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Thanks for the responses.  Looking at the JPC and will give First Spear a call.

With respect to ordering small SAPIs it looks like Highcom has half a dozen or so different models in lvl 4 alone.  It wasn't apparent to me why there are so many options - I assume primarily weight and price variations?

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Why do you need Level IV plates? Are you expecting to be under fire from 30 cal armor piercing rounds? Otherwise a 3+ or "3++" might suit you better.  Level IV is a NIJ standard to take a SINGLE hit of .30 AP. Level 3+ is a rating for multiple hits of 5.56. For a civilian in the US, that seems much more likely. Plate manufacturers also have a plate they call "3++" which stops regular 5.56 (M193) but also can stop M855 which is considered a light AP round.  Note that the reason the 3++ is in quite marks is because that is not an official rating from NIJ.  The ratings are EXTREMELY specific and a higher rating does NOT necessarily mean that they are better or stronger. They are all threat-specific and you need to understand the ratings to make an informed purchase choice.

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Take a look at shellbacktactical.com and their plate and carrier combos. The banshee is a nice option with their level iv plates for about 350.00 total.

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What do you guys suggest for me?

Im between 5'8" and 5'9" and weigh about 160-165. Wear a medium shirt.

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Probably a size medium plate.

Cut out some cardboard tot he dimensions of the plate and hold up to your chest.

Should be level with the top of your sternum, cover both nipples and be able to sit down without it touching your thighs and being pushed up.

Common mistakes are buying plates too large and wearing them too low on your chest.

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That's pretty funny. Thanks for the help.

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Part of your issue appears to be a knowledge of anatomy and understanding what exactly is supposed to be protected by plates.  Your guts aren't going to be covered.  That's normal.  The heart, lungs, spine, aorta, vena cava; these are the major structures to protect.

Also, plates aren't intended to have maximal coverage.  They are intended to be a balance between protection and mobility.  There will always be something uncovered, but it is traded for mobility and weight.

ETA:  start here:  http://cdn3.volusion.com/spavx.zzcjr/v/vspfiles/photos/CDR-ODG2-8.jpg?1425038797

http://sixty-six.org/x_drive/thorax_posterior.jpg

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Are the tips of your nipped behind the hard armor if the plate, not a soft edge? If so, then it is wide enough.No, and this was part of my concern, the carrier itself is basically intersecting them so plates will be even a little more narrow, that was part of my concern. Thanks.

Can you shoulder a rifle and shoot pistol in Iso without interference?  If so it's not too wide.

Is the top of plate even with to one inch below the top of your sternal notch? If so it's at the right height.

Can you both do a sit up and lift your hands overhead while looking down and not choke yourself? If so the plate is not too long.

10x12 is shorter than SAPI Large by an inch, give or take, but close in width.

I wear SAPI Large and it's almost too big. I should be 6'2" and 210 to 220, but I'm currently a fat 230, from too much desk time and not enough time in the gym.I'm going to try to find some SAPI medium plates or cut templates and see, maybe this is the way to go for my build.

It is common for people to confuse "coverage" with excess vest material or molle that is not giving ballistic protection. Plate carriers do not give you "coverage" the armor does. Whether or not it "looks" like better coverage is not important. Trim plate carriers always look like coverage is light.Got it.

The pictured black Banshee is worn too low. I'd expect the rear is even worse. It should sit higher than the front, even after the front is raised 2" or so. It looks like you need a SAPI large (and thus, a plate carrier fitted for a SAPI plate i.e. not a Banshee). That 10x12 Banshee on the guy with a 36" chest is great. I have a 44" chest. A 10x12 is too narrow and too short for me. I sometimes wish it was a 1/4" shorter though. An XL SAPI fits my LT great. He is 6'7" and 250 pounds. I saw that after reading two of the posts above, meaning raising it would leave seem to me to make it really short. No way I'm in danger of not being able to bend over with this vest for any reason. Right now if i raised it I'm guessing it would bottom out near the top of second to last rib, and with my lack of anatomy knowledge I don't know what number that rib is. But a decent bit higher than the bottom of my rib cage.

The only people who have plates that cover the lower abdomen are really short guys with plates too long for their torso.

Put some pistol mags on the front of your beltline and try to bend forward with your plate carrier on. You should still be able to bend over. You can't as worn in the photo. Bottom of plate will crash into top of pistol mags.

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Are the tips of your nipped behind the hard armor if the plate, not a soft edge? If so, then it is wide enough.No, and this was part of my concern, the carrier itself is basically intersecting them so plates will be even a little more narrow, that was part of my concern. Thanks.

Can you shoulder a rifle and shoot pistol in Iso without interference?  If so it's not too wide.

Is the top of plate even with to one inch below the top of your sternal notch? If so it's at the right height.

Can you both do a sit up and lift your hands overhead while looking down and not choke yourself? If so the plate is not too long.

10x12 is shorter than SAPI Large by an inch, give or take, but close in width.

I wear SAPI Large and it's almost too big. I should be 6'2" and 210 to 220, but I'm currently a fat 230, from too much desk time and not enough time in the gym.I'm going to try to find some SAPI medium plates or cut templates and see, maybe this is the way to go for my build.

It is common for people to confuse "coverage" with excess vest material or molle that is not giving ballistic protection. Plate carriers do not give you "coverage" the armor does. Whether or not it "looks" like better coverage is not important. Trim plate carriers always look like coverage is light.Got it.

The pictured black Banshee is worn too low. I'd expect the rear is even worse. It should sit higher than the front, even after the front is raised 2" or so. It looks like you need a SAPI large (and thus, a plate carrier fitted for a SAPI plate i.e. not a Banshee). That 10x12 Banshee on the guy with a 36" chest is great. I have a 44" chest. A 10x12 is too narrow and too short for me. I sometimes wish it was a 1/4" shorter though. An XL SAPI fits my LT great. He is 6'7" and 250 pounds. I saw that after reading two of the posts above, meaning raising it would leave seem to me to make it really short. No way I'm in danger of not being able to bend over with this vest for any reason. Right now if i raised it I'm guessing it would bottom out near the top of second to last rib, and with my lack of anatomy knowledge I don't know what number that rib is. But a decent bit higher than the bottom of my rib cage.

The only people who have plates that cover the lower abdomen are really short guys with plates too long for their torso.

Put some pistol mags on the front of your beltline and try to bend forward with your plate carrier on. You should still be able to bend over. You can't as worn in the photo. Bottom of plate will crash into top of pistol mags.