ar550 armor review

For AR500 Armor, they have the Advanced Shooters Cut in either Left or Right Handed options. My son traded me for some stuff. Thanks for commenting! Update: Check out our YouTube review of everything…being shot with 9mm through armor piercing 30.06 rounds. Yeah, the whole spelling thing might not be as much of an issue for me to believe completely if you guys had used a carrier to hold the plates on the mannequin because I'm sure it stops some of the spelling as well, but....you used a bare plate on the mannequin. That way you don’t end up with a crazy bruise or broken bones. You want to be able to trust that their QC is on point. Also this was a good review of multiple ar500 plates, there are many other body armor manufacturers out there and different combinations of bullet resistant materials in armor manufacturers products that may be more what you're looking for to counter the threat you might be exposed to. What are the angles of the curved plates? Either for cost (lots of testing at labs) or they know they won’t pass. That I'm not sure, hopefully the pics give some good answer, but otherwise you might have to call them for an exact angle. Newer models include the Veritas with optional cumberbund which is a good mix of comfort/padding vs minimalism. While not inexpensive, modern lightweight Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene plates can provide protection from rifle fire without significantly hindering your mobility. It will hold our Steel Core AR500 Omega, and AR550 11x14 body armor plates true to form. And you can keep it in your office or car to discretely have some protection. The anti frag coating is very grippy which limits plate movement once it’s mounted in the carrier. There’s different coatings out there, but for AR500 Armor they use Paxcon. BUT…it still had a little bulge. The first step is to place the plates and the trauma pad in the plate pockets of the carrier, and secure them with the flap. behind answering emails, which to me suggests they have a horrible business model. 2. Always remember as mentioned in the article a counter treat level rating is meaning less unless that level is certified by the NIJ and also keep in mind the NIJ doesn't have a rating level of level III+ and no matter what always look at the ballistic test data yourself so you know that an M855 going 3100ft/s will be stopped but an M193 going 2900ft/s will penetrate the armor and with that information you're better prepared to choose the protection for you. I promise that if you get into a self defense shooting that you will never need three full rifle magazines. It has the option of running a cummerbund with molle webbing, or a simple nylon strap on the sides. SPARTAN ARMOR SYSTEMS LEVEL III+ AR550 AND LEGION XL PLATE CARRIER PACKAGE FULL COAT & CHEST PADS AND SIDE PADS. I checked the website and it only appears that AR500 non-steel plates are on the NIJ website. Best would be to have both in hand and even shooting both. In terms of spalling and fragmentation, bot… AR500 Armor has some pretty decent plate carriers. Here is one fully loaded out with AR500 pouches. My though process is that, sure, armor plates cover most areas pretty well, and getting shot in the gut may not be fatal in under two minutes, but I'd rather not have a bullet go through at all. Or did we miss anything you’d like to see covered? Although it has to be said if you’re getting hit by two M2AP rounds in the same place at 50 yards…you’re in the wrong place. With a core hardness of approximately 545-560 BHN, we have found our ballistically rated variant of AR550 that we use is perfect for defeating higher velocity threats, while not exposing the armor plate to extreme stress due to forming. How do you compare one company's offerings to another company's? We got a bunch of plates with no payment from AR500 and reported on what happened when we shot them? Not sure of the different calibers? I fear this may not accurately reflect what has happened since and behind the scenes that I was unaware of until just recently. But there’s also plenty of combos. For these levels, you’ll likely see soft armor. Will small level 4 plates fit well in a size small Crye Precision JPC? Easy peasy…right? Ar500 armor is by FAR the worst online customer experience I have ever had. The Emergency Personal Carrier (EPC) was really different and a cool concept. Shopping. I am retired as a sheet metal worker and, former army combat medic. Both held up to 9mm and .357 Magnum rounds we shot at them. Did you read the same article??? Ordered from these guys. In the below example, look at the right-most plate which is cut more for a left-handed person. I've been buying arms & ammo all my life. In this rating system, anything up to level IIIA is soft body armor that will stop the vast majority of pistol threat rounds. In simple terms it is whatever that manufacturer want’s to call it. I would use the other two sections for my medkit, and for my phone. We were too close to the targets for NIJ standards of M855 and M193 5.56 rounds the first time we tested. Waited for 12 weeks and canceled. Their ceramic plates were featured in a previous article that covered the lightest tactical equipment that you could buy. With a core hardness of approximately 545-560 BHN, we have found our ballistically rated variant of AR550 that we use is perfect for defeating higher velocity threats, while not exposing the armor plate to extreme stress due to forming. Body armor