What are some good light weight plates?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What are some good light weight plates?

Posted: 2/6/2018 10:41:31 AM EDT

What are some good level III light weight plates these days? I'm open to any material. I had my eyes on THESE.
Thanks in advance.

Posted: 2/6/2018 10:46:18 AM EDT

[#1]

What do you want them to stop?

Posted: 2/6/2018 10:53:23 AM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
What do you want them to stop?

View Quote

Multiple rifle rounds up to a .308/7.62x54, I don't care if they cannot stop AP rounds.

Posted: 2/6/2018 11:05:56 AM EDT

[#3]

I just won a set of these but they haven't been delivered yet.... Highcom RSTA SA+

They are "multi hit capable" and super lightweight. Other than that I don't really know anything about them.

ETA: The 10x12 shooters cut is 4.3lbs, however, according to the website the actual dimensions of the plate are 9.5x11.5. Not sure if that's standard but if not, that could account for some weight savings over plates that are actually 10x12.

Posted: 2/6/2018 12:48:17 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
I just won a set of these but they haven't been delivered yet.... Highcom RSTA SA+

They are "multi hit capable" and super lightweight. Other than that I don't really know anything about them.

ETA: The 10x12 shooters cut is 4.3lbs, however, according to the website the actual dimensions of the plate are 9.5x11.5. Not sure if that's standard but if not, that could account for some weight savings over plates that are actually 10x12.

View Quote

Yeah that is standard (sizes).

Posted: 2/6/2018 12:50:40 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yeah that is standard (sizes).

View Quote

Copy, thanks. That's good to know.

Posted: 2/6/2018 6:38:12 PM EDT

[#6]

Hesco 3610s, tencate 6400, Midwest STX, the high com speed plates, tencate cratus 2000, pro tech l7000, Hesco ul2010, most poly plates will be about 3lbs for a level III plate, Mtek CPI, and lots of others. If you tell me your use case I can narrow it down further.

Posted: 2/6/2018 8:16:30 PM EDT

[#7]

Will the lvl III poly plates stop M193?

Posted: 2/6/2018 8:25:52 PM EDT

[#8]

How much are you willing to spend? When it comes to armor, weight and price are usually inversely related.

If money was no object, I would pick up a set of AT Armor's STOP-BZ plates. Rated for M193, M855, M855A1, too.

Posted: 2/6/2018 8:30:45 PM EDT

[#9]

Poly plates stop M193 but not m855. The AT stop+bz are tencate 6400s.

Posted: 2/7/2018 9:45:20 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hesco 3610s, tencate 6400, Midwest STX, the high com speed plates, tencate cratus 2000, pro tech l7000, Hesco ul2010, most poly plates will be about 3lbs for a level III plate, Mtek CPI, and lots of others. If you tell me your use case I can narrow it down further.

View Quote

Thanks for all the suggestions, I’m look into them right now. Other than stopping 5.56 and .308, being light weight is most important to me. And price under 700 for the set.

Posted: 2/7/2018 10:02:49 AM EDT

[#11]

Hesco 3610s.

Posted: 2/7/2018 10:30:15 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for all the suggestions, I’m look into them right now. Other than stopping 5.56 and .308, being light weight is most important to me. And price under 700 for the set.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Hesco 3610s, tencate 6400, Midwest STX, the high com speed plates, tencate cratus 2000, pro tech l7000, Hesco ul2010, most poly plates will be about 3lbs for a level III plate, Mtek CPI, and lots of others. If you tell me your use case I can narrow it down further.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I’m look into them right now. Other than stopping 5.56 and .308, being light weight is most important to me. And price under 700 for the set.

At that price point look at SKD's carbine plate. It's a modified tencate 6400, very light and stops the full range of combat rounds. If you don't think M855 is a threat you'll face there are poly plates that will fit that price point, but they're the thicker version that are like 3.4 lbs for a plate. RMA makes some in SAPI sizes under 300 per plate.

