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

[Buffman]

AR500 Armor #1078 PE Level III plate:

[eric90503]

Subjective since NIJ standards are considered minimums. Find a plate that meets your threat profile, and budget. You can spend ungodly amounts of $$ on armor. IMO if you want a level IV and it's on the NIJ 06 certified list, pick the one that matches your budget and intended use. Steel has it's place in training and ultra budget area, but it's heavy, and people are concerned about high velocity penetration. PE plates are super lightweight, but can't stop M855 rounds until about 200 yards.

I should probably look into a carrier first? I'm thinking III or IV, budget is what ever the lightest is out there. A whole lot of good your bank account will do if your done. I don't understand when people are trying to save money with AR500 only to gas out if they really needed to move.

So, if you had to recommend a LVL III or IV armor with carrier, that was the lightest and with unlimited budget, what would it be? Nice videos btw

[Buffman]

Thank you d-r and buffman for your knowledgeable insight. Been racking my brain on this thread topic. With so many mfg. (LBT, PIG, BEEZ, etc.) Sorry I'm still learning I don't know them all.

Is there kind of a hierarchy of what's the best in quality? I like the idea of hardplate with a soft armor backing.

Subjective since NIJ standards are considered minimums. Find a plate that meets your threat profile, and budget. You can spend ungodly amounts of $$ on armor. IMO if you want a level IV and it's on the NIJ 06 certified list, pick the one that matches your budget and intended use. Steel has it's place in training and ultra budget area, but it's heavy, and people are concerned about high velocity penetration. PE plates are super lightweight, but can't stop M855 rounds until about 200 yards.

[eric90503]

Thank you d-r and buffman for your knowledgeable insight. Been racking my brain on this thread topic. With so many mfg. (LBT, PIG, BEEZ, etc.) Sorry I'm still learning I don't know them all.

Is there kind of a hierarchy of what's the best in quality? I like the idea of hardplate with a soft armor backing.

[khiemp]

Hi All,
New to body armor. I don't have too much to spend but I figure it would be good to have something. Can I get some advice on what type of armor to use? Mainly for HD. I most likely will not be running courses or do to much training with this gear on. I like this because I can have armor, handgun, and spare mags available just by slipping on this carrier. I am not sure what type of armor to get since there are so many options available ranging from level, weight, shape, and cuts. Is going lightweight with the shooters cuts worth the extra $ if I will not be using this very often?

https://www.ar500armor.com/promotions-sales/veritas-basic-modular-loadout.html

[Buffman]

AR500 Armor Level IV: D

[Buffman]

I went a little overboard with this demo:

[d-r]

DR, i spoke w/ you about this when i got my gear from you. i do have the LPC but i can only find it in M w/ M cummerbund, never did find one in L and M cummerbund.

i will look around again and check out the other you mentioned in the email.

thanks again.

The SKD PIG plate carrier is also a rig that I highly recommend (excellent plate retention, separate plate/backer compartments). In addition, I will be acquiring and reviewing the Appalachian Training plate carrier this winter, and it may prove to be another viable option.

[dx2]

Velocity Systems Lightweight Plate Carrier in L/XL with small/medium cummerbund. Excellent PC.

DR, i spoke w/ you about this when i got my gear from you. i do have the LPC but i can only find it in M w/ M cummerbund, never did find one in L and M cummerbund.

i will look around again and check out the other you mentioned in the email.

thanks again.

[d-r]

hey all. i have 10x12 plates and have DR's spall guards and backers. i have a carrier that i like, forget which one now, but the 10x12 pockets are just a bit too snug to accept the plates w/ the spall guards. i have another carrier that will take 11x14 plates, but it doesn't have any way to 'secure' the plates up in the pocket, so they sit at the bottom and they are too low.

what i'm looking for, is advice on a carrier that will fit well on a smaller guy (5'9", 155 lbs) and will accept 11x14 plates (with a strap to secure the plates in a good position).

thanks!

Velocity Systems Lightweight Plate Carrier in L/XL with small/medium cummerbund. Excellent PC.

[dx2]

hey all. i have 10x12 plates and have DR's spall guards and backers. i have a carrier that i like, forget which one now, but the 10x12 pockets are just a bit too snug to accept the plates w/ the spall guards. i have another carrier that will take 11x14 plates, but it doesn't have any way to 'secure' the plates up in the pocket, so they sit at the bottom and they are too low.

what i'm looking for, is advice on a carrier that will fit well on a smaller guy (5'9", 155 lbs) and will accept 11x14 plates (with a strap to secure the plates in a good position).

thanks!

[d-r]

+1. Typically UHMWPE plate can stop high velocity threats (m193), but will fall short when you mix steel into the round (m855), at least from my testing..

From my tests, the mechanism of action for stopping the round is frictive braking, and because M193 is compressible, it is able to be stopped. M855, because the tip/core is steel, and non-compressible, is able to penetrate.

[Buffman]

The whole post was, sadly, facepalm-worthy. The comments are examples of third-hand "knowledge" and hearsay.

UHMWPE are never going to be the thinnest plates. They will always be thickest for equivalent protection.

+1. Typically UHMWPE plate can stop high velocity threats (m193), but will fall short when you mix steel into the round (m855), at least from my testing..

[d-r]

Had high hopes for the article and dispersion of good armor knowledge....alas there are multiple errors. The first comment by "kjack" sums it up nicely. So, below is a copy& paste of his comment which were my exact thoughts as I read- glad he beat me to it.

The whole post was, sadly, facepalm-worthy. The comments are examples of third-hand "knowledge" and hearsay.

UHMWPE are never going to be the thinnest plates. They will always be thickest for equivalent protection.

[d-r]

Doc,

Is the largest reasoning for ICW ratings with plates to reduce back face deformation or is the soft armor actually expected to stop the bullet after being slowed by the plate (partial penetration, spall, etc)?

Is it to achieve the multi-hit rating?

I been using VS Special Threat plates (standalone) but recently picked up a set that is lighter and thinner than the Velocity with same threat protection but requires IIIA.

Wouldn't second guess putting soft armor behind the plate but curious as to why.

P_Man,

ICW plates are engineered with the assumption that the soft armor is part of the backing. It is nominally there to meet the BFD requirements (44mm in Roma Plastalina), but also to catch any backface spallation. Generally, rounds that are overmatch tend to fragment pretty heavily when impacting ceramic strike faces, so the soft armor has a reasonable chance of catching it.

As a general rule, I advocate wearing soft armor behind all hard armor, regardless of ICW or standalone.