As a fellow paramedic and a fellow mustachian, keep the f*cking stache bro. These stache haters don't understand the extra dad power it gives you and how it makes you look in uniform. Stache it brother.
I’ve bought 2 sets of plates from steel ops and have had them for a while. Before I made the purchase I deep dived into research and watched all of Joes testing versus people that are completely ignorant.. the product/testing speaks for itself. Joe is also a cool dude and very helpful! Cheers,
I've had mime for a few years now and people just HATE steel but I've tested 4 of their plates and ive never had an issue and theyve always taken at least 10 bullets of ANY caliber the plate can handle before it would ever fragment. You definitely made a good purchase.
Contrary to most of the comments bashing you or the concept of steel armor as a whole, I thought it was a great video! Personally, I feel like I learned a lot and the company did a great job explaining the limitations of the platform. Is steel as nice as some of the other plates, no; is it better than needing it and not having it, absolutely. Well done!
The other thing they didn’t talk about is exposure to the element. Put a steel and a poly/ceramic III+ plate in the trunk of your car in the Arizona or Southern California heat for a year and then shoot them. The poly/ceramic hybrid will fail instantly. The layers pull apart in the heat. The steel functions like it is brand new. I keep a set of Steel ops plates hidden in my trunk after I saw BLM shooting ppl and chasing down cars to shoot them at Hollywood and Vine. I drive through there all the time for work!!! If I ever end up getting stuck in a situation where I need go drive through civil unrest like that, I know I can rely on my steel plates to keep me alive as I pass through the area. I can’t say that for Poly or hybrid plates because of the issues with exposure to heat and weather. And their insane multi hit capability make them good for SHTF. Do you have a stack of extra poly or ceramic plates at home? They are one and done. In a France level insurgency UPS isn’t delivering more plates through rioting because your one set of ceramic/poly got shot up. I would feel more comfortable putting the steel plates back on after they were shot if I had no other options. With ceramic/poly. You will die if you put them on again. So there is that consideration as well. In a SHTF scenario you will need a stack of backup plates at home and replace them every 5 years. Or you can have one set of steel plates and replace them every 20 years. 🤔
I wish everyone could do plate reviews like this.. This is a great video showing the capabilities of the plates and they will be the ones protecting my family. Keep up the great work.
An absolutely fantastic presentation and thank you for improving on steel armor as a whole, though unfortunate that steel has a problem with fragmentation it's absolutely fantastic to see people still making huge strides to minimize it and as well as make it incredibly affordable for the masses. And bravo for still responding to some of these toxic comment's with some professionalism
Dude says it best in one of their other vids. Not all steel armor is created equal. Apparently not cause they just dumped like 20+ rounds by my count into that plate... Like bro, how many you gonna take before you shoot back? Lol.
Good video, appreciate the time and effort put into it. As many of us already know, steel plates are heavy. The AR 500 types were my first foray into rifle level plates, they are a good investment for the money, have unlimited shelf life [ yes, that matters ] and they shine in the resilience factor. I consider spalling a minor factor, it can be mediated with a number of items available in a home improvement store, and is a small price to pay for not taking a through and through chest hit. Everyone has to consider some personal factors in choosing the type and level of armor protection they want, my family runs the spectrum with steel [ now a back up ], ceramics [ lightest plates we can afford ], and polyethylene plates. The women use level IIIA soft armor as trauma inserts. I firmly believe that, in a county wide or regional disaster/ grid failure scenario, there will be " opportunists " that will require active measures to repel, armor will be critical.
I counted 35 rounds… that’s more than a whole standard-capacity magazine of bullets fired from 10 feet away coming out of a 20” barrel (at least the .233’s are)… wow it’s freaking impressive. I’m getting a few of these for myself and my family😂
I bought 3 of their plates about a year ago and I shot one to test and there is no magic here, the plate carrier I put the plate in had no holes from spelling. I called them and they talked to me for 2 hours, the plates are coated with basically the same coating underneath an mrap that catches explosive fragmentation.
I bought 3 of their plates about a year ago and I shot one to test and there is no magic here, the plate carrier I put the plate in had no holes from spalling. I called them and they talked to me for 2 hours, the plates are coated with basically the same coating underneath an mrap that catches explosive fragmentation amd they will even make armor for you in custom shapes. They basically said to ask for whatever I wanted and they would make it.
I’ve been told by a few guys that they wear soft armor under uniform and then keep steel in the plate carrier. If they go to a call where it’s going to be even possibly needed they’ll throw it on over top the uniform so you have that ability to combine the armor so nothing really is gonna get through that. Does anyone else do that or has anyone heard that? Mainly guys that are veterans.
@steelops360 Loving your replies to all the haters. You should do a test where you shoot within a inch of regular ceramic armor and show the round sail through the layer of padding and compare that to a shot with similar placement on one of your steel plates.
After owning a couple AR500 plates and hating them, I was skeptical. These Steel Ops plates, based on your testing, seem to contain fragmentation better than the AR500 plates, and the Steel Ops plates are also lighter than the competition. This armor seems like a good product, although there are now affordable but effective ceramic plates on the market such as LAPG plates
@@joshuakosiba2640, My plate carrier with Lv III AR500 plates still weighed like 20 pounds. Lv III is fine for most applications; if you’re getting hit by armor piercing rounds you have a big problem 😂
I have LAPG lvl IV poly/Ceramic hybrid plates. They are phenomenal for the money BUT… they spall and fragment and send sharp chards of ceramic out, potential into your arms/hands and up into your face. They also can only withstand a few hits from M855 before the ceramic poly chards start falling out enough to make the plate ineffective. My local range let me test one. It stopped the first 3 in a tight group in the center and then started letting them through. But for the money, you could. Literally have a stack of them at home and swap them out in a SHTF scenario after every time you get hit. 🤷♂️
Yes, never buy "base coated" steel plates. Those are very dangerous. We don't even offer them. Every plate we sell comes with a full coating. You can't get it any other way from us.
Any chance we can see how steel ops plates perform with 5.56 xm193 out of 18-20” barrels. I’m interested to see at what distance the plates can reliably stop the faster stuff. Also, anything new on ar700?
Steel ops seems to be (unfortunately) one of the few steel armor manufacturers that doesn't make a product that will actively try to kill you with spall. My major gripe with their product line is not having anything that's a true SAPI profile, which makes it hard for their plates to sit properly in some carriers.
@@strongestgamer2501 those can't fix plate dimensions that are too large for a particular carrier's design. I have no issue with Steel Ops' anti-spall coating, it looks like they genuinely gave a good product in that aspect. Dimensions are my problem.
Primarily I prefer steel plates because one thing I always argue with ceramic plate users is that most of the tests that I’ve seen with ceramic is it just disintegrates after each shot. And because of that I don’t want to rely on armor that will disintegrate after every shot. I’d rather have armor that will sustain multiple hits & weight hasn’t been an issue for me since I have strong shoulders and fatigue has rarely been a factor for me.
