File: topgear.png (263.0 KB)

/gq/ Infographic Emporium:
https://imgur.com/a/gq-infographic-emporium-1-00-1lZ5xw6
Legacy Infographic Reserve: https://imgur.com/a/k-infographic-reserve-AIKzwWF

>Last time on /gq/, anon went asshole into debt for high-interest tribal loans. Other anon bought 4403s. VelSys PBZSA on life support vs hypervelocity 6.5 Creed.

>QUICK ARMOR GUIDE 2.166
CODE: * = active NIJ-cert, ^ = NEEDS SOFT ARMOR, DND = do not drop, ** = military.
>Special Rifle Threat (M855A1, no M80 <44mm BFD):
Budget: Hesco T212 or L211
Mid-Range: Hesco M210
High-End: Hesco U210 / U211, LSAPI**, or Tencate CR-6450SA.
>CONUS Minimum (M80, M855, M193):
Budget: Expired Hesco 3611C, surp SAPI**^, or Gilliam 6001
Mid-Range: Hesco 3612* or 3810*
High-End: Hesco 3811* or 3811LV^DND
Elite: Used Cercom CER-EMH**^
>CONUS Medium (M80 + M855A1 or BZ API):
Budget: Used Protech 2120-5
Mid-Range: Hesco 3411* or LTC 19513
High-End: LTC 28780**
Elite: VelSys PBZSA** or LTC 28791** or Hesco SC3812
Elite-Plus: Used Ceradyne MH3 CQB**^DND (10x M995)
>CONUS Optimal (M855A1 + M80A1):
Budget: Highcom 3S9 (SAPI-cut)
Mid-Range: Used LTC 28550** / 28590** or Highcom 3S9M* (SAPI-cut!)
High-End: Used LTC 28595**
Elite: Used LTC 28570** or VelSys TSA**
Elite-Plus: Tyr XHA4/S6/T(DND) or GEN 6 LTC TSA**
>Level IV / CONUS High (.30-06 M2AP):
/pfg/: Used Protech 2014G or Gilliam 1023
Budget: Hesco 4403* (bare minimum)
Mid-Range: Hesco 4601* (+ Level III) or surp ESAPI**^ (REV. G-J preferable, adds M995 / 3x M2AP vs 1x)
High-End: Hesco 4800(DND), 4800LV^DND, or Protech 9812-R1(DND)
Elite: Tencate CXP-800 SA or Ceradyne SOF ESAPI MK.II**^DND or Adept Emperor
Elite-Plus: Ceradyne SAEC**DND(??)
>Level IV+ / CONUS Extreme (Various)
Budget: Protech 2230 (fast M2AP, $300/set used)
Budget-Tungsten: Gilliam 8002 (.300 Winmag Swiss P AP)
Mid-Range: Adept Colossus (7.62x51 Swiss P) or REV. C XSAPI**^ (M993)
High-End: Rev. D XSAPI**^ (M993+)
Elite: ECSAPI** (M993)
Elite-Plus: Ceradyne 96034** (7.62x51 Swiss P)

File: sig hyp.png (676.5 KB)

>>65212378
Until you can't, because of a ban or other issue. Lot of people got caught flat-footed by the ban in NY, for example.
As said before the 4403 is fine but it's not super ideal. Fails the III test.
>>65212380
You have to sort threats by probability. It is far more probable that you'll encounter M855 than M855A1, because M855 is popular ammo and can be bought on the cheap. M855A1 will only show if it gets loose from a military supply, but the situation might change in the future.
Besides, if "M855+" shows up down the road as a commercialized 84k high pressure loading, you might want the extra headroom of an extra stout plate.

