[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Patrolling in SHTF (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 3/16/2011 1:49:54 PM EDT
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Why do most people spend money on full fledged plate carriers loaded down with 45 pounds of gear, so they can wear it all day on "patrol" when SHTF?
Seems like to me not only do you want to keep a low profile (which means not running around with a plate carrier), but after weeks and weeks drone on in that situation, assuming you've kept to yourself and you're not bothered, who really wants to carry that shit around and be uncomfortable all day? I've thought about buying that kinda stuff but I decided instead, I will be sitting on my ass in a pair of board shorts instead of "patrolling" in 45 pounds of gear when it's 105 degrees out. Just wanted to get some of that hive mind opinion on this one, I have a feeling people will disagree. 
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My Plate Carrier with level 4 ballistic plate front and back with additional front/back/side level 3 doesn't wear 45 pounds. Might not wear 45 pounds, but by the time you stick a trauma kit, crossdraw glock .40, eight spare mags, and a ESSE-6 on there it just may weigh 45 pounds. Don't get caught up in details, though, because my general concept is that it will hot as fuck and uncomfortable whether it wears, or weighs, 20, or 45 pounds. |
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My Plate Carrier with level 4 ballistic plate front and back with additional front/back/side level 3 doesn't wear 45 pounds. He's talking total load, I believe. Extra mags, etc. Out of curiosity, how much does your plate carrier with plates way? Floofy, the answer is that those people want to play army and shtf fantasies are the only place they can do it. |
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I'll be moving light.
Better to be silent and able to move. Just MO. If you are part of a mechanized infantry unit, then it is a different story, I suppose. I've situated myself in a very forested place long ago and have not changed my SHTF plans much at all. Had all sorted out a long time ago. |
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If all out war breaks you will want it. If it is just pot shots here and there then I would not be using one either. Not a bad idea to have one just incase. Yeah I can see having one just in case I suppose. I just can't see it being tolerable in a situation where you've got limited clothes, limited water for hygiene, etc. Personally I wouldn't mind getting a buttstock mag pouch so I can carry 60 rounds on my firearm in a situation like that. |
| I can wear a plate carrier quite comfortably under a jacket or coat. A plate carrier with PALs webbing gives you options to configure a load bearing system for the individual mission. I can also wear other LBE over a plate carrier. I can wear the plate carrier alone or with a IIIA soft vest. My guess is you are trying to find an excuse not to buy one. |
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People buy shit cuz they can..
Some people collect beer mugs, some collect cars, some collect old military stuff some collect new tactical gear. Wearing armor with plates when you actually need to for a while blows but it's better than not having it and needing. There are those who have it sitting in a closet just in case, like a gas mask or iodine pills or whatever. That may come in handy one day for them |
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I can see where it would be nice to have on hand, in case you needed or wanted to use it.
Doubt I would use it much, myself. Have question though: How many hits will these things take? So if there is a real war, how are you going to replace your plate. Yeah, being saved once is sure as Hell better than none. If you are shot outside the plate, say hit in the lung, where are you going to get medical care? But will these things take more than one hit in say a 3" area? |
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OP - you just have to accept that other people have different conceptions of reality. Some people think that they will be turned into Rambo, play out a Red Dawn scenario, lead the combat against M13, be dug in like Libyan tribes in eastern Libya.
