Ivan Tactical REVIEW

 

rat.bastard.reviews: Ivan Tactical Review

Disclosure: Id like to start by thanking Ivan Tactical; these guys have been excellent to work with and didn't hesitate to send me goods to review all the way from Russia so thank you guys so much for that. I do hope we can work together again in the future and wish you the best of luck moving forward. Now, if you don't know by now I begin every review with a disclosure statement letting my readers know that I received (almost) all Items listed below to be reviewed free of charge, This NEVER does effect my review and NEVER will. And if you don't believe that statement then you're a pussy fart, get chudded loser!

  Initial Impression: Okay my little queefs; Ivan Tactical sent me 1x Pantsir plate carrier SPOSN (Size Large), 3x SPOSN AK-74 mag pouch's, 2x single 9x19 pistol mag pouch's, 1x SPOSN zipped utility pouch, and 1x SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch (IFAK). I purchased the Grom hanger with my own money. The quality is downright amazing, I would put it above any American plate carrier companies level of quality for the price (currently on sale for less then $100). If you are a fan of my low-brow shenanigans you probably already know I really like SSO/SPOSN products and that's not because of my affinity towards my ancestral Eastern European brothers and sisters, it's because they do more with less. The craftsmanship is comparable to products that cost 3-4X more on the American market AND I see initiative being taken on areas of design that simply aren't being done domestically And I like the result more.

  Breakdown:  The fit, I will say is better then a lot of the minimalist rigs I've had the pleasure of using, I like that it sits slightly lower towards my hips. This isn't enough to restrict motion, however, is enough to make me feel a bit more encompassed than with other carriers. And to be fair It really doesn't matter from a protective standpoint because you are only protected within the parameters of your Armor not the material from the carrier itself. That being said, you do have big padded and reinforced shoulder straps that not only remind you of a mans strong and loving embrace, but hold all this weight exactly where it should be and I fucking love it! Sprints, up-downs, low crawls, it moves with you not on you. This in turn means my armor is always right where it should be, protecting my vital organs and making sure I make it home on time for the next round of Sonoran dogs. The cummerbund is a bit snug, that is likely because I am a fat-ass, because by all definitions it is supposed to be snug.....moving on, The one and only real legitimate complaint I have with this product is the fabric covering the chest, Jesus I'm not some 90lb starved Warsaw Pact factory worker; The chest shouldn't cut in so far that my nipples are peaking around the corner of the plates! I need a little more then that boy's; I'm a modest man And don't want the local Publix Sub shop workers gawking at my perfect little nipples when I drop in for a 9pm chicken tendie sub in full kit.

  The Cordura carrier material itself Is very high quality Its very Durable, the stitching quality is exceptional, the pattern feels ergonomic and the placement is very natural. Overall the design is really well done and I'm not left with feeling that because I didn't pay over $300 for a plate carrier that I'm fucked or I wasted my money. I will say the Drag Handle feels obligatory, which I have noticed with other SSO products like the SMERSH however after a drag test of about 25 yards it did hold up to 220lbs of man plus kit weight. I really like the re-enforced padded shoulder straps they are hands down the most comfortable out of any plate carrier I have experience with and they preemptively solve the issue of directing the hose from a hydration system If you so choose to add one by creating a channel for its travel and securement.

  The colors match very well I've found most of the products from SSO match pretty well if you order the same color or pattern from different products, the only real deviation I ever see is when comparing different material; which is understandable from a manufacturing standpoint and even then they are still very close. For this kit I ordered everything in Olive Drab (OD) Green, I'm just going to come out and say It; this is not OD Green, and if I wasn't reviewing this I wouldn't have thought twice about it but its an approximation of OD Green. I've Seen surplus in this color, I've seen other military equipment in this color but its just too Saturated to call it Olive Drab if anyone actually gives a shit. 

