I like vests, vests of all kinds, but this vest is different...it's a bulletproof vest, and it just shipped tonight..

Times are getting dangerous, especially for us out here in the country.  These gangs are moving out of the cities where ICE is raiding and taking over establishments out in the country.  The first things you see are"drive bys", just to see what you have.  Mostly those happen during the day, and there's nothing you can do about them.  The next thing is night drive bys...these are when they check out what they can get away with.  And the last is full-on invasion, take your shit, take over your place and start killin' people.

Wife said I was crazy for spending that much on a vest...until I explained all that to her, and now she wants one too.

My vest is only level IIIA+ (which is a little less than level 3), but I do have plates which take it to level IV.  Not sure I'd wear those plates most times because they're heavy (very)

Level IIIA+ is a little better than level IIIA, but it's a proprietary system mainly designed to stop puncture wounds like knives. Oh, and the 5.7mm FN (which no mug is ever going to have)

There's nothing crazy about being prepared! I don't blame you for covering your bases, FCD.
In the 'big town' 30 miles from us has expolded with criminal elements in the last few years; drugs and the homeless have really ramped up. They're even experienced a few drive-by shooting, and for a town of 38,000 that's been a real eye-opener.

Big cities like Spokane, Seattle, Yakima, etc. are giving one-way tickets to their 'less than desirab;e's' to send them here and it's really taken a toll. Crime is off the charts and prosecution is non-existant.

Just last week Neighborhood Watch posted how a very agressive young lady knocked on their door at 9:30 PM begging to use their bathroom; she even offered themm $1.00.
The folks were entertaining so there were quite a few people there. The door-knocker finally accepted they weren't going to let her in, but before leaving she looked at one of the people there and said "Hey! What's your name?" The gentleman replied "John" and she said that her brother knew him.

Commenters said that's a common ploy; they wait until late at night when things look dead, then knock on the door and either say they're looking for John; it's an emergency or they have an important message from 'john'; whatever it takes to get you to open your door.

Criminals are a lot more creative than I ever would have thought!

I've had some scary close calls in my life, to the point I would never open the door to a stranger at night, even if they were begging for help. I WOULD call the poliece. It makes me feel terrible but there's not a whole lot an 89 pound gal can do in most situations.

It's to the point if a cop knocked on my door late at night I'm not sure I'd open it; I'd probably call the poliece department to verify if he was legit or not.

In the 1990's I heard a commotion outside that sounded like a guy yelling. I went to the window and saw a guy sprawled out face down in the middle of the street. Then I saw a guy with a rufle hiding behind a garbage can with a rifleit looked like he was pointing it at ME!
I glanced down and there was a red dot on the center of my chest. Turns out it was the police making an arrest, but to this day you don't want to light me up with a laser pointer. Haha!

This soft-on-crime judicial system really has people left with few options. Police can do their job and arrest them, but they're released in hours and their 'trials' have become a joke. it seems the judicial system now favors the criminals over law abiding citizens.

(01-30-2025, 10:14 PM)Nugget Wrote: There's nothing crazy about being prepared! I don't blame you for covering your bases, FCD.
In the 'big town' 30 miles from us has expolded with criminal elements in the last few years; drugs and the homeless have really ramped up. They're even experienced a few drive-by shooting, and for a town of 38,000 that's been a real eye-opener.

Big cities like Spokane, Seattle, Yakima, etc. are giving one-way tickets to their 'less than desirab;e's' to send them here and it's really taken a toll. Crime is off the charts and prosecution is non-existant.

Just last week Neighborhood Watch posted how a very agressive young lady knocked on their door at 9:30 PM begging to use their bathroom; she even offered themm $1.00.
The folks were entertaining so there were quite a few people there. The door-knocker finally accepted they weren't going to let her in, but before leaving she looked at one of the people there and said "Hey! What's your name?" The gentleman replied "John" and she said that her brother knew him.

Commenters said that's a common ploy; they wait until late at night when things look dead, then knock on the door and either say they're looking for John; it's an emergency or they have an important  message from 'john'; whatever it takes to get you to open your door.

Criminals are a lot more creative than I ever would have thought!

I've had some scary close calls in my life, to the point I would never open the door to a stranger at night, even if they were begging for help. I WOULD call the poliece. It makes me feel terrible but there's not a whole lot an 89 pound gal can do in most situations.

