Two Types of Ballistic Plates

What is the difference between the two types of ballistic plates?

Knowing the difference between the two kinds of ballistic plates is relevant in determining which of the two is likely suitable to your need. Both plates are used to decelerate the speed of the impact, stop the bullet from penetrating by breaking it down into fragments, and absorbing the impact that may cause injury or blunt force trauma to the wearer.

What are the two kinds of ballistic plates?

Generally, they are differentiated as “Stand-Alone” and “Insert Plates.”

Stand Alone Plates are made from ceramic or polyethylene, designed to capture projectiles from high-powered handguns and rifles. Stand alone, from the term itself, the plates doesn’t need soft armor vest to capture any fragments from bullets. However, bear in mind that without a vest, the wearer could experience blunt force trauma since there is nothing to cushion him from the projectile impact.  

Insert plates on the other hand are designed to be in conjunction with a soft ballistic vest which must be NIJ certified level IIIA. These plates are generally made from two materials; ceramic and polyethylene. Ceramic plate is made by compressing and firing alumina ceramic powders and formed into a monolithic tile. After firing, it will undergo a process by adding composite GRP or aramid backing that will emit the structural strength and multi hit capability of the ballistic plates.

These plates are formed into varying thickness so that it can provide protection from different kinds of high caliber guns and other armor piercing ammunition. An example of the ammunition is 7.62 x 63mm caliber. It can withstand even a multi-strike ballistic impact.

Polyethylene plates are also made from polyethylene materials and compressed into a solid plate. The thickness is similar to that or thicker than the stand alone plates. It can provide protection up to 7.62 mm NATO ball soft ammunition. The polyethylene plates are lighter that their ceramic counterpart and are definitely more expensive as well.

Now that you know the difference between the two body armor plates, simply figure out what possible situation and degree of threat you’re vulnerable to experience.

SAPI Ballistic Plates – Advance Armor

What are SAPI ballistic plates?

SAPI (Small Arms Protective Inserts) ballistic plates are made from the latest composite materials consists of ballistic nylon spall cover, ceramic tiles, boron carbide, Kevlar or Spectra and other reinforced plastic material.

How do SAPI ballistic plates work?

Once the bullet hits the vest, the ceramic fractures the core of the projectile. The energy of the impact is absorbed by the tiles or ballistic plates and the residual energy is absorbed by the backing. The backing materials are determined by ballistic, structural and weight requirements. Examples are Kevlar composites, fiberglass, Spectra and aluminum.

For rifle and some armor piercing rounds, manufacturers have made innovations and uses advance armor ballistic plates using ultra-light weight Spectra shield with ceramics. It only weighs about four pounds. These plates are inserted into the pockets of your ballistic vest.

How are SAPI ballistic plates made?

Layers of ceramic are bonded together to a hard panel made of multiple layers of Spectra shield. After which, these layers are then wrapped with a special kind of fabric covering.

SAPI ballistic plates are designed to stop rounds of 7.62mm and AK-47. As the bullet hits the plates, the hard ceramic inserted in the pockets of the vest will then break up the bullet while the spectra shield will absorbed the energy of the penetration. The bullets continue to break into pieces while the spectra extract the energy of the impact and decelerating the speed at the same time catching the fragments of the projectile. With this process, the possible blunt force trauma that the wearer is supposed to experience is substantially reduced.

That is how simple the process goes in resisting bullet penetration and hampering major effects or injuries caused by the strong impact of the projectile. Ergo, if you want rigid protection, get yourself ballistic armor plates today.

What are Ballistic Plates?

Safety factors are the number one concern of each and every individual. Nobody wants to compromise safety no matter what. As the saying goes, once you are in the battlefield all your energy is exerted in defense for your life. Hence, the importance of obtaining the appropriate gear is very important. The further advancement of ballistic plates is definitely helpful to many.

Another relevant information to pay attention to is the level of ballistic protection that a vest or ballistic plates is capable of doing, that is resisting against specific weaponry. The NIJ or National Institute of Justice has come up with six amounts of ballistic performance using its corresponding strength of projectile.