Posted: 2/7/2018 11:00:10 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

At that price point look at SKD's carbine plate. It's a modified tencate 6400, very light and stops the full range of combat rounds. If you don't think M855 is a threat you'll face there are poly plates that will fit that price point, but they're the thicker version that are like 3.4 lbs for a plate. RMA makes some in SAPI sizes under 300 per plate.

View Quote

Sorry for my lack of knowledge but III wont stop M855?

Posted: 2/7/2018 11:14:59 AM EDT

[#14]

A level III poly plate does not stop M855 at rifle velocities. PE plates stop rounds through frictive breaking which the steel core resists. 7.62x39 mild steel core is stopped because of its lower velocity but not M855 or 7.62x54 light ball steel core.

Posted: 2/7/2018 4:54:35 PM EDT

[#15]

I like the SKD carbine plate, but don’t know if it will stop 7.62x54 or 7.62x51.

Posted: 2/7/2018 5:00:45 PM EDT

[#16]

It's a swimmer cut single curve tencate 6400. It will stop .308, and will stop x54 but with a lot of BFD.

Posted: 2/10/2018 6:16:37 PM EDT

[#17]

A medium SAPI plate weighs 4lbs, a large is 4.6lbs.

Posted: 2/12/2018 12:06:51 PM EDT

[#18]

I really leaning towards the SKD Carbine plates. Due that they only weigh 4.2 lbs, are .55" thick, and stop m855.

Posted: 2/12/2018 6:15:16 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
I really leaning towards the SKD Carbine plates. Due that they only weigh 4.2 lbs, are .55" thick, and stop m855.

View Quote

Single curve though. but otherwise nice

Posted: 2/12/2018 8:20:32 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
A level III poly plate does not stop M855 at rifle velocities. PE plates stop rounds through frictive breaking which the steel core resists. 7.62x39 mild steel core is stopped because of its lower velocity but not M855 or 7.62x54 light ball steel core.

View Quote

M855 gets stopped frequently by many level III poly plates, just not all the time. Just like level III AR500 and M193. Both are likely to stop the problem threat from a 16" barrel from common distances but both have too many failures to bet your life on for the threat.

Posted: 2/25/2018 12:59:55 AM EDT

[#21]

SKD plates are called "carbine" plates. There is no data on barrel length, fps, etc of rounds. Anyone know any more info on them? If rated for shorter barrel, slower rounds then they may not be as good as they seem. I'm interested as I only own some heavy ass steel ones.

Posted: 2/25/2018 9:30:28 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
SKD plates are called "carbine" plates. There is no data on barrel length, fps, etc of rounds. Anyone know any more info on them? If rated for shorter barrel, slower rounds then they may not be as good as they seem. I'm interested as I only own some heavy ass steel ones.

View Quote

I emailed SKD they said they won’t stop 7.62x51, that’s the data I need to rule them out.

Posted: 2/25/2018 9:49:09 AM EDT

[#23]

These are light, and thinner (and lighter) with ICW backer than the SA+ version:

HighCom

M193, m855, 7.61x51, and mild steel core 7.62x39

Posted: 3/5/2018 10:56:01 AM EDT

[#24]

These are the thinnest, lightest plates I've ever used. Velocity API-BZ Multi hit plate. Now they were issued to me to wear covertly, so I didn't have to go out of pocket for them. But I'm told they run about $795 per plate. YMMV.

If I could afford to buy these, I would in a heartbeat. I'll just hang on to my issued pair as long as they'll let me.

https://www.velsyst.com/7-62x39-api-bz-multi-hit-stand-alone-rifle-plate-523.html

Posted: 3/7/2018 3:04:59 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
M855 gets stopped frequently by many level III poly plates, just not all the time. Just like level III AR500 and M193. Both are likely to stop the problem threat from a 16" barrel from common distances but both have too many failures to bet your life on for the threat.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
A level III poly plate does not stop M855 at rifle velocities. PE plates stop rounds through frictive breaking which the steel core resists. 7.62x39 mild steel core is stopped because of its lower velocity but not M855 or 7.62x54 light ball steel core.