Fundamental of ceramic armor is that there's a strike face which breaks the projectile and a backer which catches the projectile. If the strike face is thin it won't be able to stop serious penetrators. If the backer is thin or otherwise weak then the plate won't be able to catch larger or more energetic residual parts. You can compensate for that with IIIA soft but that doesn't get you there unless the plate is ICW, because the soft armor is not adhered to the plate and acts as delaminated backer.
The Hesco 4400 and Hesco L210 for example both share a strike face. However, the L210's backer is significantly thinner and weaker than the 4400, so it cannot stop .308 worth a damn but the 4400 (was) full Level IV. Even when backed by IIIA the L210 is still sketchy.
With the new hypervelocity ammo potentially going around, I'd be very cautious about using thin-backer plates like SRTs and even VS-PBZSAs. Level IV plates are going to perform much more reliably if the threat level is unknown, however, they're often down on multi-hit because they have a strong strike face but relatively "eh" backer versus a good III+ plate. The ideal is a plate rated for both III and IV requirements unless - very improbable but liable to change - tungsten threats are involved, then you need to go higher.

SIG has that new 97gr 5.56 tungsten AP. Nasty.

>>65212911
>continue
While I am a fan of barbed wire, I am not a big fan of razor wire/banjo wire. It really compromises your view aesthetics. Barbless wire is just for pussies, and people with a home owner association. Which is UNQUALIFIED synonymous.

>>65213104
>SIG has that new 97gr 5.56 tungsten AP.
How can we buy the projos? And why not?

>>65213136
They are CREDENTIAL BLOCKED and run afoul of the UNEQUAL laws and regulations surrounding AP ammo.
SOCOM is evaluating them, apparently. You will need to have them fall off a truck. Large pothole.
>>65213132
Yeah and razor wire attracts shitty lawyers who will sue you because their client two drink timmy drove his electric skateboard into your razor wire and sliced his dick open like a hot dog.
Rumor has it Chief Two Ducks Fucking sent two drink timmy.

File: 1599px-OM-BARa.jpg (151.8 KB)

>>65213132
>>continue
I also think that switchable, outward facing perimeter flood lamps are a great idea. But, I'm old fashioned.

File: 20260606_123720.jpg (1.5 MB)

Tard helmet has arrived. It definitely doesn't look like it's PASGT cut like the ad said on Botach. Looks to be in great shape. It was made in 2018.
I'll likely paint it up. Later I'll have to decide to do the boltless rail kit or see if there are ACH rails I can mount on the side.

File: 20260606_130757.jpg (1.1 MB)

Here's what looks like the full model designation on the box.

>>65213565
>>65213605
>>65213639
$85 from Botach? Looks like a deal.

>>65213649
NTA. $75 as of right now. They have 43 helmets.
https://surplus.botach.com/3m-ceradyne-ba3a-ballistic-helmet-pasgt-cut-nij-level-iiia-police-trade/
These things and cheap Protech 2014 Level IVs from Hudsongunner are becoming the new go-to if you can't swing 4403s or can't find (preferable) 2230s.

>>65213565
>>65213667
What the fit on this helmet? I have a 23.5 noggin and dance the line on L and XL helmets.

File: 20260606_151610.jpg (1.8 MB)

I summon thee, /bag/ wizards

Haven't seen anything in the sticky about my plates and wanna know how badly I fucked up when I bought them (10+ years ago). One set is LVL IV ceramics from Armour Wear, the other is a set of Spartan Armor Systems AR650 Armaply™ steel plates I only use for training. Curious what protection I can expect from both sets - primarily if the LVL IVs are worth a shit, but also the AR650 (rated at 3+).

>cannot emphasize enough that the AR650 plates were intended exclusively for training and I have never advocated for anybody to run steel for actual protection

>>65213935
One size fits most.

Oh great armor autist I summon thee!

Can anyone tell me what to realistically expect out of my NOS Ceradyne mh3 CQBs, with 3a balcs panels behind them?
Insofar as threats beaten and vulnerabilities (they are XL fwiw)

>>65213972
Carbon nanotube memeshit? Oh man I haven't seen this in ages. I was able to pull the plates up on the wayback machine.
https://web.archive.org/web/20141108045621/http://armour-wear.com/shop/all/hard-plate-10-x-12-pe-alum-level-4-stand-alone/#reset
7.5-8lb depending on version, rated for both Level III and IV requirements. The numbers are good but the lack of a test report except "on request" is a flag. Thickness is only 0.75" so I have concerns about drop protection. Not confident they'll hold if dropped twice per NIJ spec. If they pass tap and torque I'd say keep them in service for now, but upgrade to Hesco 4601s for $800 from Sierra when possible. They're the most cost effective straight upgrade from those. Protech 2230s are same weight as yours but far stronger than either plate.
>the other is a set of Spartan Armor Systems AR650 Armaply™ steel plates I only use for training.
Good for training, no go for actual use.