  The accessories, I requested 3x of SPOSN AK-74 mag pouch's from Ivan Tactical and that's exactly what I got. Unfortunately at this time I do not own an AK 74, However I do own a Galil AR which takes 35 Round 5.56/.223 Galil Mags and they are a pretty perfect fit. The mags leave about .5" from the top round to the enclosure flap of the pouch, they don't rattle, shake, or slide they are held firmly in place by a simple and well executed design. These are probably my favorite part of this kit I absolutely love the enclosure system its quiet, fast and efficient. This is what I was talking about earlier when I mentioned design differences, These proprietary pull tabs are so intelligent and outperform the 2 standard western variations available in mass here being snap tabs and hook and loop Velcro. Not to mention they are damn durable and stand up in quality to the priciest of kit that I own. I also requested 2x single 9x19 pistol mag pouch's these are pretty standard they showcase the same level of attention to detail and durability I'm seeing through the rest of the kit, these don't showcase any exceptional features like the rifle mag pouches however are sold for just dirt cheap pricing without sacrificing quality which is why they would still get a serious recommendation from my greasy keyboard fingers. Now, before I continue on with the pork n' beans of my accessory review I think I should explain that when I requested The Items that I did I had a specific idea for this kit build, that being one that you might leave in your car as part of a "Get Home Kit" which would encompass everything you might need for an overnight stay in a hostile territory. That being said I do always carry other items in my car such as water, canned food items, jacket, medical supplies, emergency blanket etc. And this is my vision of a long-gun and armor addition to that. So with that out of the way I specifically requested 1x SPOSN zipped utility pouch and 1x SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch; both of these have had their contents spilled onto the floor and documented with pictures to show you what I was able to fit without cramming.

     SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch (IFAK): 1x Israeli pressure dressing, 1X Tourniquet, 4X Gauze pads,1X Wound packing, 4X Sterile Wipes, 1X Tweezers, 1X Travel Size Pain Reliever, 2X Medical Wrap, 2X Gauze Wrap, 1X Snake bite Kit, 1X Insect Bite/Sting Medicine. 

         SPOSN zipped utility pouch: 1x Survival in a can kit, 1X bundle of cordage, 1X toothbrush, 1X travel sized toothpaste, 1X can opener, 1X Steel Spork/Multitool, 2X Lighters, 2X Stormproof Match's, 3X Moist towelettes, 7X Uses Toilet Paper, Drier lint (great Firestarter),1X Fishing Line, 1X Fishing Hook.

    

  Normally, I would never recommend packing survival equipment into a pouch on your kit unless in a detachable backpack, However, in this circumstance it's an extremely purpose built kit and wont be used outside of those circumstance. Both pouches were extremely well built with multiple corded zippered compartments to hold goodies. The IFAK Pouch even came with two elastic securement bands that fit the Tourniquet and Israeli pressure dressing perfectly, neither of these deviated from the same durability and attention to detail I've been talking about the entire review. I'll just touch briefly on the Grom hanger, I purchased this Item myself It is also SSO/SPOSN it is Hook and look detachable featuring a corded zipper medium sized and matching in color. I got this to fill with Black Licorice, JuJubes, and Vodka Miniatures; I'm a disgusting human being I know.

  What didn't I like?: Well we talked about the mysterious case of the peek-a-boo nipples and the slightly ever to snug cummerbund, so lets dive into this carriers method of securement. I'm not talking about the MOLLE, that's battle proven and well executed here; I'm talking about the Hook and loop fasteners that hold in your plates and attach/encase the cummerbund. It just doesn't feel as secure as it should, It hasn't unattached itself for me, or lost its grip, or shown any sign of being defective; But it bothers me. Why couldn't they just add more? why couldn't they just add snap tabs? I just don't understand they were so close to a 10/10 perfect score, and for just a few cents more per unit they could have had a $100 plate carrier crush any of the $300-$400 plate carriers I've trained with. Now it's not a deal breaker, I still believe for the money its hands down THE BEST plate carrier you can buy, NO SHIT I feel that strongly about it. Now, do realize as I say this if we are talking about a hand made plate carrier in America by comparison, that is the reason for the price difference at a similar quality. That in itself is something to consider when purchasing from companies like SSO/SPOSN if it even matters to you, which it may not and that's fine.

  Final Thoughts: Ivan Tactical has tons of super rad goodies on the site please do go check these guys out and see what's coming stateside from our brothers to the....like pretty much entire North East. They are pushing out just top of the line products for so cheap it's insane. Knowing Russia these are probably made by prison workers which is kind of hardcore as well. I really can't say enough good things about this kit, I just recommend finding a shirt that hides those little ice cream titties if you're a bashful boy. I cant thank our sponsors enough and look forward to working with them again in the future. Lets all take a moment of silent prayer in hopes that SSO/SPOSN can overcome its learning disability and figure out colors. Until next time, Fuck off.

