SAPI plate

[Gato]

I'd carry real ones if I could afford them, right now I just have plastic shellish ones in, though I'm considering filling them with something for weight


EDIT: I do Have real ones, but what I meant was training plates, I'm not about to run real plates for airsoft for the reason of possibly cracking them as mentioned before

[coach]

Originally Posted by TALIBANMILAN

If you are running a plate carrier or armor carrier of any sort, you should be using plates - period.
The gear is designed and meant to be used in conjunction with plates.
If you don't run plates in a carrier, then use a chest rig or something that was intended not to house plates internally.

Kind of worded a bit strongly Milan?

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Still, I cant see why someone would want to carry that weight around personally in a airsoft match. But that is just me.

honestly, I don't get it either. I don't ever plan to run with that much weight. realism or not, I could care less for the extra weight and bulk. if it means some feel that my rig is pointless to use then so be it.

it's all a matter of opinion and personal preference. I run what suits me which ever way it's the most comfortable and practical. SAPI plates aren't practical for me and currently aren't needed nor compromise the design of my rigs. they add too much bulk that would likely cause it to not fit me well. but again, that's my personal opinion and preference.

now for people who's body structure resemble a toothpick....

[TheAngrySniper]

I carry real ones, it is an excellent realism factor.

The only downside is that when we game, our field is on the top of a hill.

[Pinard]

Originally Posted by coachster

Kind of worded a bit strongly Milan?



honestly, I don't get it either. I don't ever plan to run with that much weight. realism or not, I could care less for the extra weight and bulk. if it means some feel that my rig is pointless to use then so be it.

it's all a matter of opinion and personal preference. I run what suits me which ever way it's the most comfortable and practical. SAPI plates aren't practical for me and currently aren't needed nor compromise the design of my rigs. they add too much bulk that would likely cause it to not fit me well. but again, that's my personal opinion and preference.

now for people who's body structure resemble a toothpick....

HEY ! it's NOT my fault...It's my parent fault...go talk to them ! :banghead:

[coach]

Originally Posted by Contractor 6-8

HEY ! it's NOT my fault...It's my parent fault...go talk to them ! :banghead:

it was a poke at Milan...

[Pinard]

Ah ! ok then but people are always looking at me a weird way when they see me coming with my gear and my baby face with my small frame XD BUT , I can kill people even with my baby face and small shape (well...airsoft way I mean)

[MilanWG]

I didn't mean to come off hash or speak towards anyone specific.

All I was trying to say is if you are running a PC or any armor carrier system designed to carry plates - then you should be using plates.
If you don't use plates, then ask yourself, is this really the best gear I could be using for my specific application?

I personally run replica plates at the same weight as real SAPI plates because that's what the real plates weigh.
If my rig is meant to have hard plates inside the structure of the design, then its going to have the plates inside.
If the real plates weigh a certain amount, I am going to try to replicate that weight as close as possible.

For me, running replica plates @ real weight really forces me to stream-line my gear.

[Gato]

Originally Posted by TALIBANMILAN

I didn't mean to come off hash or speak towards anyone specific.

All I was trying to say is if you are running a PC or any armor carrier system designed to carry plates - then you should be using plates.
If you don't use plates, then ask yourself, is this really the best gear I could be using for my specific application?

I personally run replica plates at the same weight as real SAPI plates because that's what the real plates weigh.
If my rig is meant to have hard plates inside the structure of the design, then its going to have the plates inside.
If the real plates weigh a certain amount, I am going to try to replicate that weight as close as possible.

For me, running replica plates @ real weight really forces me to stream-line my gear.

I think what you're mostly getting at is that gear works best when used in the manner it was designed for

[FOX_111]

Originally Posted by TALIBANMILAN

Fox, if you are using real SAPI plates I really don't get it...

"Many are reluctant to conduct training while wearing their issue armor plates for fear of fracturing them. It is also impossible to determine if they are damaged without sophisticated x-ray imaging. Additionally, armor plates are expensive and not easily replaced if they are damaged, especially in a deployed environment."

To make it clear, I wish I could buy real plates. If I had them, I would not play with them and keep them for SHTF situation.

I play with dummy plates, but I'm looking for trainning plate. My goal is to have the same weight as the real one.

I do play with real soft armor sometime. Only because I can and I want.

As for people looking like tooth pick, I agree. It look weird. I used to look like a pick. It's satisfying now to have a "proper" look for the gear.
Strenght and stamina is also improved for better "killing" power.

[coach]

Originally Posted by TALIBANMILAN

I didn't mean to come off hash or speak towards anyone specific.

fair enough but I did originally understand the "you should be using plates - period." as you're right and everyone who doesn't use them is wrong.

Originally Posted by TALIBANMILAN

If you don't use plates, then ask yourself, is this really the best gear I could be using for my specific application?

question was asked before purchase and yes, yes they are. the desired results of the current configurations far exceed using plates.

[MilanWG]

Gato has it right on.

[mrgruber]

there are some point blank training plates on ebay http://cgi.ebay.ca/GENUINE-US-ARMY-T...#ht_500wt_1156

[Gumby]

Milan, how did you get your replica plates up to the same weight as real SAPI?

For anyone else that might know, what to fill the replicas with? Sand, plaster of Paris, etc. which weighs more?

[MilanWG]

For my plates, I did the following:

1) Sealed the bottom drain hole in each plate with shoe-goo, letting it fully dry over night. Then I put a layer of 100mph tape (duct tape) over the shoe-goo filled hole for reinforcement.

2) Drilled a small-ish hole in the top of each plate (not to big because you have to seal it when your done - but big enough to get sand into.)

3) Then I filled each plate with sand (just went to my local hardware store to get it). I tried using a funnel, but the sand would not make its way into the plates and I didn't want to make the hole to big.

4) Once I had each plate filled to the to the very top, I sealed the fill-hole I made with shoe-goo and let it sit over night. I used 100mph tape once again as a second reinforcement layer over-top the shoe-goo filled hole.

Each plate weighs 4.4 pounds

[m102404]

For the longest time...no, I didn't put a plate in my plate carriers. Some are ok like that (i.e. RRV, Weesatch)...others not so much (i.e. CIRAS).

On the odd occasion I did use these med-density foam "plates" that I got from somewhere....they did the job of filling out the pouch...but left the rig bendy and trapped in heat. So not worth it.

With the latest rig...it definitely needs solid plates to hold it's shape. So I took the hollow plastic replicas and simply filled them up with a watery mix of non-sanded grout and drywall compound. Took a couple of days to dry out. I did tape them together so they wouldn't bulge from the weight of the water/mix. No issues.