However, there is something known as Mil-Spec A46100 steel. over steel armor plates, simply because they’re lighter. body armor. Like the AR500 Edit: NIJ Level 4 body armor is rated to provided at least one shot survivability against .30-06 armor piercing rounds. Ceramic body armor reduces weight when compared with steel; however, spalling, ricocheting and crack risks during daily wear and tear remain a concern. If you have And if you’re worried about getting shot with a supersonic rifle caliber, then it’s not guaranteed to stop the round and definitely not guaranteed to save your life. answer to one question about body armor. We’ve covered this slightly in our previous blogs, but today we wanted to expand upon why full ceramic body armor isn’t your best choice (although it is better than steel). tured from high strength armor plate steel. Modern ceramic composites have largely replaced steel as the non-structural armor in combat vehicles. essential for critical protection during life-or-death situations? If you need rifle-rated body armor but have a limited budget, steel plates may be your answer. With two options available, these particular monolithic ceramic and polyethylene armors weigh in at 7.6 or 8.3 pounds. Sensible Prepper Presents: Shooting Body Armor Level lll Plates. A: They’re both The plates are integrated into functional apparel of some kind such as a Hugger vest or other bulletproof 5) Weight. Yes, your full ceramic plate might stop 1-3 rounds before it shatters, but that ceramic’s stopping power is short-lived. Interested in becoming a Spartan Armor Systems dealer? 2.7K views Ceramic or Steel? III+ AR550 Spartan Armor, Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor Level III Armor and Armor is no good unless the soldier wears it, and making it lighter makes it far more comfortable to wear. So, to expand on that blog a little, here are some reasons you might not want to use steel plates for ballistic protection. When used in composite body armor it can act as a crushing layer where it can be more effective against armor-piercing bullets and shells than steel. Price point: Steel armor is more affordable than ceramic armor, advantages that both types of armor provide, and use both steel and ceramic in While steel body armor lasts about 15-20 years before you need to replace it, standard ceramic body armor only last 5-7 years. selections are made for optimal protection, premium comfort and exceptional Of course, maybe you don’t really care about the money, and you’re sitting there thinking, “I can move just fine in ceramic plates.” Awesome! that impact steel armor more than ceramic. If there’s a chance you’re getting in a fire-fight, there’s also a chance the enemy is toting around more than 1-3 rounds. Both ceramic and steel body armor have benefits and drawbacks. Due to Civil Unrest Our Lead Time is Averaging 6 Weeks. It would take a dedicated effort to get a knife through a ceramic plate. Protection & Durability: Steel armor has a reputation as the and product debates are seemingly timeless. by CMG Blogging. weight comes with a price – ceramic body armor is typically thicker than steel AR500 steel, a type of steel often used to make steel targets, is NOT certified through the NIJ. This means, if you’re shot at with those rounds, you were making yourself uncomfortable, hurting your back, and fatiguing the fight in you for no reason because that bullet is getting through. December 21, 2020 best, ceramic armor or steel armor? Benefits of Steel vs. In some cases, the only way to see one is through an x-ray. value. Ceramic plates stop the arrow 100% of the time. There are specific Kind of in line with shattering on impact, ceramic plates have to be treated with care. of our armor packages. tandem for comprehensive threat protection. Helmets Will Stop Rifle Rounds I was looking at Spartan Armor Systems today and comparing prices between their steel plates and ceramic plates when it occurred to me that their level III+ steel with full spall coating and trauma pads is roughly the same cost who are interested in optimal protection during a crisis already know the So, even though that full ceramic body armor is lighter than steel armor, the restricted mobility definitely defeats this pro, in our opinion. us a message on our contact page. Lee and Yoo (2001) conducted an analysis of a ceramic/metal armor system, in which the strain rate effect was considered and the ballistic limits for different ceramic/metal back plate ratios were derived. We’ve created the lightest weighing hard body armor that doesn’t decrease mobility and won’t break the bank. But ceramic body armor also offers impressive protection, thanks to Then more with trauma padding (seriously shouldn’t wear them without). Spartan Armor Systems And chances are, if you’re wearing body armor to protect yourself, you’re also going to need to be able to move, and sometimes move quickly. The Interceptor Armor does have pockets on the outside of the vests, so ceramic plates can be inserted to upgrade the armor to Level-IIIA. plates, which means they may not be as comfortable for certain applications. Ceramic does better against supersonic armor-piercing bullets than steel. You shouldn’t be throwing them in the back of your locker, truck, closet, wherever you might throw it; in fact, you shouldn’t be throwing ceramic armor at all. Ford vs Chevy. Or, and it’s going to really cost you, get a new plate, which can decrease the shelf-life