Ceramic really only makes sense when you have access to an infinite supply of other peoples money. A great historical analogue for this is Flint vs match lock firearms, independent self sufficient communities like pirates and perhaps more auspiciously colonial settlers in America readily adopted flintlocks as they provided a lower logistical burden and greater reliability, well funded militaries of the empires were slow to abandon their matchlocks so what if they require a large logistical support chain, they have it. This is arguably a mistake, but it's a mistake they can afford. The common man cannot get away with making expensive mistakes, he always finds the most cost efficient & reliable method of operation, the empires follow in his wake not the other way around.
@@MarikHavair Ceramic hardly requires an infinite budget or even a very serious one. You can get perfectly good ceramic plates for less than $350 a set. They don't expire every five years. The chances that you will need to replace it from combat damage are extremely low, and the odds that you will survive multiple fire fights and hits are even lower. That's just a Hollywood fantasy scenario. If you get hit, yeah, you'll want to replace that plate. You should never have just one of any critical life safety gear. Even if you opt for steel, you should own more than one pair. What happens if you have to ditch them in water to avoid drowning, or they get stolen or otherwise lost? Nobody in the prepping movement I've ever encountered counsels people to only have one of anything. Redundancy is a core concept. Guys will spend many dozens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars on weapons, comms, vehicles, water and food and shelter systems etc. But for some reason they think they should only have to spend a couple hundred dollars on armor and that they should only have to make that purchase once in a lifetime.
That's weird. We ship to Canada all the time under a list based exception for Part 774 of the Export Control List. In fact several Canadian LE agencies use our armor. If you're interested in finding out more info reach out by email or phone and one of our reps can verify that we're able to ship to you. Cheers.
@@steel_ops Armor laws in Canada are not federal but vary by the province. Several provinces require a license to own body armor. @Runkelofthebailey has some good videos explaining the lunacy of these controls.
@@LeeThule maybe we'll have to start selling "weight training" plates that just so happen to be made of the exact same material.... Kidding... But not really...
There's three plates in the video. The XP is 7.2lbs, the Pro is 6.6lbs, and the Armis is 6.0lbs. Each plate is the same material and stopping power, just slightly different shapes and sizes. All plates have a full ballistic coating, we do not sell "base coated" plates. We're not aware of a company selling lighter steel plates with a full coating (equal to a "build up" coat) that weigh less than these and have the same stopping power, especially at our price point. But if we're wrong definitely let us know who they are and thanks for checking out the video. 👍
@@steel_ops The company is called tacticon armament They said they have a 357 3/8 frag mitigation build up coat and fully encapsulates any fragment I mean I’ve trusted them for about a year and they just started making ceramic now granted I didn’t know fragmentation was a thing for steel until a month ago I do like these test videos you both are amazing at what you do great video
@@steel_ops plus there the only company I found that has lifetime warranty and if the plates and plate carrier are shot they will replace them at no charge but a police report is required
Yes but these are all bandaid solutions to the inherent problem and only help the issue of splash. You can still experience the projectile ricocheting or riding the plate from oblique angles and hitting you or a buddy.
@@minicoopertn It certainly can but by the time you bought the plate and a sleeve you're at the same price as a cheap NIJ certified ceramic like an RMA 1155 that offers more protection and is lighter.
I've tested all 3 cuts of there plates with my ddm4, AK, and ar-10 in 50 beowulf the best plate took 15 rounds of xm855, 5 rounds of 77 grain smk's and then I shot It with 50 beowulf 5 times at the end and every 5 bullet I'd check for frag by holding the plate bag and plate while undoing the flap looking for ANY dust of frag falling out and the I take the plate out and out a dust mask on and my my face in the bad with the sun as a lit backdrop to see any holes and there were none even after the 5 rounds of 50 beowulf BUT it did form gas build up under the coating and a 1 in slit was made next to the 10 rounds of xm855 that were completely encapsulated so everytime the 50 beowulf hit the plate it would spill out the 5.56 frag, I shot it with 10 more rounds of 50 beo would and the entire right side of the coating was seperating and there was dust and frag that pulled out of the bag however there wasn't a single hole in the plate carrier. The worst plate took 25 rounds of m193 out of a 16 inch ddm4 and somewhere in th last string of 5 rounds making it a total of 30 is split the coating enough for some frag to make a super tiny hole in the plate bag... ceramic frags SO MUCH MORE than this but it can't even be shot this much so by shot number 5 your ceramic plate is either letting bullets in or fragging them back out. The owner of the company is suoer good dude and he sells other companies ceramic armor if it passes HIS testing and he sells them along side his plates so it's not like he strying to hide anything like the ar500armor.com company always did... any company that sells steel plates without a "build up coating" which also dosent even work... this is literally the only steel armor that works and it works better than any armor I've tried and I've tried and tested A LOT of plates and helmets. Also stay away from ballistic armor Co. They claim they're helmets are made in the US and they aren't.
@@thebloodbrothers5287 Chest seals serve a singular purpose. If you aren't familiar with the signs of tension pneumothorax, and how to alleviate that, you need a higher level of training. They aren't magic, they just close smaller penetrating chest injuries.
We've made them but they're just not common enough to be a production item. We offer fully customized plates to any shape or size. Details on our website. 👍
Love to see videos from reputable influencers attacking this nonsense mainstream dogma that you're better off with no armor than steel armor. As if these people actually believe that some bits of shrapnel to the limbs or chin is somehow worse than a rifle round into the heart or lungs.
Well our methods were clearly displayed so feel free to point out flaws in the test. Otherwise someone’s presence doesn’t really have the ability to change what we saw.
I don't see any real world advantage to steel plates. They will never be my first, or even second choice. That said, they are so damn cheap there's just no reason not to own a set or two. They're fine for training, backups, hardening parts of vehicles or dwellings, possible barter, use in mounted or static roles where weight is less problematic etc. Think about this: Armor is really the only item where we get into these little spats about what people should buy. With guns, you pose the question "should I get option A or option B, the answer is usually "yes". Different tools for different jobs, redundancy in case of failure or loss etc.
@@PrepMedic It's not much of an advantage anymore. I remember when you couldn't even touch a set of ceramic for less than $600, and that's back when $600 had probably the same purchasing power of $1,000 or more today. As the number of civilian suppliers has grown vastly, the price of ceramics are not that much higher than steel. You can still find expensive ceramics if you want the high end in terms of ergonomics and boron carbide composition etc. or Hexar flexible builds. But you can get a set of perfectly usable ceramic for less than $350. If you can afford a gun and a bunk out of the weather, you can afford ceramic these days. There are people with extreme budget constraints too, but a lot of the guys who say steel is the only affordable option are the same guys who have some pretty big armories like dozens of thousands of dollars in multiple guns of every type, mountains of ammo, nice optics, very deep supplies of dehydrated food and whatnot.
