipping within 24 hours. They had a pop up for everything in stock. I can’t say now for them.
Don’t buy air soft shit that will fall apart and use ceramic plates to not die from spalling wounds. Just spend the money and buy the same shit that’s army issue.
It’s not air soft shit. It’s NIJ level iii( gets the makers iii+ Rating). Level IV armor is nearly impossible to get in any reasonable time frame.
What's NOJ? Do you mean NIJ. Lvl 3+ just makes plates stab proof. Lvl 4 ICW ceramics are in stock and they are lighter and more comfortable
It does stop them.
I gotcha
Yes I did mean NIJ. Phone auto corrects to NOJ because it’s an acronym we use often at work. Regardless, yes they are about 1.5 - 2 lbs lighter per plate. I have worn both ceramics and steel. So long as you buy multi curved plates the ceramic is no more comfortable. Steel plates are stab proof regardless. The NIJ rating does not change from ceramic to steel. The differences are weight and cost. With a total weight savings of about 5 lbs the cost increase is not worth it. Not even close to worth it.
Buy ceramics
Ceramic saves me 1.5 lbs per plate when compared to other NIJ level iii plates. That’s three lbs for front and back, and 1 lbs for side plates. At an additional cost of 1000+ dollars I fail to see the value in this.
Steel plates will cause spalling and you don’t want that shit hitting your groin, legs or neck area. Because you will bleed to death.
Yes definitely pay for the over coating. To reduce that
I wear ceramic plates.
Good for you. I didn’t say they were bad. I said I can’t justify the increased cost for the same level of armor just to save a total of 5 lbs.
And before I get the “you will wish you saved 5 lbs when you are in the shit.” I’ve been there, I know the difference whether kicking doors or humping for days.
How many mags do you carry on your rig?
3-30 rd mk318
3-15 rd Hornady CD 9mm
CZ pcr
12” Wilson Combat sbr
My ka-bar full size, may switch it up for a smaller knife for space
IFAK
2 - My Father toros
1 pint flask of old forester 1920
And I’ve been hauling that with shooters cut Spartan plates. I needed a second set and now I’ll be hauling that load with swimmers cut front and rear. None of this was about weight savings. It’s literally because I need a second set.
I am a 6’4 220 lbs man who runs 5 miles every day as well as keeping up a calisthenics routine 4 days a week. Brother, I’m in shape. Maybe better shape than when I was fighting.
Thanks for this.