"Bull, *****.
SAPI and ESAPI ceramica-polymer plates are designed to STOP THE BULLET. They cause the bullet to deform or shatter, break to reduce the energy of the impact, and spread the impact over a larger area to prevent injury. Why do you think there are PLATE CARRIERS with no kevlar panels in them, being issued to soldiers today? We just had a big batch of them issued to our maneuver units. In the IBA, the ceramic plates are OUTSIDE of the kevlar. SAPI and ESAPI (and now XESAPI) plates themselves have a layer of kevlar to prevent spalling (minor fragments of ceramic)

There are specific ultralight plates which are usually not ceramic, but composites instead, but even those usually provide Level III protection. The MINIMUM I've ever seen for a plate was III."

"What are you saying bull to?"

"DSD stated that the plates themselves wont stop bullets, Cas, on the other hand, says they do, I am inclined to believe Cas."

"Product Search "Trauma Plate".
Level III...
Level IIIA ultralight...
Level III ultrathin steel for concealable vests...
Level III...
AH! An ultralight polymer composite material sandwich plate with 4mm foam inbetween to spread the force of blunt trauma, not to exceed Level IIIA threats/vests.
Another Level III plate.
Level IV heavy? What?
AHA! Another "trauma plate", except it's soft panel of stiff material to act as another layer of padding.

TLDR, the vast majority of what you are going to find shopping for "trauma plates" will be ceramic-polymer composite plates of at the least IIIA level protection on their own. You can also find low-level steel plates for concealable vests that don't have a level rating, but specifications close to that of directly inbetween II and IIIA. There are outliers, but consider the vast majority. Condor and BLACKHAWK! call their plate carriers "Trauma Plate Carriers" as well. Our materials have advanced enough that we don't really have straight-up trauma plates anymore, because we can get enhanced ballistic protection for the same weight.

What I don't know is how the OP plans to SECURE any plates without a carrying system, but whatever."

"And so... this goes from a tacticool commando bag to a body armor discussion..

I should just shout 13 key words and have the Federalies here... LOL.


a bit of advice to the OP:
You can't just get trauma plates and have them work.. you need to have a plate carrier.. Which usually would also be a kevlar vest...

http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/Bug+Out+Bags+%28INDEX%29
read a bit into what a bug out bag consists of.. it isn't a "commando" bag, okay? Don't go to war. Instead, plan to live.

Oh and, ignore the flame war above about bulletproof stuff...
Like i said, i believe you can get a plate carrier that is also a vest.. but. i could be wrong.

either way, you need some way to carry those paltes(ductape doesn't count)"

"There was a guy awhile back who argued in favor of using tactical vests (LBV) because of their resistance to bullets. We all had a good LoL over that. "

"I'm not saying either of you are wrong, but that both of you are partially right

"AHA! Another "trauma plate", except it's soft panel of stiff material to act as another layer of padding" This is what DSD was talking about

I guess he will with duct tape, or sleeping bag straps"

"I don't know about .50 cal... But I always test my mil surplus underwear with 12ga to make sure I get honest to goodness surplus, not some fake tacticool stuff"

"No... that's from MRE farts... I keep my crotch immaculately clean :-P"