@@TXAslingr Steel ops "pro plate" is a 10x12 plate coming in at 6.6 pounds. Versus a Hesco 4800 shooters cut plate (10x12) coming in at 4.9lbs. The heaviest cermanic plates are still lighter then steal by 1.7lbs. Now imagine you want front and back plates, that's a 3.4lb difference, fairly major. Steel sucks, there's a reason that no special forces use them, that almost no police department issue them. Even AR500 the longest running steel armor producing is getting out of the game.
@@sirlance7612 first of all. You'll likely never use plates in real life. So we are all larpers. Second. Having steel is better than nothing, especially given 90% of guncrime can be stopped with steel. Third: ceramics are heavy as hell, up there with steel if we are looking at things fairly. Just buy PE at this point. Lighter, and better. Who cares if green tips can puncture it.
@@TXAslingr what kind of argument is "not gonna use it." Room temp IQ moment. If I have to ever use this gear I want it to be the best. 2nd "90%" of crime can be stopped with good Kevlar so just buy that. 3rd I gave you level 4+ ceramic plates, the heaviest plate type and the are still lighter then the steel swimmer cuts.
M855 is absolutely steel core. M855A1 (which is technically only available to the US military) has an exposed steel tip and is considered an enhanced performance round beyond M855. So if you intend to engage US troops it's absolutely a concern and our plates can usually stop/control it out of 14" barrels or shorter. We'd advise you not to conduct engagements against the US military.
Bad take dude... M855 definitely a Light Armor Penetrator with a steel core. M855A1 is the new round with a steel tip. It's also impossible to get, been trying and you can't find it for less than $2/round on gun broker. Google is free my man.
For being an uncertified plate that can't stop .308 the L210 is a great plate for $30 more that weighs .5lbs less than our NIJ Certified Level 3 plate. We have a great side by side comparison on our channel showing the amount of fragmentation that the L210 can create compared to other types of armor. Cheers.
Why did you use .223 in a 20 inch when .223 55 grain needs a 24 inch barrel to reach 3250 fps. With a 20 inch you should've used m193 5.56 NATO. Im guessing you didn't because we all know speed kills steel plates and the .223 in that 20 inch just barely falls short of the critical 3250-3300 fps that should be the standard for 3+. PS. Use a chronograph during these tests it shows integrity.
@invalidcharacters8849 no but 50 grain 5.56 nato will and that is a common defense round but your supposed to test worst case scenario. Even 45 grain JHP at .223 pressure will poke holes in steel plates all the way down to a 14.5 inch barrel. I like steel armor just pointing out this tells is nothing about how this plate will stack up to other plates if he won't take it to failure. Look up Buffman - R.A.N.G.E. He does really good tests on ammo and plates.
Just dropping by to let everyone know steel has no place in body armor solutions, and it will get you kilt in da streetz. Also, friendly reminder that most people need more chooting training and workout time, not more spending on armor.
People spending $120 on plates are not training. I appreciate that they acknowledge that their product is simply a redundancy and your first line of defense is not putting yourself in a position to be shot in the first place but let's be real, nobody listens. If you're actually trained in CQB/room clearing/active shooter etc. you're more than likely getting issued plates. I think anyone should be able to own whatever they so please for the most part but I do think that it's a very niche product and most would be better served using the money for training, a gym membership, etc.
🙄 dude the SWAT team in my area runs these plates. My boy was at the live demo they did when the PD selected them. I mean I see what you're saying about tactics but still... Do the test results not say anything?
@user-zn7nf5rk2s the only real advantage to steel is multi-hit capability and you lose spall protection with more hits. Even with this super fancy top of the line coating you're only stopping what, 9 rounds before you're getting hit with spall? I get that 9 rounds is unrealistic but by that same standard the multi-hit capability isn't important either when alternatives that are lighter and produce no spall can take 9 hits without penetration or significant back face deformation. TLDR the only practical advantage of steel is cost and if you're wearing these for work, cost should not be a consideration for life saving equipment
@@tannernolte3835 lol. Dude the video was like over 24 rounds and no frag... to each their own man. I see cost, thinness, multi hit, durability, and an NIJ certification (their website says dual certified) as some pretty solid features. These ain't heavy compared to ceramics or other steel. Vid says 6lbs to 7.2lbs. Seems like a lot of people just want to deny the video... I mean proof is right there in the pudding my man. Whatever, you do you. Cheers.
you comment like you know all this, but youre just guessing. whats actually wrong with your head? who barges in thinking they know shit but just guess the whole time? your types suck
This guy is talking about of his ass. "these plates actually land between level 3 and level 4 due to special threat rating" No. Literally every hard armor I'm aware of meets "special threat rating" for m855 and m193. The only level 3 plates that won't stop m193 are full 100% poly plates. Those plates only need a small ceramic facing layer to stop m193. All normal ceramic(which is the overwhelming majority of the market), and all steel plates rated for level 3 will also meet "special threat rating". Just because you paid NIJ for another test doesn't make your armor stand out from the crowd. And FYI, steel armor is always subject to fragmentation. It doesn't matter how much of a spall layer you have on the steel, it will ALWAYS eventually delaminate, because you can never get a perfect bond between the anti-fragmentation layer and the steel. The ONLY plates that are true multi-hit rated are poly. Ceramic obviously cracks and loses its ability to stop rounds. steel WILL delaminate. "quality" steel delaminates typically within 10-15 rounds. Cheap steel delaminates in the first 2-5 rounds. And ceramic will often hold up to around 7 rounds on average before becoming basically useless. Poly will take continuous hits without an issue.
So in this case you are actually talking without an understanding of armor ratings or what they mean. Level III and level IV are both agreed upon standards within the NIJ but III+ is, infact between the two and IS NOT an NIJ standard. Almost every company uses the + modifier for armor that exceeds NIJ III but doesn’t yet meet NIJ IV. Unfortunately there is no uniform standard for + and each company defines their own requirements. No “paying” the NIJ for any other rating (this is the same for almost all armor manufacturers). You are correct, eventually you will get spall with any steel plate regardless of coating but as we demonstrated in the testing it took a substantial and unrealistic amount of rounds until we met that point.
@@PrepMedic him talking about being rated for m855 and m193 is a special threat rating provided by the NIJ. Go look it up. For example, the hesco l210 plates do not carry a level 3 rating. They are only rated(by the nij) for special threat testing specifically m855 and m193. This IS a testing that NIJ provides, and DOES provide an added charge over a level 3 rating.
Um, literally everything you posted is patently false. There are dozens of Level 3 NIJ certified plates that can't stop M855... Angel Armor, Prime Armor, some Hesco offerings, etc. The NIJ does not currently rate any plate or standard for M855 or M193. A simple Google search of NIJ 0101.06 Level 3 & 4 will render just how inaccurate your statement is... the new RF1, RF2, RF3 standards will address them when the NIJ decides to publish them, until then though no plate can be "NIJ certified" to stop them despite what any company or reddit forum says. Cheers.
