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Posted: 8/1/2008 9:44:50 PM EDT
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I need an affordable armor plate for the very unlikely possiblity of a SHTF gunfight. Considering all the pros and cons to ceramic vs. steel plates, I have decided on steel (mainly for price and the fact that I will rarely wear them so weight isn't too big of a concern). In the future when I have more money, I would be open to consider different alternatives. Anyway, I need one steel level III armor plate for frontal use. Should I go with the Bullet Proof Me one for $110: www.bulletproofme.com/Body_Armor_Accessories_Rifle_Protection.shtml#Steel Or the one from Kejo for $120: www.bodyarmorcompany.com/retail/products.php?productID=92 Thanks! |
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You might want to do a search on steel plates. DocGKR did some testing and some of the high-end steel plates were made into Swiss-cheese using South African M193 55gr ammo. I am in the business...but were I to purchase from either of these companies, I'd go with Bulletproofme.com |
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from DocGKR: 5-6 mm AR500/R50c steel plates: Steel plates offer a very thin profile, but are a bit heavier than some other options. They are very durable and offer inexpensive multi-hit capability against non-AP 7.62 x 39 mm and 7.62 x 51 mm, as well as for heavier 5.56 mm loads. If you face lightweight (55 gr or less) hot loaded 5.56 mm, they will go right through steel plates. It is a good idea to wear soft armor underneath steel plates. Of the two listed, my $$$ would go to the BPMe stand alone plate. |
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There are a ton of reasons to go with one plate vs another. If you need an affordable SHTF plate, my money is still on steel IMO. Yes, research has shown shown that higher velocity 5.56mm will penetrate steel lvl III plates and penetrate supporting lvl II/IIIA kevlar. The issue is that it becomes a matter of affordability to get a plate that will stop this one specific threat and still have a plate that will not fragment after 5 strikes. There are things like Dragonskin and AMI hybrid armor but either of these will set you back a couple grand (bare minimum) if you can even get ahold of them as a civi. I personally am still of the skool that something is better than nothing and there will ALWAYS be a threat out there that will defeat personal body armor. .50 BMG would go straight through lvl IV and ceramic plates will fragment from half a dozen rounds of .308 or .3006. What I am getting at is that in the long run, everything is a trade off. In SHTF, replacing your plates is pretty much a non-option. Therefore, IMO it comes down to the option of affordable steel or very expensive AMI or dragonskin. While there are a couple of rounds that may penetrate steel, it will not fragment and will hold up to tons of abuse. If it is not for SHTF, I'd think about skipping steel and looking into ceramic. |
| The fact that you won't be wearing them very often is the perfect reason you should get the lightest ones you can. Unless you carry a lot of weight around in your occupation, if you ever need to wear the plates you'll be sucking when you first put on that weight. |
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I gotta disagree with that, to a point, I get what you are saying, but if the thing is going to sit on the floor to 'just to have' I would, and did, go with the cheaper option. $540 vs $220. which do you want to sit on the floor  and be careful when you do it so they don't crack also the ceramic are only 2lbs lighter ( and $320 more ) and yes I know that even 2lbs means a lot, I just made the same point about removing pouches on backpacks to save 2lbs, and if you HAVE to wear plates for your job then yes go for them, but for the 'just in case' reason, I think having $320 more to do other things with, it makes more sence to go with steel. |
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Yep. A Level IIIA vest can run less than a set of steel plates + the plate backer/soft armor/spall guard, and certainly less than a set of stand-alone ceramic or HDPE plates. BulletproofMe.com has "lightly worn" police surplus IIIA vests starting at $270. |
but this would run me 220$, no?
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You say you're not expecting rifle fire, yet you want to get a plate. Doing so may cost less for a steel plate but isn't the best solution to your stated needs/desires. Plates are, for lack of a better term, overkill for handgun ammo. Additionally, plates cover a much smaller portion of your body than a vest would. If plates were the best solution, cops would wear plates instead of vests. Now you're saying you only want one plate. Nobody might shoot you from the side? or the back? Do you even know what you need, versus what you think you want? |
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Yes, plates will stop pistol rounds in addition to some rifle rounds (depending on rating). But why carry a 9 pound piece of steel that only covers a 10x12" rectangle on your chest, instead of a 5-7 pound vest that will cover nearly all of your torso and vital areas, front, side and back? If it's ONLY about money, you need to rethink your priorities. I am not telling you what to do. I am merely offering things to consider. What I WILL suggest is that you study up on body armor before making a purchase so you fully understand what you need in relation to what you think you want. It will save you money in the long term. |
thanks for the info, sounds like the police surplus vest is the way for me to start. |
Unless those plates are stand alone then you are going to need some kind of soft armor behind it. Most plates rating is when used IN CONJUNCTION with soft armor usually IIIA. You can go a couple of directions. 1. Buy a new/used vest and wear underneath your plate carrier. 2. Buy "plate backers" which are soft armor in the shape of the plate to put behind them. 3. Buy a used vest and cut to the shape of your plates. |
Source? I remember reading a thread where a company was selling plates (steel? ceramic? I don't recall) that did not come with an NIJ certification and failed on handgun rounds, but I do not recall reading anything negative about actual certified steel plates failing to M193. -WhyTanFox |
Well, I found this 10-8 thread where Gary Roberts ("DocGKR"?) shoots at plates from 9' away; very interesting read; left me curious why anyone would sell (or purchase) "uncertified armor". Validates my choice of M193 and makes me wish I went with a 16" barrel instead of a 14.5" :-/ But if someone was looking to stash away body armor for a SHTF even (during, say, the Democratic National Plastic? Thick, Degrades quickly in heat, doesn't stop M855. Ceramic? Fragile, poor mulit-shot stopping, should be x-rayed & inspected annually, storage issues (?). Steel? Heavy, fails to M193 at close ranges. For infrequent (hopefully never) use by someone with out a large support structure behind them, what is recommended? -WhyTanFox |
if someones shooting at you at close range, you have got bigger problems  I think your average scumbag criminal, is not likely going to have a 5.56 weapon, thats not saying none do, but most are going to have something on the low end. an interesting off topic opservation is how a lot of people say how bad 5.56 is against people, yet it's praised for it's ability against steel armor. I KNOW there is WAY MORE to it then that, it's just an interesting observation. |
By "interceptors" do you mean the military Interceptor Body Army? It's fine, but bulky, and it's not going to be NIJ rated, just mil spec which is different. They are rated to stop a 9mm submachine gun, but not the other test for the NIJ level 3A rating. They are soft armor, they will not stop any rifle round. If you want a full sized tactical vest there are easier to get, cheaper (when new) or less beat up used vests out there. |
Unless it's rated to actually stop 5.56, I'd not trust it. The level 3 NIJ standard does not test for it and does not require it. Find steel plates that are tested and rated against 5.56. |
1. Most interceptors on the market are misappropriated government property. There are some legitimately purchased from the commercial market, but not that many since most folks who'd buy armor on the commercial market use stuff that's better suited for their needs. 2. If they are real SAPI plates, then they are very likely stolen. 3. Wearing a cop vest under an Interceptor means you didn't follow my suggestion to actually learn about armor before spending money on it. It's not needed and really doesn't give you added protection over the Interceptor alone that's worth the expense of the added weight/bulk/heat. Unless you're in a high-frag environment, which I doubt, unless you expect your water heater or dishwasher to blow up. Enjoy your vest. |
= joking.I know (from your posts!) I wouldn't need both. But I need to buy a soft one for work. and i didn't want to pass up the interceptor, so i am getting both. doesn't mean I'll wear both. |
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