Take note also from the difference between a tough body armor and soft body armor. The hard body armor is able to provide a wide and higher range of firearms while the soft body armor may protect you from a lesser projectile impact of handguns. Hard armor ballistic plates can be purchased in the form of metallic, ceramic, and dyneema. Even though metal plates have long been used and shown to be highly effective in its purpose, innovations are advancing hence a lighter type of metal has become available.

Ceramic and dyneema is now widely used because of their light weight feature retaining exactly the same strength from that of a metal plate. If you wish to go through the highest form of protection you can lay hands on, metal is the most effective type of defense against high-powered rifles and armor piercing rounds.

Ceramic and dyneema can be used both in full body armor and as add-on ballistic armor plates that supplements industry standard vests’ protection capacity. Most cops wear ballistic plates particularly when called to respond an attack with high probability of caliber weapon usage.

Choose the right level of level 3 bullet proof vest for your kind of undertaking and must make sure of getting the best possible protection required. It is advisable to learn more about what you need and also the type of body armor available in the market before rushing to buy one on your own. Keep in mind that you need to spend quite an investment here and it would be a waste of time and cash to become spending without knowing what you need.

The Amazing Protection of Ballistic Plates

Basing on the escalating quantity of threats from antisocial groups, terrorists and arranged crime, for members of law enforcement, crime fighters, and security personnel, personal physical safety factors like the use of ballistic plates are the most useful defense of all.

The truly amazing proliferation and accessibility to firearms to criminals has increased the requirement of body armor even under normal conditions. Ballistic plates or industry standard vests are among the best safety tools for the kids.

Ballistic plates are among the best accessories for protection to police force officers in firefights. Ballistic plates provide additional defense against high velocity rifles and therefore are employed by military or any other security personnel for his or her safety in combat using their opponents. Ballistic inserts are equipped for a multitude of military requirements along with structural vehicle and building use within combat and defense applications. There are wide kinds of ballistic plate factories producing armor plates which are utilized in military vehicles, building structures, barracks, arsenals not to mention within the manufacturing of body armor.

Ballistic plates can provide extreme safety against high velocity rifle bullets, along with armor piercing weapons underneath the protection level of NIJ IV. They are manufactured by special fibers that could absorb the kinetic energy of the bullet most effectively. Your body armor alone cannot provide full protection to the wearer however, regarding stopping or hampering penetration of rifle rounds they need to use rigid material. However, the plates cannot cover the entire body without unacceptable restriction of movement. Additionally, although projectile impact cannot penetrate the armor, but may still cause some trauma for the individual’s body, which might require evacuation from the patient with a casualty clearing station for recuperation.

On the other hand, ballistic inserts and plates try to use material that will absorb the trauma of the bullet strike most effectively as well as spread it within the widest possible area to reduce this effect. Since ballistic armor plates are constructed with UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight) material in rigid form, they are able to withstand strikes from greater threats. This really is in contrast to soft body armor, often made from similar materials that always, even just in the highest degree of protection are only able to control hand guns.

It will likely be also noted that body armor designed to protect against firearms isn't usually effective against knives since the distribution of force on impact is completely different. This is applicable to soft body armor, but less to ballistic insert plates which could protect to some degree against both threats without additional special manufacturing processes.

In conclusion, ballistic armor plates proficiently offer ballistic protection to users against high velocity rifle rounds that normal soft body armor of NIJ IIIA protection level cannot offer, but don't completely prevent any physical trauma towards the wearer in case of a strike.

Soldier Testimony of How Ballistic Plates Saved His Life

In WASHINGTON of April 18, 2005, Army Spc. Anthony Dowden was shot in the back with a sniper rifle. He was wearing a new high-tech SAPI or small arms protective insert ballistic plates in his ballistic vest that saved his life. He endured nothing more but just bruises.

Army Spc. Anthony Dowden is a member of 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He presented the SAPI plate that helped him elude death to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in a hall meeting in Baghdad, Iraq last April 12.

Anthony Dowden was 22 years old and deployed from Fort Stewart as an old tank crewman. He was on a routine security patrol. He was performing “overwatch” at a checkpoint when he took a good look at a young Iraqi man but appeared to be an AK-47 rifle.

That Iraqi man posed no threat because he was only carrying a pellet gun. However, after a few minutes of observing him running around, he soon started to wonder why he is doing that. As he looked down inside the tank to look for a footing where he can hold on to go down, that was the time when he got hit.