@@steel_ops Maybe you should read 0101.06 before citing it. It literally has a section below level 4 on special treat testing and certification. Page 4. Enjoy.
@@monarchco we're NIJ certified and special threat tested through a ballistic lab... video on that test is free on our channel... We've read it. Maybe you should too. You cannot be "NIJ Special Threat Certified".
Sorry Sam but never buy steel plates. Steel plates are going to kill someone with steel spall. Regardless of "How well the spall coating or liner is". They are heavier and preform worse for threat level. If someone wants cheap plates RMA #1155 should be the option. If you need thinner plates to fit a smaller carrier highcom 4s17m. Fitment and sizing of plates to body and carrier should be the first priority next is the mission(Size of Carrier bigger shoulder straps, full 3a coverage, threat level, etc.) and finally looking good.
Dude, the RMA 1155 weighs 8.2 pounds per plate. That’s almost 3 pound heavier then the steel plates in this video. Also, did you watch the test here? Not saying ceramic plates don’t have their place but we shot the steel plate with a crap ton of rounds before we even got a hint of spall with virtually no backface deformation. You will note when we are talking about backface deformation the plate I show as an example is a ceramic RMA plate.
The RMA 1155 is a great plate, we even do a side by side with it on our TH-cam channel. It's 8.2lbs and still can create frag far beyond what was shown here, particularly at angles. That said for a level 4 plate is definitely worth owning especially if you think you'll encounter steel core 30-06.
Also when it comes to price: For $200 I got 2 AR500 steel plates 3a side armor, 3 drop down 3a soft armor, and a plate carrier. Its definitely not the highest quality stuff but it will keep bullets from going through my torso and thighs. I train with it once a week and it’s held together for several years. If you’re getting ceramic I recommend buying L210’s from TRex arms. Spalling can be bad but it is easily prevented.
Buffman R.A.N.G.E. tested these plates and they failed Buy plates from CATI (Come And Take It) lvl 3+ steel plates survived Full spec m193 and TSX at 3300+ fps with a clay backer. As of yet this company has not proved there plate does the same. I wonder why SteelOps avoids this specific test. Either they use M855 with a clay backer or m193 with the plates swinging or .223 pressure 55 grain. m193 on a clay backer with a chronograph for proof of velocity is what separates the crap from the rest.
@PrepMedic I'm sorry but these guys are disingenuous I've been reading the comments and they are salty as hell and I have proof they are lying. Buffman R.A.N.G.E
Just don't. Buy ceramic plates from reputable companies. There's a reason no professional agencies, organizations or militaries issue steel. It will spall and shred your neck to pieces. The same reason you won't carry a snakestaff tq because it hasn't been tested or proven enough or went through qualifications by NAR, is the same reason you should only be wearing high quality ceramic plates.
Literally thousands of Law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs and security contractors use our plates every day... Should we assume every piece of gear that you're running is endorsed and used by the US Military?
Our local Fire Department uses steel for their rescue task force (13 stations and over 400 active staff members) I also know at least 3 LE agencies that issue steel to their patrol officers for active shooter vests and up-armor. Saw it a lot in Iowa as well….
My boy is SWAT and his team got these plates. Not sure which version. They tested em themselves before buying too. Must have seen something they liked.
That’s crazy a common sense video on steel armor haha, crazy how all the idiots without armor or knowledge of armor want to comment and say ceramic is so much better. steel ops is one of the only good steel armor companies, that’s what I rock. They stop the rounds there rated for
As a fellow paramedic and a fellow mustachian, keep the f*cking stache bro. These stache haters don't understand the extra dad power it gives you and how it makes you look in uniform. Stache it brother.
I appreciate your words of encouragement. It isn’t going anywhere. 🤙🏻🫡
Well said soldier, stache forever.
I’ve bought 2 sets of plates from steel ops and have had them for a while. Before I made the purchase I deep dived into research and watched all of Joes testing versus people that are completely ignorant.. the product/testing speaks for itself. Joe is also a cool dude and very helpful!
Cheers,
I've had mime for a few years now and people just HATE steel but I've tested 4 of their plates and ive never had an issue and theyve always taken at least 10 bullets of ANY caliber the plate can handle before it would ever fragment. You definitely made a good purchase.
Contrary to most of the comments bashing you or the concept of steel armor as a whole, I thought it was a great video! Personally, I feel like I learned a lot and the company did a great job explaining the limitations of the platform. Is steel as nice as some of the other plates, no; is it better than needing it and not having it, absolutely. Well done!
Go easy with that critical thinking. The internet doesn't take kindly to that type of stuff.
@@steel_ops sometimes I forget that having a non-polarized opinion is difficult for people in 2023
Price and long term durability - as well as multi hit rated - cannot beat steel.
The other thing they didn’t talk about is exposure to the element. Put a steel and a poly/ceramic III+ plate in the trunk of your car in the Arizona or Southern California heat for a year and then shoot them. The poly/ceramic hybrid will fail instantly. The layers pull apart in the heat. The steel functions like it is brand new. I keep a set of Steel ops plates hidden in my trunk after I saw BLM shooting ppl and chasing down cars to shoot them at Hollywood and Vine. I drive through there all the time for work!!! If I ever end up getting stuck in a situation where I need go drive through civil unrest like that, I know I can rely on my steel plates to keep me alive as I pass through the area. I can’t say that for Poly or hybrid plates because of the issues with exposure to heat and weather.
And their insane multi hit capability make them good for SHTF. Do you have a stack of extra poly or ceramic plates at home? They are one and done. In a France level insurgency UPS isn’t delivering more plates through rioting because your one set of ceramic/poly got shot up. I would feel more comfortable putting the steel plates back on after they were shot if I had no other options. With ceramic/poly. You will die if you put them on again. So there is that consideration as well. In a SHTF scenario you will need a stack of backup plates at home and replace them every 5 years. Or you can have one set of steel plates and replace them every 20 years. 🤔
@@agmsmith4079 great point!
I wish everyone could do plate reviews like this.. This is a great video showing the capabilities of the plates and they will be the ones protecting my family. Keep up the great work.
Search Buffman R.A.N.G.E steel ops plate test @10:15 the plates fail from a 16 inch AR15 using 55 grain FMJ at less then 3300fps
Thanks for watching and gathering facts rather than reddit mouth breather data... See above...
@@steel_ops huh?
@@shovelhead2155 youre an actual shitstain
Joe is so happy to be here!
