Body armor

[MCgrease08]

I ordered a set of III+ plates and a carrier back in early June. Lead time was supposed to be 4-6 weeks...by the time week 11 rolled around and after a few tense emails, I decided to order another set of plates (level III) and carrier from a different company. This outfit said they were in stock and would ship within 5 days. I figured once I received that set, I would cancel my order that I'd been waiting on for months. As luck would have it...both orders shipped the same day!

I still planned to return one set after they arrived, but once I talked it over with my wife, she said we should go ahead and keep both, just in case. So I put a III+ plate in front and III plate in back of each carrier and fitted one for her and one for me. Hope we never have to use them, but glad we have them.

Just an FYI. A lot of places won't accept returns on armor or ballistic panels since they can't ensure the plates haven't been compromised prior to you returning them.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Spartan Armor has a package deal.

Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor and Spartan Shooters Cut Plate Carrier Entry Level Package (Choose a color: Tan)

SAS-AR500PKG-SPC-CT-SPEC-KIT

1

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

8-10 weeks out per the web site. Kit has carrier, front, back and side plates. Level III
https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/

 

[MontereyC6]

T Rex Arms has been getting Hesco armor in lately. I've picked up a set of 3810's and L210's in the last month.

 

[Cldedhnds]

Spartan Armor has a package deal.

Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor and Spartan Shooters Cut Plate Carrier Entry Level Package (Choose a color: Tan)

SAS-AR500PKG-SPC-CT-SPEC-KIT

1

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

8-10 weeks out per the web site. Kit has carrier, front, back and side plates. Level III
https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/

use: this-is-sparta for 10% off and believe it or not...no tax.

 

[308jake]

use: this-is-sparta for 10% off and believe it or not...no tax.

thanks....just ordered using the code and it worked. That’s a solid deal

 

[SmileDocHill]

Yeah, I have heard that you need to be able to create holes, stop holes, and patch holes..

Please tell me that phrase is referred to as the holey trinity. :-)

I'm going to call it that, I'd just like to know if I'm stealing it or not. Lol

 

[GIJEW]

I'm concerned with the trade off of armor vs weight especially since I'm disabled and using a cane.

I looked at UHMWPE plates but:
1)5 year shelf life. Is this limitation listed because of SWAT officers in Phoenix, carrying their armor in the trunks of their squad cars?
2)NIJ standard 0101.06 that guarantees the plate will stop a bullet that hits no closer than 2" to the edge. That has these plates seeming to have the coverage of the 9x9 plates in AR500's "freeman" mini plate carrier.
3)How many hits can it take?

Does anyone here have any info about UHMWPE?

Thanks, INGO

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

Spartan Armor has a package deal.

Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor and Spartan Shooters Cut Plate Carrier Entry Level Package (Choose a color: Tan)

SAS-AR500PKG-SPC-CT-SPEC-KIT

1

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

8-10 weeks out per the web site. Kit has carrier, front, back and side plates. Level III
https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/

This does look like a good deal, dollar wise, but I am confused.

Per Spartan, they are offering the package with "base coat" only, no substitutions and no option to upgrade to "full coat" on the plates.

Yet on their own website they do not recommend the use of "base coat" only plates, that the purchaser should always select the full coat option.

So they are knowingly offering an inferior product as a "good deal"?

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

So I will confess I ordered up this deal after much thought and consideration.

Maybe I will just get some of the anti-spall bags eventually.

 

[rooster]

Someone linked this to me a couple months ago. I watched it and immediatly bought level 4 multi curve ceramic plates from tri state armor. Use the code armor for 10 or 15 % off. It still works because I was just looking yesterday. Very comfortable and I feel reasonably certain a ricochet wont take my dome off.
[video=youtube_share;An6aM8zL-U8]https://youtu.be/An6aM8zL-U8[/video]

 

[ajeandy]

Someone linked this to me a couple months ago. I watched it and immediatly bought level 4 multi curve ceramic plates from tri state armor. Use the code armor for 10 or 15 % off. It still works because I was just looking yesterday. Very comfortable and I feel reasonably certain a ricochet wont take my dome off.
[video=youtube_share;An6aM8zL-U8]https://youtu.be/An6aM8zL-U8[/video]

I got 2 lvl 4 polyethylene / ceramic from Botach a while back...only $100 each..took a while to get them, doubt you'd ever get them if you ordered now.