His unit leaders thought that he was shot with a sniper rifle but Dowden said he just felt a strong force on his back that made him thrust forward.

The shot took a pivot at the lower edge of the ballistic plates which resulted to a bruise to his kidney and a more massive bruise towards the side of his back. He confirmed that the SAPI is one of the factors that saved his life. He was glad to be served with such protective equipment.

SAPI armor vest are proven to be a remarkably efficient protection to our soldiers. These plates are designed to stop 7.62mm round which is the standard for AK-47 rifle. As of February 2004, all soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan are issued with this type of plates.

Polyethylene Ballistic Plates for NIJ Threat Level III

What are polyethylene ballistic plates?

People are hearing about ballistic plates, body armor plates, ceramic plates and the like. Are there any differences among them? How do they differ with polyethylene ballistic plates?

The polyethylene ballistic plates that is NIJ threat level three with single curve tactical gear and body armor is suited for salt water environments even in heavy vibration.

This is an ultra-light rifle plate that will certainly protect you against high velocity rounds. Although this is rated as NIJ level three threats, when added with a level IIIA support can withstand piercing rounds as well.

The good thing about polyethylene is it’s is lighter than the metal plates that our army use to wear to fight against higher types of weaponry. Its heft is sometimes, or rather most of the time a hampering factor in its mobility and efficiency. Remember that in the midst of a battle, one must be fast and alert. In as much as its weight our soldiers succeeded in their mission.

Looking at the bright side of it, despite the heft, many lives were saved with the use of ballistic plates. This dilemma was never ignored nor neglected because manufacturers have been painstakingly doing its best to come up with innovations that could address most of our wearers concern.

The advent of polyethylene ballistic plates has brought joy to many. Now they can move with ease and will not be carrying too much load in their front and back. With this, I am pretty sure our law enforcers will be more proficient in what they do.

No need to fret about its capacity to protect the wearers. Even though they are lighter, these polyethylene body armor plates emit the same height of protection or even more to anyone who is wearing it. But again, as a reminder, wearing it alone is not an assurance of safety. You must also be alert and knowledgeable about self-defense.

Ballistic Plates and Light Bullet Proof Board

Today, the most sought after protection by our soldiers, police enforcers, military men, and even some of the civilians who think needed some life safeguarding opt to use body armor. But for law enforcers, it is best worn with ballistic plates to ensure optimum resistance to high-powered rifles.

There different kinds of protective gear, one can choose the light weight or soft body armor or the hard body armor depending on one’s needs. The light bullet proof board with high molecular weight polyethylene material can float on water surface. The weight is only ½ of the square steel plate and can play different bullet proof mechanism according to specific guns and bullets.

Its absorption properties are extremely strong. It can firmly control the speed of the bullet and hastily transmit and decompose the impact. Hence, the wearer need not fret about cracks, ricochets, or injury and many more.

The advent of this new innovation, this new type of bullet proof board can effectively protect a person from a 79 type light submachine gunes, a 56 type rifle and 79 sniping rifle. It can also repel armor piercing weapons like knives and other sharp-edged weapons. You are assured of a relatively high efficiency in this bullet proof board.

The plasticity of the board is extremely sturdy, can be wind randomly. This board is used in manufacturing products such as bulletproof clothing, bulletproof car, bullet resistant helmets, patrol boat, armored car and even landmine shoes among the many other items.

However, ballistic plates remain to be on top of the list still up to these days because of its excellent resistant properties against high powered ammunitions. Although the need of bullet proof armor greatly depends on the person wearing it, if you want to ensure maximum safety from varied types of guns and rifles, it is still recommended to use Armor Plates.

Do You Know the Level of Ballistic Plates Protection Needed?

Our everyday life is not safe. No one understands what situations may happen to us, it may be good also it can be bad. Also our military soldiers and police enforcers, their line of work calls for danger constantly. They are the one’s who are likely to experience risky cases, therefore putting on ballistic plates is really vital.

The army, security companies, police and the likes have the most requirement of these protective armor. After they step out in their home, it is crucial that they're already ready with the correct protective gear to ensure safety.