-Rat Bastard

@medved_ivan_store

https://ivantactical.com/

MINUTEMAN ARMOR REVIEW

 

rat.bastard.reviews: Minuteman Armor

   Disclosure: As always Id like to start by saying thank you to Minuteman Armor (MA), for sponsoring todays review, I know for small businesses especially it is difficult to manage that. At this time I must acknowledge that MA sent me a set of 10X12 SAPI CUT LVL.3 basecoat plates for review free of charge, My analysis and final review however, will not be effected by receiving these items free of charge; Don't believe me? Read older reviews I give 0 shits, and exist only to serve as a counter-balance for tactical Youtube cuck's. Now I ponder, If my reviews were created in a vacuum would they even exist? Am I only the Yin to some tactical fuckboys Yang? In a universe parallel to this one do I still inherit the male pattern baldness gene? lets find out below.

  Initial Impression: These plates are heavy, really fuckin heavy; about 8lbs per plate. It blew my mind to find out this is actually barely on the heavier side of average for steel plates and compares pretty spot on for other top competitors with comparable products. The plate is cleanly cut, basecoat is nicely done, and logo is pretty badass for a simplistic design. It's kind of like the 1776 version of the Air Jordan logo. The plates seem solid and well made but something was missing........the NIJ Certification sticker. Yes that's right these plates aren't certified.

  Breakdown: The fellas over at Minuteman Armor were quick to tell me it's not a company it's a project, Which is great because that changes everything. The project was started in October of 2020 by veterans working out of their homes and garages, The initial inspiration came about from the long lead times awaiting armor from large companies. After sitting around and bitching about it for awhile their brain-child Minuteman Armor was born producing lvl.3 steel flat plates made from only American sourced materials and tooling. Minuteman also tells me they have plans on releasing curved plates and lvl.4 Ceramic plates in the near future.

  Minuteman Claims that their 10x12 lvl.3 1/4" steel plates can stop 30-30, .308, and 223 AP. They have informed me that when they do testing they test until the point of ineffectiveness, and that testing has also been corroborated by 2 separate independent parties. If that's the case they are correct in claiming that yes, their armor does exceed lvl.3 NIJ Certification. Now at this point I can pretty much read your minds, You're hearing my passive tone and questioning "I thought he was reviewing them?", "Didn't he shoot them?" Yes and No. I could have destroyed the plates to prove a point, but actually Minuteman Armor has done a pretty good job at documenting what they claim. Now, I haven't seen a 100% transparent Paul Harrell style video yet but I have seen photos and videos that do seemingly back their claims. And a very basic understanding of steel and armor would suggest they are in fact likely telling the truth.

   That being said there are 3 unknowns for me walking into this review, 2 of which I felt like needed to be tested over destroying a steel plate that could likely save a life. The first unknown is without the build-up coat for spalling how much danger are you in? good question, This is the one unknown I decided not to test as there are so many aftermarket spall coat options out there that the answer seemed irrelevant for my scenario. The second unknown is with it being a flat steel plate how comfortable is the fitment and does it impede maneuverability? And the final unknown is what level of fatigue are you experiencing utilizing these heavy steel plates? 

  

   The fit, They are flat; they don't fit the curvature of your body well and can be uncomfortable in some situations. The level of your discomfort depends on your body shape, if you have a skinny or athletic build I would imagine the level of discomfort is somewhere between negligible and tolerable. I however am an oddly shaped ape man, a product of modern food and beer paired with Eastern European ancestry has left me short and broad I am a "thic boi" a "DILF" and a "Modern Sex Icon" and have to fight off the cat-girls and effeminate boys with a stick (joke). My belly would certainly benefit from some curvature but the product isn't meant to be comfortable its meant to keep you alive. With that in mind, It fits, its fine; If its not intolerable then tolerate it. Where its shape does raise flags for me is its maneuverability, The sizing actually allows it to move pretty fluidly in most all aspects besides rolling in prone, and sitting completely upright which still isn't terrible but bad enough to mention in passing.

   The weight, its heavy for the size but that's the nature of steel. You should definitely invest in a solid plate carrier for it because I bought the cheapest piece of crap airsoft grade carrier I could find on Amazon and seriously shredded it in just a few weeks from simple testing and average wear. The weight paired with a crappy support system  left a pinched feeling in my traps even when I wasn't wearing the carrier, and one of the shoulder straps ended up breaking. I ended up throwing it out in frustration which was a mistake because I hadn't taken a picture of it before hand. I bought this type of carrier because I knew I was going to end up tossing it out afterwards but I still assumed it would make it until I wanted to stop. Instead I never ended up shooting at the range with the plates on like I wanted. During my Hike's I did feel fatigued but it was largely overshadowed by the pain in my traps Which I mostly blame on the carrier.