>>65213993
>NOS Ceradyne mh3 CQBs
>awwww yeaaaah
Per paraclete they will stop ~10x 5.56 tungsten AP M995, several BZ API, 7.62x51mm M80, and also threats like 7.62x51mm M61 and even .30-06 M2AP but they'll run over 44mm BFD on those. Really super plates... BUT...
It is imperative you use the correct soft armor, not just any IIIA balcs will do. Meet or exceed the panels rec'd by Paraclete back in 2004.
Also they are only 0101.04 spec, so they're weaker on M2AP by 30ft/s and NO DROP PRO. Please tap, torque, abd ideally x-ray them.

>>65214008
Ive tapped and torqued, I also have access to an X-ray lab but would need a lot of permission to scan my plates, working on it.

Do you think it's worth looking into selling these and getting more modern plates, I am of the opinion they are pretty solid, but looking for other opinions, bear in mind I need an XL esapi size which is limiting in options

>>65213993
Also, to address the vulnerability issue, they aren't going to be able to handle "enhanced" M2AP like the Protech 2230 can. M995 protection is solid so you have M855A1 in your quarter, but the limitation on the MH3 is the backer. Not very confident against M855A1+ out of a longer barrel, but that's pitting roughly 20 year old plates against a future threat. Also M995+ is likely a thing, we're looking at 4,000ft/s out of a 20" with that, but that's speculative.
M993 will kill it, Nammo AP4 and other better 5.56 APs will probably kill it. Again it is imperative you run correct soft armor if you want it to do the job versus M2AP even with hot BFD.
There isn't really a modern counterpart for it, so no straight upgrade is available.

>>65214039
You have to x-ray to guarantee condition. I replied before seeing this post. >>65214052. The MH3 uses a special enhanced boron carbide from Ceradyne and therefore there is no modern counterpart. Closest you're gonna get is another high end historic Ceradyne but you're gonna have to bust your ass for them.
I'd maybe wait and look at the new GEN-IV XSAPIs next year. 5.5lb, standalone, 3x M993 at 3,050ft/s or 3x M995 at 3,400ft/s but with max BFD of 62mm. XL will be on the table for those.

Worth noting all modern rough counterparts to the MH3, like the PBZSA, LSAPI, 28791, etc will all lose to M995. They do not use the special enriched B4C Ceradyne had.

Appreciate the info fellas, you've fleshed out my understanding of these esoteric ass plates. I've never met anyone else who had a pair, not even sure what I'd sell them for.

>>65214109
Glad to help. One of the /bag/ old guard dudes, someonewhoknew, also has a pair. There's two or three anons with SOF ESAPIs, a brother model to your MH3s. 10x BZ API versus your 6x, and better M2AP defeat, but no M995.
If they're in good condition the MH3 pair is worth maybe $1.5k-2k given the need to source quality soft armor. They were roughly 3-4k new adjusted for inflation. I'd just overkill the ICW requirement with the HG2+ OPX-ULTRA panels from Omniprotex.

File: chad.png (1.1 MB)

>>65213999
mf'n checked, thank you for your reply sir. Kinda what I figure - maybe fine(?) but DUE for replacement. Tap and torque test pls elaborate? Both have a pleasant resonance to them when I tap, and there is no flex or detectable cracks. They have literally been shelf kept between stacks of jeans for the last decade while I train in the AR650, only taking them out to fill a second carrier. The carbon fiber just looks to be a wrap incorporating the plate with a trauma backer. The plate also seems to have edge to edge coverage as I tap around. the sidewall. I will look for 4601s as you prophesy. Had recently looked for 2230s on tacswap and elsewhere but had no luck.

Any good options if I was fond of swimmers cut (med)?

