HARD ARMOR

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Hard Armor

As rifle calibers, ballistics, and performance advanced throughout the years, so did the effective performance and construction of armored plates.  Bulletproof vests and plate carriers evolved in design, composition, features, and durability. As Hard plate armor became more advanced and prevalent on the modern battlefield and patrol area, armored plates advancements evolved into lighter weights that wearer has to deal with carrying; as well as, higher levels of protection from the different calibers of rifle ammunition currently available. Such levels of protection when it comes to hard armor include Level IV body armor, which is defined by the NIJ governing body which sets standards for such products as being able to protect against threats up to .30 caliber armor piercing.

Different levels of hard armor plates available to upgrade your vest.

The base level currently offered in a hard armor plate, excluding the hard trauma-level plate, is the Level IIIA pistol hard plate;  this level hard plate is rated up to .44 Magnum round and has some inherent anti-stab properties- although not officially rated as stab-resistant.  Level III Stand Alone plates are considered the first line defense from rifle ammunition including .223, 7.62, and .308 ball.  The lighter and thinner Level III ICW is similar to the stand alone hard body armor plates in that it requires a soft armor level IIIA backing in order to stop rifle rounds.  Next is the Level III+ ceramic hard armor, although not officially recognized as a rifle plate rating, it is offered as a special threat protective plate in the armor industry.

Available Plate Carriers for your personal hard armor plates.

Several tactical gear manufacturers such as 5.11 Tactical, and Ace Link Industrial, Inc. offer a variety of products by which you can deploy with your hard body armor plates;   Ace Link Armor currently has the Skeletac Multi-Plate Carrier system, a brand new modular armor carrier system that offer unparalleled customization, and able to carry 10×12 or 11×14 sized plates with one Skeletac Plate Carrier.  For Body Armor vests able to be up armored with hard armor, Point Blank, Armor Express, and Safariland all produce Ballistic vests with hard armor plates pockets. These products, especially those on offer from Ace Link Armor, offer the user a supreme amount of quality, in addition to pricing that is affordable and won’t hurt your wallet, particularly when it comes to Ace Link Armor.

PLATE CARRIERS

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Plate Carriers

Gone are the days when soldiers or police officers had no choice but to wear big, bulky, and heavy bulletproof vests for patrol- either in some distant foreign land or on the beat in some urban or rural area where wearing body armor was a part of your job description and a piece of mission essential tactical gear.  Both soldiers and cops are now able to do their jobs with lighter, compact, and functional body armor thanks to the modern-day Plate Carrier. 

 What is available when looking for a plate carrier vest to wear?

There are wide selections of plate carriers for sale to choose from available online and from tactical equipment stores.   Companies such as Condor, 5.11, VooDoo, or Eagle mass produce their plate carriers for both military/law enforcement and civilian customers alike.  Each and every plate carrier is universal in form, function, and fit to be able to cater to a very wide array of body types and user requirements- 5.11 tactical offers their Tactic Plate carriers in one universal size able to hold either standard 10×12” or larger 11×14” armor plates.  The Condor plate carrier is cut in the modern BALCS/SPEAR profile to fit panels with side protection for ultimate lateral protection.  It is important to note that when looking for plate carriers, to take note of the size it is designed for. Certain companies only make them in size 10×12 or 11×14, in addition to this, sometimes the carriers themselves may be out of spec and unable to fit the plates of another company. however, if you search around, you are bound to find something you are looking for.

Tactical Vest Plate Carrier options and modularity.

With the options available for body armor wearers of going with concealable, external (overt) bulletproof vests, or tactical vests and plate carriers, people can now choose to wear body armor with all the above qualities.  Tactical Vests originally were designed for entry type operations- with modular placed ammo and equipment pouches- where the officer or soldier required both handgun caliber and rifle round protection- these vests had Level IIIA panels inside the vest, as well as pockets to hold hard armor rifle plates front and back.  A wearer can still choose to just wear the tactical vest with minimal ballistic or with upgraded tactical plate carrier rifle protection- if the wearer had an option when it comes to gear of keeping the vest lightweight or as a fully protected armor plate carrier.

In terms of the companies that are out there for you to search through and choose the gear that would best fit your needs, Ace Link Armor should be at the top of your list. With unparalleled customer service, Ace Link Armor manufacturers a number of different tactical vests, plate carriers, and armor plates at incredibly low prices, without sacrificing on quality. Their products are featured and reviewed by organizations such as the NTOA and NIJ board. Their key plate carrier, the Quad-release, makes use of Italian crafted quick release buckles, that allow the user to quickly to get int out of their vest as the situation calls for it. In addition to this, it also comes with accessories such as ammo pouches and is available in a number of styles such as with MOLLE or laser-cut. All this capability at a price low enough, that it competes with (price wise) much less capable plate carries from rival companies.

CONCEALABLE VESTS

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Plate Carriers

Bulletproof vests have been the standard protection against pistol, shotgun, and rifle fire for the public safety and military professional.  The first bulletproof vests were worn outside the uniform, were big and bulky, and weighed up to twenty fatigue inducing pounds upon the wearer.  With the development and advancements in materials and construction of bulletproof vests came the more compact and lightweight versions known simply as concealable vests.

Why wear a concealable vest versus an external vest carrier?

During the initial years when Kevlar vests were first deployed by both military/police most wore their vests outside due to the size and weight of them, especially any ballistic body armour that had ballistic panels over Level IIIA protection level, as the armor was usually too heavy and cumbersome to be worn underneath clothes, closer to the body, like concealable armor.  Once vests became lighter and more compact, local law enforcement started wearing concealable body armor under the uniforms for a more professional look, without the sacrificing protection.  Today, the Kevlar vest and external vest carriers can once again be found on the outside of the wearer’s uniform for added protection- upgradable to hard armor rifle protection- and allows wearer to shift positioning of his equipment and pouches from the duty belt to the vest carrier for better weight distribution.