 

   Special Mentions: I did a testing portion for this review, It unfortunately didn't work out the way I wanted, Logistically this was the hardest review I have ever done. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and it resulted in quite a delay on my end, I'm finishing now at basically the latest time I'd given myself. The testing largely consisted of a lot of Hiking, up-down drills, hasty vehicle exit drills, and several maneuverability drills. I wanted to do some live fire exercises and test different shooting positions in the Armor but couldn't proceed at this time. I did however collect enough data to feel confident in my overall decision on these plates.

  Final Thoughts: I'm just going to come out and say it, I do not recommend that anybody who is buying Armor for its intended purpose buys any form of armor without certification. Now, that doesn't mean that Minuteman Armor makes bad products, or even that they don't exceed the certification rating. What it does mean is that in buying from any company without certification you are not receiving the guarantee that a piece of armor will perform at least to the certified standards. I really do hope that these guys can manage to acquire that because I like the guys behind Minuteman and admire the experience and drive they have for creating this project. Hell I like the simplicity of the product and that they operate out of their homes. I like everything about Minuteman Armor because it is a perfect snapshot of the American lifestyle I love. But I've said since the beginning I'm here to help guide consumers honestly, and without the certification; at this time I can only recommend them as training plates and nothing further.

-Rat Bastard

@minuteman_armor

http://minuteman-armor.com/

HIGHCOM ARMOR REVIEW

rat.bastard.reviews: HIGHCOM Armor

        Disclosure: I'd like to start by thanking HIGHCOM Armor for providing me with their level IV 4s17m Ceramic plate set in shooters multi curve and CAP plate carrier for review. As Always I'd like to disclose that these Items were received free of charge from HIGHCOM in exchange for an honest review. It is important to me that I disclose with my audience however, that although I am a fool, I am one of morals and my final analysis and review will not be effected by receiving these items free of charge, guaranteed. I would also like to give a special thanks to our model today @b.ginnn my brother, thank you for taking the time to help me with this I love you and appreciate your support and understanding. Id also like to disclose this is the first review I have ever done under contract and although that means HIGHCOM would prefer that I streamline my thoughts and not use profanity you can expect that all the same this is a Rat Bastard review and my opinions will remain unchanged and unfiltered.

   Specifications: HIGHCOM's level IV 4s17m Ceramic plate set is a level IV stand alone multi curve plate that provides armor-piercing protection made by HIGHCOM with a ceramic strike face and PE composite backing. They are DEA compliant and NIJ 0101.06 compliant certified by NIJ and thus can be found listed on the NIJ’s CPL (Compliant Product List). These plates are Rifle Special Threats Validated with a thickness of 0.95”. They are available for purchase in Shooters and SAPI cut's (10” x 12” shooters cut is considered nominal 9.5” x 11.5” dimensions. HIGHCOM also offers a 10 year warranty  on all ballistic material excluding exterior cover and 1 year warranty on exterior cover material and workmanship. HIGHCOM provides ballistic projectile threat chart comparisons between all armored plates available from them on their website or for PDF download.

   Initial Impression: My plate carrier is small, simple, a clean design free of unnecessary features. I'd even venture to call it utilitarian, Its actual purpose is obviously the driving force behind its creation. The plates themselves are a compact little package just large enough to cover your vital organs, professionally assembled and adorned with the NIJ lvl IV certification as all quality armors should be. HIGHCOMS customer service is approachable and enjoyable to talk with, They know where they stand on their products and specifically asked that I don't include cursing, politics or religion in my review. That says A LOT in this community, I have a notion that HIGHCOM is run by professionals in the high performance armor business and they actually want to focus on their product abilities; can you Imagine such a thing?

   Breakdown: Allow me to spear-head this section by stating I am not a professional on body armor nearly ALL of my experience comes from my time in the Army using systems most civilians would laugh at like Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) and the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) systems that can weigh up to 35 lbs when fully kitted! So when I say the 4s17m Ceramic plate set is light weight am I biased? Yeah probably, But the fact still remains this carrier weighs in around 7.5 lbs with plates. The weight is noticeable when lifting it over your head but the carrier is made of high-quality material and the weight spreads out very evenly on your shoulders, allowing you to carry the weight high eliminating fatigue and body aches with extended use.