 

[jerrob]

I got 2 lvl 4 polyethylene / ceramic from Botach a while back...only $100 each..took a while to get them, doubt you'd ever get them if you ordered now.

The Botach website offers a pre-order option and they'll ship out September 27th, they just don't say what year.

 

[burt gummer]

I'm just gonna relax and cross my fingers I get my order, I'm sure the company's are all working around the clock to fill orders, it's not as easy as ordering take out

 

[MCgrease08]

The Botach website offers a pre-order option and they'll ship out September 27th, they just don't say what year.

I ordered a set of plates from Botach in May with a pre-order date of June 15. They arrived in early July.

 

[10-32]

I got 2 lvl 4 polyethylene / ceramic from Botach a while back...only $100 each..took a while to get them, doubt you'd ever get them if you ordered now.

At 2.52 in the video you see spall striking the watermelon using their plate but the rep total ignores that and off camera turns the watermelon to hide the damage. It was no where near as bad as the first plate but it still happened.

 

[dusty88]

I'm appreciating the ideas in this thread. Also wondering if there are some good references that give an overview on components, selection, etc.

 

[10-32]

So yesterday I made a I'll say big purchase I got a level IV plate from ar500 they are having a sale and I decided to jump on it, yes it's just the one plate but it's a start I'm very excited, of course I'll need another plate, trauma pads and a vest but in time, and I'm sure I'll get good or bad comments
dont break my balls please,

If you're dead set on trauma pads, I would put them dead last on the list of things to buy since you went with the stronger steel plate. I have two of the Testudo Gen 2 carriers. I ordered the trauma pads with my first carrier. After seeing how thick the carrier padding was VS the trauma pad, I didn't feel the need to order the trauma pads with the 2nd carrier. The pads offer ZERO ballistics protection.

As far as the spalling issue shown in the video in Post #51, personally I'm not sure where I stand on that yet. The plate is going to be in a carrier and that's going to catch some of spall should it happen along with the other stuff on the carrier. Speaking of other stuff on the carrier, should a round come at you, it's mostly likely not going to be dead on like in the video because it will also have to go through your mags or whatever else you have on your carrier. If you're really concerned about spall like I was at first, spend $50 on some used soft body armor and cut it to fit over the front of your plate. It's a total PITA to cut with Trauma Sheers or even a Leatherman Raptor, but it can be done.

 

[ajeandy]

I have the ceramic/poly plates in front and steel plates in back. I got the lvl 3 steel bogo from ar500 for $65

Trauma pads.... don’t need them with steel/ceramic. I have a lvl 3a vest behind the plates.

Ideally I don’t need any of this garbage and it collects dust.

 

[10-32]

I'm appreciating the ideas in this thread. Also wondering if there are some good references that give an overview on components, selection, etc.

Just personal opinion based off some of the "scuffles" I was in as a Police officer, don't strap a handgun to the carrier. It just may be I haven't really looked for one but I haven't seen any holsters meant for a carrier that have decent retention on them. I don't want to be rolling around on the ground with a gun that can easily be pulled off my chest. It's much easier to roll onto your side and smash their fingers should they get a hand on your sidearm using a holster with decent retention.

 

[Karl-just-Karl]

Just an update, Spartan delivered Saturday 9/5 for an order placed on 9/2.

So much for the 8-10 week lead time.

My only complaint is that I didn't find my stuff until this morning when I was leaving for work. I didn't even think of checking my front door for anything the last two days.