Concealable bulletproof vests and the problems associated with wearing one.

A few of the reasons why local and government law enforcement officers and agents are steering away from wearing concealable body armor include discomfort when wearing body armor under clothing or uniform.  As a rule, those in law enforcement doing undercover work choose the concealable vest for surreptitious appearance, but the trapped body heat that comes with concealable vests is inevitably the greatest reason for the advent of external vest carrier.

BALLISTIC ARMOR

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Ballistic Armor

 Never in history has there been a piece of protection available as valuable to the safety and well being of the wearer than Ballistic Armor.  Body armour has since proven over the course of its usage and from the history of its use in conflict between men- or between man and machine for that matter- that the bulletproof vest has been able to  afford warriors and peacekeepers a second chance at life, especially if they have been unfortunate enough to find themselves in front of a projectile, with enough propelled force to injure or kill.  Bullet proof vests are now considered products that are essential to law enforcement in the united states and abroad by various enforcement agencies.

How parts of Body Armor work in conjunction to protect.

The different areas and parts of the Ballistic Vest include: the front and back ballistic panels; these include the aramid fabrics that are layered and make up the body armor panels of the bullet-proof vest that protect the wearer from injury to either the front or back of the torso.  One part of the armor provides the wearer with lightweight aramid fibers woven in a tight weave pattern so as to not allow bullet projectile to penetrate through and cause great bodily injury to the wearer.  Another part of the body armor vest is the ballistic panel cover that envelopes the woven aramid fiber to provide a watertight seal, thus preventing panel corrosion, breakdown from the elements, and exposure to harmful ultraviolet light. 

Body armor and the coverage it provides the wearer from bodily injury.

Modern body armor and ballistic vest carriers are designed to hold ballistic armor plates in their proper placement.  Positioned on the human body in order to provide the best coverage from bullets or edged weapons, the Ballistic Body Armor has developed over the years with optimal coverage to the wearer.  Critical areas that need the most protection are vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. (the spine being the origin of the central nervous system is an important structure in need of coverage as well).  Many times, law enforcement agencies will place additional requirements for the gear, as they want the highest quality possible with options for accessories and other tactical gear that they may use in order to give them the advantage in situation they may find themselves in. Examples of some of these standards are the NIJ certification process for both hard armor and soft armor, the process is so rigorous that it is also used by the military for evaluation testing and not just the police.

When soft body armor is not enough to protect the protector.

While body armor is certainly the best protection against bullets and edged weapon threats, sometimes this basic level of protection needs to be augmented with higher ballistic rated aramid panels.  Ballistic Plate Carriers hold rifle rated hard plates that protect the wearer from rifle grade projectiles.  Many of these rifle rated ballistic plates are level 4 designated and tested to withstand armor piercing bullets from long barrel weapons, as well as the addition of bicep, collar, throat, and groin ballistic protection to create full body ballistic body armor protection. Below armor piercing Level 4 plates are lighter weight Level 3 rifle stand alone plates, and soft armor Level 3A handgun caliber rated panels- these make up the ballistic vest levels common in today’s ballistic vest ratings. As you can see their is a wide range of products available today in order to keep you safe.

VEST CARRIER

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Ballistic Armor

Body armor exists for one reason, and one reason only- to save the lives of those who wear it.  It could easily be classified as equipment used for self-defense as well as personal protection.  Vest carriers, often also called plate carriers, armor carriers, or tact vest by those that use them, are a part of personal protective equipment that law enforcement uses every day to help accomplish their tasks and keep them safe. Without the carrier, body armor  would have to be linked together like the knights of old, or it would have to be fashioned in some other way in order to do its job of providing ballistic coverage with its different panel sections.  Due to the fact that plate carriers allow front, back, groin, and spine body armor panels to be worn in a protective fashion; the carrier vest is both easily worn and maintained.

The different types of Vest Carriers that are available.

For the civilian, public safety professional, or military police, their body armor protection comes in many shapes, sizes, features, and brands, each from differing manufacturers of ballistic products.  A weapons instructor may need a bright colored outer vest carrier to be visible and safety minded amongst student shooters at the range; where a tactical team member from the police dept. may need a plate carrier vest that can hold both soft panels and hard armor plates due to the threat present on a tactical call-out.  Whichever type of vest carrier the wearer chooses to deploy with, they can do so knowing their vest will protect them and allow them to do their jobs with confidence. That is part of what makes theses vests so great, they can be easily switched out and adopted to any situations and come in a number of different patterns. While certain vests are designed for specific factions such as with law enforcement or the military, at the end of the day they are so similar that if an individual is looking to purchase one and does not quite know what to look for, they will more than likely end up purchasing one that will satisfy all their needs and help them accomplish their mission.

Bulletproof police vest advancements in form and function.

What were once only worn over police uniforms for special events and emergency situations, became concealable body armor that stayed underneath uniforms for a professional and inconspicuous appearance.  Today, the modern plate carrier or vest carrier, is offered in a number of styles and configurations by various companies, being sold to those involved in law enforcement and civilians alike. In addition the plate carries themselves, body armor styles and models offered by companies; like the Blauer Vest Carrier, are offered in a number of different styles and camouflage patterns as well, and are once again being worn on the outside of police uniforms.  External vest carriers provide the wearer with better load-bearing qualities and keep the body cooler by allowing body heat to escape instead of being trapped inside the uniform shirt. The carrier plates on plate carriers can also be swapped out and adjust for the combat situation people find themselves in much more readily as well. Other features on external vest plate carriers include sewn-in permanent equipment pockets, or modular MOLLE plate carrier features that use webbing material to mount pouches on carriers and placed according to the wearer’s preference.