An absolutely fantastic presentation and thank you for improving on steel armor as a whole, though unfortunate that steel has a problem with fragmentation it's absolutely fantastic to see people still making huge strides to minimize it and as well as make it incredibly affordable for the masses. And bravo for still responding to some of these toxic comment's with some professionalism
Dude says it best in one of their other vids. Not all steel armor is created equal. Apparently not cause they just dumped like 20+ rounds by my count into that plate... Like bro, how many you gonna take before you shoot back? Lol.
Good video, appreciate the time and effort put into it. As many of us already know, steel plates are heavy. The AR 500 types were my first foray into rifle level plates, they are a good investment for the money, have unlimited shelf life [ yes, that matters ] and they shine in the resilience factor. I consider spalling a minor factor, it can be mediated with a number of items available in a home improvement store, and is a small price to pay for not taking a through and through chest hit.
Everyone has to consider some personal factors in choosing the type and level of armor protection they want, my family runs the spectrum with steel [ now a back up ], ceramics [ lightest plates we can afford ], and polyethylene plates. The women use level IIIA soft armor as trauma inserts. I firmly believe that, in a county wide or regional disaster/ grid failure scenario, there will be " opportunists " that will require active measures to repel, armor will be critical.
I counted 35 rounds… that’s more than a whole standard-capacity magazine of bullets fired from 10 feet away coming out of a 20” barrel (at least the .233’s are)… wow it’s freaking impressive. I’m getting a few of these for myself and my family😂
I bought 3 of their plates about a year ago and I shot one to test and there is no magic here, the plate carrier I put the plate in had no holes from spelling. I called them and they talked to me for 2 hours, the plates are coated with basically the same coating underneath an mrap that catches explosive fragmentation.
I bought 3 of their plates about a year ago and I shot one to test and there is no magic here, the plate carrier I put the plate in had no holes from spalling. I called them and they talked to me for 2 hours, the plates are coated with basically the same coating underneath an mrap that catches explosive fragmentation amd they will even make armor for you in custom shapes. They basically said to ask for whatever I wanted and they would make it.
Impressive!!! Just keep in mind if your plate took that many rounds..... maybe you're doing something wrong....
Lol exactly
Agreed. Shoot back.
I know right, get off the X already. For the love of God!!!😂😂
With a follow-up note: You're a lucky SOB that whoever is shooting at you has only hit the plate, not groin shot, head, arms, or legs.
Tell joe to smile a little bit 😊
We've sent an email.
I’ve been told by a few guys that they wear soft armor under uniform and then keep steel in the plate carrier. If they go to a call where it’s going to be even possibly needed they’ll throw it on over top the uniform so you have that ability to combine the armor so nothing really is gonna get through that. Does anyone else do that or has anyone heard that? Mainly guys that are veterans.
@steelops360 Loving your replies to all the haters. You should do a test where you shoot within a inch of regular ceramic armor and show the round sail through the layer of padding and compare that to a shot with similar placement on one of your steel plates.
Search Buffman R.A.N.G.E steel ops plate test @10:15 the plates fail from a 16 inch AR15 using 55 grain FMJ at less then 3300fps
We do a test just like you're describing, check it out: th-cam.com/video/j2qgDB48y8k/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
very impressive .
These guys are frauds search Buffman R.A.N.G.E. he did a real test and they failed from a 16 inch AR shooting m193 at less then 3300fps
Steel plates for a “Truck kit” do to the height heat of involved.
Good video sir! Presented and proven products. ✝️🇺🇲💪
After owning a couple AR500 plates and hating them, I was skeptical. These Steel Ops plates, based on your testing, seem to contain fragmentation better than the AR500 plates, and the Steel Ops plates are also lighter than the competition. This armor seems like a good product, although there are now affordable but effective ceramic plates on the market such as LAPG plates
Lighter but going on their website they're Lvl III+ and not Lvl IV which definitely drops the weight and price.
@@joshuakosiba2640, My plate carrier with Lv III AR500 plates still weighed like 20 pounds. Lv III is fine for most applications; if you’re getting hit by armor piercing rounds you have a big problem 😂
Buy a frag sleeve and keep your steel around for extra gear.
I have LAPG lvl IV poly/Ceramic hybrid plates. They are phenomenal for the money BUT… they spall and fragment and send sharp chards of ceramic out, potential into your arms/hands and up into your face. They also can only withstand a few hits from M855 before the ceramic poly chards start falling out enough to make the plate ineffective. My local range let me test one. It stopped the first 3 in a tight group in the center and then started letting them through. But for the money, you could. Literally have a stack of them at home and swap them out in a SHTF scenario after every time you get hit. 🤷♂️
Steel ops makes pretty good steel targets as well👍🏻
So if a level 3 plate was not coated, would it come through the carrier sooner?
Yes.
Yes, never buy "base coated" steel plates. Those are very dangerous. We don't even offer them. Every plate we sell comes with a full coating. You can't get it any other way from us.
@@steel_ops Could just buy or make a spall jacket to mitigate that risk, but that's just what I would do
Given what Steel Ops has done in that regard, and at that price point, you won't find a better option in steel plates.
Any chance we can see how steel ops plates perform with 5.56 xm193 out of 18-20” barrels. I’m interested to see at what distance the plates can reliably stop the faster stuff. Also, anything new on ar700?
FYI: anyone reading this and thinking the same go watch the start of testing... he's using standard 20 in barrel AR-15 for 223/ 5.56 m193
hello are you protection plates made of steel?
Steel ops seems to be (unfortunately) one of the few steel armor manufacturers that doesn't make a product that will actively try to kill you with spall. My major gripe with their product line is not having anything that's a true SAPI profile, which makes it hard for their plates to sit properly in some carriers.
Just get a spall jacket
@@strongestgamer2501 those can't fix plate dimensions that are too large for a particular carrier's design. I have no issue with Steel Ops' anti-spall coating, it looks like they genuinely gave a good product in that aspect. Dimensions are my problem.
So was 308 not tested because it would blow right through
Nice
WOW SteelOps . . . ROCKSnROLLS
These guys are frauds search Buffman R.A.N.G.E. he did a real test and they failed from a 16 inch AR shooting m193 at less then 3300fps
Primarily I prefer steel plates because one thing I always argue with ceramic plate users is that most of the tests that I’ve seen with ceramic is it just disintegrates after each shot. And because of that I don’t want to rely on armor that will disintegrate after every shot. I’d rather have armor that will sustain multiple hits & weight hasn’t been an issue for me since I have strong shoulders and fatigue has rarely been a factor for me.
Ceramic really only makes sense when you have access to an infinite supply of other peoples money.
A great historical analogue for this is Flint vs match lock firearms, independent self sufficient communities like pirates and perhaps more auspiciously colonial settlers in America readily adopted flintlocks as they provided a lower logistical burden and greater reliability, well funded militaries of the empires were slow to abandon their matchlocks so what if they require a large logistical support chain, they have it. This is arguably a mistake, but it's a mistake they can afford.