Thanks again

>>65214201
You want to tap on the back of the plate with a metallic object. Brass stuff is good. If it chimes you're good, if it thuds it is either delaminated or trauma padded. For example, my Protech 2230s do NOT chime, because I'm hitting trauma pad when I tap test and not the actual backer.
You are torque testing correctly. Keep in mind however small micro cracks can evade detection by torque testing and still compromise the plate, which is what caused Buff's first set of Highcom 4SAS4s to fail.
>Any good options if I was fond of swimmers cut (med)?
Other than no-drop holdout LTC models from the mid-00s, not a whole lot unless you're willing to concede M2AP. Highcom's plates suck here. The LTC 28570 is really good, 4.38lb Swimmer M and rated for 1x 7.62x54R B-32 API or 2x 7.62x39 BZ API, but we're looking at $2k-3k second hand for the pair.

>>65214201
Also forgot to mention, the "micro crack issue" is why you should x-ray or CT plates if possible.
Worth noting the NIJ drop test really isn't that hard. Plate is weighted with ten pounds and falls four feet onto concrete, twice. That's 0101.06. For the new 0101.07 standard, this is reduced to just one drop. All 0101.04 and prior plates, like the SOF ESAPIs and MH3 CQBs, are not tested for drops at all and are liable to fail even to the .07 drop test. The SOF ESAPIs are ESAPIs in name only and are not required to pass milspec ESAPI requirements either. IIRC, SOCOM bought them and the MH3s commercial off the shelf because the GEN-2 BALCS plates they got from Ceradyne were pretty meh. ~5.6lb ICW IIIA and only good for 2x 7.62x51mm M61 AP. No B-32, no M2AP, no M995.

>>65214211
>>65214245
>Buffmans 4sas4
Except later buff found that when a drop tested 4sas4 plate was x-rayed there was zero cracking or micro cracks. He then said he was going to have one water jet cut open but that never happened. I think he either wanted that drama to go away or was told by chase/highcom to stop. One thing those plates taught us was that the torque test is really only viable to see if the ceramic is cracked. Your plate can be still be compromised and you won't be able to tell. With 4sas4 I still firmly believe that Highcom slapped together old new stock in the cheapest fashion to make a quick buck due to massive revenue loss.

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>>65214285
>Except later buff found that when a drop tested 4sas4 plate was x-rayed there was zero cracking or micro cracks
Considering how Chase had him by the balls after the fallout from the first test, I wouldn't take his word unless I saw the imaging. Additionally, that doesn't speak for the plates he shot in the first test - hence why proper tests at least by the NIJ's definition are done in batch form and not two plates.
He did originally say back on FNForum that the 4SAS4's backer is trash, so it's likely a combination of the two factors.
1. The backer is thin and provides no headroom.
2. Because of #1, the plate only works when the ceramic is in tip top condition or the backer will let fragments through. Hesco's old plates humorously have the same issue.
>I think he either wanted that drama to go away or was told by chase/highcom to stop
Both. He was under a C&D from Chase at the time of the retest and he knows the 4SAS4 retest hurt his credibility.
>One thing those plates taught us was that the torque test is really only viable to see if the ceramic is cracked. Your plate can be still be compromised and you won't be able to tell.
Of course. Backers can degrade, adhesives can fail, trauma pads can also degrade with age in theory and result in excessive BFD.
>With 4sas4 I still firmly believe that Highcom slapped together old new stock in the cheapest fashion to make a quick buck due to massive revenue loss.
It eventually came out that the strike faces were indeed contract overrun. They took them and slapped them together with shitty fiberglass backers to concoct a bottom-barrel $86/plate. Furthermore, they also called it the 4SAS4 so it could bum the original 4SAS4's inactive 0101.04 cert from 2008. That was a single-curve plate. By definition, a single curve and multi curve are different models and need different certs. What Highcom did was pathetic. That 0101.04 cert was inactive anyways and a FIT has not been conducted for 0101.04 plates in 18 years.

That guy on gunbroker has ONE Protech 2230 remaining. He's dealt previously for $150 or so a plate if you offer a deal. Who wants?
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1180635440

It would be kinda weird but since they're about the same weight (2230 is 0.2lb lighter) you could swap a 4403 for a 2230 and not imbalance a carrier.