Military and civilian carriers operate in much of the same way as police carriers but can vary slightly in the way that they are setup, as the needs of military personal and Joe Smoe are different than an officers. In many cases these carriers are focused less on carrying equipment for the persons in questions, and more on carrying ammunition and weapons as a sign of how different the needs are for these people. Whereas with a majority of police officers, their main weapon of choice is a sidearm in which ammo can be carried much more easily, and instead they need to utilize their vests in such a way as too carry various gear such as handcuffs, life savings drugs such as NARCAN, and body cameras. While an individual may take this as a sign that the two are not interchangeable, they in fact are, as the operations conducted by them have many similarities as well.

Plate carriers, or vest carriers are offered by a number of companies, among them are Ace Link Armor , which offers its customers a wide selection of plate carriers as well as carrier plate options that can be used in a person’s tac vest. Some of the plate carrier options that they have available are their quad release plate carrier, SKELETEC brand carriers, Tactop carriers, and an assortment of other vest carrier options such as their M.S.O.V. with can accommodate different level gear, such as IIIA, III or IV. In addition to this, by creating an account to stay connected with Ace Link Armor, you are given free shipping on all your carriers order as a sign of good will from the company.

CONCEALABLE BODY ARMOR

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Making Body Armor For The Modern Man

When body armor was first used in law enforcement, officers would wear special duty bulletproof armor outside of their uniforms- designed only for emergency situations- that were not concealable. Most body armor were bulky, heavy, and cumbersome. In time and with developments in material and design, police and corrections officers were issued lighter, compact, and thinner material concealable body armor panels. Carriers began to get small, and the fit started to get better for officers, but it did take a long time to get to that point with not many carrier options initially available.

A carrier such as the concealable vest panels were made of lightweight aramid materials, and the concealable body armor carriers were also lighter and more breathable for the wearer to be comfortable and perform his or her duties unhindered. Together, a person would be hard pressed to search for a similar product offer on the market, with a fit and protection of such a high caliber.

Advanced Technology offers a High level of Protection

Combining advanced materials with ergonomically designed patterns that provide a good fit and molded to the wearer’s body or for specific duties, Today’s Concealable bulletproof vests were not only made for patrol, but for specific applications and body types such as motorcycle officers, and female officers. These professionals need a vest that is able to properly fit their body type, while also offering superb perfection, such as level 3a.

In addition to specifically made and designed concealable soft body armor and concealable body armor carriers that hold the armor ballistic panels inside, there were also developments in ballistic testing of body armor panels that allowed the wearer to have and use the highest protection level IIIA concealable body armor that are able to protect officers from the use of multiple .44 caliber magnum pistol rounds.  Corrections officer’s can also choose to have concealable stab-proof vests underneath their uniforms- for protection against sharp edged and spiked weapons. With the vest being made of soft material, this will allow the body armour to be worn in close combat scenarios comfortably.

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BULLETPROOF VEST

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Bulletproof vest

Combining advanced materials with ergonomically designed patterns that provide a good fit and molded to the wearer’s body or for specific duties, Today’s Concealable bulletproof vests were not only made for patrol, but for specific applications and body types such as motorcycle officers, and female officers. These professionals need a vest that is able to properly fit their body type, while also offering superb perfection, such as level 3a.

In addition to specifically made and designed concealable soft body armor and concealable body armor carriers that hold the armor ballistic panels inside, there were also developments in ballistic testing of body armor panels that allowed the wearer to have and use the highest protection level IIIA concealable body armor that are able to protect officers from the use of multiple .44 caliber magnum pistol rounds.  Corrections officer’s can also choose to have concealable stab-proof vests underneath their uniforms- for protection against sharp edged and spiked weapons. With the vest being made of soft material, this will allow the body armour to be worn in close combat scenarios comfortably.

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When wearing bulletproof clothing is the only option for the job.

If you ever visit a uniform shop or a place where public safety are fitted for their uniforms such as shirts, pants, shoes, and jackets; you will almost always find a section of the store where body armour or Kevlar vest are located.  Sometimes the vests are available as part of the uniform purchase, as they all go together for some departments that consider the concealable bulletproof vest as a part of the uniform.

Innovations that make the bulletproof vest part of everyday wear.

Body armor; and more specifically the concealable bulletproof vest has led the way for advancements in personal protective clothing; concealable level iiia vests used by law enforcement or inconspicuous articles of clothing such as bulletproof jackets, headwear, and shorts that mark new development to further provide ballistic protection to those men and women in harm’s way. Additionally, officers and police can also make use of level III protection that allows officers to not have to worry about rifle threats as well.

Everyday wear with added ballistic protection without the advertising.

Sometimes, discreet ballistic protection is required for undercover or inconspicuous investigative work- with that added ballistic protection.  With the advent of concealable bulletproof vests, ballistics manufacturers started adapting aramid panels to get everyday clothing articles like shirts, tank-tops, and coveralls with the added ballistic protection required by officers.  The high-priced custom ballistic wear has given way to cheap bulletproof vests and bulletproof shirts- able to insert Kevlar bulletproof vest panels into front and back pockets.

Of the many manufacturer’s out there, Ace Link Armor stands out by offer the most effective LEVEL IIIA concealable vests at affordable pricing. In addition to that, you can also get upgrading ICW options for your bullet proof vest, and in doing so, allow yourself to be able to handle other, much more dangerous threats, such as those from rifles up to 7.62×54 or .308 caliber. If you have trouble on your search for gear, and don’t know which hot new item to get, you can always give them a call, their excellent customer service will be happy to help you with anything you need to do.