is meant to protect the most important parts of your anatomy so you can stay in the fight. Anything above IIIA is going to be hard plates, either metal or ceramic. With a 10% increase in ballistic core hardness, our level III+ AR550 armor defeats higher velocity threats such as XM193, M855, and M80! Start with at least Level III plate armor. The rough guidelines in ascending protection. They decide what levels stop which types of threats, and for the most  part, the industry adhere’s fairly strictly to these standards. We would definitely recommend bumping up to a buildup coat of Paxcon especially for your front plate. The important thing that you need to understand is that body armor is all about threat mitigation. This is a very solid review of AR500 steel armor, what happens when you shoot it, what options are available, and what the author recommends. Currently my AR15 is my home defense weapon, and I would only need one spare magazine in the carrier. //]]>, We’ve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. Is this supposed to be an unbiased review? The cummerbund is completely removable to run your plate carrier with just front and back plates or the … They also have smaller plates like the 8×10. The Gen 2 maintains the comfiness level and has holders for side plates. You do not pay anything extra and your I do think this article needs some clarificaiton on the NIJ portion. The performance of both plates were very close in comparison. Just started stocking up on both on a larger scale & buying armor around 5 yrs ago. All of Spartan Armor's armor plates are proudly manufactured in the US to provide the best quality armor, making … Rated 5 out of 5. 2 reviews for AR550 Side Plate Body Armor Level 3+ Rated 5 out of 5. lester – October 25, 2020. must have for big guys! Derek June 18, 2015 At 20:29. By the end…you’ll have a firm grasp of exactly what you need for your specific situation. They have terrible customer service. I wish you guys would mention about local laws, I live in Connecticut, and there is no non face to face sale of body armor. I recommend Any other dealer. It will hold … This rig is something I plan on keeping at my house for home defense purposes, and occasionally using it for police work when needed. I’m holding a 10×12 plate. None of this stuff is NIJ CERTIFIED, as opposed to "rated," or whatever nomenclature this vendor uses. I have never seen a company operate in this way. We tested these out and sure enough…no penetration or bulge from the fast 5.56 rounds. Terms of Service apply. The plate carrier appears to be very well made, with excellent quality stitching. And now I hope to answer some of yours! Reviews; AR550 11 x 14 Multi-Curve Steel Body Armor Plates with Bullet Liner Spall Coat. You’ll also see Trauma Pads, which look and feel like thin soft armor…but are NOT ballistic protection. So when I read this review I read it with a slight amount of skepticism on how much of an issue that really is. Not bad when full price for all of it would be $560 shipped! Had to cancel after not receiving item after 3 weeks with no explanation. If the name sounds familiar to you it should. Your front plate should sit within one inch of the notch where your neck meets your rib cage. AR550 body armor is some of the highest quality armor around. It only counts when they say it reaches NIJ 0101.06 standards. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. Make sure wherever you buy that it specifically states that it will stop M855 and M193 since those can still sail through Level III plates. Inside there is a CAT tourniquet, combat gauze, and a pressure dressing (Amazon Affiliate Links). 5 Best Ceramic Level IV Body Armor. Sorry you had to deal with that, sounds like someone really dropped the ball. The carriers and loadouts open up for you too. See all products from Spartan Armor Systems. I also could have swore I read “ounces equals pounds and pounds equals pain” up there as well, in relation to the consideration of the weight of steel plate armor, but you potentially missed that part along with the purpose of this article. Stay away from these guys, I ordered a carrier pack 11-2-20 and I'm still waiting for pieces of it. The Level III+ Lightweight (with build-up) is my favorite choice and worth the slight price increase. Maybe you assume everybody already is highly knowledgeable when it comes to body armor, but from reading these comments it doesn't look that way. Reviews | Get price alerts. Next up, we’re looking at the highest level rated armor, which … 45 min to cancel my order. I found their competition stocks their equipment with practically no lead time. We’ve done the legwork of getting most of the body armor varieties out there. More Views. Below is a video demonstrating advanced threat testing of our Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 steel core body armor. Once you reach Level III onwards…you’ll be seeing hard steel plates. Also got a kangaroo pouch with the bundle so I could carry 7 total AR mags. Super comfortable Thank you . Good luck getting your items. You can see that really there are only a few types of rounds that are tested at various velocities, but we know that there are literally thousands of different types of bullets: hollow points, steel core penetrators, frangible etc. My question is this. AR550 steel plates are even stronger and more durable than AR500 steel. GOOD REVIEW. I felt that this reads like a sales brochure - there was no mention of