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

[d-r]

Haha, that is actually kind of funny to hear. Honestly, I don't really mind if it has titanium or not in the plates, I was just curious if they are good. Being titanium/steel or just steel doesn't change the fact that each plate weighs about 9 lbs, and I'm ok wearing it around for a few hours at a time. I wore the carrier during a training class for about 4 hours last weekend and it wasn't too bad.

Anyone else running a minimalist carrier?

Not to mention that Ti is not a good choice for rifle armor. To be effective, it has to be much too thick to be wearable.

[flavor]

I have always worn Galls and Point Blank Level IIIA soft armor for work. I liked it a lot. It was thin, very concealable and it protects your whole body. But they are expensive ($450-$650) expire within 3-5 years. Sweat, heat and other factors wear out the vest as well. Also soft armor is not stab proof. Soft armor can only take a few shots before they explode. You risk of broken ribs. Outer shell carriers always rip within 6 months to a year and are expensive.

I recently switched over to wearing AR500 Level IIIA 10x12 "Lightweight" plates and they are only .2-.23" thick. I use Beez Combat Systems concealed plate carrier. With these plates and carrier, you still maintain good concealability. These plates are a lot heavier and do not protect your sides. But they are cheaper ($75 each, $150 for two, $75 for carrier = $225 before tax compared to $450-$650 for soft armor). They are also stab proof and last a lifetime since they are steel plates. They can take a lot of shots before the spalling peels off but are still good to go.

Switching over to AR500 was the best decision I have ever made.

[the Scholar]

Unfortunately, it isn't actually composed of titanium. It is simply steel iirc and the titanium is the marketing name they gave it.

Haha, that is actually kind of funny to hear. Honestly, I don't really mind if it has titanium or not in the plates, I was just curious if they are good. Being titanium/steel or just steel doesn't change the fact that each plate weighs about 9 lbs, and I'm ok wearing it around for a few hours at a time. I wore the carrier during a training class for about 4 hours last weekend and it wasn't too bad.

Anyone else running a minimalist carrier?

[DeliveryBoy]

I searched the thread a bit but didn't see it anywhere but I was wondering how International Armor Corporation Titanium/Steel stand alone level 3 plates are?

I bought a Grey Ghost Gear Minimalist Plate Carrier that came with the International Armor Corp HAP for around $300 and was wondering what the quality actually is.

Unfortunately, it isn't actually composed of titanium. It is simply steel iirc and the titanium is the marketing name they gave it.

[the Scholar]

I searched the thread a bit but didn't see it anywhere but I was wondering how International Armor Corporation Titanium/Steel stand alone level 3 plates are?

I bought a Grey Ghost Gear Minimalist Plate Carrier that came with the International Armor Corp HAP for around $300 and was wondering what the quality actually is.

[Buffman]

And here's M993 making quick work of two Level IV plates

[Buffman]

Stepped up the Engarde to the 300 Win mag

[Buffman]

^ isn't listed in the certified section on NIJ's website, but doesn't mean it's not any good. Not a bad price, but there's an NIJ 06 (pending certification) Level IV that goes on sale a lot for $100/plate..

[Hammertime]

Cool, thanks for the video!

[Buffman]

Need to get a bolt gun to get some more velocity out of my M2AP, or maybe download some 300 WM to different velocity steps for testing. I'd say their plate did rather well. A little on the heavy side for an ICW, but it held up well for a tile arrangement plate

[Buffman]

CATI's AR600 III+ destroyed. I think the close proximity .308 may be too much for such a hard steel. I've cracked plates before with 308 AP, and 300WM and 338. They did however stop M193 at over 3200fps..

[d-r]

Any opinion on these?

They are ICW but supposed to stop M855 at only 3.6 lbs (call it 4.6 lbs with a IIIA panel).

http://www.tyrtactical.com/products/details/ballistic-plates-soft-armor-inserts/tyr-hard-armor-level-3-i-c-plate/

I'm looking for these characteristics:
1) light as possible (5 lbs or less)
2) thin as possible (target 0.5")
3) stops common 5.56 (M855 & M193) and 7.62x39, doesn't need to stop .308, but pure UhMWPE that won't stop M855 is out

I'm leaning toward Midwest FM STX but seeing if anything can beat it, i.e. Offer same protection for less than 5 lbs for an ESAPI medium

No opinion on the Tyr plate. They make good gear.

I still recommend the Midwest FM3+ or the FM4+ if you need something even lighter. ICW plates are not my favorite. And the STX is a great plate, but does not stop M80 ball.

[thorium]

Any opinion on these?

They are ICW but supposed to stop M855 at only 3.6 lbs (call it 4.6 lbs with a IIIA panel).

http://www.tyrtactical.com/products/details/ballistic-plates-soft-armor-inserts/tyr-hard-armor-level-3-i-c-plate/

I'm looking for these characteristics:
1) light as possible (5 lbs or less)
2) thin as possible (target 0.5")
3) stops common 5.56 (M855 & M193) and 7.62x39, doesn't need to stop .308, but pure UhMWPE that won't stop M855 is out

I'm leaning toward Midwest FM STX but seeing if anything can beat it, i.e. Offer same protection for less than 5 lbs for an ESAPI medium

[lavey29]

Got this Protech Titan plate carrier for sale in the market place in case anyone is interested. Level IIIA no plates.

[d-r]

I was in the market for body armor. Did my research on AR500 and Spartan. I found BAM (body armor megastore). I was interested in purchasing level IIIa soft body armor. There prices are about half of everyone else. I was thinking about double up front and back because there so cheap and each insert only weighs 1 lbs. Anyone has these and could provide some comments?

I would advise stay far away from this company. Their "spall armor" is the tired and ineffective "half a plate backer stuck to the front" (with duck tape? Really?!).

This design guarantees that a person standing directly in front of the plate will be safe, but the wearer will catch a focused fan of spall. Hint: spall follows the plate surface. The spall cloud is "tamped" by the aramid face. And note the top edge, like the sides, is open. This is the most vital point to catch spall on a plate.

A test video would show this. Demand a shoot test.

I would do one, but it would be better coming from a disinterested third party.

The soft armor is more than likely UHMWPE. This is not "the best" ballistic material. It turns into milk-jug plastic if exposed to temperatures above 165 F (and the inside of cars can easily get that hot or hotter). UHMWPE should only be used in hard armor applications. There are several companies offering "cheap" body armor that utilizes this material. UHMWPE can be cut with a hot knife, speeding production. Whereas woven aramid requires much more labor intensive preparation methods.

And to put the issue to rest, NO, soft armor WILL NOT STOP rifle rounds. You would need about 120 layers of aramid to stop a centerfire rifle round.