STAB ARMOR

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Bulletproof vest

For those who wear body armor as a part of their everyday job, or those who sometimes wear them for shooting or sporting arms competition, body armor has advanced from the bulky, heavy, and limited protection vests they once were.  Current body armor now offers lightweight, streamlined, and even more protection than ever, this protection now includes stab vest technology to the menu, which can offer law enforcement a number of advantages in the field, such as when conducting a search in close quarters or high threat environment.

What does a stab resistant vest protect the wearer from?

Stab proof vests worn by those who work in correctional jails, or by security officers are designed to provide protection from knife or spike type weapons; edged weapons such as knives and blades put the wearer of stab vests in danger of slash injury, while spike instruments use puncture or thrusting motion to penetrate an officers stab proof vest.

Different types of protection you can wear to guard against stab threat.

There are several types of garments or clothing on the menu that one can wear to protect themselves from stab or puncture type threats.  Stab vests are common among officers who work in high threat environments where a stabbing vest would be necessary such as jails, even meat butchers wear slash protective aprons when working with cleavers and knives.  Stab proof shirts that are able to carry ballistic/stab proof panels, while also providing both lightweight and discreet protection from stab and slash.

What are the different levels of stab and slash protection available today?

The NIJ (National Institute of Justice) Standards for stab resistant, slash, and spike protection is the nation’s measure to test and develop against and attempt to meet.  These standards are followed by most body armor companies, new and old, when testing their products, and is their goal to be within the Standards as a result of such testing.  NIJ Level 1 Stab 1 protection is the basic blade and spike rating.  Level 1 Stab 2 in either blade OR spike provides only protection from either of those instruments of attack.  Anti-Stab Vests that have Dual Protection NIJ Rating of Stab 1 or 2 + (plus) a pistol caliber rating provides either of the stab ratings as well as ballistic pistol round protection, including, 9mm (Level II) or .44 Magnum. (Level IIIA). With this being said, the search for new and lightweight anti-stab vests never stops, with companies trying to offer the best in protection, without the price being too high.

At Ace Link Armor, we like to provide our customers with a wide array of options that can fit almost any scenario in which they might find themselves in, with upgrade options for our 3A armor that can add that STAB 1 OR STAB 2 level of protection. It’s not just limited to vests either, we offer backpacks, T-shirts, and briefcases all with this capability as well.

STAB PROOF VEST

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Stab Proof Vest

When ballistic protection became available to police in the form of bulletproof vests, body armor became the priority in personal protection for post WWII-era law enforcement- particularly federal agents actively dealing with gangsters and outlaws running illegal contraband across the country.  It soon developed into lighter weight, thin, protection vests that included stab resistance for those who required both ballistic, spike, and edged-weapons protection.

Body armor and the addition of stab, slash, and spike protection.

Stab resistant materials were first introduced to protection vest products wearers because officers working in local jails, prisons, or juvenile correctional facilities were being assaulted with “home-made” knives and sharp spike weapons.  The early body armor vests that were made available were bulky and heavy, and with the addition of stab resistant materials, the vests became even more heavy and cumbersome to effectively wear on the job.  Still, corrections officers who refused to wear such heavy stab vests needed an alternative for stab protection, and these were the only options on offer at the time. Thus, the search for the best resistant vests began, and the race for one that would offer the user free range of movement, with the best protection possible, without being too cumbersome began.

Stab vest introduced as its own protective garment for Corrections Officers.

As a result of even heavier bullet resistant vests, companies started offering Stab Vests with edged weapon protection only.  Having dedicated gear that was only designed to resist slash, puncture, or stab protection allowed for armor that was comfortable to wear again and featured lightweight stab proof cloth-like materials including DuPont Kevlar and Dyneema Spectra aramids.  During this period of the stabbing vest, inmate/prisoners saw their jailers wearing this new armor and created stab proof clothing amongst themselves in order to survive rival prison gang assaults- their stab proof creations were made of only the products and material available to them, heavy denim materials from the prison clothing factory, and to this day, inmates continue to make their own stab proof clothing .

How to get stab resistant vest for cutting-edge protection.

There are basically two ways to acquire stab proof vests, if one wants to wear it to fit their job description, or for personal stab/spike protection for whatever reason you find yourself needing it; you can either have it issued to you by your employer if your job has you in a high threat environment where stab proof vests are necessary, or you would need to buy a stab/spike resistant item either direct from the manufacturer, or a uniform store. They are made all over the world, and the laws vary on who can own them, but if you search around you may be able to find a store that sells them locally, if not, online shopping is your best bet in aiding with your search. High on the list of companies you should consider would be ACE LINK ARMOR, and if you subscribe to their newsletter, there are plenty of stab resistant vests and other tactical gear that will aid you, and help bring you search to an end.

BALLISTIC PLATES

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Ballistic plates 

Rifles are a common threat found not only in those who choose to partake in careers that involved the military or government agencies, therefore body armour such as ballistic plates has found its way into many different aspects of today’s society; where a right to possess and own long barreled rifles is considered integral to their culture.  With such prevalence in weapons of long reach, it is almost a guarantee that lives will also stand to be affected by these weapons in one form or another.  To balance out the existence of such weapons, we have body armor to protect against injury or death from such high caliber and far reaching weapons. Some companies that make body armor include AR500, ACE LINK ARMOR, and TENCATE. If you search through the websites of these companies you are bound to find armor of different NIJ levels, such as NIJ level IV, NIJ level III, or NIJ level IIIA.

The rifle rated body armor protection that’s hard to beat.

 If you already wear body armor and are familiar with the types and different levels of protection, you may be interested to know that body armor is always changing;  most do not realize the different levels of protection will from time to time be updated or re-classified, but those whom don’t really care to know are satisfied that what they wear for ballistic protection will protect them from rifle rounds.  Ballistic plates rated Level IV are some of the most advanced, given their weight to protection ratio are some of the best found today amongst ballistic armor plate manufacturers. Companies continue to search for ways to improve weight on level IV plates, hoping to get them to the point where they weigh as much as level III or even level IIIA. 