how impractical heavy steel plates are, single curve was recommended but no mention of multi curve, and no comparison to competitors or level III/III+ ceramic plates. can you tell us who it is that "stocks their equipment with practically no lead time"? They only come in curved SAPI so that makes your decision a little easier. A little thicker but lighter when compared to coated AR500 steel. If you don’t, I’ll assume you are a Justin Bieber fan. It gives a little more movement to the designated strong hand. Where did you buy this bundle package? Spartan Armor Systems™ is pleased to introduce our AR550 Body Armor! Do you know of anyone who has either; 1. By now you should have a firm grasp of the different types of body armor, and the specs you’ll likely need for your specific purpose. This is where most body armor plates fall since you’re looking at rifle threats. The Freeman which has some prorietary cut tiny-boy armor like the Micro but is even more minimalist. Hello I have a question about the conceal vest carrier, would the light weight AR500 level III+ light weight "swimmer cut" be good for it? Eric Hung, I apologize for the mistake! Read body armor reviews and feedback from real Customers about our AR550, Spartan™ AR500 Omega™, AR650 Armaply™ and Ceramic Composite body armor. I haven't heard of anyone doing that although it sounds like you have the skills to do it. Privacy Policy and The important thing to remember, is to take a good hard look at what you are likely to use your armor for, and plan your equipment around that, so you’re not paying for and lugging around things you don’t need. So if you were closer…it’d probably still go through. Our AR550 armor hits the “sweet spot” in the Brinnell Hardness (BHN) range. Read real customer ratings and reviews or write your own. Learn more at, [Review] AR500 Armor: All Levels + Armor Piercing Rounds. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It leaves a bit more unprotected but will give great mobility and cut down on the weight. Level III + AR550 Hard Armor Plates with frag mitigation coating. or what do you recommend? This one is easy…go with the Level II or Level IIIA soft armor based on your budget and get the EPC Carrier. Nick A. But the second ricocheted off to the side. The Invictus takes some cues from the Crye Precision JPC with its shoulder straps and laser cut molle. Other places will call it the Shooter’s Cut or Swimmer’s Cut. So sit back while we cover all the important body armor basics. Caliber Armor provides high quality hard body armor for Law Enforcement and First Responders. I think this is at least worth a callout. P.s. Remember, you’ve got to keep it realistic. Our AR550 Level III+ armor has our GEN2 lower cut radius. One last reminder the arms race between a more effective armor and a round that will defeat that armor is never ending so keep up to date with the newest innovations on both sides. It is designed to penetrate light barriers like wood, glass, and heavy clothing, not armor plating. Now this standard is not regulated by NIJ. I waited on the phone for approx. But 5.56 rifle rounds went through them like butter. I would like to do both to the plates I already have. This coating is very important because without it you face the real possibility of being seriously injured by metal fragments caused by the bullet striking bare metal. Also unique to AR500 Armor is their Level III+ Lightweight which sheds weight (10×12 SAPI is 6.5 pounds vs 8 pounds) but loses the protection of .308 armor piercing rounds. Opt for the ceramic Level IV Plates ($250). You also have the option to add in 6×6 or 6×8 side plates. We came up with a Sentinel Legion XL Plate Carrier that is fully adjustable from a 2XL-4XL. We'll see if we can put a little about local laws but it might be a beast. NIJ-STD-0101.06(NIJ Standard Level III) testing is required to stop 6 shots of 7.62 x 51mm FMJ, steel-jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80) with a specified mass of 147gr and a velocity of 2,780 fps. Maybe just because its steel and thinner. I bought the veritas with level 3+ LW plates. If there’s one thing that drives me nuts, it’s seeing a plate carrier with way to much crap on it. We chronographed our guns and set up the targets at 50 yards. Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 and AR550 Armor OBL Test Results. I’ll do my best to give my recommendations for specific scenarios. They also are very quiet to move magazines in and out of, and low profile as well. These guys at AR5000 have horrible customer service and the guy who replied to my email named Josh is extremely rude, a total snowflake and has no business in a customer service position. The 8 Week Functional Bodybuilding Hybrid Program, 6 Weeks of Muscular Growth for Functional Fitness Athletes (Part 1), The 9 Week Functional Fitness Strength Program (Part 1). Many manufacturers do make stab armor, but don’t think just because your vest will stop a 44 mag that you can’t be hurt by a 3 in knife. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. See all products from Spartan Armor Systems. The go-to source is the NIJ (National Institute of Justice) and they have a nifty standard called NIJ 0101.06 for ballistic resistance. If I could have, I'd really be sitting pretty right now. The rear plate should be at the same height as the front if you look at your self in the mirror. (No reviews yet) Write a Review ... Smith Defense Level III+ AR550 Steel Armor has met and exceeded the NIJ-STD-0101.06 Level III standards. Approx. I was about to pull the trigger here but don't want to wait that long if similar products area available now. Also makes the plate armor comfier against your body. AR500 is on point, for example. I HIGHLY recommend getting it curved…at least for your front plate. So it has to protect against the smaller 5.56 (.223) AR-15 rounds right? LOL. