I am thinking about buying my own tactical vest/plate carrier because the issued one at my unit is a mess. If I am going to spend a few bucks in a new vest I prefer to get a real good one, so I will be very grateful to your advices based in your experience and expertise. I prefer a vest that I could update as needed, I mean by adding soft or hard armor, or just using it standing alone. Besides I need a vest with a fast release system for maritime use, such as the Eagle MARCIRAS. I have heard about Eagle MARCIRAS, BAE Eclipse and Paraclete, but I am not sure which one is the most advisable.
Thank you in advance for your great assessment.
I don’t have any recommendations, but I have a similar question and didn’t want to start a new thread.
I’m also looking for a vest, primarily so I can take some shoot-house classes that require it (Pat Rogers). I’d prefer to keep it under a grand in terms of cost.
Ideally I’d like a low-profile vest that I can fit under my existing TT MAV so I don’t need PALS webbing. I’d prefer being able to fit plates, but wouldn’t mind soft armor if that’s what gives the best value.
John:
I’ve researched the exact same thing. I’ll not do another open-enrollment rifle course without wearing body armor. Given that one of the most common training loads is M193, you’ll want some high quality plates.
The setup that I’ve looked hard at is: A DBT Fast Attack plate carrier or a DBT Low Vis plate carrier with TAC3S stand-alone plates from Armored Mobility. You could get into this setup for about $1,300. You could probably shave off some cost by going with in-conjunction steel plates backed with IIIA soft armor but, the trade off is more weight.
Unfortunately I don’t have much of a choice but to do open enrollment since I’m not Mil/LEO anymore.
That being said, you don’t see any real need for anything other than plates?
What about things like SPEAR cut armor? Any reason you ruled it out?
mohican,
If you are currently CONUS and expect to get mobbed in the hear future, I would not worry about purchasing your own vest or plate carrier. I have been told by the guys that just got back last Summer that the new vest they were issued and are supposedly currently issuing for mobilized units are pretty nice.
It’s the over the head style with cumberbun (sp?). I’ll find out more by the end of the month or early next month when the guys in the unit I was assigned to finally get mobbed and are issued their stuff.
I’ve got some DBT predator armor and plates that I now wear in a Beez Combat Systems carrier. Great combo - I wanted the ability to wear full armor w/o the rest of my kit. I use a TT MAV for that.
My only real concern right now is stray rifle rounds so, soft armor only means more weight and sweat to me hence, my opting for standalone plates. Just a personal choice.
In looking at those plates you recommended, I noticed they were level III, which iirc will NOT stop an M193 round. This is why I thought you used soft armor in conjunction to up the protection to IV.
I like the Beez carrier a lot, but DBT concealable vests seem to work too.
In terms of DBT plates is there much difference between HSAPI, ESAPI and level IV? I presume the “Stand Alone Level IV” plate is not multiple hits?
Negative. Some Level III hard armor is rated level III only when used in conjunction with III-A soft armor. Level III plates with level III-A soft armor will not make the total package level IV.
The issue with M193 is at close range and extremely high velocities - like from 20" barrels. Some otherwise stand-alone level III armor (5mm steel plates) has issues with such M193 unless it’s used in-conjunction with soft armor. Likewise, some otherwise stand-alone level III armor that will stop the higher-velocity M193 (hard Dyneema/Spectra plates) has issues with M855 unless it’s used in-conjunction with soft armor. The AMI TAC3S plates will stop both M193 and M855.
I would argue that the HDPE plates used with soft armor will still not stop M855, which goes through HDPE. Unless the HDPE significantly slows the projectile down, I don’t see the soft armor stopping it.
Doc Roberts, any thoughts or wisdom here?
I’m using the latest generation Interceptor at work, and have much the same setup for personal use; that said, the DBT side-opening conversion is something I intend to put to the test prior to my next trip down range, and I’m also giving serious though to just investing in a replacement Predator carrier.
For the moment, the conversion kit is probably the better option for those of us who need to be using more or less standardized USGI kit, but a guy could easily “waste” half a day on the DBT site running his options. 
AC
To your point, I have read that close range M855 from 20" barrels has penetrated both HDPE and underlying soft armor. Not sure about 16" or 14.5" barrels, though. Regardless, I won’t be wearing it!