A500 concealment armor

[Poblano12]

[MurdaJ]

I didn't know ar500 had a shelf life

[dwinters14]

I didn't know ar500 had a shelf life

It's marked on the back of the plate. Soft armor is especially vulnerable (after doing some research) which makes sense. Cause the inside is almost like fabric. I'd assume steel & ceramic last much longer if not indefinitely if they stored in a normal climate and don't have any damage.

[Rosamond]

It's marked on the back of the plate. Soft armor is especially vulnerable (after doing some research) which makes sense. Cause the inside is almost like fabric. I'd assume steel & ceramic last much longer if not indefinitely if they stored in a normal climate and don't have any damage.

Sounds like the OP has the opportunity research of his own, after one year take a single shot at it and every year after that, take another single shot. This should tell him a lot about expiration dates.

[Milsurp1]

My recommendation would be based on your threat environment. In Mexico or Afghanistan, yes I would use hard plates with current date stamps.

[Poblano12]

Sounds like the OP has the opportunity research of his own, after one year take a single shot at it and every year after that, take another single shot. This should tell him a lot about expiration dates.

[caliguy93]

Plates are pretty universal. So if there is nothing wrong with your carrier/rig now, then there’s no hurry to swap it out. Nothing new has come out that makes any real improvements. I’d just wait until you don’t like your rig and you can replace the plates as they expire.

It also seems like there is some confusion as to what expires and what doesn’t... metal plates don’t expire but the soft IIA armor does expire

[Rosamond]

It all depends on where and how long you have to wear it, I would bring this up in the Law Enforcement forum, you will probably get some good experience there.

[BajaJames83]

hes not talking abiut ar500.
he has actual sapi plates.
AR500 or 550 is not body armor and should never be used as such.