It's to the point if a cop knocked on my door late at night I'm not sure I'd open it; I'd probably call the poliece department to verify if he was legit or not.

In the 1990's I heard a commotion outside that sounded like a guy yelling. I went to the window and saw a guy sprawled out face down in the middle of the street. Then I saw a guy with a rufle hiding behind a garbage can with a rifleit looked like he was pointing it at ME!
I glanced down and there was a red dot on the center of my chest. Turns out it was the police making an arrest, but to this day you don't want to light me up with a laser pointer. Haha!

This soft-on-crime judicial system really has people left with few options. Police can do their job and arrest them, but they're released in hours and their 'trials' have become a joke. it seems the judicial system now favors the criminals over law abiding citizens.

Better safe than sorry.  I hope I never need it, but there's only one thing worse than having one and never needing it, and that is needing it and not having one. 

That Tren de Argua gang everyone has seen in the news terrorizing the Aurora, Colorado apartment complex was actually busted over 60 miles away from their hangout in a rural area just north of here.  They're picking out these rural areas because it's easier for them to hide.

We're not taking any chances!  Sucks to have to say this, and it sucks our society has let things come to this level of danger, but like I said...better safe than sorry.

(01-31-2025, 10:04 AM)FCD Wrote: Better safe than sorry.  I hope I never need it, but there's only one thing worse than having one and never needing it, and that is needing it and not having one. 

That Tren de Argua gang everyone has seen in the news terrorizing the Aurora, Colorado apartment complex was actually busted over 60 miles away from their hangout in a rural area just north of here.  They're picking out these rural areas because it's easier for them to hide.

We're not taking any chances!  Sucks to have to say this, and it sucks our society has let things come to this level of danger, but like I said...better safe than sorry.

I know the feeling. The town I live in boasts 300 people, but has less than 150 people in the town proper; the rest are scattered throughout the surrounding hills and farm lands.

It's become a favorite for drug pushers, pedos and other less desirables to reside in because there's bo police presence. It takes about 20 minutes for county or state troupers to respond, unless one just happens to be 'in the neighborhood'.

As the older residents (the majority, not too long ago) pass away, realestate conglomerants began buying up their empty homes and turning them into publically assisted housing.

The crime rate exploded about five years ago and just keeps getting worse. I sure miss having a big dog!

Where exactly do you live FCD?

Your OP about the multiple "stages" of basically defense testing sounds like the highest level shitholes in this country. I always thought you were rural, real rural.

Anyway, nothing wrong with some armor, I'm a big guy so I went with full plates for my carrier, I think it's level 4, rated for '06 armor piercing. Heavy, but if things are that bad here, it is what it is.

Also as an avid.....putting it lightly, gun enthusiast that was an early adopter for the 5. 7, it's overrated(still love it) but it's nothing to worry about.

If i wanted to put power down range, get out the hunting rifles, or the old surplus stuff.

300 win mag(literally any box bought off the shelf) will punch through any armor, likely out to several hundred yards, 270, surplus '06(I have cans of steel core surplus, out of a garand, unless you have a 50's era american car strapped to you chest, your fucked).

As usual, the best bet is not to try to take the hit, but to avoid it all together.

(02-01-2025, 03:38 AM)MisterSpock Wrote: Where exactly do you live FCD?

Your OP about the multiple "stages" of basically defense testing sounds like the highest level shitholes in this country. I always thought you were rural, real rural.

Anyway, nothing wrong with some armor, I'm a big guy so I went with full plates for my carrier, I think it's level 4, rated for '06 armor piercing. Heavy,  but if things are that bad here, it is what it is.

We ARE rural, very...like boondocks, USA.  That's part of the problem.  Now, it's the remote areas where these gangs are 'migrating' to  because they're getting afraid in the cities (i.e. ICE raids, etc.).

I have the ceramic plates I can put in the vest to get it to Level 4 which will stop pretty much anything.  It'll stop a .50 BMG, but the resultant trauma just from the impact likely wouldn't be survivable.  Not really too worried about gang bangers carrying 50's though, or even rifles for that matter.  Most of them are armed with pistols.  And, they usually buy the cheapest ammo available (usually FMJ white box stuff).

I'm a pretty big guy too, had to get 6XL armor.  LOL!

