help me understand ballastic armor...plate carriers

[buckshotbarlow]

So i bought a plate carrier, now how the hell do i set this up to get lvl IV protection for front and back, and then lvl III for the sides? They have several different brands and types...WTF? I can't figure this out what's the best option to go for? Steel Plate with spall? help...

[SuperiorDG]

http://www.skdtac.com/Velocity-Syste...-p/amr.108.htm

lvl III for the sides is going to be tough.

http://www.skdtac.com/PIG-Plate-Carr...-p/amr.107.htm

[stoner01]

Bulletproof me.com or you can stop by the shop one day and I'll bring in my stuff.

[ZERO THEORY]

I use lined AR500 10"x12" curved shooter's cut plates.

And if that's 'too heavy' for you, it's time to get back in the weight room.

[lllRorlll]

Yup..ar 500 plate!...
a tad heavy but- put the vest on and do push ups..
Scorpius tactical- infidel- and a couple other people carry em.. Cheap
i saw on scorpius -a few different packages some had side plates in ar500 too

[Skip]

You bought a great PC! I have two.

I got in on the other site's Eclipse ceramic plate group buy. It was painful. Not sure I would go 100% ceramic again. Saw this and am considering it...

http://www.thetargetman.com/product/...te-body-armor/

They also have Rhino lined AR500 for spall protection.

I found the side plates to be too bulky so I run my PIG without them--I don't think they offer that much protection anyway.

[blacklabel]

I haven't done any price matching but I have been thinking about getting a setup from AR500 Armor.

[asmo]

Not sure I would go 100% ceramic again.

Due to cost, cracking, care?? Why would you not got ceramic again?

[KestrelBike]

I use lined AR500 10"x12" curved shooter's cut plates.

And if that's 'too heavy' for you, it's time to get back in the weight room.

Yup AR500 has new rhino-lining type stuff that is *supposed* to eliminate spall. If that's not enough to ease minds, then make a lil pocket of kevlar-fabric for the plates to sit in. Cost no more than $50 & some sewing to do that extra step. The cost of AR500 can't be sniffed at, either.

Agreed on the weight. If one hasn't actually considered how/where they're going to be moving and with who, in what (car or foot), and *with* what (food, water, equipment, shelter, clothes), it's a fair bet that the 10lbs difference between steel & ceramic isn't going to matter after 15 minutes.

[275RLTW]

Steel plates, if shot in them, will cause much more blunt trauma than ceramic plates, and ceramics still hurt like hell (plan on a few broken ribs). For a good assessment of armor, search for Mick-boy's write up on various armor he posted here.