The common man cannot get away with making expensive mistakes, he always finds the most cost efficient & reliable method of operation, the empires follow in his wake not the other way around.
@@MarikHavair Ceramic hardly requires an infinite budget or even a very serious one. You can get perfectly good ceramic plates for less than $350 a set. They don't expire every five years. The chances that you will need to replace it from combat damage are extremely low, and the odds that you will survive multiple fire fights and hits are even lower. That's just a Hollywood fantasy scenario.
If you get hit, yeah, you'll want to replace that plate. You should never have just one of any critical life safety gear. Even if you opt for steel, you should own more than one pair. What happens if you have to ditch them in water to avoid drowning, or they get stolen or otherwise lost?
Nobody in the prepping movement I've ever encountered counsels people to only have one of anything. Redundancy is a core concept. Guys will spend many dozens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars on weapons, comms, vehicles, water and food and shelter systems etc. But for some reason they think they should only have to spend a couple hundred dollars on armor and that they should only have to make that purchase once in a lifetime.
As a Canadian, I require a permit to own armor. Failure to comply, $10,000 dollar fine and 6 months in jail.
That is absolutely insane. I’m sorry that that is a thing for you guys.
That's weird. We ship to Canada all the time under a list based exception for Part 774 of the Export Control List. In fact several Canadian LE agencies use our armor. If you're interested in finding out more info reach out by email or phone and one of our reps can verify that we're able to ship to you. Cheers.
@@steel_ops Armor laws in Canada are not federal but vary by the province. Several provinces require a license to own body armor. @Runkelofthebailey has some good videos explaining the lunacy of these controls.
@@LeeThule maybe we'll have to start selling "weight training" plates that just so happen to be made of the exact same material.... Kidding... But not really...
I bought steel because of the price and shelf life I bought it from a smaller company and there ar600 plates only weighed 6.6lbs
There's three plates in the video. The XP is 7.2lbs, the Pro is 6.6lbs, and the Armis is 6.0lbs. Each plate is the same material and stopping power, just slightly different shapes and sizes. All plates have a full ballistic coating, we do not sell "base coated" plates. We're not aware of a company selling lighter steel plates with a full coating (equal to a "build up" coat) that weigh less than these and have the same stopping power, especially at our price point. But if we're wrong definitely let us know who they are and thanks for checking out the video. 👍
@@steel_ops The company is called tacticon armament They said they have a 357 3/8 frag mitigation build up coat and fully encapsulates any fragment I mean I’ve trusted them for about a year and they just started making ceramic now granted I didn’t know fragmentation was a thing for steel until a month ago I do like these test videos you both are amazing at what you do great video
@@steel_ops plus there the only company I found that has lifetime warranty and if the plates and plate carrier are shot they will replace them at no charge but a police report is required
In Dallas we had Dallas Fire guys shot
Does anyone make a Kevlar sleeve that goes around a steel plate.
Yes but these are all bandaid solutions to the inherent problem and only help the issue of splash. You can still experience the projectile ricocheting or riding the plate from oblique angles and hitting you or a buddy.
@@hunterkiller232134Thats what I was wondering. Could the sleeve contain the splash after the steel plate is hit.
@@minicoopertn It certainly can but by the time you bought the plate and a sleeve you're at the same price as a cheap NIJ certified ceramic like an RMA 1155 that offers more protection and is lighter.
I've tested all 3 cuts of there plates with my ddm4, AK, and ar-10 in 50 beowulf the best plate took 15 rounds of xm855, 5 rounds of 77 grain smk's and then I shot It with 50 beowulf 5 times at the end and every 5 bullet I'd check for frag by holding the plate bag and plate while undoing the flap looking for ANY dust of frag falling out and the I take the plate out and out a dust mask on and my my face in the bad with the sun as a lit backdrop to see any holes and there were none even after the 5 rounds of 50 beowulf BUT it did form gas build up under the coating and a 1 in slit was made next to the 10 rounds of xm855 that were completely encapsulated so everytime the 50 beowulf hit the plate it would spill out the 5.56 frag, I shot it with 10 more rounds of 50 beo would and the entire right side of the coating was seperating and there was dust and frag that pulled out of the bag however there wasn't a single hole in the plate carrier. The worst plate took 25 rounds of m193 out of a 16 inch ddm4 and somewhere in th last string of 5 rounds making it a total of 30 is split the coating enough for some frag to make a super tiny hole in the plate bag... ceramic frags SO MUCH MORE than this but it can't even be shot this much so by shot number 5 your ceramic plate is either letting bullets in or fragging them back out. The owner of the company is suoer good dude and he sells other companies ceramic armor if it passes HIS testing and he sells them along side his plates so it's not like he strying to hide anything like the ar500armor.com company always did... any company that sells steel plates without a "build up coating" which also dosent even work... this is literally the only steel armor that works and it works better than any armor I've tried and I've tried and tested A LOT of plates and helmets. Also stay away from ballistic armor Co. They claim they're helmets are made in the US and they aren't.
We need a video on what you would do in case of someone getting shot like in depth
I have tons of videos that talk about that. Check out my bleeding control one I did a couple months ago.
@@PrepMedic Perfect, ill do that btw do you recommend civilians with no proffessional training to apply chest seals?
@@thebloodbrothers5287 Yes. Slap a seal on a core body wound from Neck to Nuts.
@@LeeThule Is there anything in particular i should think about when applying some say i should wait until the person is exhaling
@@thebloodbrothers5287 Chest seals serve a singular purpose. If you aren't familiar with the signs of tension pneumothorax, and how to alleviate that, you need a higher level of training. They aren't magic, they just close smaller penetrating chest injuries.
Does steel ops or anyone make a cod piece armor? To protect your nether regions... If not some one is about to corner a market
Ar500 armor makes them, but only 3A.
We've made them but they're just not common enough to be a production item. We offer fully customized plates to any shape or size. Details on our website. 👍
@@steel_opsnice
Do you mean a groin protector?
"Cod armor"
I have Kevlar collars in case of shrapnel to the throat.
What about arms, thighs, gut? What about friends and family that may be to the left or right? What about ricochets from oblique angles?
Greetings from Reno, Nevada.
Love to see videos from reputable influencers attacking this nonsense mainstream dogma that you're better off with no armor than steel armor. As if these people actually believe that some bits of shrapnel to the limbs or chin is somehow worse than a rifle round into the heart or lungs.
I don't get people's problem with this. Ceramic would've failed by the time the coating fails on this steel. It's the same thing.
I think that stache is kicking Andy Williams stache's ass.
So has Steel Ops publicly addressed Buffman - R.A.N.G.E.'s Armor Review? It is concerning.
You mean the one where he shoots it at velocities it’s not certified to stop and then complains about it?
Shelf life?
20 years?
25 years as listed on the NIJ compliant products list.