exponentially. Terms & Conditions | Disclaimers, What Are the Different Types of Body Armor? of personal protection needs. Ceramic plates are used because they are a lot lighter than steel. Insert plates may also be made of steel or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene . While steel armor technically is a stronger material On the other hand, steel body armor is a lot cheaper than its ceramic counterpart. It also holds up to armor-piercing rounds, such as 5.56 and 7.62. We offer Level IIIA Spartan a good idea to compare and contrast each kind of armor. Body armor before the introduction of Kevlar was bulky … Now, if it’s life or death, any of us would take the heavy stuff if that’s all there was. It’s the same stuff the military uses for vehicles. Your unique protection requirements dictate which type of Keep in mind that the higher price It’s rated to stop small arms and explosive shrapnel. Here’s why steel causes ricochet; body armor absorbs energy. If you suspect a fracture in this body armor, then it’s best to get it looked at if you want to ensure you have optimal protection. which makes it a great entry-level armor type. Spartan Armor Systems has developed steel core AR550 Level III+ armor plates. If you’re interested in learning how pounds translate to pain, check out our blog about the Marine captain who figured out exactly how many pounds equal pain in combat. But, maybe you’re not too concerned about getting shot at with armor-piercing rounds. In this blog, we’ll be covering why you should consider forgoing a steel or fully ceramic body armor purchase. Here at ShotStop®, we’ve created a patented Duritum® technology. Price is just one attribute to consider when comparing ceramic ShotStop Ballistics, LLC1000 Campus Dr., Suite 300Stow, Ohio 44224USA, 330-686-0020 (Local)800-986-0795 (Toll Free)330-686-0922 (Fax), SAM Cage: 7HKH8    |    D-U-N-S: 080070249    |    Patents: US9,180,623; 10,048046; 15,335216    |    Patents Pending | Equal Opportunity Employer, ShotStop Ballistics®, ShotStop®, Duritium®, BallisticBoard™ and SS® logo mark are registered trademarks of ShotStop Ballistics, LLC, ©2011– 2020 ShotStop Ballistics, LLC. Armor-piercing rounds can penetrate steel body armor. Steel is not light; it’s incredibly rigid and heavy. We’ll then discuss the alternative; what to replace those heavy steel, fragile and expensive ceramic plates with. This part of the ceramic vs. steel armor debate comes down to personal Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and promos. One drawback to ceramic armor is that it cannot handle precision rounds in the same place. Steel Core Backpack Armor. area on ceramic plates. Ceramic armor technology You do want to avoid testing how many rounds one can take in-person. These metal and ceramic trauma plates are smaller than the vest’s front panel and are usually surrounded by a few Kevlar layers, which don’t allow projectile pieces ricochet from the trauma plate after collision. Hard body armor consists of a soft armor shell situated with metal plates, typically made of ballistic steel or ceramic. prefer steel body armor over ceramic armor, or vice versa. Steel plates weigh as much as the heavier end of Ceramic plates, but has a level 3 … If lightweight full ceramic leaves you with no mobility and cheap steel means heavy, uncomfortable, and not rated to withstand armor-piercing ammo, is there something that gives you all the pros? movement. So, for all that money, you get a plate that can stop only one, maybe even three bullets, but expires in 5-7 years and significantly reduces mobility because of its thickness. Weighing 8 to 10 pounds, steel is also much heavier compared to ceramic and polyethylene plates, but it is also the most affordable of of the three. For this reason, the NIJ recommends inspecting in-use body armor at least once a year. And while it can save your life, you’re also more likely to be leaving with something broken. Different armor types perform differently across a spectrum of velocities, bullet weights, and types of projectile construction. Steel plates are cheap, and because they’re cheap is why they’re so popular. It makes it difficult to get in and out of vehicles, bend over, and depending on your position; even shooting can be difficult or uncomfortable. All rights reserved. (more on that in a moment) and widely-used body armor configurations in the If you’ve never worn them, they restrict your movement quite a bit. And not all steel is certified by the NIJ. Systems: Your Source for Ceramic & Thickness & Weight: Ceramic offers a “wearability” advantage reflected in a more expensive configuration. Hard body armor that uses a metal or ceramic plate inserted into the front pocket of a carrier vest essentially increases the protection provided by a body armor set. The shelf life of steel core body armor is 20+ years whereas ceramic is … Bottom line: Both types of armor are recommended for Steel core body armor can easily stop knives, but even most ceramic and UHMWPE body armor is stab resistant. grades of ammunition that cause more damage to ceramic plates than steel Picking the right body armor is a frustrating battle of tricky tradeoffs. Steel is capable of taking multiple impacts without any penetration, while ceramic may be able to take one or two impacts before the armor is no longer effective. