Battle Steel/Botach generally sell plates diverted from the PLA supply chain, so they're a cut above the normal Chinesium, ie something that'll actually stop what it's rated for. The polyurea coating is semi-toxic shit you need to let air out for weeks before using, but prices and weight are low af, and Buffman's Youtube testing shows them to basically pass the NIJ drop test AND stop their rated threats, if only barely. You can do a lot worse for a lot more money, from a lot of even shadier vendors (RMA, AR500, etc).
doesn't HDPE already have edge protection problems and some material quirks like not stopping m855? I guess still a decent deal if you think of it as comparable to a new discounted iiia plate
Edge really isn't the big issue for UHMWPE (although it can be if it's just a glancing hit), it's steel. They don't stop steel core/M855 worth a shit on their own. Still, a 3 lb poly plate that stops multiple hits of 7.62x51 M80 FMJ ain't nothing to frick with, so if some tard with a stolen durr rifle starts slinging softpoints (or has a basic b***h AR with basic b***h 55 grain M193), you're covered. That said, a lot of the expensive poly Level III plates have literally the same level of protection as the $35 Italian ones, even the gucci $300 ones. None of them stop steel core unless they're super thicc, and even then they top out at M855.
Hell, some dude put a layer of alumina oxide floor tiles over one of the Italian PE plates and it stopped M855s just fine, ceramic tiles broke up the bullet and the PE plate caught the fragments like a champ, which is how much more expensive standalone ceramic/PE III+/IV plates do it.
tl;dr: You're getting the equivalent of a $300 modern poly Level III plate for like $35. Even if you have to buy 3 of the surplus ones to get a good-enough pair, it's still an amazing deal.
These are a crazy good deal. Protip, buy like 3 so if one is fricked up (nearly all are usable despite edge wear) you've got a good pair.
[...]
Battle Steel/Botach generally sell plates diverted from the PLA supply chain, so they're a cut above the normal Chinesium, ie something that'll actually stop what it's rated for. The polyurea coating is semi-toxic shit you need to let air out for weeks before using, but prices and weight are low af, and Buffman's Youtube testing shows them to basically pass the NIJ drop test AND stop their rated threats, if only barely. You can do a lot worse for a lot more money, from a lot of even shadier vendors (RMA, AR500, etc).
These are fricking interesting. Why are the backs different from the front? weight wise it seems like you could stack them 2 deep but that really sounds like some gecko 45 shit.
I mean there's literally less than .01% chance I will ever "need" this. Send it??
Not entirely sure why they're different (the flat back plate doesn't cover as well as a curved one), but the Italians had a unique plate carrier for them with full soft IIIA panels all around, like a BALCS cut. They're part of the AP95 armor system, which has been officially phased out of Italian service but still pops up in the hands of the Carabineri and other paramilitary forces.
At the price you can't afford to miss it. /k/ had the $35 codes for both the back and front at one point, but I don't remember what they were. What was even better is that SG had actual Italian level IV ceramic plates for the same price; I snagged one before they permanently went out of stock, and wish I'd gotten two. Biggest issue with those is that you really needed to buy two sets, just in case one or two failed the ceramic integrity torque test (if the internal ceramic is broken it's all but useless). Much higher failure rate than the PE plates, since ceramic can be cracked by enough rough dropping.
Shit, that is a really good deal.
I've already got some cheap ar500s and some fancy hesco lvl IVs but I'm tempted to buy a couple of those Italian plates anyway. I'm sure I can find something autistic to do with them like armoring my car doors/couch/kid's cot, and if nothing else they're a few pounds lighter than my existing plates should I be in a situation where I don't need m855 protection.
They're quite nice. I've got decent lightweight III+ ceramic/PE plates, but the Italian III PEs fill a niche in that they're lead-core rifle protection that are basically drop-proof and cheaper than even Chinesium IIIA panels. Hell, from what I've seen the Italian PE panels were made by an American subcontractor (Protec?) and were actually NIJ certified at one point, albeit under the older 0101.03 standard. NIJ certified armor is almost always ridiculously expensive because lol federal grant money, so getting usable plates of it for $35 is a steal.
Here is the flat back plate if you want it. May Sportman's Guide forever be in your heart.
SG has some of the scummiest sales practices online (BUY A MEMBERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP TODAY, etc) and scammily high pricing for most of their junk, but every so often their ignorance leads to insane deals because they literally have no clue what they have. I scored a fairly rare kevlar 3 Viti helmet shell in amazingly good condition from them for only $25 because they thought it was a mere SEPT2.
I like the generic 1 dollar big glass dinnerplates obviously less aesthetic compared to brand ceramic it looks nondescript enough plus the finish is really smooth so they're super easy to clean
From what, the Italian plates? Unironically Botach/Battle Steel III+/IVs. Cheapest true ceramic/PE standalones that aren't complete mystery meat, don't weigh a ton, and can be counted on to do what the label says, albeit no more.
I like ceramic plates myself. Plastic plates melt, and you can't put metal plates in the microwave.
Got a brand?
do you want more of a thin/porcelain or some thicc rustic shit for a cabin
Preferably something that will stop most 5.56 and 7.62. I'm not going to worry about 30.06 black tip. At least I think that's how the ratings work.