Finding the right hard armor plate for your ballistic plate carrier.

Almost anyone can find anywhere online a manufacturer or source for ballistic plates for sale if they search hard enough, whether that be on an online auction website, or a classified advertisement for ballistic plates for sale.  Wherever you found your multi-curved set of , lightweight, compact, with zero flex or torque uni-directional armor composite plates- you are confident the ballistic vest plates you currently carry in your P.C.  will save you from harm from afar, should you be the unfortunate recipient of a high velocity rifle round directed your way.

Knowing what your ballistic plate set up is capable of stopping.

If you wear ballistic plates in the Level 4 rating; you can rest assured, you have protection from some of the higher velocity armor-piercing ammunition in existence today.   Military grade bullets with high density core metals are stopped by ballistic armor plates, and that means no penetration, with back face deformation qualities that leave the wearer in some discomfort, but alive and well after recovery.  That being said, the standards set for by the National Institute of justice  regulate the amount of back-force deformation that is acceptable, and buying gear that meets the standards may leave you with a nasty bruise or broken rib, but will more than likely save your life.

BALLISTIC PLATES

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Ballistic plates 

Rifles are a common threat found not only in those who choose to partake in careers that involved the military or government agencies, therefore body armour such as ballistic plates has found its way into many different aspects of today’s society; where a right to possess and own long barreled rifles is considered integral to their culture.  With such prevalence in weapons of long reach, it is almost a guarantee that lives will also stand to be affected by these weapons in one form or another.  To balance out the existence of such weapons, we have body armor to protect against injury or death from such high caliber and far reaching weapons. Some companies that make body armor include AR500, ACE LINK ARMOR, and TENCATE. If you search through the websites of these companies you are bound to find armor of different NIJ levels, such as NIJ level IV, NIJ level III, or NIJ level IIIA.

The rifle rated body armor protection that’s hard to beat.

 If you already wear body armor and are familiar with the types and different levels of protection, you may be interested to know that body armor is always changing;  most do not realize the different levels of protection will from time to time be updated or re-classified, but those whom don’t really care to know are satisfied that what they wear for ballistic protection will protect them from rifle rounds.  Ballistic plates rated Level IV are some of the most advanced, given their weight to protection ratio are some of the best found today amongst ballistic armor plate manufacturers. Companies continue to search for ways to improve weight on level IV plates, hoping to get them to the point where they weigh as much as level III or even level IIIA. 

Finding the right hard armor plate for your ballistic plate carrier.

Almost anyone can find anywhere online a manufacturer or source for ballistic plates for sale if they search hard enough, whether that be on an online auction website, or a classified advertisement for ballistic plates for sale.  Wherever you found your multi-curved set of , lightweight, compact, with zero flex or torque uni-directional armor composite plates- you are confident the ballistic vest plates you currently carry in your P.C.  will save you from harm from afar, should you be the unfortunate recipient of a high velocity rifle round directed your way.

Knowing what your ballistic plate set up is capable of stopping.

If you wear ballistic plates in the Level 4 rating; you can rest assured, you have protection from some of the higher velocity armor-piercing ammunition in existence today.   Military grade bullets with high density core metals are stopped by ballistic armor plates, and that means no penetration, with back face deformation qualities that leave the wearer in some discomfort, but alive and well after recovery.  That being said, the standards set for by the National Institute of justice  regulate the amount of back-force deformation that is acceptable, and buying gear that meets the standards may leave you with a nasty bruise or broken rib, but will more than likely save your life.

BALLISTIC HELMETS

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Ballistic helmets

Emergency response usually calls for dealing with dangerous situations, dangerous situations that often call for the use of ballistic protection such as ballistics helmet in order to prevent those involved in such tasks, like law enforcement personal, protection from things such as blunt impact. With this type of occurrence being high on the list of probabilities that a law enforcement official could find themselves in, one would want to be well protected from these hostile threats with a tactical helmet or body armor.  When Law enforcement first deployed in mobile field teams to such emergencies, they wore first generation body armor, and ballistic helmets as well.  The helmets were Army helmet surplus from the military; heavy, steel, and without coverage beyond the upper half of the wearers head.  Military helmets remained the standard issue helmets for early emergency public safety response teams until the modern ERA, when products such as the high cut ballistic helmet which provided NIJ level IIIA protection became the new normal for high speed and riot control units in police departments across the country.

Advancements in early ballistic helmets to the present-day tactical helmet.

In order to protect themselves from ballistic threats during emergency situations, police stocked surplus military helmets for their mobile field response.  Today modern special response teams are well-equipped with the latest tactical helmet- complete with night vision mounts, and ear protection/communications integrated directly onto the helmet.  Bulletproof helmets are made of lightweight and very durable woven fibers such as found on Kevlar helmets.

Different designs and models of ballistic helmets used for tactical protection.

The latest developments in ballistic headwear can be found on recent models of the ACH helmet; the Advanced Combat Helmet has added protection in full-cut profile- able to protect the wearer’s lateral and rear quadrants that include the ears and upper nape (Back of neck)- especially when in the prone shooting position.  Armor helmets now have developed into even lower profile models to incorporate cut-outs for aftermarket ear protection muffs, as well as integrated communications on armor helmets like the FAST helmet.

How military combat helmets worn by civilian police became today’s modern tactical helmet.