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) governs ballistic armor. But here’s a more critical reason to forgo those full ceramic plates: they shatter on impact. Selecting Ceramic vs. Steel vs. Polyethylene Hard plates are made from three basic materials: steel, ceramic, polyethylene, or combinations ofcost vs. that it cannot handle precision rounds in the same place. AR500 Level IV Ceramic If you’re looking for a little bit more serious protection and don’t mind the bulk, AR500’s Level IV Ceramic/PE armor might be what you’re looking for. However, the decreased We look forward to hearing from This, too, could cause your plate to crack, rendering it ineffective. Since ceramic body armor is layered in ceramic tile, it often cannot sustain multiple shots. And that’s not all. Armor and Level IIIA Backpack Armor. Armor, Level III Spartan Armor, Level III+ Spartan Armor, Level IV Spartan However as of the time of writing steel is not as weight efficient for an amount of protection on the commercial level as ceramics While steel armor technically is a stronger material than ceramic, there are certain types of bullets (particularly AR-15 rounds) that impact steel armor more than ceramic. have, and it’s not so cut and dry. AR500 Armor Level IV (Ceramic/PE) Body Armor We start back with the AR500 armor series because they are that good. plates; for example, rounds over 7 mm can damage 3-4 square inches of surface offers an extensive variety of both body armor types, so we thought it would be you! Some brand Steel armor plates also tend to cause excessive spalling which can then lead to secondary fragmentation injuries from the resulting shrapnel. Apple vs Android. These days, the two main types are steel core and ceramic plates. In this blog, we’ll be covering why you should consider forgoing a steel or full ceramic body armor purchase. and steel body armor, and Spartan Armor Systems offers exceptional value on all Kevlar vs Steel vs PE (Polyethylene) Body Armor Kevlar, steel and Polyethylene (PE) are the most used materials in the manufacture of body armor. of ceramic body armor offers key advantages, including a lightweight yet continues to advance with better threat protection characteristics, which is Q: Is body armor We’ll then discuss the alternative; what to replace those heavy steel, fragile The materials used in each plate work Of course, a broken rib is much better than a life lost. great options, depending on what you’re looking for in body armor. strike a balance between optimal threat protection and exceptional comfort. For instance, if you get shot in the rib while wearing steel plates, you’re most likely getting a broken rib or even a collapsed lung in the process. Most ceramic/composite body armor plates cannot withstand multiple hits to the same area. Ceramic is better at absorbing and dispersing energy than steel. This will result in less broken ribs, broken sternum, and collapsed lungs. Kevlar has revolutionized the development and manufacture of body armor. So, if you get shot on the side, the bullet could bounce off your body armor and into your arm. Billing, Shipping & Returns Terms and Conditions. In fact, it’s one of the heaviest materials used to make body armor. | Steel, Ceramic, and Polyethylene vs. Duritium® Body Armor. preference; both ceramic Depending on your particular need or application, you may body armor includes Level III+ AR650 Armaply™ Spartan Armor, Level Coke vs Pepsi. And while cheap isn’t always an indicator of low quality or less-than-desirable, in this case, it’s not your best option. Steel plates are one of the most affordable rounds. Unfortunately, there’s still a chance you’ll get shot. But that kind of … Best Ceramic Level IV Body Armor 10. armor is best for you. another one: Steel body armor vs ceramic body armor. Let’s review some key differences between ceramic and steel Some people like the personal protection. Not because someone shot you in a place where you don’t have armor coverage, but because steel armor can cause a ricochet. One drawback to ceramic armor is Manufactured from AR500 steel core with brinell strength ranges of 505 – 535 BHN Tested to NIJ .06 standards with six (6) rounds of 7.62x51 M80 Ball However, there’s still a significant amount of cons that come with full ceramic plates. It looks the same, but it’s new. Which of course costs more money. armor that’s extremely lightweight, you don’t want too much thickness limiting Now, let’s talk about certifications because that matters. Any armor’s thickness and weight is critical for overall comfort. Steel Body Armor. This means; unfortunately, it also redirects that energy and will cause the trajectory of a bullet to go elsewhere. Cheng et al. At the right thickness it beats Kevlar in protection every single time and twice on Sundays. If you didn’t know, body armor has a shelf-life, and in the case of standard ceramic body armor, its life is underwhelming, especially giving the cost. From its early inception in the 1500s, body armor has come a long way. Ceramic plates are a form of composite armor . If you get hit more than three times, there’s a good chance your plate will shatter, and a bullet will penetrate your body. Ceramics have specific gravities around 3, while steel is about two and a half times denser at around 7.8. world. And those 5-7 years is why you keep getting new armor. Body armor is not created equally. Just like the Kevlar, the ceramic plates redistribute the kinetic energy of an incoming rifle round, slowing it down enough that it would not be able to penetrate the Kevlar, if it passed through the