M855 gets stopped frequently by many level III poly plates, just not all the time. Just like level III AR500 and M193. Both are likely to stop the problem threat from a 16" barrel from common distances but both have too many failures to bet your life on for the threat.

So, will the ar500 level lll+ stop the m193? I'm looking at a set right now and don't want to make a mistake. I thought it was rated for all m193,m 855 etc.

Posted: 3/7/2018 9:01:15 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

So, will the ar500 level lll+ stop the m193? I'm looking at a set right now and don't want to make a mistake. I thought it was rated for all m193,m 855 etc.

View Quote

Maybe, depending on velocity. Level III + means very little. For some companies they stop M193 at 3100FPS some 3200 or 3300. It's kind of a crap shoot since it's not standardized. That's part of why I'm so excited for the NIJ 101.07 standard.

Posted: 3/7/2018 9:07:07 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

Maybe, depending on velocity. Level III + means very little. For some companies they stop M193 at 3100FPS some 3200 or 3300. It's kind of a crap shoot since it's not standardized. That's part of why I'm so excited for the NIJ 101.07 standard.

View Quote

I was talking specifically about the level III+ from ar500, the coated steel plates. Any idea?

Posted: 3/7/2018 9:20:55 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
These are the thinnest, lightest plates I've ever used. Velocity API-BZ Multi hit plate. Now they were issued to me to wear covertly, so I didn't have to go out of pocket for them. But I'm told they run about $795 per plate. YMMV.

If I could afford to buy these, I would in a heartbeat. I'll just hang on to my issued pair as long as they'll let me.

https://www.velsyst.com/7-62x39-api-bz-multi-hit-stand-alone-rifle-plate-523.html

View Quote

Thanks for the input, helped swing me to one plate.

Posted: 3/8/2018 4:08:41 AM EDT

[#29]

I have a set of these

Velocity TBL plates

A little on the heavy side but meets your mark for threat level and the price doesn’t hurt.

Posted: 3/8/2018 8:37:58 PM EDT

[#30]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I decided to pull the trigger on the SKD carbine plates with first spear carrier combo, on sale here for $699.

Posted: 3/10/2018 2:49:13 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:

Copy, thanks. That's good to know.

View Quote

Thete are no "standards" for 10x12 plates like there are for SAPI plate sizes.

Posted: 3/10/2018 2:54:49 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:

I was talking specifically about the level III+ from ar500, the coated steel plates. Any idea?

View Quote

Proably from any barrel 20" or under at 10 yds or more, but having owned that AR500 plate, I have no idea why anyone would consider such a heavy and uncomfortable plate. It sucks balls to wear, big time.

Get a Hesco 3610. Thats my advice.

Posted: 3/10/2018 2:58:01 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for all the help everyone. I decided to pull the trigger on the SKD carbine plates with first spear carrier combo, on sale here for $699.

View Quote

Are they single or multi curve? They dont stop .308 rounds. Or .30-06. Or 7.62x54R. Or 8mm. Or any common bolt gun round used in any hunting rifle? Hmmm.

Posted: 3/12/2018 4:18:43 PM EDT

[#34]

I’ll look into them. I’m looking at them mostly for price and availability. I have a local shop selling them. With the coating on them, did they try to chew up the inside of ur carrier at all? And what do u think of their level IV offering for the $99 price mark? Thx

Posted: 3/12/2018 4:26:40 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:

Multiple rifle rounds up to a .308/7.62x54, I don't care if they cannot stop AP rounds.

View Quote

What about M855A1?

Posted: 3/12/2018 4:30:51 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for all the help everyone. I decided to pull the trigger on the SKD carbine plates with first spear carrier combo, on sale here for $699.

View Quote

Coupon code or is the sale off?

Posted: 3/13/2018 6:46:11 AM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:

Coupon code or is the sale off?

View Quote

No code, sale is now off.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What are some good light weight plates?

Armory » Tactical Gear

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us