Body Armor

I'm looking for hard plate body armor and wondering if anyone has any connections. I'm not looking for AR500 steel. I'm looking for the ceramic style plates.

Thanks.

There's a place down here (Centennial) that sell armor plates. They've got a pretty good website.

http://www.lifeandlibertygear.com/

IIRC, Ark Tactical had a couple ceramic plates a little while ago. Not sure if they still do, but worth a call.

Doesn't someone have plates for sale here currently?

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

I'm looking for hard plate body armor and wondering if anyone has any connections. I'm not looking for AR500 steel. I'm looking for the ceramic style plates.

Thanks.

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Sounds like you have made a decision on what type of product you want without doing an actual threat assessment to see what type of product is appropriate. This is typically a Bad Idea(tm)

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Originally Posted by asmo

Sounds like you have made a decision on what type of product you want without doing an actual threat assessment to see what type of product is appropriate. This is typically a Bad Idea(tm)

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How do you know he hasn’t done any assessments? How do you know what will and will not suit his needs... if he wears it everyday he may not want AR500 plates. Do you know why he wants armor...?


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Originally Posted by asmo

Sounds like you have made a decision on what type of product you want without doing an actual threat assessment to see what type of product is appropriate. This is typically a Bad Idea(tm)

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Wow, your magic crystal ball is working much better than mine, as I can't tell from his post rather or not he's done a "threat assessment", although I'm sure he has.

Pretty sure, based on knowing what he does for a living, he has considered the pros and cons of each. I highly doubt he wants to lug around the ar500.

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Originally Posted by 00tec

Pretty sure, based on knowing what he does for a living, he has considered the pros and cons of each. I highly doubt he wants to lug around the ar500.

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Exactly what I was thinking. This isn’t a prepper wanna be situation


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Thanks guys. I currently own the AR500 type plates, and they don't fit my daily needs.

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

Thanks guys. I currently own the AR500 type plates, and they don't fit my daily needs.

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Kid across the street use to work for them
https://angelarmor.com/

Life and Liberty (as denoted by The Grey) have a unique set I've been looking at. It is a flexible plate system. Pricey, but I am leaning on adding them to my vest.

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

Thanks guys. I currently own the AR500 type plates, and they don't fit my daily needs.

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Depending on what you need (Special Threat vs. NIJ), the Velocity STCPs are nice. If you have agency backing they can also custom cut for you. Otherwise, everyone I know running ceramics daily are using Ceradynes.

Here is what I went with for work
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/149115-...ight=Snowman78
Post #40

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Originally Posted by Snowman78

Here is what I went with for work
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/149115-...ight=Snowman78
Post #40

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Thanks, Checking their website out.

I am sure OP did his hw and watched YouTube on ceramic plates. Most are very reliable on stoppage.

As for me, if someone is going to wear that every day, weight would be another big factor.

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Originally Posted by MrPrena

I am sure OP did his hw and watched YouTube on ceramic plates. Most are very reliable on stoppage.

As for me, if someone is going to wear that every day, weight would be another big factor.

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Well I have done quite a bit of homework on levels and stoppage. But since I wear soft body armor every day I already know what and where to look for in that. I don't wear hard plates everyday and initially got into into the AR500 as something I could keep with my gear daily. However after several times training with it and loading and unloading it everyday have decided I really hate it. So I want a lighter weight reliable replacement. I am mainly looking for a reliable source that will be able to answer questions and be knowledgeable when I call to purchase in the nearer future.

I usually say:

Soft armor=> hypertension
Hard plate=> arthritis

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

Well I have done quite a bit of homework on levels and stoppage. But since I wear soft body armor every day I already know what and where to look for in that. I don't wear hard plates everyday and initially got into into the AR500 as something I could keep with my gear daily. However after several times training with it and loading and unloading it everyday have decided I really hate it. So I want a lighter weight reliable replacement. I am mainly looking for a reliable source that will be able to answer questions and be knowledgeable when I call to purchase in the nearer future.

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I think the plate carrier gets updated so often that some people including myself would have outdated info.

However, I have seen one that is so light it float in the water and waterproof. I think I saw it at mac (Military arms channel) on YouTube. Now, they might have a better one in the market than when that video was released.

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Originally Posted by MrPrena

I think the plate carrier gets updated so often that some people including myself would have outdated info.

However, I have seen one that is so light it float in the water and waterproof. I think I saw it at mac (Military arms channel) on YouTube. Now, they might have a better one in the market than when that video was released.