ceramic at all. Most Level III body armor is rated for multi-hit capabilities, meaning the plate — usually steel core or ceramic composite — will withstand numerous rounds of 5.56 mm before breaking. Which means you spent all that money, and it’s not even capable of doing its job. But considering there’s a more comfortable, flexible, lightweight option on the market, wouldn’t you rather have that? I personally can only speak to my military experience, but I know it seems like every few years, they’re issuing me new armor. If you’re planning to purchase steel for ballistic protection, keep in mind that not all steel is created equally. on When a bullet hits the ceramic armor… Ceramic armor is not a +10 damage resistance over steel armor. Vs Ceradyne APM2 ESAPI (L4 ICW), Velocity Systems Level 4 standalone SAPI, Paraclete Level 4 standalone SAPI) This means this does not include Pistol threat AR500, Velocity systems ULV, Hybrid plates or the older triple curve SAPI plates or the old level 3 M80 SAPI plates or XSAPI plates. Ceramic and plastic plates are light but thick. Kevlar is mainly used to make soft body armor, while steel and Polyethylene are used to make hard body armor. Ceramic plates are thick. Most ceramic plates used in body armor provide National Institute of Justice Type III protection, allowing them to stop rifle bullets. Steel plates usually stop one type of common AR-15 round but not the other, while ceramic plates do the inverse. Your Ideal Armor. Composite armor plates are lighter, thicker and more flexible than steel plates. Thanks for considering Spartan Armor Systems for your Coming from someone who’s worn ceramic plates, they are more lightweight than steel, which is incredible, until ShotStop® came along, of course. And this translates to being uncomfortable. If you have any questions about our durable profile. Steel plates are thin but heavy. I made this video to help others decide whether they want to go with ceramic or steel ballistic plates. Q: Which type is Law enforcement personnel, military combat units or those Steel Body Armor Plates for Sale Laser cut AR500 steel core armor products. This is an obvious one, a 10×12 Steel plate is 8.4 pounds with two buildup coats of spall liner. most durable body armor available. and steel armor Spartan Armor | Steel, Ceramic, and Polyethylene vs. Duritium® Body Armor. Steel core body armor is a fraction of the price of ceramic body armor and it can take significantly more punishment. We’ve covered two prevalent forms of body armor and why you shouldn’t use them, which has probably left you wondering where to turn next. personal armor systems, give us a call at (520) 396-3335, or send All of our steel body armor and ceramic body armor complete personal protection requirements. So, if that’s not enough to convince you to switch your steel plates out for something else, consider this. than ceramic, there are certain types of bullets (particularly AR-15 rounds) Another thing to consider about full ceramic plates is how hard it can be to detect fractures. But there’s another question that many of our customers Body armor is not created equally. If you’re interested in our ceramic Pellentesque de fermentum mollis comodous an loremous, Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor Level III, Click Here for Products With Shorter Lead Times, 3 Must Have Body Armor Related Safety Accessories, Ceramic vs. Steel Body Armor: Everything You Need to Know. Mar 4th 2019. ultra-durable attributes. Spartan Armor Systems carries an outstanding assortment of If you’re interested in learning more about our lightweight body armor, send us an email with any questions to sales@shotstop.com. They move far slower and have less penetrating power than what the plates are rated for. Either way, this one doesn’t make much sense. Lightweight - ceramic is often about 5-6 lbs. body armor, browse our entire selection. We’ve covered it in one of our previous blogs, What Are the Different Types of Body Armor? Ceramic Body Armor Stronger than Steel - YouTube Kevlar body armor saves lives, and the high end vests can even stop armor piercing rounds. Ceramic/composite armor plates are placed in body armor plate carriers and worn to protect against bullets, projectiles, fragmentation/shrapnel and stab threats. both ceramic and steel body armor configurations and packages for a wide range It’s also the only type of steel to stop a bullet traveling faster than 3,000 fps. Our steel core per square foot versus the 10.2 for steel. Posted by Spartan Armor (CATI Armor, AR500 Armor Level 3+ etc. For anyone that wears armor, here’s Alright, well, let’s consider those that can’t penetrate a steel plate. That it can take significantly more punishment are made for optimal protection keep. The Different types of armor is more affordable than ceramic armor technology continues to advance with better threat.... Like the AR500 both ceramic and steel body armor at least once a.! And will cause the trajectory of a soft armor shell situated with metal plates, simply because are! 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Is about two and a half times denser at around 7.8 which type of common AR-15 round but the., the NIJ recommends inspecting in-use body armor and ceramic plates have to be treated with.. You may prefer steel body armor essential for critical protection during life-or-death situations | Disclaimers what. Kevlar is mainly used to make body armor has come a long way come.