  The CAP plate carrier has a MOLLE webbing panel on the front, just large enough to accommodate 3 rifle mag pouches across its width without a half inch to spare, however after stacking my pouches I found a configuration I liked for the size. I was able to fit 4 AK mags, 2 M9 mags, and a knife without it feeling cluttered, obstructing prone shooting, or causing discomfort while belly down. This configuration is my preferred method for the size provided and will be shown below by our model. A massive hook & loop Velcro section is situated above our MOLLE webbing portion and can be seen reflected on the back like a mirror image. Believe it or not, that is one of the features that to me screams that this is for professional use IE. LEO & Security, there's enough room to display name, rank, blood type, affiliation patch and flag its massive! the CAP plate carrier is made of an extremely durable Cordura/nylon type material that was left completely unharmed after running it through my courses, It actually still looks brand new after dragging it through the mud and rain during about a weeks span of testing in Florida's hurricane season.

  I think the best thing I could say about this combo is that simplicity is its best attribute. It would be difficult to overcrowd your MOLLE surface with attachments, there's not really any free material to swing or snag, and Its not really bulky enough to get caught on a foreign object while maneuvering. The overall shape and size of the plate/carrier combo listed above is so compact that even on very athletic personnel it stays within the contour and proportion of your own body; That means your spacial awareness is pretty much in tune with its dimensions already. Overall that makes this package one easy to train with and easy to operate in without feeling like there is a learning curve to conquer other then weight and accessory placement.

   The fit, The shooters cut plates offer excellent curvature to fit your body, honestly they are the best feeling plates I've ever worn even keeping perfect fitment over a hoodie. The plates and carrier are labeled as "one size fits all" I always kind of scoff when I see this because if I'm being honest at this point in my life I have a body like Roy Nelson, and one size fits all usually is just simply not true. I could tell right away though that it would need very little adjustment straight out of the box, I dropped the height about an inch and traced my bone structure with my finger tips to find my lungs down to my liver were covered by plate armor and that was about it I was done. I do have a fairly wide back and shoulders and always think in general about how Id like plates to stretch out to the side a bit more but that is just me and I understand that would likely not be beneficial to most other people. The length Is also fairly short, I mentioned that the plate/carrier combo work in a way that lined up perfect for me over my vitals but I must say that there was less then an inch extra in any direction for unnecessary plate space, I'm 5'9" so I could imagine for very tall or bulky individuals this particular plate/carrier combo might not work as well. However HIGHCOM offers a variety of options and a representative could easily point you towards a product that could be more accommodating to your specific needs. 

   Special Mentions: I did do a brief testing period of approximately 10-12 hours over a 7 day span. My testing included a 4 mile hike through the swampy trails of Central Florida, suicides, push-ups, jogging, shooting from prone un-supported, shooting from kneeling position, shooting from standing position, and evac car drills. The plate/carrier combo did extremely well in all areas, yeah the hike was hot and sweaty and shooting from the prone sucks in all plate carriers but that's not product failure, its the nature of the beast. I was actually very surprised to see how easily I was able to exit the vehicle and take a defensive posture with my carrier on, it made almost no difference when compared to street clothes and I credit that to its compact size and tight curvature.

   Final Thoughts: HIGHCOM armor isn't the cheapest armor company in the game but the craftsmanship and attention to detail is amazing, the fitment it advanced and it goes above and beyond its rating requirements. It's Important to remember that you are purchasing body armor to protect your vital organs during a firefight, and thus you should purchase the best you are able to without putting yourself in financial hardship. I think keeping quality in mind and pairing it with HIGHCOMS refusal to add tacky gimmicks speaks volumes about the company and their products in general. I would recommend HIGHCOM to those financially stable enough to afford a high quality kit or those in absolute necessity of a kit that performs such as law enforcement, but to others I would recommend that you compare price to performance and see what you actually need out of your ballistic armor plates before purchasing from any company. If you do decide you are interested in purchasing from HIGHCOM armor, I couldn't recommend a company more and am sure you wont regret your purchase.

-Rat Bastard

@highcomarmor

https://www.highcomarmor.com/

Model:@b.ginnnn