I’m looking for a BALCS Armor Carrier w/ Front,Rear,Side plates. Also would like it to fit snug that it wouldn’t move around on my body but, not so tight that it be annoying.
I’m a civvie
The primary usage of this item is for Home Defense and Training Courses
I need it to fit/carry - 4-6 Rifle Magazines and 4-5 Pistol Magazines, Blood Type Patch, Name Patch, Maybe 1 or 2 Morale Patches, First Aid/Trauma Kit.
I need it for this weapon - AR15 and Glock19 or Sig P226
My budget for this item is Max $500 for the Vest, Mid 2014 I will be getting Velocity Sys BALCS Soft Armor Kevlar IIIa and end of the year I would like to get 10x12 shooters cut front rear plates. Also I want side plates as well.
The Carrier does need Molle Real Estate.
I would like it to be low profile maybe…concealable(not really sure yet)
I have already looked at TAG, First Spear, TT, BCS, Eagle Ind, Velocity Sys etc.
Height 5’7" Weight 190lbs Waist 36" Inseam 32"-33" From my Waist to the top of my chest were my vitals end I guess you would call it is 16"-16.2" I have played Hockey my whole life from Travel to Juniors to College. I would consider myself Athletic, I still play hockey as well a good deal of yard work.
Big reason I have started looking at Armor Carriers now than later was due to a recent event that occur’d at my home in which made me worry. Luckily the neighborhood officer caught the suspect before he was able to fully break in. As of now I have taken actions and put Motion Sensor lights and a ADT security system. I also have sensor cameras around the house and inside. Hoping this would keep any bad guy away. If it doesn’t work I wanted some type of added protection as well something I would like to train with and have gear on.
I have looked at multiple vests and searched for reviews.
Velocity Systems Operators Assault Vest(BALCS Carrier)
First Spear Siege
Tactical Tailor LPAC
Tactical Tailor HEV
Beez Combat System BALCS Molle Carrier
Beez Combat System BALCS Cumber Carrier
TAG Mayhem Armor Carrier
It seemed that a good deal of everyone gets a Medium and anyone who is I guess 6’ or taller gets Large. Which I wanted to ask is that Tactical Tailor on there website says the Small/Medium Carriers don’t fit BALCS soft armor? Does there Size Large the same as everyones Medium? From there sizing for Large seems as if it would fit me best.
As of now the Tactical Taylor LPAC and HEV has my most interest as well the First Spear Siege(Maybe the R but not sure of the quick release system?).
I want to do this right the first time before I start spending random amounts of money to get it right. Which is why I have been searching till I started hitting dead ends on
vests or at least exhausted all I could to figure out what I would like.
I have tossed around a conceal type system like TAG Havoc and just have a chest rig over it. But I am not sure of how hot it would get.
Also Side plates really a need or is it more of a want? Side rifle protection isn’t a bad idea but would it reduce mobility?
Any info would be appreciated. Especially on the Tactical Tailor Sizing system as I said seems different from everyone else?
It sounds like you’ve never worn this stuff before? Fyi, it sucks.
SPEAR/BALCS cut armor is all the same within a given size. Different ballistics can be offered in that shape, which can make it more flexible, lighter, cheaper, etc.
Don’t limit yourself to velocity systems for soft armor… you need to know where you want to be price wise, comfort wise, etc. Different manufacturers might have a comperable product that fits your needs better.
Skip side plates… also think about what kind of situation you would actually benefit from grabbing this stuff for, or more importantly even having the time to do.
For example, I sell all of this stuff to LE. I have 6 different pieces of soft body armor in the house now that I use for sales samples. I have about 8 different lvl 3 & 4 plates and carriers too. None of it really goes on fast enough in any kind of “home invasion” scenario to be an asset. Could the misses suit up while I get guns in hand? Sure. But be honest with yourself with when you could really use this stuff or not. There is a reason it doesn’t sit beside my bed like the AR and Glock 17 do.
Makes sense. Thanks for the info, I will definitely think about it. I think I may order a basic soft armor from bulletproofme and see from there since the price won’t hurt. Plus if I didn’t like it. I didn’t spend thousands.
Soft armor takes just as much time to put on as hard armor.
If you insist on getting soft armor, get it in a cut where you can put it in a “tactical” carrier where you can add plates if you so choose. BALCS cut leaves a lot of doors open, in that respect.
Awesome points on here. On my bedroom door ( facing inward to me) I have 2 Armor IIIA 25x36 Car Armor panels mounted to the door and my full Paraclete RAV with plates hangs chest level as I would wear it. I use this as my fall back point. Since I work for a Body Armor company as well and do training/test shoots with state police and swat. You learn the full time limits of rigs donning and doffing. Even me using 3 side connected 1 side undone, it still take both uses of my hands a few seconds to get it on, then add the time to to handle sidearm. easy 15 second, where I could be already posted at the door sidearm ready to engage.
For CONUS home and training use a full BALCS package with plates is going to give you a limited return on investment.
I spent a large portion of my adult and early adult life wearing it. It never gets comfortable, it never makes tasks easier, and it never goes on fast enough when you really need it, and it doesn’t make you bullet or fire-proof.
Here’s an exercise:
Before bed, have your alarm set by someone else for a random time between 0230 and 0400 (no peeking!)
When the alarm goes off, put on a tight T-shirt and hearing protection. (keep in mind that armor needs to be tight to the body to be effective)
Grab your blaster and check the immediate area of your bedroom door.
Check your time.
Think about how much time that gap would give an intruder to do whatever it is that they wanted to do.
ETA: I do not mean to imply that there is never a reason to have armor, simply that what most folks think that they will do is way different than what actually happens when a rapid response is the answer.
It seems to me that in a home invasion scenario, if that’s what you’re worried about, you’d be better off investing in some sturdy steel framed security doors for your bedrooms. Putting on all that gear is iffy, especially sleepy, under stress, and with a limited time frame. Slamming a door (if it’s still open) is a relative no brainer, and will buy you a bunch of time.