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

[Buffman]

I don’t get this whole cheap out on plates thought process. Plates are a life saving piece of kit and people are gonna cheap out on it? Do you guys cheap out on your firearms? Rocking high points? I get a lot of people can’t afford to spend a grand per plate, but you can save up a few extra hundred for quality plates.

having options are good. Otherwise if we were all buying $1k plates, then everyone would be selling their $50 of material plates for $1K

Here's the LAPG Level IV plate:

[Steve1968LS2]

Hey, I picked up some spall liners for an AR500 plate carrier I have.. these are what I got:

https://premierbodyarmor.com/products/spall-liner-for-plates?variant=1951797772332&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIurnsrcGE6wIVzgiICR3iVgwLEAQYASABEgLS9fD_BwE

for spall protection shouldn't be on the outside of the armor? The tag on it says "this side next to body" which would be fine for a trauma pad, but wouldn't that be useless for spall? or is this a combo trauma pad/spall liner depending on where you put it in your carrier? Just seems like a confusing label. If put on the outside of armor as a spall liner would the label go towards the front of the carrier or toward the armor or does it not matter?

[crufflers]

Hey, I picked up some spall liners for an AR500 plate carrier I have.. these are what I got:

https://premierbodyarmor.com/products/spall-liner-for-plates?variant=1951797772332&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIurnsrcGE6wIVzgiICR3iVgwLEAQYASABEgLS9fD_BwE

for spall protection shouldn't be on the outside of the armor? The tag on it says "this side next to body" which would be fine for a trauma pad, but wouldn't that be useless for spall?

It has to go on top of the wear face of the steel plate, enhancing the spall catching of the plate buildup coating (if any).

If you watch the video on the link page you included it shows that... makes me wonder if there are two different labels on both sides though, in the video he has the label side facing out.

[DrjonesUSA]

If you guys are going to get spall guards (and it does seem like a good idea)

I'd suggest that we support our fellow calgunner:

https://drmorgear.wordpress.com/products/spall-guards/

If his guards work half as well as he claims, then they will be epic.

Dave seems to really, REALLY know his stuff dead cold, has contributed to this thread a lot. I've corresponded with him privately about his guards & he seems like a rock solid man. I'm going to get some!

[Steve1968LS2]

It has to go on top of the wear face of the steel plate, enhancing the spall catching of the plate buildup coating (if any).

If you watch the video on the link page you included it shows that... makes me wonder if there are two different labels on both sides though, in the video he has the label side facing out.

Yea, thought maybe it was a combo "trauma pad/spall deal" but it just bad terminology.. the company confirmed that it should have said "toward body"

Anyways, my steel has a spall coating, but I figure better safe than sorry and these spall pads are pretty cheap. Thanks

[Steve1968LS2]

If you guys are going to get spall guards (and it does seem like a good idea)

I'd suggest that we support our fellow calgunner:

https://drmorgear.wordpress.com/products/spall-guards/

If his guards work half as well as he claims, then they will be epic.

Dave seems to really, REALLY know his stuff dead cold, has contributed to this thread a lot. I've corresponded with him privately about his guards & he seems like a rock solid man. I'm going to get some!

I didn't know.. I need two more and will give him a shot. (pun intended)

[Steve1968LS2]

If you watch the video on the link page you included it shows that... makes me wonder if there are two different labels on both sides though, in the video he has the label side facing out.

I saw that too, which is why I called them.. the label should be toward the plate.. oops! lol

[crufflers]

I saw that too, which is why I called them.. the label should be toward the plate.. oops! lol

Yeah I figured he had them backwards, but still effective.

I have buildup on one set with inserts and bare plates on another with inserts. The ones I got had a simple label that made sense.

[DrjonesUSA]

I didn't know.. I need two more and will give him a shot. (pun intended)

[toiletfighter]

[Master_Prestige]

https://www.optactical.com/

HUGE HESCO RESTOCK.

[bug_eyedmonster]

I'm looking to get certified ceramic plates in the near future, but my carrier fits 11x14, and I'm bigger, so I'd prefer the coverage. Are there any available that you that know better, could recommend? I have two carriers currently, one for myself and one for my wife, and she runs standard sizes with a small carrier. Thanks in advance for your info.


Jerry

[DeliveryBoy]

Personally (and I believe DR agrees- it's discussed in this thread somewhere) I think trauma plates/pads are a solution in search of a problem ie not necessary. We should have a soft ballistic panel underneath. Provides a little blunt force protection, while also providing ballistic protection in case of pass through.
And I'm sorry, the selling point of the trauma pad is that it's a non Newtonian material ( flexible then hardens upon impact)... That's beneficial under soft armor, because soft armor is flexible... A hard plate doesn't flex. So having a"flexible solid" is of little value.
Skip the trauma pad. Pick up soft armor plate backers.

[kriller134]

[Master_Prestige]

Ferro V5
Spiritus Mk4
Ferro 3+ plate

So comfortable.