Trying to find a good carrier for my III and/or IV plates, the old one fell apart a week ago.https://www.rothco.com/product/rothco-laser-cut-molle-plate-carrier-vestThis looks pretty good for $100-$200 range, any other options or good enough for a few years of LARP use?No manlet carrier recommendations, should be adjustable straps or made for 6' and taller.Side inserts preferred but not required.
What are the plates?
>>65072591>RothcoLiterally Blackhawk is better
>>65072594Just some shitty Premier ones I got second hand, pretty sure both are Fortis.The CAGE looks good on that guide pic, but shit that's expensive.>>65072596>BlackhawkCan you even buy Blackhawk stuff anymore? Haven't seen their shit in years.
>>65072621Switch out the premiers when you can, they're funky ass B-roll chinesium but aren't outright dangerous like $27 IVs from Linry or Highcom 4SAS4s that don't pass tap or torque.>The CAGE looks good on that guide pic, but shit that's expensive.Maybe look at a CIRAS? It has BALCS soft armor support so you can run soft armor behind ICW (needs soft armor) plates like ESAPIs if you like. ESAPIs can be purchased fairly cheap surplus and punch way above their cost if in good condition. Revision G-J preferable to A-E. J is the overall best unless weight budget is tight, then look to the newer VTP plates.
>>65072630I'll probably change out the plates soon, I've had them for half a decade by now.I checked a few CIRAS and they seem in my price range but is the Rothco one that bad?
>>65072591Honestly just search the secondhand market. You can get some seriously crom armor and carriers for next to nothing since the resale on them is way worse than guns or other gear. Check your local listings like Texas gun trader or even gunbroker instead of buying something new and cheap. I'm a big proponent of buying something good secondhand than buying new crap
>>65072639It's a QC thing, which is why if you ask if something cheap is good or bad you get schizophrenic non-consensus.If I were you, I wouldn't trust Rothco again if their old carrier literally fell apart on you. I roll Tasmanian Tiger personally (heavily modded TT vest with Protech 2230s and Hesco 4100 sides). People swear by JPCs and SPCs along with Beez BALCS lineup.
>>65072645>>65072649Alright sweet, I'll look into what's been said so far.I'll be up all night so if anyone has any other recommendations send them.
>>65072672No problem. I agree with >>65072645 that second hand is based. My plates are second hand, for example.For an immediate upgrade to your Premiers, I'd roll Militech RF2 SiC and/or RF3 Black Label. You're replacing Chinesium with Chinesium but Militech is much better regarded.ESAPIs are the goat rec though if you can get a good pair of REV. G onward for cheap and can source good soft armor. They aren't picky unlike other ICW plates. Cheap IIIA soft will do, just keep it name brand.
>>65072681ESAPIs look super expensive, over 1k from what I'm seeing.I've heard bad shit about Militech but the price is within my range so I'll check it out.
>>65072672If I may give some advice for buying secondhand, ask about the age and give them a solid look over before buying. If they smell sweaty or moldy then pass. If the plates don't make a tinking sound when knocked on, pass. This isn't important if you just want a carrier but sometimes the plates are good enough to keep
>>65072694I usually consider plates more important than the carrier so I'm likely to buy it new but if I find something second hand I'll make sure to check it properly.
>>65072691>ESAPIs look super expensive, over 1k from what I'm seeing.Look on ebay, tacswap, armslist, gunbroker. If you're buying them new prices are going to be jacked to hell.>I've heard bad shit about Militech but the price is within my range so I'll check it out.Armor is badly astroturfed, too many companies and not enough consumers to go around, so you've got street wars between people totally not repping certain brands saying bad shit about other brands.Militech is top tier Chinesium and their plates have very small cheat rings, but as far as youtube and lab tests go their shit tests very well. If you want a flier, compare their plates to Gilliam. Newcomer company, that one, using chinese, american, and italian components, but the prices are great.Avoid RMA. Highcom also pulls sketchy shit with sizing to make their plates seem lighter than they really are. Short list of good mfgs is Ceradyne (aside from two plates), BAE Systems, LTC, Tencate, Hesco (avoid 4400, 4600, 3410, 3610, rest are at least passable), Safariland / Protech, Point Blank (dated lineup but fine).
>>65072694>If the plates don't make a tinking sound when knocked on, passTap test only works with ESAPIs where it's immediately strike face followed by a crack arrestor, or a plate of similar design. If the plates are heavily foamed you won't hear a tap.The only way to authoritatively verify second hand plate condition is to do what the military does and x-ray / CT scan.Obviously don't buy ESAPIs that look salty as hell.If you need dead nuts brand new armor, the Hesco 4601 is worth a hard look for $900/set from Sierra.