Military standard issue ballistic head protection- such as the soldier helmet worn today still carry advance features; integrated night vision or thermal imagery mounts, and communications wired into the helmet itself- are all highly effective for the modern warfighter.  Although classic patterned helmets like the PASGT helmet can still be found in use by foreign militaries, most have given way to the more user friendly (in terms of lighter weight) MICH helmet  which are still in use today by both conventional and special operations troops. Additionally there are new variants of each type of ballistic helmet available now, such as the high cut ballistic helmet. The ballistic protection in these new products are often superior to older products, but the price as a result of that is usually higher because of the ballistic helmet being configured making use of the new design.

TACTICAL ARMOR

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Tactical Armor

For Police, civilian or military, personal protection and safety is essential in order to carry out their duties of protecting others.  But what happens when the protectors need assistance themselves? they call on those who are tactically trained to deal with officer rescue or high risk operations.  These tactical teams also rely on specialized protection and equipment in the form of tactical gear, armor plates, and ballistic Kevlar vests. Since the dawn of firearms, man has been on the search for protective gear that could save his and his comrades lives, and tactical armor solves that search.

Tactical equipment and uniform required for special operations teams.

Special teams are not only visually set apart from their conventional counterparts, their specialized tactics and training require them to be equipped with vests, pants, boots, gloves and armor.  Their Bulletproof Kevlar vest also sets them apart from patrol with Armor Plate Carriers worn that hold hard armor plates, able to stop high velocity rifle ammunition designed to pierce even high-end body armor. In the past, these items came at a high price for those wanting to wear them, in today’s world though, however, they can be found at much more affordable rates, and is a sign of how far gear has evolved.

New Police Gear borrowed from military gear and body armor of old.

With the advent of and increased popularity of clothing and gear from tactical assault teams, regular police patrol and corrections officers are now issued highly advanced helmets, vests, gloves, boots, and hard armor plates instead of soft armor for a bulletproof vest.  Even Holsters are now so advanced they are designed for pistols with electronic sights, and even activate officer’s body cameras upon the draw. The price for all these new forms of ballistic gear and technology that is worn on the body of officers is a sign of how much the field has changed recently, with officers and tactical teams alike, on the search for anything that can give them an edge over those that they are going up against. With new Ballistic gear coming out every day, the high price that once prohibited this body armor from being worn by everyday officer not on special teams, can now be seen on the body of those who are new to the profession.

 Companies producing Tactical Gear for modern special operations and civilians.

Companies with tactical stores and distribution headquarters such as 5.11 Tactical, Propper International, and Under Armour are now making tactical clothing for both officers and civilians alike. These companies offer a wide range of high-end gear and even plate carriers. While not all of them offer body armor, these companies are competitive when on the search for tactical gear, with many offering prices that range for price high to low, price low to high, or anywhere in between. Almost anyone can wear tactical inspired gear, there is no need to be affiliated with law enforcement or the military and is a further sign of how far it has come. people from all professions- from athletes to enforcers- are wearing shirts, jackets, and even shorts with cargo or ammunition magazine and knife-type storage pockets that are tactically inspired.  Concealment type tactical clothing are also popular in both the civilian and tactical world for every day carry (EDC) and self-defense. Similar to other forms of tactical gear, these products offer a wide price range but can also be configured to work with body armor. The price for concealable body armor is usually a higher price than non-concealable body armor, but like with anything else, if one is determined enough, they will find what they are looking for at a price low during a sale, and can avoid paying a high price for such things.

ARMOR CARRIERS

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Armor Carrier

Both Military and Law Enforcement personnel rely heavily on body armor and carriers to protect them during the course of their duties.  Soldiers and officers alike require ballistic protection due to the tactical situations they often find themselves in, and will often times find themselves wearing their body armor for extended periods of times, as they wear their body armor throughout the length of their mission or work shift- at the expense of personal comfort.  As a result, soldiers and law enforcement officers now have the ability to wear their soft body armor, with or without heavier hard armor rifle protection plates.  The wearer may even choose to wear either only soft body armor for pistol caliber protection, or a plate carrier specifically made to hold front and back hard armor rifle plates such as those offered by 5 11 Tactical, Armor Express, and Ace Link Armor.  

Tactical equipment and uniform required for special operations teams.

Body armor has advanced to the point that wearers have more choices in styles, models, and different versions of bulletproof vests or carriers than they can wear.  Two basic designs that exist today are the plate carriers or tac vest, as they are sometimes referred to; each having distinct features, here is how they compare.

Plate carriers are specifically made to hold a front and a back hard rifle plate body armor as far as ballistic protection.  Both the front and back of the plate carrier are able to hold hard armor plates using pockets, the plates are able to be inserted into- then closed to secure each plate inside.  These tactical plate carriers can only hold hard armor rifle plates or same shape soft armor backing panels for ICW or spalling prevention if steel plates are used. The price for these types of tactical carriers is usually lower as a result as well.

Plate Carrier Vests are actually Soft Armor Panel Vests with individual front and back pockets built-in or modularly attached that allow the wearer to have both soft armor panels- with side protective extensions- for front and back pistol caliber protection; as well as, the added option of using the front and back hard armor rifle carrier plates pockets to have rifle caliber protection. This added protection offered by these types of carriers aids the officer in tactical situations, but as a result, these carriers usually come in at a higher price than the for-mentioned plate carriers.

Colors and patterns offered for plate carriers and vests

Plate carriers or plate carrier vests were first manufactured in solid colors like black, tan, green, or blue; these solid colored vests were considered low-cost to make option, easy to market to government and police agencies, and easily repairable if there was a warranty claim. Due to the fact that the price for these was not high, they quickly began to be adopted by numerous police agencies across the country to the point that they became mainstream.  Currently, tactical vests and armor carriers are manufactured in camouflage colors and patterns that are mainly driven by public demand, as these companies realized there is a lot of money to be made in the civilian market, whereas agencies are requesting manufacturers to produce colors that cover a wider variety of backdrop and backgrounds the wearer might find themselves in.  The best armor carriers are now are available in a wide range of configurations from Multicam plate carrier covers, to neutral tone camouflage patterns such as subdued urban digital camo. Whereas on the civilian side, they will often by available in a number of color options and camo configurations that have been phased out or are not widely used such as Rhodesian Bush-stroke, Flecktarian, or Kryptek.