The facts that an Afcomer may be 40 pounds of weight, wouldn't ever be caught in a gym, and the last time he slept out in the open was when he was a Cub Scout, doesn't stop him from his fantasy. Do I have body armor? Yes. And, I wore in the last training class a few weeks ago. If you took 100 guys who actually own body armor and ask how many wore it in a training class on a public range or on a Saturday on the outdoor range with 200 strangers, I think the answer would be mighty small. So OP, let them live out their fantasies. In my book, body armor, if any, is purchased after a person purchases a current kevlar helmet retrofitted with Oregon aero gear. If a person doesn't understand why, then that is his problem. |
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I can see where it would be nice to have on hand, in case you needed or wanted to use it. Doubt I would use it much, myself. Have question though: How many hits will these things take? So if there is a real war, how are you going to replace your plate. Yeah, being saved once is sure as Hell better than none. If you are shot outside the plate, say hit in the lung, where are you going to get medical care? But will these things take more than one hit in say a 3" area? There are plates that are multiple hit rated that take a good amount of punishment, and there are plates that powderize in areas after a couple hits. If you're shot outside the plate (or if your body experiences massive trauma behind the plate) and you don't have a doctor in your backpack you're probably not going to be doing well |
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Who the fuck is going to be "patrolling"??  The antisocial tools playing army (i.e. 87% of ARFCOM) while everyone else is busy rebuilding civilization.  Or all the fuckers who have never been on patrol in their life. Anybody who has wouldn't go out alone. |
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Who the fuck is going to be "patrolling"?? I will be. You bet. Where I live, I can't afford to sit in my home waiting for a couple of morons to firebomb the place. I'll be outside a whole lot more than I'll be inside and only if someone else can keep watch while I eat or sleep. |
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My gear consists of a 1 1/2" belt and a snap around specter chest rig, no kevlar or plates- the weight these two pieces add is laughably negligible.... Loaded mags add weight- no matter how you carry them, so there's no debate on that. Beyond that I live in a bad part of town with no "community" to protect so I'll either be laying low or driving across the country to do the best I can for my parents. Still- If I had the money I would buy a plate carrier and inserts, why? Because I can.  |
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Patroling tactics come before patroling gear. As does the ability to hump all the gear you need.
I see stuff like plates and helmets as useful for pulling katrina like guard duty on the road leading into your neigborhood. Not as sexy as the desire to walk armed through a near abandoned city, but much more likely. |
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Who the fuck is going to be "patrolling"?? I will be. You bet. Where I live, I can't afford to sit in my home waiting for a couple of morons to firebomb the place. I'll be outside a whole lot more than I'll be inside and only if someone else can keep watch while I eat or sleep. I must not have got the memo. I have absolutely no idea what to expect come SHTF. 
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Who the fuck is going to be "patrolling"?? I will be. You bet. Where I live, I can't afford to sit in my home waiting for a couple of morons to firebomb the place. I'll be outside a whole lot more than I'll be inside and only if someone else can keep watch while I eat or sleep. I must not have got the memo. I have absolutely no idea what to expect come SHTF.
I live in a spot with a lot of unique aspects. Odds are fair there will be no one around. If they are around it isn't going to be good. Pretty much as simple as that and I know my AO like the back of my hand. Every stream, hill, trail, etc. Like I said, I got my plans. |
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In my book, body armor, if any, is purchased after a person purchases a current kevlar helmet retrofitted with Oregon aero gear. If a person doesn't understand why, then that is his problem. Can you expand on this? I actually have a kevlar helmet and I've been procrastinating buying some soft body armor. |
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I see stuff like plates and helmets as useful for pulling katrina like guard duty on the road leading into your neigborhood. Not as sexy as the desire to walk armed through a near abandoned city, but much more likely. Why is this so hard for many to understand? The Japan situation should make this idea more than clear, just as New Orleans, and many other disasters. |
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[span style='color: blue;']In my book, body armor, if any, is purchased after a person purchases a current kevlar helmet retrofitted with Oregon aero gear. If a person doesn't understand why, then that is his problem. Can you expand on this? I actually have a kevlar helmet and I've been procrastinating buying some soft body armor. Oregon Areo makes a padding and suspension kit that retrofits the crappy leather one in the original PASGT Kevlar with modern padding and 4 point chin strap that actually keeps the helmet out of your eyes when in the prone. It is easy to install and good kit. That being said the newer LWH (Navy and Marines) and ACH (Army) are lighter helmet that has similar padding and a four point chin strap. The LWH has similar coverage to the PASGT. Buying a PASGT and retrofitting it with the Oregon Areo kit is probably the cheapest way to go. But the PASGT kevlars are slightly heavier then the more modern helmets. I would buy soft body armor, then rifle plates and lastly a helmet. If you want to talk about being overt in a domestic SHTF situation well wearing a k-pot would be it. A kevlar helmet isn't going to stop any rifle rounds and is only marginally effective against pistol rounds. Hint: what piece of armor will you see guys discard first when they have to move light and fast? It isn't body armor. |