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Dang I could just feel how expensive that sounds

Polyethylene seems to be the current light, hard plate armor and when used in conjunction with a ceramic plate can be very effective.

http://www.hoplitearmor.com/body-armor-101/

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Originally Posted by cstone

Polyethylene seems to be the current light, hard plate armor and when used in conjunction with a ceramic plate can be very effective.

http://www.hoplitearmor.com/body-armor-101/

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It appears that the hoplite plates are weighing in a bit more than the RMA Armament plates and technically don't hold an NIJ certificate yet.

However the price is not bad for a set compared to other options.

Call ATArmor. Knowledgeable and trustworthy. They’ll point you in the right direction.

http://store.atarmor.com

I use a couple of different sets of Velocity Systems front/back plates at work (DOD purchased) but I purchased AT’s side plates out of pocket.

If you email RMA Armament from your department email they should give you LE discount code.

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Originally Posted by Snowman78

If you email RMA Armament from your department email they should give you LE discount code.

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Thanks, I'll do that

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

Well I have done quite a bit of homework on levels and stoppage. But since I wear soft body armor every day I already know what and where to look for in that. I don't wear hard plates everyday and initially got into into the AR500 as something I could keep with my gear daily. However after several times training with it and loading and unloading it everyday have decided I really hate it. So I want a lighter weight reliable replacement. I am mainly looking for a reliable source that will be able to answer questions and be knowledgeable when I call to purchase in the nearer future.

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Poly plates are also a great alternative as well to steel. Very lightweight and good for M80 ball ammo. But it's all in what you need.

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Poly plates seem to come in two flavors = cheap-ish and doesn't handle M855 and expensive ceramic/poly hybrids that are quite effective but you are back in the ceramic costing. The poly plates are thick.

Again, this is research based and not experience based. Its from my last research round on plates.

https://www.ar500armor.com/ar500-arm...ody-armor.html

I am interested in these as an option, as weight is like a ceramic but pricing is good and multihit is pretty good.

Try this from Lightfighter
http://www.lightfighter.net/topic/co...ers-start-here

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Originally Posted by LX470

Try this from Lightfighter
http://www.lightfighter.net/topic/co...ers-start-here

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Pretty good info

The problem with the body armor question is with each company it seems there different ratings or I should say claim different protection abilities with their levels. Such as comparing the level three at one comp at is different than the level three at another company.

What did you end up going with?

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Originally Posted by Snowman78

What did you end up going with?

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I sent you a PM

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

It appears that the hoplite plates are weighing in a bit more than the RMA Armament plates and technically don't hold an NIJ certificate yet.

However the price is not bad for a set compared to other options.

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I've been interested in getting some of their swimmer cut lvl 4 plates myself.

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Originally Posted by sigmanx

I've been interested in getting some of their swimmer cut lvl 4 plates myself.

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I have been eyeing the swimmer cut as well. Plates have come a long way from when I started wearing them 16 years ago as an infantryman.

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

I have been eyeing the swimmer cut as well. Plates have come a long way from when I started wearing them 16 years ago as an infantryman.

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No kidding. And at about 5lbs per plate for lvl 4 protection at $150 per single curve or $300 per triple curve. That is a significant weight and Wallet savings. Yes it is slightly less coverage, but the trade offs are definitely there for sure. Also $200 per pair for 6x6 Lvl 4 sides isn't bad either.

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Originally Posted by sigmanx

No kidding. And at about 5lbs per plate for lvl 4 protection at $150 per single curve or $300 per triple curve. That is a significant weight and Wallet savings. Yes it is slightly less coverage, but the trade offs are definitely there for sure. Also $200 per pair for 6x6 Lvl 4 sides isn't bad either.

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$150 for level IV 5 pound plates? Who did you go with?

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

$150 for level IV 5 pound plates? Who did you go with?

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That's the hoplite armor swimmer cut plates I'm looking at.

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Originally Posted by sigmanx

That's the hoplite armor swimmer cut plates I'm looking at.

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I'll take another look at their site. I was waiting for a couple places to get back to me on some questions and the holidays to blow over since I'm spending a lot of money, plates aren't cheap. But I was really thinking of going with RMA.

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Originally Posted by sigmanx

That's the hoplite armor swimmer cut plates I'm looking at.

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Actually let me make an adjustment, I had apparently looked at the wrong section on that and they aren't 5lbs. They are a little more.

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Originally Posted by KevDen2005

I'll take another look at their site. I was waiting for a couple places to get back to me on some questions and the holidays to blow over since I'm spending a lot of money, plates aren't cheap. But I was really thinking of going with RMA.

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I'll check out RMA as well.

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