>>65214309
It'll be 5 hours, but I'm pretty sure I have the X-ray saved. He did post it on YouTube post, but I can only go back 6mo. I still have a pair of chareback plates from tacticalshit, I know the whole story. Good times.

File: Highcom Sus.png (2.8 MB)

>>65214332
I'd be interested to see the x-ray.
>I still have a pair of chareback plates from tacticalshit, I know the whole story. Good times.
They were indeed.

For anyone unaware because it's been a year and a half, there is almost always one major shitshow in armor every five years with the exception of 2000-2005 where there were multiple consecutive shitshows. In 2024, that was the Highcom 4SAS4. It was covered extensively in four threads. Excellent reading if you're interested in NIJ minutiae and testing methods, plus general armor industry bullshittery.

THREAD 1:
https://desuarchive.org/k/thread/62910354/
THREAD 2:
https://desuarchive.org/k/thread/62950094/
THREAD 3:
https://desuarchive.org/k/thread/62982073
THREAD 4:
https://desuarchive.org/k/thread/63009662

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Also, for anyone interested, new info on the 4.55lb ultra-light Adept Emperor Level IV plate.
1. It CAN stop M995... most of the time... but they won't rate it for that threat. It will not reliably stop anything with a longer or heavier tungsten carbide core. This means Nammo AP4, 5.45x39 7N39, 5.8x52 DVC-12 etc will pen unless velocity is low. That 97gr SIG Hydracore stuff will go through it like butter.
2. B4C-TiN does not resolve the B4C amorphization problem, so Ceradyne's super amazing enriched B4C ceramic from 2001 is still in the lead here.
3. Adept is basically currently working on a "Super Emperor" using a B4C-Al+AlN doped ceramic which "might enable" an Emperor-class plate to behave like the Archon and gain reliable M995 / AP4 / 7N39 / DVC-12 defeat. However, the process is non-commercial and experimental. I suppose it's possible that this would also enable a lighter M993 stopper.

Makes me wonder what the hell Ceradyne's secret recipe was.

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>>65214390
>5.8x52 DVC-12
Damn typo, 5.8x42.

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>>65213565
Looks kinda more like a MICH style?

File: BA3A.png (177.1 KB)

>>65214411
Here's the actual spec sheet for it. It says "similar to PASGT" so I get Botach's hangup there.
>>65213565
I have the boltless on mine, fits like a glove. Only downside is that it makes the rails wider than mounted rails so if you want to roll a mandible or face shield you'll need to double check fit. Bonus however is that there's no risk of damaging the helmet or causing environmental exposure by drilling.

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The undersized, do not drop, fragile RMA 1165 got a rebrand. It is now... patriotic.

>>65214428
It says similar to PASGT and that photo shows it with a rim. The helmet received doesn't have one. Odd.

>>65214768
Neither does mine, which is the ACH style. Turns out there's more than one BA3A. lol

>>65214733
It is pretty sick ngl

>>65214978
it's okay. I'm a little miffed that the dude's a skeleton. Like, what happened, did his plate not work? Did the hesco redcoats pop him in the cheat ring?

>>65214990
Maybe he is from 1776 and is dead and the dates are the birth and death of the USA, which is also dead.

>>65215582
Damn, Reddit Makes Armor is going to be selling 1165s out the side of the van in the hit US apocalypse documentary.
>Mad Mormon: Furry Road.
Trauma pads so the plates can withstand a four foot drop not included.

Is there a good resource to start learning about basic coms? I'm trying to make my wife and I a "duo defense" pair and communications are obviously great there. I'm sure all I need is a pair of Baofeng radios to get started, but I'd like a little more info than that.

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>>65216023
>>Mad Mormon: Furry Road
I like it.

>>65216083
What is your use case? You mention your wife so I'm assuming property or hiking out on public land or something right?

>>65216083
Based player two setup provider.
Infographics are in the emporium for comms. Past that, get some study materials for the technician amateur radio license test so you can get licensed and practice outside of emergency situations.
Using baofengs without a license runs the extremely low chance that a 90 year old hamboomer will leap through your window and strangle your cat / report you to the FCC who won't let me be. Won't let me be me.