Kinda biased to bring in someone with their product to test it. Instead of getting the plates yourself and testing yourself without them their
Well our methods were clearly displayed so feel free to point out flaws in the test. Otherwise someone’s presence doesn’t really have the ability to change what we saw.
Why do my favorite TH-camrs always post when I can't watch or hear
The video will not go anywhere, there's no need to watch it immediately.
@@aronvdr00720 normally I get sidetracked
I don't see any real world advantage to steel plates. They will never be my first, or even second choice.
That said, they are so damn cheap there's just no reason not to own a set or two. They're fine for training, backups, hardening parts of vehicles or dwellings, possible barter, use in mounted or static roles where weight is less problematic etc.
Think about this: Armor is really the only item where we get into these little spats about what people should buy. With guns, you pose the question "should I get option A or option B, the answer is usually "yes". Different tools for different jobs, redundancy in case of failure or loss etc.
The cost is the real world advantage.
@@PrepMedic It's not much of an advantage anymore. I remember when you couldn't even touch a set of ceramic for less than $600, and that's back when $600 had probably the same purchasing power of $1,000 or more today.
As the number of civilian suppliers has grown vastly, the price of ceramics are not that much higher than steel. You can still find expensive ceramics if you want the high end in terms of ergonomics and boron carbide composition etc. or Hexar flexible builds.
But you can get a set of perfectly usable ceramic for less than $350. If you can afford a gun and a bunk out of the weather, you can afford ceramic these days.
There are people with extreme budget constraints too, but a lot of the guys who say steel is the only affordable option are the same guys who have some pretty big armories like dozens of thousands of dollars in multiple guns of every type, mountains of ammo, nice optics, very deep supplies of dehydrated food and whatnot.
Its not a myth its facts. Steel is only good for targets. Cermanics are 20-30 extra plus aren't as heavy as steel.
They're not light either. You're saving literally a few lbs overall.
@@TXAslingr Steel ops "pro plate" is a 10x12 plate coming in at 6.6 pounds. Versus a Hesco 4800 shooters cut plate (10x12) coming in at 4.9lbs. The heaviest cermanic plates are still lighter then steal by 1.7lbs. Now imagine you want front and back plates, that's a 3.4lb difference, fairly major. Steel sucks, there's a reason that no special forces use them, that almost no police department issue them. Even AR500 the longest running steel armor producing is getting out of the game.
@@sirlance7612 first of all. You'll likely never use plates in real life. So we are all larpers.
Second. Having steel is better than nothing, especially given 90% of guncrime can be stopped with steel.
Third: ceramics are heavy as hell, up there with steel if we are looking at things fairly.
Just buy PE at this point. Lighter, and better. Who cares if green tips can puncture it.
@@TXAslingr what kind of argument is "not gonna use it." Room temp IQ moment. If I have to ever use this gear I want it to be the best. 2nd "90%" of crime can be stopped with good Kevlar so just buy that. 3rd I gave you level 4+ ceramic plates, the heaviest plate type and the are still lighter then the steel swimmer cuts.
@@sirlance7612 if you can afford $1500 per armor plate the Hesco 4800 is amazing armor. You're absolutely right.
Sam, grow your beard back...
M855 ain't steel cored. It is steel tipped. It's not AP. Big difference my guy.
M855 has a steel core. M855A1 has a steel tip.
M855 is absolutely steel core. M855A1 (which is technically only available to the US military) has an exposed steel tip and is considered an enhanced performance round beyond M855. So if you intend to engage US troops it's absolutely a concern and our plates can usually stop/control it out of 14" barrels or shorter. We'd advise you not to conduct engagements against the US military.
Bad take dude... M855 definitely a Light Armor Penetrator with a steel core. M855A1 is the new round with a steel tip. It's also impossible to get, been trying and you can't find it for less than $2/round on gun broker. Google is free my man.
doesnt matter how cool a steel plate is, if you need budget plates then go buy some Hesco L210s.
For being an uncertified plate that can't stop .308 the L210 is a great plate for $30 more that weighs .5lbs less than our NIJ Certified Level 3 plate. We have a great side by side comparison on our channel showing the amount of fragmentation that the L210 can create compared to other types of armor. Cheers.
Nope
Why did you use .223 in a 20 inch when .223 55 grain needs a 24 inch barrel to reach 3250 fps. With a 20 inch you should've used m193 5.56 NATO. Im guessing you didn't because we all know speed kills steel plates and the .223 in that 20 inch just barely falls short of the critical 3250-3300 fps that should be the standard for 3+.
PS. Use a chronograph during these tests it shows integrity.
@invalidcharacters8849 no but 50 grain 5.56 nato will and that is a common defense round but your supposed to test worst case scenario. Even 45 grain JHP at .223 pressure will poke holes in steel plates all the way down to a 14.5 inch barrel. I like steel armor just pointing out this tells is nothing about how this plate will stack up to other plates if he won't take it to failure. Look up Buffman - R.A.N.G.E. He does really good tests on ammo and plates.
I'm pretty sure m193 was the first ammo they used.
This is an infomercial first. Don't read into it too much.
@Invalid Characters great logic. The case for Steel armor is that it stops 90% of ammunition used in crime.
nobody is using a 24 inch barrel. Most aren't even 20" today. Are you just looking for reasons to complain?
Just dropping by to let everyone know steel has no place in body armor solutions, and it will get you kilt in da streetz.
Also, friendly reminder that most people need more chooting training and workout time, not more spending on armor.
Search Buffman R.A.N.G.E steel ops plate test @10:15 the plates fail from a 16 inch AR15 using 55 grain FMJ at less then 3300fps
People spending $120 on plates are not training. I appreciate that they acknowledge that their product is simply a redundancy and your first line of defense is not putting yourself in a position to be shot in the first place but let's be real, nobody listens. If you're actually trained in CQB/room clearing/active shooter etc. you're more than likely getting issued plates. I think anyone should be able to own whatever they so please for the most part but I do think that it's a very niche product and most would be better served using the money for training, a gym membership, etc.
🙄 dude the SWAT team in my area runs these plates. My boy was at the live demo they did when the PD selected them. I mean I see what you're saying about tactics but still... Do the test results not say anything?
@user-zn7nf5rk2s the only real advantage to steel is multi-hit capability and you lose spall protection with more hits. Even with this super fancy top of the line coating you're only stopping what, 9 rounds before you're getting hit with spall? I get that 9 rounds is unrealistic but by that same standard the multi-hit capability isn't important either when alternatives that are lighter and produce no spall can take 9 hits without penetration or significant back face deformation. TLDR the only practical advantage of steel is cost and if you're wearing these for work, cost should not be a consideration for life saving equipment
@@tannernolte3835 lol. Dude the video was like over 24 rounds and no frag... to each their own man. I see cost, thinness, multi hit, durability, and an NIJ certification (their website says dual certified) as some pretty solid features. These ain't heavy compared to ceramics or other steel. Vid says 6lbs to 7.2lbs. Seems like a lot of people just want to deny the video... I mean proof is right there in the pudding my man. Whatever, you do you. Cheers.