Probably not paper plates then
Hesco L210
Nah m8 plates are for weak c**ts
you can get ~5lb ceramiv 4's if you dont mind dropping 1500-3k per.
https://battlesteel.com/level-iv-ballistic-plates/
or you could spend a hundred bucks
Your Lord and Potential Saviour, Sportman's Guide has lvl3 PE plates for $35.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/italian-military-surplus-10-x-12-front-plate-body-armor-used?p=2062&i=726178
Oh great so I dont need to worry aboit 45acp bit that jagoff wigger shooting up the grocery store doesnt need to give a frick
great thanks
so helpful
These are a crazy good deal. Protip, buy like 3 so if one is fricked up (nearly all are usable despite edge wear) you've got a good pair.
Battle Steel/Botach generally sell plates diverted from the PLA supply chain, so they're a cut above the normal Chinesium, ie something that'll actually stop what it's rated for. The polyurea coating is semi-toxic shit you need to let air out for weeks before using, but prices and weight are low af, and Buffman's Youtube testing shows them to basically pass the NIJ drop test AND stop their rated threats, if only barely. You can do a lot worse for a lot more money, from a lot of even shadier vendors (RMA, AR500, etc).
doesn't HDPE already have edge protection problems and some material quirks like not stopping m855? I guess still a decent deal if you think of it as comparable to a new discounted iiia plate
Edge really isn't the big issue for UHMWPE (although it can be if it's just a glancing hit), it's steel. They don't stop steel core/M855 worth a shit on their own. Still, a 3 lb poly plate that stops multiple hits of 7.62x51 M80 FMJ ain't nothing to frick with, so if some tard with a stolen durr rifle starts slinging softpoints (or has a basic b***h AR with basic b***h 55 grain M193), you're covered. That said, a lot of the expensive poly Level III plates have literally the same level of protection as the $35 Italian ones, even the gucci $300 ones. None of them stop steel core unless they're super thicc, and even then they top out at M855.
Hell, some dude put a layer of alumina oxide floor tiles over one of the Italian PE plates and it stopped M855s just fine, ceramic tiles broke up the bullet and the PE plate caught the fragments like a champ, which is how much more expensive standalone ceramic/PE III+/IV plates do it.
tl;dr: You're getting the equivalent of a $300 modern poly Level III plate for like $35. Even if you have to buy 3 of the surplus ones to get a good-enough pair, it's still an amazing deal.
These are fricking interesting. Why are the backs different from the front? weight wise it seems like you could stack them 2 deep but that really sounds like some gecko 45 shit.
I mean there's literally less than .01% chance I will ever "need" this. Send it??
Not entirely sure why they're different (the flat back plate doesn't cover as well as a curved one), but the Italians had a unique plate carrier for them with full soft IIIA panels all around, like a BALCS cut. They're part of the AP95 armor system, which has been officially phased out of Italian service but still pops up in the hands of the Carabineri and other paramilitary forces.
At the price you can't afford to miss it. /k/ had the $35 codes for both the back and front at one point, but I don't remember what they were. What was even better is that SG had actual Italian level IV ceramic plates for the same price; I snagged one before they permanently went out of stock, and wish I'd gotten two. Biggest issue with those is that you really needed to buy two sets, just in case one or two failed the ceramic integrity torque test (if the internal ceramic is broken it's all but useless). Much higher failure rate than the PE plates, since ceramic can be cracked by enough rough dropping.
Shit, that is a really good deal.
I've already got some cheap ar500s and some fancy hesco lvl IVs but I'm tempted to buy a couple of those Italian plates anyway. I'm sure I can find something autistic to do with them like armoring my car doors/couch/kid's cot, and if nothing else they're a few pounds lighter than my existing plates should I be in a situation where I don't need m855 protection.
They're quite nice. I've got decent lightweight III+ ceramic/PE plates, but the Italian III PEs fill a niche in that they're lead-core rifle protection that are basically drop-proof and cheaper than even Chinesium IIIA panels. Hell, from what I've seen the Italian PE panels were made by an American subcontractor (Protec?) and were actually NIJ certified at one point, albeit under the older 0101.03 standard. NIJ certified armor is almost always ridiculously expensive because lol federal grant money, so getting usable plates of it for $35 is a steal.
SG has some of the scummiest sales practices online (BUY A MEMBERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP TODAY, etc) and scammily high pricing for most of their junk, but every so often their ignorance leads to insane deals because they literally have no clue what they have. I scored a fairly rare kevlar 3 Viti helmet shell in amazingly good condition from them for only $25 because they thought it was a mere SEPT2.
I actually bought a couple more to turn into side plates.
Someone said it's easiest to cut them with a bandsaw. SG also used to sell the AP95 groin armor panel which was $25 for like a curved 6x12" plate.
Here is the flat back plate if you want it. May Sportman's Guide forever be in your heart.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/italian-military-surplus-uhmwpe-10-x-12-back-plate-body-armor-used?p=2062&i=726177
warren mackenzie plates are the absolute best and anything else is a cope
I like the generic 1 dollar big glass dinnerplates obviously less aesthetic compared to brand ceramic it looks nondescript enough plus the finish is really smooth so they're super easy to clean
What's the next option up from these?
From what, the Italian plates? Unironically Botach/Battle Steel III+/IVs. Cheapest true ceramic/PE standalones that aren't complete mystery meat, don't weigh a ton, and can be counted on to do what the label says, albeit no more.
What's wrong with RMA?
Lots.
The real short version is that they lie about their plate construction, and their plate performance is dogshit.
They're nij certified and got rid of the cheat ring