Soft Body Armor vests i.e., Kevlar) are excellent for fragmentation and pistol protection but will NOT stop rifle bullets. Even Level III-A is only tested to stop higher pistol velocity threats, such as 9mm SUB-machine-gun or .44 Magnum.

For rifle threats the high velocity requires Level III or Level IV Rifle Plates (with a supporting vest as appropriate).

Front & Back Rifle Plates (also described as Small Arms Protective Inserts or SAPI) are superb protection for your vital organs, but the standard Front & Back configuration leaves a gap on your sides.

A "Pentagon study has found that as many as 80 percent of the Marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor" New York Times, Jan. 7th, 2006

With side protection plates you can help plug the side gap - on the
Ribcage

and the

Upper Arm / Shoulder and Forearm

PHOTO GALLERY

 

WARNING:  U.S. EXPORT CONTROL LAWS

Level III and IV armor falls under the jurisdiction of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and is subject to the export control laws of the U.S. Government.

Export or retransfer of Rifle Plates by any means to any foreign end user, or for any other end use, whether in the U.S. or abroad, without the written approval of the U.S. Department of State, is prohibited.

• Plates with Pouches to protect the RIBCAGE area
  
  
• Attach to Vests with MOLLE-style webbing, just like Ammo or Radio Pouches, e.g., Interceptor Outer Tactical Vest, ProMAX Tactical or "Turtle" Jacket, etc., etc.
  
  

• More MOLLE
  We have added 3 MOLLE web strips (not pictured above) on the outside of a more streamlined pouch to give you more MOLLE "real estate" and pouch placement options.

PHOTO GALLERY

Also known as bicep or deltoid protectors, this modular set plugs your vest's armpit / shoulder gap by adding Velcro-detachable Upper Arm Protection. Covers the Bicep, Tricep and Deltoid in Level III-A protection.

Easily attached to Interceptors / OTVs, and all of our Tactical vests, with a strap to the vest at the shoulder, and elastic/Velcro around the bicep.

Protecting the upper arm is important, but most critical is the fact that you now have good cover for the shoulder and armpit gap that is open by necessity on all vests.

For very exposed positions, e.g., turret gunners, entry teams, etc., etc. we also offer Forearm Protectors which extend from wrist to elbow, and provide very good coverage from wrist to shoulder, when combined with the Upper Arm Protectors. (To maintain flexibility and ease of movement there is a small gap at the elbow.)

Tough DuPont Cordura® nylon carrier, with many color choices, all coated for waterproofing:

Colors:

MULTICAM® + $25
COYOTE BROWN
TAN
  Black     Navy Blue     Olive Drab
Digital Woodland or DESERT Camo
 ACU - Digital Camo Advanced Combat Uniform

An Ultra-light plate for Level III threats is 100% high molecular weight Polyethylene, ~0.9" thick (~23 mm.), and more expensive, but INCREDIBLY LIGHT.

The main tradeoff is you don't get a protection rating for Level IV Armor-Piercing (AP) threats such as .3006 or 7.62 by 51mm AP, or the semi-AP 5.56mm SS-109 / M-855 (the M-16 round). The AK-47 MILD Steel Core 7.62 X 39mm threat should have a Level III-A vest to support this plate.

Important Safety Note

(A safety warning most Polyethylene / Ultra-light Rifle vendors neglect to mention...)

This Ultralight plate is manufactured on an ISO-certified production line, but you should know that the ballistic performance of all Polyethylene may be adversely affected, or permanently reduced, by prolonged exposure to ambient temperatures below ~ MINUS 15°F ( - 26 °Celsius) and over 175 °F (79 ° Celsius).

Polyethylene plates must never be exposed to open flame, excessive direct sunlight, UV exposure or any hot surface. Heat damage to the external surface (e.g., melting) is a visual clue that the plate may have been exposed to elevated temperatures. If damage is found, replace the plate.

So, don't take any chances by leaving your Rifle Plates in extremely cold or hot environments, OR letting them "cook" in the sun, for example:

• a closed vehicle super-heating in the sun
• an engine compartment
• unprotected on asphalt in intense sun
• unprotected on top of metal baking in the sun, etc., etc.

If it's too hot for your body, DON'T LEAVE YOUR RIFLE PLATES THERE!

Related Pages:

Tactical Body Armor	Rifle Protection Plates Front & Back
Tactical Ballistic Shields	Eye Protection

Put the odds in YOUR favor...

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