>>65216125
More like defending the home in the event of unrest (one of us may be watching kids while another watches the perimeter) or if we're fleeing a nasty area in multiple vehicles. We're not gonna be doing any regular breaching and clearing or anything like that, just reliable coms over distance.
I'm sure a simple pair of walkie talkies is enough for us for the time being, but I worry about things getting worse.

>>65216083
>pair of Baofeng radios
Obviously a couple ways to go here, I have a pair of UV-9s max'd and I currently have these carted: https://a.co/d/0f45VNJr
With stubbies: https://a.co/d/0g8pSBFs
For max lowpro. Be advised, you will get products that don't meet rated specs, that is just part or the cost factor, imo.

>>65216083
Also if you're doing duo defense, that enables ballistic shield tactics especially if you have children later. Gives you an edge given how much faster a shield is to grab and how much more it covers. Obviously, caveat is that they're bulky and hard to negotiate doors with, plus only IIIA so if bad dudes have rifles your ass is grass unless the round catches a plate.
BASED Botach has a variety of police trade-in shields for relatively cheap. They're good brands. Protech and United Shield, but condition varies so check the pictures.
https://surplus.botach.com/armor-bullet-proof-vests/?

>>65216175
The wife has scoffed at a shield, but that's not deterring me. It'll happen one day.

>>65216167
I'd go UV-32s over UV-5s or 9s at this point. UV-25s are also good. Since a lot of home invasions are now done with signal jammers, you can nearly guarantee reliable comms over jammers by using UV-25Ds from Leixen, but they have a parasitic battery drain issue.

The new Anytone radios like the 878 are promising as well as the Ailunce HD1 / HD2, they have rich digital featuresets and can be encrypted.

If things get worse, having AES-256 in your quarter prevents snooping BUT NOT fox hunting.

>>65216186
Just buy one, the shipping is extremely reasonable. They wanted under bucks to ship a 50lb battering ram.
What are your unborn children supposed to do if god forbid there's a home invasion man? Glock 40 problem solvers go through residential walls easy. Are they supposed to don little mini carriers with SAPI XS plates? Operate crew served weapons at the top of the stairs?

>>65216200
The 7 year old may be apprehensive at the idea, but my 4 year old would be all in.

>>65216223
Then disguise it as a christmas present, but also get the seven year old something too. If 4yo jimmy gets Protech and 7yo doesn't get an M240 Bravo, it'll be UNEQUAL.

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>>65216186
>that's not deterring me
You go, bro! Make her into who you need her to be, before she does the same to you!

>>65216191
>I'd go UV-32s over UV-5s or 9s at this point.
With the cycle time-to-market innovation, it gets hard to keep up. Esp after you rarely use the radios you have. I just like the form factor of the minis.

>>65216288
CHECK EM. Now we need the chainmail bikini, a longsword, and an Adept Armor novasteel buckler so she can parry the ARPs.
>>65216290
There's usually a new model every 6-12 months. You can now buy radios which also do HF, VHF, and UHF like the Radtel RT-950 and RT-880. This means more flexibility, although you'll need a major antenna to get any real purchase on the lower bands so there's your form factor out the window.

>>65216191
I'd likely need some sort of idiot-proof setup (for me and my wife's sake). I'm not really sure what can be done with coms outside of chatting, so I may need to get some more research done before I really start hunting for a set.

>>65216351
Do you want GPS, encryption, other advanced features or just basic talkie talkie? The UV-32 has a GPS and USB-C charging, so it has a more rich featureset than the UV-9R.
Also maybe buy like ten UV-5Rs so you have backups and loaners. They are hilariously cheap but aren't as robust as the UV-9R especially in the water department.

New armor / apparently hot sauce company. FKTG Tactical. Their Level IV SiC-PE "Alexander" plate is 5.1lb 10x12 and under $500. Chinese and cheat ringed or nominally sized to shit, no doubt. Not sure on the OEM yet, their ceramic plates kinda remind me of Longfri.
https://fktgtac.com/product/alexander-level-iv-sic/
They also have AR700 ultrahard steel plates where the 10x12 is 6.1lb but the 9.5x12.5 is 8lb so the sizing on those is also nominal as hell.