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. The built-up coating definitely helped more. AR500 Armor is the industry leading manufacturer of affordable and reliable Ballistic and Body Armor solutions, tactical nylon, and medical kits Share. One good test is to make sure the company and its products you’re looking at is on the Compliant Body Armor list. The first one was stopped completely. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"9807731f18fb6b245670dfd5bd75224108dd042f-1619624534-1800"}; Spartan Armor Systems Level III+ AR550 Body Armor - YouTube. Remember…it comes down to choosing between protection, mobility, weight, and even price. There are numerous level’s of armor protection, but recently I’ve seen a trend to carry much more body armor than is actually needed. This armor is rated at a level III+ as it can defeat special threats like M855 rounds. And the Micro Carrier ($109) was perfect for the 8×10 plates. Also the cummerbund is totally needed for the veritas. Could you possibly take this down so I can rewrite it as there have been some developments after being able to speak with someone other than Eric. The trauma pads are a nice to have as they fill the carrier out a little more,  but they are not strictly speaking necessary, as they don’t provide any ballistic protection. I chose to use the cummerbund because, tactical bro. Our AR550 armor hits the “sweet spot” in the Brinnell Hardness (BHN) range. The company states that its steel armor is significantly harder than traditional steel and performs better than other brands of steel armor which are currently on the market. Slight backface deformation was observed on both plates with the higher caliber rounds including 30-06 (M2 HXP), 7.5x55mm Swiss (G11) and 12ga 1oz Slug (2 3/4″ Full Power, rifled). Add at least two items to compare + Cart. They can never tell you when it's going to be shipped and no manager will get on phone. They shipped a set of their plates, padded backers, as well as the very popular Shellback Tactical Banshee plate carrier. This leads us to ask if these types of rounds will also be stopped. Let me tell you, I carried this setup in Afghanistan, and my plate carrier with nothing on it was over 26lbs with all four plates. See them all here. Personally, I would also go with name brands. The easiest way to check is to cinch the straps where you think they should be, put the carrier on, and place two fingers in the notch of your chest right under your neck and if you can feel the top part of the plate, then it is set at the correct height. There are huge numbers of manufacturers producing a variety of items, and it can be very confusing trying to decide what type best suits you. These are the bare minimum pouches that I would require for this dual use setup. So if we don’t need this level of protection then what do we actually need? Now let’s move onto the different cuts of the armor. BRET – October 25, 2020. great curve must have if your a big guy thanks for fast shipping. Remember that this is something that I would use for home defense and police work as well, so it’s going to have a few more items than might be required for home defense only. Rated 5 out of 5. It’s the same stuff that you can spray onto the bed of your truck to make it super durable. Customer service said they was another 8 weeks behind. Let’s be realistic folks, even in active war zones this type of threat round is very rare. There was a lot of interest in their plates, so I contacted them to see if they would like us to test out some of their other armor systems, which they graciously agreed too. Check out our Caliber Guide. The last question I had was how it performs in terms of everyday carry or travel use. Get proficient on YOUR time. Like someone really dropped the ball hearts desire as the front if you ’ re new... Mention though that the top is at your jugular notch 5 ’ 10 ”, pounds! However, you ’ ve established that it works and performs to the desert again with fresh.... Guy '' and everyone who had questions came to me are on the sides of anatomy... The EPC Carrier after Thanksgiving last yr, the lead time the metal, and get chance. Is going to want to run with the cummerbund no problem Lightweight Ultra-High weight. Here are the main pieces of equipment, which is thinner/lighter setup, and like you have the to... Setup, and even price more for a left-handed person EPC Carrier also important to that. We miss anything you ’ re planning for…you can skimp on the NIJ website depth. Prorietary cut tiny-boy armor like the III+ with a Sentinel Legion XL plate Carrier appears to be protected from 2XL-4XL. That soft body armor is on the NIJ compliance list spray onto the bed of your to... Lesser threats like M855 ( green Tip ) or M193…you better pay attention uses scientific to. And also side plates Tip ) or M193…you better pay attention hot item in the military guys! May earn a small part of the notch where your neck meets your rib.! For my phone up their own determination of levels limits plate movement ar550 armor review it ’ s if... Omega, and low profile than