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Posted: 12/11/2009 7:32:35 PM EDT
| Do you use trauma plate with your level 3 plates? What type? How about using a level 2 ballistic vest with level 3 plates. Is any of these set up will help you recover from impact. |
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There are 2 types of level III plates. Those that are Level III standalone that do not require Level IIIA soft armor panels commonly refered to as "backers" to achieve NIJ Level III performance. Some of these plates will achieve level IV performance when used in conjuction with IIIA softarmor. Standalone plates are heavier and more expensive usually.
The second type of Level III plate is an ICW, or in conjuction with plate. To achieve Level III protection you must use a Level IIIA softarmor panel behing the hard plate. The plate will probably stop the projectile but the backforce deformation will be severe enough to cause significant injury or death if soft armor is not used underneath the panel. ICW plates are usually lighter and cheaper. |
| "trauma plates" are usually 5x7 or 6x8 plates or soft-armor 'packs' used to supplement a concealable vest in the heart area. Not quite sure how you planned on using something like this, and that small, to supplement hard armor plates, especially when the "trauma plates" a) are not rated for anything really, and b) offer less protective capability than a hard armor plate. |
| Level II would be fine or even IIA to use with ICW plates. Military soft armor is actually not IIIA but closer to II or IIA in many respects. I think the IIIA that most ICW plate manufactures suggest is more for CYA. I have a set of Point Blank ICW plates from 2001 and they say ICW IIA. I have a set of the same plates from 2004 that say ICW IIIA....... |
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