BODY ARMOR: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

[Buffman]

Wearing these to me is like multi curve plates. They are definitely NOT cheap, but they are smaller batch manufactured, with very good attention to detail. I hear grumblings that the land of China is trying to knock these off for commercial sale..Al said he's set up a discount code "Buffmanhexaricw3" on this plate and the alumina version.

https://stealtharmorsystems.com

[Buffman]

Prime Armor has been pimping their PE Level III for quite some time. What's unique is that it's very THICK!. 1.3". I saw someone else test M855 against it, but of course they leave off important details like was it really M855, what was the velocity, etc. I've tested M855 in the past against pure PE, and typically a 10.5" barrel velocity is the limit for PE, but those plates are anywhere from 1/2" to 1" thick.
Prime Armor III PE magic nugget code "buffmanrange"

Edit: Material is imported from Bulgaria, and is finished here in the US

[vg247]

Is there a review comparing and contrasting a $1350 set of 4 pound level III+ (8 pound total) with other 4 pound level III+ plates that might cost $520 a pair like the Tactical Scorpion Gear Extreme or the Long Fri Level III, III+, IV, etc...

Are those HESCO's weighing in right at 4.00 pounds on the dot? Is the benefit light weight?

[crufflers]

Is there a review comparing and contrasting a $1350 set of 4 pound level III+ (8 pound total) with other 4 pound level III+ plates that might cost $520 a pair like the Tactical Scorpion Gear Extreme or the Long Fri Level III, III+, IV, etc...

Are those HESCO's weighing in right at 4.00 pounds on the dot? Is the benefit light weight?

[vg247]

Hesco 3810

[Buffman]

Hesco 3810

[97F1504RAD]

Seems everyone and everything is raising prices.

[S.A.]

New year new prices. Shot Stop raised their body armor prices. Wonder if all body armor manufacturers will do the same

[Buffman]

Couple of takeaways. The mutli-curve GT2 is using hexagon tiles. The Single curve is rectangle/square. This plate does not have edge to edge coverage. DO NOT expect it to meet Level III/RF2 threat protection for M80 ball. This plate is really a slightly more impressive L210, but the cost is INSANE in my opinion. The original GT plate used Alumina and was edge to edge. I do not know why they changed other than to play the "LAT" (light and thin) game?
If this plate interests you "buffman" is the magic 20% discount they gave me: https://ssbpartner.site/collections/...12-multi-curve

[Buffman]

These have been requested quite a bit, and we finally were able to get one for testing.
https://tacticalscorpiongear.com/tac...x12-plate.html "armorking" is 20% off if you want one of them.
I like what TSG is doing with the construction of this plate. The hexagon tiles are proving to be a good thing for 5.56 threats, but .30 cal past M80 ball seems to be their limit.

[Buffman]

Shot Stop HS From their Partner site, "buffman" is 20% off if you want it.

[Buffman]

Great video. Your link to the Botach site looks like 100% UHMWPE plate in the pic anyway... I just got a link to these in email, they are pushing these. These maybe look like the ones you tested:

https://botach.com/battle-steel-level-3-special-threat-armor-plates-m855-green-tip-protection-polyester-cover/

They even pictured some green tip. I guess if they actually STOP M855, it is worth saving 2 pounds per front/back carrier?

I think they offered 2 models. One with the liner cover, and one with the nylon cover. Interesting that the nylon cover one is on sale on Botach's main site, but not the dedicated armor site :\

[crufflers]

This plate like the level IV employs edge to edge protection with a monolithic strike face. It did well against our threats EXCEPT M855A1.
Link To BS III+/RF2

Great video. Your link to the Botach site looks like 100% UHMWPE plate in the pic anyway... I just got a link to these in email, they are pushing these. These maybe look like the ones you tested:

https://botach.com/battle-steel-level-3-special-threat-armor-plates-m855-green-tip-protection-polyester-cover/

They even pictured some green tip. I guess if they actually STOP M855, it is worth saving 2 pounds per front/back carrier?

[crufflers]

This plate like the level IV employs edge to edge protection with a monolithic strike face.

Those level IV's are pretty damn good for $89.xx and 5 pounds eleven ounces IIRC. I have a couple sets in Slicksters.

[xrMike]

They essentially are a way overbuilt level III. The only reason they handle M2AP is because 99% of youtubers will shoot surplus M2AP at plates, which lacks upwards of 300 fps to meet spec. They are one of the few plates I've tested in a "level III" that stopped M80A1. Mainly because the strike face is almost as thick as most level IV They are imported and lack things like NIJ certification, but it would appear the company who actually makes them is keeping the quality good.

Thank you!