Below is the /gq/ quick armor guide for reference purposes. Don't worry about stuff in the elite / elite-plus category, you'll be chasing unicorns. A pair of those Ceradyne SAEC plates just went for $5,000.Numerous armor and gear infographics for your perusal here: https://imgur.com/a/gq-infographic-emporium-1-00-1lZ5xw6>QUICK ARMOR GUIDE 2.165CODE: * = active NIJ-cert, ^ = NEEDS SOFT ARMOR, DND = do not drop, ** = military.>Special Rifle Threat (M855A1, no M80 <44mm BFD):Budget: Hesco T212 or L211Mid-Range: Hesco M210High-End: Hesco U210 / U211, LSAPI**, or Tencate CR-6450SA.>CONUS Minimum (M80, M855, M193):Budget: Expired Hesco 3611C, surp SAPI**^, or Gilliam 6001Mid-Range: Hesco 3612* or 3810*High-End: Hesco 3811* or 3811LV^DNDElite: Used Cercom CER-EMH**^>CONUS Medium (M80 + M855A1 or BZ API):Budget: Used Protech 2120-5Mid-Range: Hesco 3411* or LTC 19513High-End: LTC 28780**Elite: VelSys PBZSA** or LTC 28791** or Hesco SC3812Elite-Plus: Used Ceradyne MH3 CQB**^DND (10x M995) or used Cercom CER-SOPS**^>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 1023Budget: 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**^DNDElite-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)
>>65072703The Chinesium is strong with this one...So ESAPI is just second hand when it comes to pricing, new ones are out of the question.I'll check the others you've mentioned too.>>65072712So no tap doesn't instantly mean terrible quality, depends on the plate, got it.That Hesco doesn't look bad, bit expensive but not too far for two plates.>>65072725Cheers for the list but Christ, those above mid-range are crazy expensive.
>>65072733>The Chinesium is strong with this one...Welcome to the new /gq/, it's half-chinese.>So ESAPI is just second hand when it comes to pricing, new ones are out of the question.Depends on the REV. You can get lower-spec ones from Bulletproofme but the real prize is REV. G and up because they're triple hit M2AP or M995. New REV. J is stupid, over $2k a set.>So no tap doesn't instantly mean terrible quality, depends on the plate, got it.Yep, my Protech 2230s don't "tap" because there is serious drop foam in front. Those are very overbuilt IVs good for M2AP at 3,510ft/s versus Level IV spec of 2,910ft/s.>That Hesco doesn't look bad, bit expensive but not too far for two plates.6.4lb for an honest 10x12, and thick, but they're light for NIJ certified mid-range IV.>Cheers for the list but Christ, those above mid-range are crazy expensive.Plates can get obnoxiously expensive for the very best. I think those Ceradyne 96034s were $1,700 a plate in 2009, and that was what Delta paid for them so in modern dollars it'd be $5.2k a set.
>>65072594I dont really understand why they focussed on the RAV and ULV when shekkins make quality replicas of half the chart. Like if you consider them a trustworthy brand, then why not buy their AVS, 6094, slickster or JPC? Totally arbitrary if youve already crossed the rubicon of wearing chinkshit.
After searching around I came to some form of a conclusion.I'll be getting those Hesco 4601s and a Tasmanian Tiger TT Plate Carrier.Not set in stone and I'll probably get it over the course of weeks so if anyone has any better options then go ahead.For reference, I've decided $800-$1000 range for plates and $200-$300 for the carrier.
>>65073129Because the shekkins fill specific niches on the cheap. You don't buy chinesium for everything, you buy it strategically.>>65073377I'd consider the Crye SPC as well.
>>65072733Hescos used to go on sale when they clear out inventory to go next gen plates. Not sure what it's like post 2022 though. I stopped following when things got even more pants on head retarded. Redditards were busy buying up and running up AR500 while ignoring ceramic level 4 for about a year because "ceramics were too expensive", even after retards were paying $600 for a set of AR500 in shitty chink carriers that would take months for delivery because everything was backordered from China when could get a set of entry level 4 brand ceramics in decent carrier for $500 and at your day a week later cause already in country.
>>65073651Hesco hasn't had "next gen" plates for a while. The new 3801 and 3811 are pretty nice but the 4801 flopped. 4601 is basically the best mid-range "safe" plate but it's half a decade old at this point. I'd like to see a 4602 in the 5.8-6lb range for $1k a set, that'd be very appealing.