Even civilians are unaware of what could happen to them. You can easily be passing by and all of a sudden trapped in the middle of a cross-fire. You may be hit or not, however with the bullet proof vest your odds of survival are higher than not wearing any protective equipment whatsoever, right? Do you begin to see the difference?

Just how can ballistic armor plates help? Ballistic plates hampers bullet puncture. Depending on the level of resistance, it may withstand various types of handguns and rifles. There are different kinds of ballistic plates having a number of designs and sizes as well.

The advancement of technology paved way to a lighter weight of ballistic armor plates. It's chemical resistant, UV resistant and waterproof. Even though newly developed body armor is lighter than what our ancestors once wore, it actually offers the same protection and bullet resistance. Actually, body armor manufacturers are endlessly looking for ways and way to boost these protective gears as ammunition manufacturers will also be relentlessly looking for new innovations to make powerful guns.

The performance level test by the National Institute of Justice is conducted to categorize the efficiency and capacity of ballistic resistance for ballistic armor plates. Each level is rated to protect particular types of ammunitions. Hence, to obtain such vest or body armor is dependent on the level of threat that certain needs protection from.

It is important that you receive the type of vest that you'll require. You don’t desire to be wearing too much heft when all you need is just minor protection. And also you don’t also want to put your life on the line in case your kind of hazard exposure is very critical. If you are uncertain of what degree of defense against full body armor suit is needed, never hesitate to inquire about suppliers for help. It is advisable to obtain the right kind than waste a fortune due to wrong investment.

Can We Freeze Ballistic Plates?

Wearing ballistic plates is of course a different feel than not wearing at all. If this is your first time to wear such protective gear, the feeling is awkward and distracting at first especially when your carrier is inserted with ballistic plates.

Ballistic plates are cumbersome hence it augments the heat in your body especially during the summer. As we all know heat can make us perspire a lot making us jittery all day. Good for places that are colder because it will bring them warmth than heat. For tropical areas, a lot of people are asking how to make it cool?

People have different ways of cooling their ballistic plates. They said that soldiers freeze them prior to putting on the gear. For a short term or temporary relief, this could help however for long term basis may cause more damage than help.

The constant cooling by freezing and thawing of your plates over long period of time will degrade plate adhesives. I did not say that freezing can’t help you, it does but doing it repeatedly causes catastrophic failure that can put peril not only to the plates but to your life as well.

Consistently doing it will create a problem between the spall cover and the internal plate components. Most importantly, the backing material and the ceramic tile may separate or the materials will be debonded within the plates.

Keeping cool in the desert is vital to be able to continue working while wearing your interceptor body armor with ballistic plates. If you’re hot, find ways to make yourself cool and fresh but never, and I mean never freeze your NIJ body armor.

Ballistic Plates Upgrade Standard

Soft body armor can already defeat most handgun and sub-machine gun projectile but to stop the velocity of a rifle demands a ballistic plates. Before, steel was the number one element for armor plates but today, ceramics and composite materials are much more preferred because of its many features. These materials are unlikely to cause any secondary injury from fragments.

These ballistic armor plates are inserted in the soft armor carrier to safeguard the chest and back. For further protection, you may add pockets for smaller side plates where the design allows it. Nonetheless, if the design does not fit to the pockets desired, another option is to wear a throw over plate carrying bib.

The stand-alone ballistic Armor Plate Insert can be used with any level of body armor or stand alone in drop over carrier. You can also find upgrade plates manufactured to your specifications in ceramic composite and polyethylene types. Just make sure that the upgrade ceramic composite plates are certified by the National Institute of Justice or NIJ for level III or level IV standard. Today, you can find this upgrade in black or olive drab ballistic nylon spall covers.

The full curved 10” x 12” (250mm x 300mm) polyethylene upgrade plate provides the Level III protection in conjunction with the level IIIA soft armor. The normal weight of this specific plate and soft armor is 1.2 to 1.6 kg each and higher or lower depending on the specifications required.

Just one reminder, our manufacturers are doing its best to come up with an excellent piece of protective gear it is your responsibility to make sure that you order the right specification for your need. They are only here to provide you with what you need as you say it but not your need in particular. However, you can always ask assistance from their staff to ensure of getting the appropriate full body armor.