There are also multiple companies that produce plate carriers and vests. 5.11, AR500 , Ace Link Armor and Condor make armor plate carriers in popular styles and patterns that are widely used by both government and civilian sporting arms enthusiast alike. Ace Link Armor in particular offers a wide range of tactical carriers at lower price points than the competition. With a wide range of options available, a person can find the tactical vest that best fits the needs of the situation they will find themselves most likely to be in, at a price that will not break the bank. If when shopping around, you find that you cannot decide on the type of carriers you need, or what type of body armor would be best for your situation, feel free to contact us and one of our associates will be able to help you choose the body armor or carriers systems that will fit your tactical situation best.

TACTICAL VESTS

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Tactical Vests

Tactical vests  or tac vests as they are often referred to, differ from concealable type body armor in several ways- tactical bulletproof vests are worn outside the uniform and are a key gear component for officers and soldiers alike; originally rated to a higher level of handgun protection ( Level II, and IIIA); and can also be modular in construction allowing the user to carry a wide range of items, including arrangeable or scalable ammunition pouches, radio holders, and medical first aid kits.  Police Tactical Vests  used by law enforcement will also typically have pockets to carry hard rifle rated plate armor- front and back, as well as side hard armor protection and an assortment of other gear.

The evolution of a police tactical vest from early version flak-vests.

Early types of tactical vests or tac vest had a make that was heavy and large, they provided the most possible armor coverage with very little consideration for comfort or movement. This proved to not be the best way to go about things, and from their the search was on to improve gear and make it more maneuverable.  It was at this point that the standard military tactical vest evolved into tactical vest carriers that provided both soft armor panels for smaller caliber protection, and hard armor pockets designed to have armor plates inserted for added rifle protection. At first the price for these types of vests was high, but as the situation slowly improved with more and more companies throwing their hat in the ring in terms of production such as with condor, the price began to go down and the tactical vests began to offer new and better maneuverability. Additionally, they now offer a wide range of accessories and additional products that have become capable to be used along side such military styled tactical vest.

Current Tactical bulletproof vest available for added protection.

Companies such as Ace Link Armor, 5.11 Tactical, Condor and Propper International offer both the tactical vest carrier and police tactical vest for use by either military/police or sporting arms civilians.  These tactical vests are popular with current and inactive military/police alike and are used for duty and deployment alike- with civilians, former soldiers, and law enforcement officers still utilizing tactical vests during shooting courses and range practice, with use comes the need for regular replacement of vests because of wear-and-tear, or updates in design that allow for the use of high end accessories at a lower price point.

Variety of colors and camouflage patterns available for tactical vests.

In addition to the traditional black tactical vest still available today- although not as popular with tactical gear wearers anymore because of the heat-retention and how black stands out in natural environments there exists a variety of camouflage patterns available with high price options, and others price low. Some available colors and patterns popular and available currently include; Coyote Tan, OD Green, MultiCam/Black MultiCam, and other digital-based pixelated camouflage patterns. In your search for tactical vests, when it comes to color configurations, there is always something new, and you are highly likely to find what you want. At Ace Link Armor we aim to please, by making our products with the best quality possible, and making sure they are able to work with any new accessories that may be out there that would benefit you. If you are used to wearing gear of a different make, such as condor, and you’re on the search for new products, at a better price point or that are able to carry different items, Please feel free to contact Ace Link Armor. The best gear, at the best price, start your search today of Ace Link Armor Products.

TACTICAL GEAR

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What is tactical gear and how is it different from regular duty gear?

Uniforms worn by military, government, and local public safety are designed for garrison wear; meaning they must conform to command or agency regulation.  For public safety uniforms worn by officers, department approval and even public opinion, are both critical factors; uniforms and equipment are typically pressed or polished and serve the purpose for what the public safety job entails.  The same characteristics hold true for tactical uniforms and equipment- tactical gear used and worn for operations- are specialized in look, feel, and fit as the operations they are worn for and is also dependent on the service.  Gear used in specialty duty assignments include helmet, gloves, ballistic vest, cargo pants and tactical type boots.

Is Tactical gear and uniforms available only to officials or can weekend warriors purchase them?

In addition to the official wear and use of gear tactical type kit and equipment, more civilians are now purchasing and wearing this type of equipment.  For the prospective customer, all one needs to do is ask: “where can I get it near me?”, and the answer will almost always be: online or the nearest sporting goods store There are numerous companies out there that you can shop with as a prospective customer of this type of equipment. Companies such as UK Tactical,911 supply, And Ace Link Armor. If you are having troubling on deciding what to purchase, you can always also speak with customer service in order to help find out what type of offer will fit your need.  The exception to this would be body armor, only those who can legally own such specialized gear by not having criminal records, etc. may own body armor.

What does Police and Military tactical gear usually consist of?

The most common types of gear for special operations exists for both Military and Law Enforcement; police gear usually, will be either black or green in color, very similarly constructed as military type tactical gear, and include helmet, vest, tactical shirt and pants, and boots in order to help the officer with fighting bad guys in high stakes situations.  The biggest typical difference found between police and military gear being the camouflage and desert patterns found worn by today’s soldiers and military police, which are often determined by the service that soldier may fall under.

 Modern day advancements in tactical footwear.

