Tactical / Raid Body Armor

[Sparky]

Other thread brought up an old issue...

On selecting BA for tactical teams / raids etc...what are your thoughts.

Load bearing versus plain jane with a tactical vest seperate?

Front opening or side closure?

Duty belt on uniform under the vest or hanging from the vest?

Anyone really like something they have seen? Specific likes / dislikes??



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-Sparky

[WYTAC]

I prefer the level III or IV vest under the tactical vest (separate) and BDU shirt for a few reasons.

* More options available in the separate units.
* If there comes a need to discard the equipment vest (munitions ignition, fire, close quarters insertion, etc.) you don't loose your ballistic protection.
* If the Raid or incident calls for more mobility you can quickly switch out the heavy vest for a level II.
* You don't need to send your vest back to the maker to change to a new equipment carrier.

As for the pistol belt, again I prefer it attached to the Tac. vest for ease, quick gear-up and weight distribution, however, if you must discard the vest your secondary weapon goes with it, unless you remember to unsnap the vest straps or pocket your weapon.

I also prefer the front closure simply for ease of gear-up & down.




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Keep Low, Stay Safe,
Max

[Dave T]

Sparky,

Kinda like the Pro-Max SWAT style with equipment pockets. Here is the link - let me know what you think
http://www.bulletproofme.com/Tactical_Body_Armor.shtml#ProMax_Tactical

Dave

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"There is true glory and true honor, the glory of duty done and the honor of integrity and principles." - Robert E. Lee

[This message has been edited by Dave T (edited 12-25-2000).]

[Sparky]

That Promax seemed like a good example of a Plain Jane (as I call em). Belly band design is very similar to some other armor I've seen. I have mixed feelings about collars. It looked pretty stiff, but then again, anything Class II probably will be, unless you want to shell out the REALLY big bucks. Flexibility goes out the window with a plate anyway.

WYTAC...again, we seem to be thinking along the same lines pretty much. I like the seperate gear versus armor for tac for most of the reasons that you stated. Also, you pretty much HAVE to hang the belt from somthing if your team wears flight suits for entries.

But for raids, which are usually done after sittin in a car for hours, or in street clothes, I think I like the front opening LB armor. Easier to sit with, and easier to throw on everything you need in one fell swoop.

I sort of like the RBR and ABA systems that are plain jane except for some alice webbing on the lower portions that accept the BTS and alice gear. Sort of the best of both worlds. You can hang stuff on there, or strip it off and put it on your belt. I think that both of these companies will put belt loops on there if requested...not sure...


Anyway...the trend that i see is that tac teams tend to be going with the load bearing front opening vests with the snap grids and such. To me, this is impractical for am entry team.

Meanwhile, I see that narcotics and detectives tend to use a vest with all of their stuff on a seperate belt or vest which requires the usuall "trunk party" around the corner from the "house" where everyone is trying to find their beltkeepers in the dark and make their sstuff fit over their coats in the winter.

Does this trend seem a little backwards to anyone but me?

Or am I just too much of a gearhead??



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-Sparky

[WYTAC]

Sparky,

Nope, don't sound backward to me at all. Sounds to me as though you know what you like and what works for you. That is what counts.



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Keep Low, Stay Safe,
Max