There are quite a few front range organizations that issue steel ops armor. Budgets are not just limited to individuals.
you comment like you know all this, but youre just guessing. whats actually wrong with your head? who barges in thinking they know shit but just guess the whole time? your types suck
This guy is talking about of his ass.
"these plates actually land between level 3 and level 4 due to special threat rating"
No. Literally every hard armor I'm aware of meets "special threat rating" for m855 and m193.
The only level 3 plates that won't stop m193 are full 100% poly plates. Those plates only need a small ceramic facing layer to stop m193. All normal ceramic(which is the overwhelming majority of the market), and all steel plates rated for level 3 will also meet "special threat rating".
Just because you paid NIJ for another test doesn't make your armor stand out from the crowd.
And FYI, steel armor is always subject to fragmentation. It doesn't matter how much of a spall layer you have on the steel, it will ALWAYS eventually delaminate, because you can never get a perfect bond between the anti-fragmentation layer and the steel. The ONLY plates that are true multi-hit rated are poly. Ceramic obviously cracks and loses its ability to stop rounds. steel WILL delaminate. "quality" steel delaminates typically within 10-15 rounds. Cheap steel delaminates in the first 2-5 rounds. And ceramic will often hold up to around 7 rounds on average before becoming basically useless. Poly will take continuous hits without an issue.
So in this case you are actually talking without an understanding of armor ratings or what they mean. Level III and level IV are both agreed upon standards within the NIJ but III+ is, infact between the two and IS NOT an NIJ standard. Almost every company uses the + modifier for armor that exceeds NIJ III but doesn’t yet meet NIJ IV. Unfortunately there is no uniform standard for + and each company defines their own requirements. No “paying” the NIJ for any other rating (this is the same for almost all armor manufacturers). You are correct, eventually you will get spall with any steel plate regardless of coating but as we demonstrated in the testing it took a substantial and unrealistic amount of rounds until we met that point.
@@PrepMedic him talking about being rated for m855 and m193 is a special threat rating provided by the NIJ.
Go look it up. For example, the hesco l210 plates do not carry a level 3 rating. They are only rated(by the nij) for special threat testing specifically m855 and m193.
This IS a testing that NIJ provides, and DOES provide an added charge over a level 3 rating.
Um, literally everything you posted is patently false. There are dozens of Level 3 NIJ certified plates that can't stop M855... Angel Armor, Prime Armor, some Hesco offerings, etc. The NIJ does not currently rate any plate or standard for M855 or M193. A simple Google search of NIJ 0101.06 Level 3 & 4 will render just how inaccurate your statement is... the new RF1, RF2, RF3 standards will address them when the NIJ decides to publish them, until then though no plate can be "NIJ certified" to stop them despite what any company or reddit forum says. Cheers.
@@steel_ops Maybe you should read 0101.06 before citing it. It literally has a section below level 4 on special treat testing and certification. Page 4. Enjoy.
@@monarchco we're NIJ certified and special threat tested through a ballistic lab... video on that test is free on our channel... We've read it. Maybe you should too. You cannot be "NIJ Special Threat Certified".
Sorry Sam but never buy steel plates.
Steel plates are going to kill someone with steel spall. Regardless of "How well the spall coating or liner is". They are heavier and preform worse for threat level.
If someone wants cheap plates RMA #1155 should be the option.
If you need thinner plates to fit a smaller carrier highcom 4s17m.
Fitment and sizing of plates to body and carrier should be the first priority next is the mission(Size of Carrier bigger shoulder straps, full 3a coverage, threat level, etc.) and finally looking good.
Don't be stupid. Steel has its place.
And if you're concerned about splatter, buy a ballistic sleeve for your steel.
FYI, it's splatter not spall. The bullet is fragmenting, not the plate.
Dude, the RMA 1155 weighs 8.2 pounds per plate. That’s almost 3 pound heavier then the steel plates in this video. Also, did you watch the test here? Not saying ceramic plates don’t have their place but we shot the steel plate with a crap ton of rounds before we even got a hint of spall with virtually no backface deformation. You will note when we are talking about backface deformation the plate I show as an example is a ceramic RMA plate.
The RMA 1155 is a great plate, we even do a side by side with it on our TH-cam channel. It's 8.2lbs and still can create frag far beyond what was shown here, particularly at angles. That said for a level 4 plate is definitely worth owning especially if you think you'll encounter steel core 30-06.
Also when it comes to price: For $200 I got 2 AR500 steel plates 3a side armor, 3 drop down 3a soft armor, and a plate carrier. Its definitely not the highest quality stuff but it will keep bullets from going through my torso and thighs. I train with it once a week and it’s held together for several years. If you’re getting ceramic I recommend buying L210’s from TRex arms. Spalling can be bad but it is easily prevented.
Buffman R.A.N.G.E. tested these plates and they failed Buy plates from CATI (Come And Take It) lvl 3+ steel plates survived Full spec m193 and TSX at 3300+ fps with a clay backer. As of yet this company has not proved there plate does the same. I wonder why SteelOps avoids this specific test. Either they use M855 with a clay backer or m193 with the plates swinging or .223 pressure 55 grain. m193 on a clay backer with a chronograph for proof of velocity is what separates the crap from the rest.
why so much hate? sounds like you already like steel armor... you got a traffic cone stuck up your ass or something?
Who ever replied TH-cam is hiding your comment
TH-cam automatically censors links. I can’t control it at all unfortunately
@@PrepMedicI know and I understand. All good
@PrepMedic I'm sorry but these guys are disingenuous I've been reading the comments and they are salty as hell and I have proof they are lying. Buffman R.A.N.G.E
Just don't. Buy ceramic plates from reputable companies. There's a reason no professional agencies, organizations or militaries issue steel. It will spall and shred your neck to pieces. The same reason you won't carry a snakestaff tq because it hasn't been tested or proven enough or went through qualifications by NAR, is the same reason you should only be wearing high quality ceramic plates.
Literally thousands of Law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs and security contractors use our plates every day... Should we assume every piece of gear that you're running is endorsed and used by the US Military?
Our local Fire Department uses steel for their rescue task force (13 stations and over 400 active staff members) I also know at least 3 LE agencies that issue steel to their patrol officers for active shooter vests and up-armor. Saw it a lot in Iowa as well….
My boy is SWAT and his team got these plates. Not sure which version. They tested em themselves before buying too. Must have seen something they liked.
That’s crazy a common sense video on steel armor haha, crazy how all the idiots without armor or knowledge of armor want to comment and say ceramic is so much better. steel ops is one of the only good steel armor companies, that’s what I rock. They stop the rounds there rated for
Body Protection for Media Almost as crazy public service rushing to incident
That comment didn’t make any sense