by UnaStamus on Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:40 am
The use of plates is a mixed bag, because you get the good with the bad. You increase your survivability due to hard plate bullet protection, but you decrease your mobility due to the increase in weight and reduction of range of movement. This in turn causes your survivability to drop due to lack of mobility. This is a lesson learned quite well in Afghanistan where US troops were getting outrun by Taliban fighters in the mountains. US troops just simply had too much weight, and were slow-moving targets.
So, here are some things to know about plate armor from an operational LE and MIL standpoint...
Terms to Know:
Stand Alone: the plate functions at the listed protection level without any additional soft or rigid ballistic panels or backers
Spalling: fragmenting of the projectile or armor plate that can eject outward and act like shrapnel
Multi-Hit: plate can take multiple hits to a single localized location without any failure (full penetration)
PC: Plate Carrier
Backer: A thin ballistic panel that is designed by the plate armor manufacturer to sit behind or in front of the armor plate to increase the protection level or to stop spalling
NIJ and Similar Rifle Protection Levels:
Level IIA, II & IIIA: Soft armor; cannot stop high velocity rifle projectiles
Level III: standard high velocity rifle protection without any additional requirements or backings
--Level III Variations:
-----Level III standard: Single hit from conventional rifle projectile
-----Level III Multi-Hit: Designed for multi-hit protection in the same location
-----Level III M855/Penetrator Multi-Hit: Designed to stop M855 penetrator type ammunition in multiple hits. Only one designed to meet this specification.
Level III/IV: Plate offers stand-alone Level III protection, usually penetrator multi-hit. If you combine the plate with a soft or non-rigid armor backing panel made by the same manufacturer, the plate becomes Level IV capable
Level IV: Plate will stop military issue small arms armor piercing (AP) projectiles that are designed to penetrate normal hard plate armor (not rated to stop HTI loads like .50BMG, .408CT, .416Barrett .375CT, etc)
Armor Plate Materials:
Polyethylene (aka Dyneema Polyethylene, "Poly"): Dense plastic plating that is ultra-light, and much lighter than any other plate.
Pros:
The main advantage is reduced weight. These plates tend to be half the weight of the next lightest hard armor plate material. Poly plates also do not spall.
Cons:
These plates may or may not be multi-hit capable, and may or may not stop penetrator loads. Poly construction is very inconsistent between manufacturers, and there is no set standard. Most will not stop M855 penetrator loads, and the ones that do will not have M855 multi-hit protection. Additionally, poly plates are 2-3x thicker than other plates. They can only be made to a certain density, so the manufacturer must increase thickness to increase protection. The average poly plate is around 1" thick.
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Steel: steel plating made from AR500 steel
Pros:
Steel is the least expensive, as it is easy to produce. It is also easy to shape or cut, making it ideal for custom applications. It also tends to be the thinnest of all armors. Steel is the most durable of all plate armor, and can withstand high heat and temperature fluctuations. It can be abused and banged around without any damage. Steel can be wrapped in fiberglass or aramid (Kevlar) to reduce or eliminate spalling.
Cons:
Steel is the heaviest of all plates, and is typically only offered in single curve options. Steel causes projectile spalling upon impact. Not capable of being Level IV Stand Alone rated. Steel is also prone to damage/degradation due to corrosion, so it helps to be kept dry.
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Ceramic: A composite non-metallic material that absorbs energy. Also referred to as alumina, boron carbide or silicon carbide.
Pros:
Ceramic is the highest level of protection, and can be designed to meet various protection levels based on design. Because of the construction of ceramic, it can be formed into various designs and put into a multi-curve design that better forms to the body. Ceramic can be formed using a hybrid construction to increase protection levels and reduce spalling. The most common hybrid components are ceramic/composite fiber(fiberglass), ceramic/polyethylene(plastic fiber) and ceramic/aramid(Kevlar). Ceramic plates can be designed for multi-hit capability, and typically all stop penetrator loads. They are lighter than steel.
Cons:
Ceramic is the most expensive, and can cost upwards of $1k or more per plate for high quality multi-curve plates. Ceramic can cause both projectile and plate spalling if it does not have a hybrid design, or if it does not have sufficient density. Ceramic is thicker than steel due to the design and lighter weight. Ceramic is the least durable of all armors, and is actually somewhat fragile. You should take care to not bang around ceramic plates. Ceramic plates that see regular use, or that are stored in motor vehicles and subsequently subjected to vibration and movement, need to be scanned by x-ray on a regular (typically annual) basis to check for fracturing in the ceramic. Some ceramic plates are also restricted from commercial sale due to design and contract specifics.
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Ultimately, you have to decide what you want. Something to think about is whether you REALLY NEED Level-IV protection. Very few people have AP ammunition, and most militaries don't issue it anymore, except for special applications. Level III plates that are multi-hit rated and can stop both 7.62x39 MSC and M855 penetrator will stop almost everything. The average hunting rifle, long range high powered loads like .300WM and .338LM, and machinegun ammuntion like M80 will all be stopped by a Level III plate.
Additionally, you need to consider whether you are fine with front and rear coverage, or whether you need lateral protection as well. Some manufacturers make side plates that protect the obliques and lower ribs to reduce possibility of penetration into the lungs. The problem with all of this is that you have no coverage along the outer deltoids to prevent side penetration into the heart, upper lungs or spine. There are plates for this, but these plates are highly restricted.
Here's the thing you have to consider- if SHTF or in a WROL scenario, are you going to be in a position where you have to stand up and fight in a prolonged battle that you'll actually have time to prepare and kit-up for? Probably not. However, a post natural disaster Katrina type scenario could be a legitimate situation where you may need armor to protect against looters.
The problem is that a lot of people who own armor don't train with the armor. You need to be able to shoot with it on, have it set up to work with your clothing (t-shirt or winter coat), and be able to functionally move with it. Physical conditioning plays heavily into this, and most people don't have very good physical conditioning.
Additionally, people need to make sure they have the right sizing for plates and carriers. Plates are one-size-fits-most, but not all. You have to make sure you have the right plates to fit your body.
Keep in mind that the highest quality plate companies like Velocity Systems and ProTech won't sell their armor to civilians. There are companies that won't sell directly, and some that won't sell at all.
Another issue to consider is that not all companies test their plates the same way, or the way that NIJ does. Because of this, you need to look for the appropriate NIJ 0101.06 certification if you want proven and certified capability. A lot of lower end or unknown companies don't have this certification, so be careful about who you buy from.
As far as the carrier, there are many options out there. What you buy should be based on how much you plan on using it. My armor carrier vests are all top of the line and a lot higher quality than what most people have, but I also use my armor on a regular basis in a professional capacity. I also train with my armor pretty extensively, and my gear keeps going and takes punishment that would kill lesser carriers. The money you spend on a carrier is direction proportional to the quality of the gear and the number of features. The vest carrier by Condor will work, but Condor is a lower grade "economy" company. They are better than the generic Chicomm crap you would see on eBay or at gun shows, but they are no where near the quality of high end systems like Crye Precision, Mayflower R&C, Velocity Systems, First Spear, MSA Paraclete, Shellback Tactical, or BlueForceGear.
