I’m starting a new job, and one that allows (and encourages) people to wear armor. Concealed or overt styles of carrier are okay (I’d vastly prefer overt because ventilation), but they would rather you don’t have shitloads of molle everywhere. So is there any decent IIIA soft armor out there that’s won’t cost too much money? Since I am actually going to be wearing this shit for up to 10hrs at a time it needs to be comfy. Pouches on the front for shit is a plus but not a requirement.
Are they anti-Molle pouches or Molle loops themselves?
Also what’s the role? (Persec permitting). It’ll help to formulate an answer.
Edit: for clarity.
[QUOTE=Kovacs;2934584]Why are they anti Molle, out of interest?
Also what’s the role? It’ll help to formulate an answer.[/QUOTE]
It’s armed site security. May be upgrading to courthouse stuff in the future if I do my job well. As for reasoning, they said that soft armor is generally more comfortable and it’s also less off putting to the general public (apparently some businesses don’t want guards that look ready to raid a building?). I’m currently considering this: https://safelifedefense.com/product/first-response-multi-threat-vest/. I have a 10% off code for it, it looks reasonably comfy, and I can put rifle plates in it if for some insane reason that is ever necessary.
[QUOTE=ghost55;2934586]It’s armed site security. May be upgrading to courthouse stuff in the future if I do my job well. As for reasoning, they said that soft armor is generally more comfortable and it’s also less off putting to the general public (apparently some businesses don’t want guards that look ready to raid a building?). I’m currently considering this: https://safelifedefense.com/product/first-response-multi-threat-vest/. I have a 10% off code for it, it looks reasonably comfy, and I can put rifle plates in it if for some insane reason that is ever necessary.[/QUOTE]
Got it. What will you be armed with?
[QUOTE=Kovacs;2934587]Got it. What will you be armed with?[/QUOTE]
My Springfield 1911 Range Officer Operator and probably my S&W Shield in an ankle holster until I can pull together the cash/giftcards to order a Steyr M9A1. Company issues tasers as well. I’m probably getting an ASP. OC is an option, but I’m not inclined to carry a weapon that only really exists to piss people off and can fuck your own shit up if the wind is blowing the wrong way.
Fair one. That vest is probably a good shout, it’s high vis and overt without being too warry which sounds like what your employer is after.
It’s perhaps worth investing in a decent Molle battle belt/gun fighters belt. Keep your spare mags and any thing tactical in that and anything admin based like your radio or med kit overtly in your vest, it generally looks good for civilians and therefore your boss.
Uh…you’re starting a job where you are apparently “encouraged” to wear body armour as it is might apparently be needed, but said armour is not supplied by your employer?
What the fuck, are you the doorman at a super cut-price whorehouse or something?
[QUOTE=Kovacs;2934591]Fair one. That vest is probably a good shout, it’s high vis and overt without being too warry which sounds like what your employer is after.
It’s perhaps worth investing in a decent Molle battle belt/gun fighters belt. Keep your spare mags and any thing tactical in that and anything admin based like your radio or med kit overtly in your vest, it generally looks good for civilians and therefore your boss.[/QUOTE]
I have a 5.11 tactical operator belt that I plan on using for all of the tactical stuff aside from mags. Those are going on the vest mainly because I really want to not have my taser anywhere near anything else (too many horror stories of people going for the taser and grabbing a mag instead under pressure).
[QUOTE=Shawarma;2934593]Uh…you’re starting a job where you are apparently “encouraged” to wear body armour as it is might apparently be needed, but said armour is not supplied by your employer?
What the fuck, are you the doorman at a super cut-price whorehouse or something?[/QUOTE]
That’s the deal with a lot of private security these days, and after seeing some of the shit Brinks and other similar companies issue I’m inclined to think this way is better. I should be wearing armor at my current job, and it’s pretty much not allowed.
Its not cheap but I use to really like the Safari land stuff. I am biases when I use to sell law enforcement equipment they invited me to go to a vest shoot. Where we shot a whole mess of different vest with different weapons and different rounds. However their armor still has been the most comfortable I have ever tried on, and it certainly has performed well in ballistic testing.
http://www.safariland.com/products/body-armor/armor-technologies/hyperx-integrated-system/hyperx-system-HX_S.html#start=1
I agree though your employer should be providing it.
Especially with the shortish life spans of armor (five-year service rating).
[QUOTE=ghost55;2934588]My Springfield 1911 Range Officer Operator and probably my S&W Shield in an ankle holster until I can pull together the cash/giftcards to order a Steyr M9A1. Company issues tasers as well. I’m probably getting an ASP. OC is an option, but I’m not inclined to carry a weapon that only really exists to piss people off and can fuck your own shit up if the wind is blowing the wrong way.[/QUOTE]Is Steyr actually importing to the U.S. now, or are you planning on buying from the batches of Grey Market imports that have been coming in for awhile? If you’re going grey, you might think twice about using that for a duty gun. I’m not sure Steyr will warranty repairs, and my understanding is that the guns might be a bit of a hodgepodge of original and replacement parts.
