School Me on Kevlar Vest For Big Fellas

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  • worddoer

    Master
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    42   0   1
    Jul 25, 2011
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    Wells County
    I tried to search, but could only find old ads on stuff for sale.

    My brother-in-law is an over the road truck driver. He just called me today looking for a "bullet proof vest" since his company is sending him into some of these riot areas.

    I need some schooling on vests. I know that years ago, you could pick up a used/surplus Kevlar pistol rated vests for far less than new. But I don't have any idea where to get one. That is assuming they have not been all bought up as part of the recent panic buying. Most of the websites I looked at said they only sell to Military or Law Enforcement only.

    If we find a good deal, I believe I will pick one up also. Both my brother-in-law and myself are 3XL shirt people because our....muscles (stomach is a muscle, right?).... are so large.

    So INGO, where would I find a vest and are there any recommendations, hints or advise you all would have?
     
    Last edited:

    turnerdye1

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    60   0   0
    Dec 26, 2010
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    North Central IN

    NHT3

    Grandmaster
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    52   0   0
    I got mine on Ebay a couple of years ago. It's a little hot and heavy to wear driving but if he's that nervous I suppose he could slip it on every time he got out of his truck.
    Level 3 will stop most handgun but rifles will require ar500 inserts.
    [FONT=&amp]NRA Life Member / Basic pistol instructor/ RSO[/FONT]

    [FONT=&amp]"Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. That's why we train so hard" [/FONT]
    [FONT=&amp]Unnamed Navy Seal[/FONT]

    “Ego is the reason many men do not shoot competition. They don't want to suck in public” ….Coach

    [FONT=&amp]SPB Links[/FONT]
     

    jerrob

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    17   0   0
    Mar 1, 2013
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    Cumberland Plateau
    Picked up a couple Condor Exo XL for $80 each shipped. I'm a 3xl, so definitely go with the 11X14 plates. Got one set of level 4 steel plates off ebay (Downrange Industries)for less than $200 shipped and another set 10X12 from Botach, level 3 (UHMV) for $225 shipped 10x12 is too small. Make sure the carrier you choose can take 11X14, not all of them can.
     

    worddoer

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    42   0   1
    Jul 25, 2011
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    Wells County
    https://botach.com/battle-steel-level-iiia-ballistic-armor-package/
    Or if you wanna try Botach.com you can get the Battle Steel brand of soft armor. Mrgunsandgear just did a review on this and it stopped everything IIIA rated. And its a 125 bucks for 11x14 soft plates and a size of 2XL+

    WOW! I watched the review you mentioned and I gotta say, that is a smokin deal. I think that is my answer. It won't protect my BIL from everything, but probably most of the stuff he could, but hopefully never will run into.

    I know that he is getting hazard/extra pay for these runs. According to him, his trucking company already had one driver who was hijacked recently. I guess he got out OK, but barely so. I can't seem to find an article on it.

    Anyway, this will be a great relief for him. Thanks for the info!
     

    MCgrease08

    Grandmaster
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    37   0   0
    Mar 14, 2013
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    Earth
    WOW! I watched the review you mentioned and I gotta say, that is a smokin deal. I think that is my answer. It won't protect my BIL from everything, but probably most of the stuff he could, but hopefully never will run into.

    I know that he is getting hazard/extra pay for these runs. According to him, his trucking company already had one driver who was hijacked recently. I guess he got out OK, but barely so. I can't seem to find an article on it.

    Anyway, this will be a great relief for him. Thanks for the info!

    I have this same package. I ordered a set of 3+ hard plates and threw this set on top of the order just because. Super lightweight and the vest cinches down snug enough to make it low profile. I can wear it under a sweat shirt or jacket easily and I doubt anyone would really notice it.
     

    worddoer

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    42   0   1
    Jul 25, 2011
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    Wells County
    I have this same package. I ordered a set of 3+ hard plates and threw this set on top of the order just because. Super lightweight and the vest cinches down snug enough to make it low profile. I can wear it under a sweat shirt or jacket easily and I doubt anyone would really notice it.

    Seems to me to be the best bang for buck at this moment in time when it comes to bullet proof vests.

    I ordered 2 kits this morning, 1 for my BIL and 1 for me.
     

    Megasaki

    Marksman
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    5   0   0
    Jul 1, 2020
    206
    18
    Bloomington
    If you can find a Pinnacle Armor vest that would be nice. They made them in various sizes to include 5xl.
    I have a Pinnacle Armor level 2 trauma plate, soft, that I shoot and it surpasses 3A standards.
    You can find them on ebay, occasionally.

    You may want to steer clear of rhino body armor. I have seen videos of them failing.

    Find out if he wants soft or hard body armor.
     

    worddoer

    Master
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    42   0   1
    Jul 25, 2011
    1,664
    99
    Wells County
    If you can find a Pinnacle Armor vest that would be nice. They made them in various sizes to include 5xl.
    I have a Pinnacle Armor level 2 trauma plate, soft, that I shoot and it surpasses 3A standards.
    You can find them on ebay, occasionally.

    You may want to steer clear of rhino body armor. I have seen videos of them failing.

    Find out if he wants soft or hard body armor.

    He wanted soft armor so he can wear it for long periods while driving truck.

    We already purchased the vest kit listed up thread from Botach.com. 2 complete kits with shipping totaled $281.
     

    Fixer

    Expert
    Rating - 96.3%
    26   1   0
    Nov 22, 2009
    1,157
    63
    Fort Wayne Area
    I was looking into a vest after the wife suggested getting a couple for SHTF scenarios. I had seen the Dragon Skin that Pinnacle developed a while back that was flexible armor rated for rifles. I see Safe Life Defense now carries something similar. I would love to get something like that but those are extremely expensive for a might need purchase. I do like their level 3a+ vests as they are 360 degree protection with no gaps on the sides. They are more expensive but the advantage of complete coverage seemed like a nice addition. Looked like a lot of other styles you would have to add pieces to get the same coverage. If it came to needing the vest I would want the most coverage I could get. If I won the Lottery I would drop the $2400 on the Flexible Rifle Armor.
     
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