Today’s officers and special operators’ field new, and some of the most advanced tactical gear boots developed from years of battlefield experience and development.  Old, heavy, and cumbersome combat boots of years past have given way to new lightweight, anatomically correct fit, anti-slip, and blood borne pathogen blocking cordura fabric and synthetic sole materials of today.  Both operators and swat tactical officers are able to compete their mission with less fatigue, more solid footing, and less health related problems with their feet, legs, and lower back. If you are interested in any of these types of product, feel free to check out our company, Ace Link Armor. If you are browsing through our shop and find that we offer products that you are interested in adding to your loadout. Please feel free to send us an email or speak to our customer service in how best we can get you what you need, or if you have questions about shipping. Do not forget to stay connected with us through our Instagram and Facebook accounts.

TACTICAL PLATE – HARD RIFLE ARMOR

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Tactical Plate (Hard Rifle Armor)

Commonly found in today’s military, law enforcement, and owned by civilian sporting arms enthusiasts alike; the hard armor bulletproof panels or tactical plates worn today- with high velocity rated ballistic protection- provides the user with the best known rifle protection to date and is the peak of body armor technology as we currently know it today. Tactical plates are often referred to by a number of different names such as ballistic plates, body armor plates, trauma plates, or even simply combat plates, but they all fall under the same object, which is Hard Armor Rifle Plates. 

Wearing Hard Armor Plates for extra ballistic protection.

For hard armor plate wearer’s, there are numerous brands and design versions of hard armor plate carriers to choose from. Much like with Tactical gear, there are a variety of vests and gear capable of being used with body armor, with prices ranging from high to low, or low to high. A person choosing to wear hard armor plate at the local shooting range would have more options than someone in the military or law enforcement, who are issued a standard or specific hard armor plate carrier.  A tactical plate carrier can be as simple as two plate carriers- front and back- with shoulder and waist straps to keep both plates centered on the wearer’s torso.  Other options include a front opening tactical vest with interior or exterior pockets to insert hard armor plates into. At the end of the day, there are a variety of vests on the market capable of holding you gear, it really comes down to price, and what you want that gear to do other than hold your hard armor plates. Plates go by a set of rating for which they are able to protect rounds in that category the most common levels, and the ones recognized in the United States, are Level II, IIIA, III, III+, and IV. Each level of protection is capable of protecting up to a certain caliber of round, and it is important to make sure you are buying the proper level of protection for your needs.

The difference between some plate carriers and tactical vests.

With the prevalence of hard armor plates on the battlefield or tactical shooting range, being able to effectively wear hard armor plates is simple and takes very little time to get used to.  Tactical Plate carriers; as they are known, are either two plate carriers with shoulder and waist straps, or more like a tactical vest plate carrier- that uses soft body armor panels- as well as Hard rifle plate inserted into the vest’s internal or external pockets.  Either type of plate carrying vest carrier is popular amongst the civilian shooting industry, as well as government or public safety agency personnel. What it really comes down to in most cases is not the capability and configuration of the vest vs plate carrier debate, but personal preference. Like with anything else in this industry, there are many objective viewpoints on what’s best, or what works best, and at the end of the day, it really is just what you are most comfortable with using as an operator, and what you have the most experience training with.

Available Tactical Plate Carriers and Hard Armor Plates for those tactically minded.

People looking to purchase a Tactical Plate Carrier are able to do so by going to companies like 5.11 Tactical; who produce a wide range of tactical gear like the popular 5.11 tactical tactic plate carrier.  Although in many cases, customer find that their gear comes at a high price. Ace Link Armor also has many different types and models of tactical plate carriers including the Skeletac and Quadrelease Plate Carriers.  On our website when you are looking to purchase body armor, you can filter the search by price such as with; price low, price high, price low to high, or price high to low, allowing you to work within your budget.  Ace Link Armor also offers a bundle offering of their Quadrelease Plate Carriers, with both front and back hard armor plates- these tactical vest with plates combo are becoming more common as a lower cost option for plate carrier and hard armor plate wearers. That being said, if a plate carrier is what you are looking for there are still a number of companies, with Ace Link Armor included, that are bound to be carrying an option that you will find useful for yourself in a variety of camo patterns. If you have any questions you can also call Ace Link Armor, which is known for its exceptional customer service.

BODY ARMOR ACCESSORIES

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Body armor accessories

In the ultra-competitive market of body armor and tactical gear, you are likely to find a comprehensive selection for both body armor vest and tactical gear kit- all encompassing many pouches, pockets, panels, and aftermarket upgrades one can add-on to their plate carrier or tactical body accessories.

Choosing the right kind of ammunition pouch for your plate carrier.

Knowing what you have as far as ammunition, and what you need that ammunition for -as far as duty, mission, or defense- will greatly assist you in finding the right tactical ammo pouch to wear on your vest or carrier. The price for such items can vary widely depending on what sort of pouches you are looking for, new or used, and brand of the armor body manufacturer, but it is still important to do your research when on the search for such gear

9mm or other pistol caliber ammo pouches for subguns.

Of all the things you carry on yourself, these pistol caliber magazines will most likely look and feel like your pistol mag pouches being slender and not take up too much space on your vest or carrier. that being said, these sorts of items cannot be used with the concealable bulletproof vest type of gear.

.223/5.56 ammo pouches that allow basic or custom positioning of your magazines

 The most common body armor accessories you will find will be ammo pouches for AR-style carbines and rifle magazines.  Typical load-out will be three- AR magazines on one open top- bungee cord- secured kangaroo type pouch for new gear on the bottom.  Now, an actual Kangaroo pouch will be the same overall size but not have individual dividers for the AR magazines, but rather a larger Velcro opening for inserting individual magazine pouches or a combination of magazine or pistol mags.  This allows the wearer to custom set-up their own magazine ammo load out and positioning on the plate carrier or vest.  However, the wearer chooses, body armor performance accessories enhances the shooters ability to carry out the duty or mission at will.