This is in the avoid category unless they can show good performance. You're not getting a SiC-PE Level IV for only 5.1lb, good lord that's almost Hesco 4800 weight. The Longfri 4SiCMH is strict do not drop and is 5.8lb, SiC-PE.

>>65216408
Actually (samefagging), on further review, their plate specs almost exactly line up with Tactical Scorpion's stuff, so I think it's just a dude reselling their shit under his own label. Mitchell & Sons does the same thing.
The 10x12 cut FKTG uses has huge bottom corner cutouts, which mostly explains the stupidly low weight. Lack of drop pro and nominal sizing will do the rest.

What plates would you anons advise for leaving in a trunk in texas, do I have to worry about ALL ceramic plates losing their adhesive and backer? Do I HAVE to use steel plates for more than a 6 month lifespan?

>>65216479
At the bare minimum stick to plates on the NIJ 0101.06 CPL. PE is more sensitive to heat than aramid so an alumina-aramid plate would be fairly stout. LAPG has a nice plate there, the L4CA, but it's off-CPL and nobody knows how the adhesive holds up.
I would not use all-PE plates
>Do I HAVE to use steel plates for more than a 6 month lifespan?
Steel plates suck. End of story. Non-negotiable.

>>65216479
Protech 2230

>>65216368
GPS and encryption sound nice, but I'm not currently in a position to use those features if it means having to learn a new skill. If it is something done automatically, I'm game.
Dad duties draggin me down...

>>65216554
It'll take an hour tops on youtube. I assume in the event of major unrest radio bands and signals will be monitored by AI if they aren't already so being able to at least obscure your words (but not your location) is a major boon.
Some people are setting up digital meshnets using meshtastic and other systems but that can get a bit complicated and requires a lotta legwork. Interesting capability there though.

>>65216581
An hour on Youtube sounds very doable.

>>65216585
If you're looking for a home set up, I'd start looking into meshtastic and atak. It's idiot proof now a days, and you can buy all the components premade, download the app on you and your wife's phone and have basically a private network. It's extremely easy now, and while more expensive than some radios is much harder to track and monitor.

>>65216806
How feasible is it to dead drop mesh nodes across town on rooftops and use solar panels so they last mostly indefinitely?

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Are any of you queers buying the new SPIRITUSSY watch?
I can't wait! I got 10 on the waitlist. Hail spiritussy!
https://sangininstruments.com/pages/spiritus-systems-information

>>65217018
>msrp $995
That's three pairs of Protech 2230s

>>65217027
Yeah but this is limited edition and from muh instagram meme brand. Resale value 10x. Your plates are expired and aging, moth-eaten, resale value 0.01x.

File: 2230 plate.png (217.2 KB)

>>65217056
>Your plates are expired and aging
That's it. Cue the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4

>It starts with one plate
>I don't know why
>It doesn't even matter how hard M2AP flies
>Keep that in mind
>I purchased this thing
>To expire in due time
>All I know
>Armor is a valuable thing
>Watch it fry by in the texan car trunk
>Watch the PE melt down to the end of the day
>The clock ticks life away

>It's so UNEQUAL
>Didn't look out for black tip
>Watch the plate go right out the window
>Trying to hold on, didn't even know
>I wasted $342 all just to buy 4403s
>They didn't keep anything inside
>And even though I tried, the Hescos all fell apart
>What it meant to the NIJ

>Will eventually be a memory of a time when
>I Protech'd so hard
>And got so far
>But in the end
>It doesn't even stop M2AP
>It had to fall four feet
>To lose it all
>But in the end
>Nothing ever happens!

File: FIRST SHOT FAILURES.png (3.0 MB)

>>65217056
But in all actuality, the 2230 is ceramic-aramid and the only thing that can logically "go" on it unless it's badly mistreated is the adhesive, and Safariland isn't known to use shitty adhesive. The drop foam on the front is also substantial. If the plate can handle M2AP over 3,510ft/s fresh, it has enough headroom in reserve that it'll still hold up even if over-conditioned. That's the purpose of building plates OVER NIJ requirements instead of doing what Hesco does and only designing them to pass by a hair. RMA and Highcom do the same thing these days, or worse. It's kinda sad actually.
Armor in general has really shitty resale value, which you can use to your advantage.