[QUOTE=goodlun;2934598]Its not cheap but I use to really like the Safari land stuff. I am biases when I use to sell law enforcement equipment they invited me to go to a vest shoot. Where we shot a whole mess of different vest with different weapons and different rounds. However their armor still has been the most comfortable I have ever tried on, and it certainly has performed well in ballistic testing.
http://www.safariland.com/products/body-armor/armor-technologies/hyperx-integrated-system/hyperx-system-HX_S.html#start=1
I agree though your employer should be providing it.
Especially with the shortish life spans of armor (five-year service rating).[/QUOTE]
Problem I’m finding with Safariland is they don’t sell their armor directly, and I’m having a really hard time finding a local dealer. And I would love to be issued all of my gear. But most small companies don’t do that. And small companies are easier to get a job with when you have a shorter resume because they tend to spend more time actually talking to people and less time automatically filtering applications using some software package. Once I get my drivers license sorted (literally in July), I’ll have a lot more options, but even then I’m not getting hired by Paragon or some shit until I have some unarmed experience elsewhere. This is sub-optimal, but the job in question has hours that will work even with my school schedule starting in the fall, seems to be run by decent people, and at the end of the year I can write off all of this shit on my taxes anyways.
[QUOTE=Cassius;2934600]Is Steyr actually importing to the U.S. now, or are you planning on buying from the batches of Grey Market imports that have been coming in for awhile? If you’re going grey, you might think twice about using that for a duty gun. I’m not sure Steyr will warranty repairs, and my understanding is that the guns might be a bit of a hodgepodge of original and replacement parts.[/QUOTE]
Yup. They have direct imports for the M9A1. And even when the grey market ones were coming in really cheap, Steyr came out and said they would take care of them anyways even though they had no legal obligation to. Buds currently has them for $465, and Bladetech makes a nice Level 2 retention holster (I fucking love my IWB holster from them).
All I can say is fuck working for a job where you feel the need for body armor where your not make 6 figures.
However you do you.
There are a lot of inexpensive armors out there
https://www.bodyarmoroutlet.com/
But like most things in life you get what you pay for.
Make sure when you are buying armor you take a look at the manufacture date.
That shit does expire.
[QUOTE=goodlun;2934605]All I can say is fuck working for a job where you feel the need for body armor where your not make 6 figures.
However you do you.
There are a lot of inexpensive armors out there
https://www.bodyarmoroutlet.com/
But like most things in life you get what you pay for.
Make sure when you are buying armor you take a look at the manufacture date.
That shit does expire.[/QUOTE]
I mean if you are working armed security you really need body armor. Because no matter who you run into there is always at least one gun available…
[QUOTE=ghost55;2934607]I mean if you are working armed security[/QUOTE]
I mean if your being under paid to risk your life for other peoples stuff you should totally spend your own underpaid money to get armor…
not to stray too off topic especially in the Armory.
However I do feel this is one of the ultimate self defense things.
Risk vs Reward.
If your willing to Risk your life for work you might as well go for something that pays out, like say commercial fishing or working a tug.
Though are you really at any risk on the job? How many security guards actually have been shot?
[QUOTE=goodlun;2934610]not to stray too off topic especially in the Armory.
However I do feel this is one of the ultimate self defense things.
Risk vs Reward.
If your willing to Risk your life for work you might as well go for something that pays out, like say commercial fishing or working a tug.
Though are you really at any risk on the job? How many security guards actually have been shot?[/QUOTE]
I think five since 2017 started (at least fatally). And both of those options involve moving way the fuck away from where I am now. I’m not thrilled about any of this, but I need money and this is the highest paying option I can get. I get that the risk/reward ratio of being a sandwich artist is probably better, but that shit isn’t going to pay the bills.
[QUOTE=ghost55;2934612]I think five since 2017 started (at least fatally). And both of those options involve moving way the fuck away from where I am now. I’m not thrilled about any of this, but I need money and this is the highest paying option I can get. I get that the risk/reward ratio of being a sandwich artist is probably better, but that shit isn’t going to pay the bills.[/QUOTE]
Also being a sandwich artist is boring. Almost any job where you voluntarily put yourself in harm’s way pays poorly but the real pay off is that it’s interesting, or at least has the potential to be.
There’s that 1% slice in military and security professions where you earn your pay and that can’t be replicated anywhere else, its utterly unique and that’s why people will always risk life and limb for crap money.
[QUOTE=Kovacs;2934618]Also being a sandwich artist is boring. Almost any job where you voluntarily put yourself in harm’s way pays poorly but the real pay off is that it’s interesting, or at least has the potential to be.
There’s that 1% slice in military and security professions where you earn your pay and that can’t be replicated anywhere else, its utterly unique and that’s why people will always risk life and limb for crap money.[/QUOTE]
I get this part but how much are we talking for armed security?
I’d guess wait staff make as much $$$ in half the hours.
Trades are more dangerous, more money and way more variety.
Security armed or otherwise is largely boring as fuck.