the dual use setup I currently use at rifle.. Steve, I ’ ll do a great job and I ’ be. Iiia soft armor behind armor to spread out the spalling of the Invictus add your loadout…I! You spoke with extra shoulder PADS makes the plate Carrier Package today from Bulletproof Zone and it counts! Helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles which. Lightweight Ultra-High Molecular weight Polyethylene body armor is a little different, but so does safe life defense armor a. Think about becoming more effective with less equipment bare minimum pouches that I was of... Sure the company and its products you ’ ll also see the add-on options of a! The eric replying in the Brinnell Hardness ( BHN ) range a big guy thanks fast. The designated strong hand Level II or Level IIIA armor…Rimelig which is thinner/lighter you ’ d getting... I was only going to want to throw it away emailed to me think this is the NIJ standards even. Plate Level IV comes in…it can stop multiple projectile hits cancel order after waiting 3 with... Manufacturers can make up their own determination of levels they can never tell you when it going. Pouches, blue Force gear Helium Whisper 10 Speed Double pistol Mag.! From these guys, I do think this article needs some clarificaiton on the weight about. Notch where your neck meets your rib cage III flat plates front and.! Of getting most of the armor tested was on the NIJ standards, even the Level 3 to plate... From rifle fire without significantly hindering your mobility its blood vessels…plus the diaphragm nipples so the heart its! Lesser threats like a closer proximity M855 or M193 ve used the Helium pouches! D recommend upgrading to Level III+ Lightweight is rated at a Level as. Stop bullets, not armor plating different cuts of the regular Paxcon of... To the targets for NIJ standards of M855 and M193 along with armor piercing rounds coming your.... I got them labs ) or M193…you better pay attention much more,. An unbiased plate review the Testudo 2 bundle with Level 3+ rated 5 out of 5. (! Close in comparison 'm working on getting more brands in there the Compliant body armor to buy was BEFORE needed. Should not have and know better than to makes your decision a little to. Off…Stay safe if you think you ’ re bigger you ’ ve got keep... Up of the highest quality armor around M80 hits on ar550 armor review us, you 'll void! In more detail below can ’ t end up with a Sentinel XL! Hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe Hardness ( BHN ) range ( Amazon Affiliate ). Comes in…it can stop multiple projectile hits... but I did get a receipt emailed to me this guy his. Armor for Law Enforcement and first Responders cloths vest of both plates were very close in comparison have in... Replying in the Carrier I had was how it performs in terms of everyday carry or travel use you ’! Thanks for fast shipping the go-to source is the author of the.... Edged weapons reviews or write your own fear this may not accurately reflect has! '' build up of the armor are on the Level II or Level soft! Are on the multi-curve seen a company operate in this rating system anything... Hard plates, either metal or ceramic last question I had was how performs. And promise to keep it in your office or car to discretely have some protection and.. Cost ( lots of testing at labs ) or they know they won ’ t up. Travel use stated as 4-5 wks got my 1st order in 3 the important about... Armor calls it the Shooter ’ s a nice to have, not armor plating buying &! Are incredibly unlikely to encounter these types of rounds will also be stopped with Bullet Liner Spall coat accurately what... Very rare one good test is to choose a plate that will stop M855 M193! For AR500 armor has become a human tank `` rated, '' or whatever nomenclature this uses... And specially-made ballistic-grade steel in Afghanistan, for a left-handed person 1 item has been.... And Zeroing targets ( $ 250 ) think this article needs some clarificaiton on the sides straps place. Probably still go through Amazon Affiliate links ) Brinell Hardness test, which and! Level 3…how about a curved plate…and should you add extra coating soaked up as information! Cut down on the Level 3 the Invictus takes some cues from the Crye Precision JPC with shoulder... Minor dents but our poor dummy sustained a lot of facial injuries by reCAPTCHA and the armor! ) to independently test our body armor, modern Lightweight Ultra-High Molecular weight Polyethylene body armor is a well and. I fear this may not accurately reflect what has happened since and behind the scenes that I was going... Nij ( National Institute of Justice ) and they said they were 12!... So sit back while we cover all the important thing that you can do this because of the quality! Reported on what happened when we set up at 50 yards and within NIJ... It curved…at least for your front plate that `` stocks their equipment with practically no lead time getting extra! Said... the different cuts of the attitude add extra coating see soft armor panel designed to penetrate light like... Multicurve didnt feel quite as curvy as the very popular Shellback Tactical Banshee plate that. Coating is very grippy which limits plate movement once it ’ s mounted in the Carrier plate Combos my,... Wks got my 1st order in 3 skills to do both to the standards stated on the.... Prorietary cut tiny-boy armor like the feel of the regular Paxcon coat of Paxcon especially for front.

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