(02-01-2025, 03:48 AM)MisterSpock Wrote: Also as an avid.....putting it lightly, gun enthusiast that was an early adopter for the 5. 7, it's overrated(still love it) but it's nothing to worry about.

If i wanted to put power down range, get out the hunting rifles, or the old surplus stuff.

300 win mag(literally any box bought off the shelf) will punch through any armor, likely out to several hundred yards, 270, surplus '06(I have cans of steel core surplus, out of a garand, unless you have a 50's era american car strapped to you chest, your fucked).

As usual, the best bet is not to try to take the hit, but to avoid it all together.

I certainly hope I never have to find out if it works.  And yes, a .300 Win mag is a fierce round.  I've got a .270 Wby Mag which is a pretty fierce round also at 3,800 fps.  Goes off like a hand grenade when it hits something.

(02-01-2025, 10:48 AM)FCD Wrote: I certainly hope I never have to find out if it works.  And yes, a .300 Win mag is a fierce round.  I've got a .270 Wby Mag which is a pretty fierce round also at 3,800 fps.  Goes off like a hand grenade when it hits something.

Vest arrived!  It was a day early, and even via USPS no less.  It's big, and it took a while to configure; there's lots of adjustments.  I'm really glad I got the side protectors; they fit nice.

Overall, the vest is very well designed.  I was actually shocked at how well it was designed.

I'm pleased.

I just thought I would report back after receipt.  It took me a few tries to get it fitting right, but it's the right size.  Has lots of adjustments, and that took a few minutes to adjust.

Now, after a few days of this vest hanging on the (2) wooden hangers it takes to hold it, I have to admit this is probably one of my strangest purchases, but I feel it was a right thing to do.

The other night I had a dream where the wife and I were cleaning out our closets and I came across this vest.  It was caked with dust and never worn.  I opined (in my dream) if it had been just a waste of money to buy.  This thought stuck with me after I woke up whereupon I opined on the subject even more to my bride.  I think my beautiful bride helped me resolve the issue the best.

When I first bought it (and it's not a low quality, el-cheapo, vest) she asked me if I was crazy.  I replied I probably was, but listed my reasons for getting it...even if it was never needed.

When I got done, her only question was..."And you got one ONLY for you?  What about ME?"  Of course I offered to get one for her if she wanted one, but indicated one of us would probably need to stay behind and call the authorities if something ever were to occur.  This made sense to her and she politely declined, but the offer remains open.

Now, from afar, this may seem like a very cryptic discussion, but I feel like I need to outline my rationale (maybe just for my own justification).  First, I've been a life long shooter, firearms instructor and 2A supporter.  A while back I opined about getting a vest and was very surprised by several of my buddies responses..."What?  You don't ALREADY have one?"  These aren't radical militant 'militia' types, but rather just average engineers and professionals like me.  They asked me if I'd go out on a heavy construction site without a hardhat, and I replied I would not.  Or, if I'd ride a motorcycle without a helmet, and again I replied I would not.  We might not need any of those things in our life, but the hardhat example in particular struck me personally.  You see, shortly after college a hardhat saved my life when a 1" diameter bolt and nut from bolting up structural steel fell nine floors and hit me on the side of the head.  That was pretty cheap insurance.

Fast forward to today's world, especially here in the shitty state of Colorado.  It's a beautiful place, but then again that's why people come here (especially illegals).  This Tren de Argua gang is everywhere here.  Just last month a rural property not far from us was busted with a group of about (30) of these gangsters.  The Sheriff's department confiscated about $250k in cash, over (100) firearms and about 50kg of meth and fentanyl along with cocaine and mary jane.  The month before that another group of illegal Mexicans were busted running an elaborate chop-shop with about (50) stolen late model trucks.  Countless weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammo were confiscated.  Again, this was not far from us...way out here in the "boondocks".  In the first bust above, the house was owned by an elderly couple who were killed before the Venezuelan gang took over.  Just living out in the 'boonies' is no longer the buffer that it used to be.  I'm not going to be a victim.

So, back to that vest hanging in the closet.  I honestly hope it sits there and collects dust, just like in my dream.  I hope I never need it.  But the only thing worse than having a $1,000 dollar vest collecting dust in the closet would be...needing a vest like that and not having one.  And, when you have multiple buildings on your property, investigating some sort of weird occurrence in the middle of the night isn't as easy as just peeking out the window and calling 9-1-1 (even if they do show up).

So, that's my peace.