File: assorted shit.png (824.4 KB)

Also a potential deal from Botach again. They have fifty "assorted" soft armor panels (IIIA or II) for ten bucks a pop. Most likely all expired. If you're in the business of DIY'ing shit this could be useful.

>>65217112
>If you're in the business of DIY'ing shit this could be useful.
in4 some autist buys all of them, cuts them apart, and epoxies them back together into a bullet proof fully-body Michelin-man suit.

>>65217121
Well they've got these here:
https://surplus.botach.com/le-soft-armor-panels-assorted-police-trade/
And then 6x9" panels here:
https://surplus.botach.com/assorted-soft-body-9x6-armor-trauma-pad-insert-police-trade/

I'd maybe use these as structural armor (stuff them inside the walls, crack addict style) given the very low confidence Botach has that they'll work. Ten bucks is cheap as hell. Sounds like a lot of them are gonna be roached.

>>65214344
Sorry anon. No go on the X-rays. I didn't save them and can't find them through buffs YT post.
>>65217112
>>65217121
Wish you could source sizes. As far as DIY I would throw these under car seat covers.

>>65217148
Damn. Ah well.

Since philadelphia appears to have taken over this board, I will pitch the cheap ass soft armor to the philly general.

File: IMG_3718.jpg (3.0 MB)

>>65216167
>>65216083
>>65216191
>>65216368
I just got the DM-32UV and haven’t even set it up yet. I have a UV-82HP I programmed with CHIRP so I need to learn about digital.

>>65217320
That's a clean setup dude.

File: axon.png (1004.2 KB)

Rate it, /k/

File: IMG_0691.jpg (1.3 MB)

>>65217323
Thanks anon, it’s a Point Blank carrier I got with pretty new IIIA inserts on GB for like $125 shipped and I added the pouches and IV plates. I figure if I ever need it, I’d rather have full coverage than some super lightweight plates only setup.

>>65217342
big but camera angle is doing him dirty.

Also speaking of youtube wtf happened to Oxide? He got railed and then skipped town?

>>65218598
Far as I know hes into getting his bore rechambered for larger calibers now and thats it.

>>65218598
>Also speaking of youtube wtf happened to Oxide? He got railed and then skipped town?
He fell behind at warrant officer school and started doing drugs and having more gay sex, pissed hot and then started having even more gay sex. He still out here posting like nothing changed.

File: beltkit.jpg (1.4 MB)

>>65216083
Pair of UV9 honestly.
You wont benefit from digital , gps or crypto if its you and your wife
>>65216191
>Dude UHF jammers
10w isnt going to help you on analog since the radio will be hissing and spitting and farting the entire time between TX. Even if you are burning through with 10w.

In digital modes its not going to benefit as much from the added power.
>Crypto
Nah its busted af.
>>65217320
Police that trucker mic cable

>>65218912
The UV-25D is 25W UHF, 40W VHF and I personally tested both. It's not the same radio as a Baofeng UV-25.
Granted, terrain and antenna matter more than raw power but 25W is a lot more punch than your typical 1-5W per channel Alibaba jammer.
>crypto if its you and your wife
Is eavesdropping not an issue?
>>65218904
Gooner oxide.

>>65217398
What plates and IIIA are in the hot pockets?

File: Screenshot_20260213_134759_Gallery.jpg (1.8 MB)

>>65218960
>UV-25D is 25W UHF, 40W VHF and I personally tested both
But did you really?

>>65219142
Tested with a power meter and dummy load. Everyone else with a UV-25D has reported similar output on high power.
Fresh battery VHF goes up to 45W, but only for a short time. Realistically it's 20/40 unless fresh off the charger.
Obviously there's no free popsicle and the battery lasts a whopping twenty minutes if you're on high, so that's emergency only power. It needs USB-C charging.

>>65219224
>pwr mtr
Good enough!

>>65219437
lol, swr meter, but the UV-25D does put out massive power for an HT. You can use codes to filter out background barfing such as from jammers, contrary to A2, and it has a scrambler which is not close to real crypto but does work.
It's a handy but niche radio, and suffers from Chinese non-engineering. They released it and never improved on it.