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Posted: 2/9/2017 5:31:17 PM EDT
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Ready to pull the trigger on a set of plates but in a it's a toss up of two different plates.
I am looking at Hesco L210 but they are not rated for 308, but rated for everything under a 308 including m193 and ss109. Or the Hesco 4400 which are level 4 but heavy.two pounds Should I or would you really be worried about a 308 threat. I'm thinking it would be m855, m195, or 7.62x39 Feed me knowledge. |
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Don't know the ratings of the specific plates you listed.
My understanding is that Level III will stop .308 FMJ (so it isn't a caliber thing) but won't stop the .30 cal armor piercing. Also, more importantly, I don't think level III stops M855. Unlikely anyone will be armed with .30 cal AP ammo. Most of the larger caliber "hunting" rifles may be loaded with soft point ammo, and I'm pretty sure Level III plates would stop them (since it will stop .308 FMJ). M855, on the other hand, is often one of the cheapest options in terms of "surplus" or bulk ammo. I think that a lot of people who may be armed with an AR15 would have M855 loaded, not because they wanted/sought an "armor piercing" round, but simply because they found it for cheap. I'd worry about m855 rather than the actual calibers and would look for Level IV protection. |
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Quoted:
Don't know the ratings of the specific plates you listed. My understanding is that Level III will stop .308 FMJ (so it isn't a caliber thing) but won't stop the .30 cal armor piercing. Also, more importantly, I don't think level III stops M855. Unlikely anyone will be armed with .30 cal AP ammo. Most of the larger caliber "hunting" rifles may be loaded with soft point ammo, and I'm pretty sure Level III plates would stop them (since it will stop .308 FMJ). M855, on the other hand, is often one of the cheapest options in terms of "surplus" or bulk ammo. I think that a lot of people who may be armed with an AR15 would have M855 loaded, not because they wanted/sought an "armor piercing" round, but simply because they found it for cheap. I'd worry about m855 rather than the actual calibers and would look for Level IV protection. If you avoid polyethylene and stick to lvl 3 ceramics you don't have much to worry about with M855. There are even some hybrid poly plates that can deal with M855. |
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Quoted:
If you avoid polyethylene and stick to lvl 3 ceramics you don't have much to worry about with M855. There are even some hybrid poly plates that can deal with M855. the only information I've found is that Level III " protects against (rifles) 9.6 g (148 gr) 7.62×51mm NATO M80 ball bullets at a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, II, and IIIA]." So basically just ball (FMJ) ammo. I haven't seen m855 specified, but with the steel "penetrator" I would assume Level III won't stop it. I certainly feel safer with Level IV (which I bought). Is there a difference in protection in ceramic Level III compared to steel/poly? Isn't Level III the standard without regards to composition? ETA: found some YouTube videos (for what that's worth) with Level III steel stopping about 6 rounds of M855. A to Z Armory (never heard of them until doing this search) has Level III ceramic that specifically says " 5.56x45 NATO (AR-15 round, but not the M855 Green Tip ammo). " I still think if you are concerned about m855 you should have Level IV. Since m855 is cheap and readily available, I think one should be concerned about it. |
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Quoted:
Is there a difference in protection in ceramic Level III compared to steel/poly? Isn't Level III the standard without regards to composition? L-III will stop 7.62 M80 ball regardless of composition. 5.56 is a harder round to stop but is not used in NIJ testing. L-III ceramic plates handle M193/M855 just fine. L-III 100% polyethylene plates (really light and thick) are usually penetrated my M855 but stop M193. It's the opposite for steel...stops M855 while gets penetrated by M193 at short range. There are L-III hybrid plates made of ceramic and PE which can stop both 5.56 rounds without going up to L-IV |
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Your sweet spot sounds like Level III+ then, stops .308 but also Green Tip 855 rounds too.
That Paraclete plate above is likely a 10260 or 30260 plate of theirs (I sell them). It won't stop m855, their 20260 will though. Legit III+ plates like the Paraclete 20260 or Hesco 3610 are going to be about 1.25" thick, roughly 5lbs each, and in that $500 each price range, depending on size and dealer. |
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Just came across Hoplite Armor. & ordered one of their active shooter kits. (Plate frame with level IV swimmers for around $700 shipped. Plates were only about $300ish & they come wrapped in many color choices which is nice.
They just posted a video of their product being shot to shit with 308, & m855. Excited to receive them none the less |
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Problem is that "Level III+" doesn't mean anything. It's not a clearly-defined concept. See, you've got people selling this sort of thing as "Level III+", when it won't stop anything with a steel penetrator, which means M855 among a ton of other rounds. Then you've got the steel guys selling "Level III+" armor that won't even stop a fast-traveling M192 round. (Again, among others.)
Just my opinion, but I think that "Level III+" should indicate armor which can, at least, stop M192, M885, and M80/M2 ball. (Which disqualifies a hell of a lot of armor plates that are called "III+") ...And, in that case, "Level III+" would mean ceramic. You should find a good set of ceramic armor. |
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Hop Head armor states NIJ certified
Don't see it listed thoughNIJ 0101.06 compliant list |
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Quoted:
Problem is that "Level III+" doesn't mean anything. It's not a clearly-defined concept. See, you've got people selling this sort of thing as "Level III+", when it won't stop anything with a steel penetrator, which means M855 among a ton of other rounds. Then you've got the steel guys selling "Level III+" armor that won't even stop a fast-traveling M192 round. (Again, among others.) Just my opinion, but I think that "Level III+" should indicate armor which can, at least, stop M192, M885, and M80/M2 ball. (Which disqualifies a hell of a lot of armor plates that are called "III+") ...And, in that case, "Level III+" would mean ceramic. You should find a good set of ceramic armor. I agree. "III+" is a made up rating (to the best of my knowledge) and you have to believe/trust the manufacturer. You can get Level IV for not a lot of money (I got one of the Highcomm specials with a (cheap) carrier and 2 single curve plates for around $350. I'd like to have multi curve, and will one day, but for $350 I have true level IV protection). |
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