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Level 4 Plates or Level IV body armor plates are designed to stop armor piercing rounds, AP such as the 7.62x54R. Will it stop a 50 BMG? No it cannot. Even if the ballistic plate did stop the actual bullet, the impact pressure inflicted would crush your body cavity. Picture fishing with dynamite.
Level IV armor plates are made of a ceramic composite. The ceramic material is actually harder than the material the bullet is made of. When a bullet hits the ceramic, the ceramic breaks acting as a sacrificial material which displaces the energy from the bullet.
Ceramic Body armor comes in two distinct manufactured styles. The first is monolithic meaning it is one solid piece of ceramic. The other is made of smaller sections that form the entire plate. Think of it as the sections of a soccer ball. Either design will work.
Ceramics also come in two designs. You can choose between single curve or multi curve plates. A single curve plate is like a tube that is stood up and then cut in half down the length of the tube. The multi-curve plate is more like a bowl and is much more comfortable and slightly more expensive. Is your comfort worth the money? Only you can decide based on your budget. I would recommend buying one multi-curve plate for your front and then purchasing the back plate when funds are available.
One caveat to ceramic plates is that they can break. If you drop your plates, you will want to have them X-Rayed to ensure they are still going to work. Most ceramic Level IV plates come with 10 Year Warranties. Be sure to buy plates manufactured in the US.
A Level IV plate will easily handle the typical rounds used in AR and AK platform weapons and all pistol rounds. If your primary threat is from those weapon platforms you may want to consider moving to a lighter weight Level III multi-hit polyethylene plate which won't break, has 15 year Warranties and weigh 3 pounds to as little as 1.8 lbs.
Making an armor decision doesn't have to be a grueling task. The staff at EOD Gear are former end-users and can act as your guide to ensure you're getting the best rifle plates to meet your needs as well as your budget. Please feel free to call us at 877-363-2626 or click HERE.
The primary difference between Level 3 and Level 4 plates are that Level IV plates are designed to stop Armor Piercing rounds such as the 7.62x54R. Both will stop AR and AK style rounds as well as all pistol caliber bullets. Will the Level IV plate stop a .50 Cal. No Way!the USA
To best decide whether you need a Level IV or Level III plate is to know your most likely threat. You can make the argument for worst-case scenario but that's a drone strike. If you can legitimately make the case for armor piercing protection, then your next decision is budget.
Budget as a function of risk should not be taken lightly. Are Chinese made plates acceptable or do you see yourself wearing NIJ Certified, Made in the USA with a 10 year Warranty rifle plate?
Level III lightweight rifle plates may provide your best solution for expected threat and budget. There is a great Level III plate we had a State SWAT team shoot with 5.56, 7.62x39 and .308 Boat Tail Hollow Point. Not only did they shoot it, they X-rayed the plates after each shot. You can see the video by clicking HERE.
Making an armor decision doesn't have to be a grueling task. The staff at EOD Gear are former end-users and can act as your guide to ensure you're getting the best rifle plates to meet your needs as well as your budget. Please feel free to call us at 877-363-2626 or click HERE.
Most civilians can purchase Level 4 Plates but some states restrict the import of these plates. Connecticut prohibits Level IV plates from being imported but they can be purchased face-to-face. Many states restrict sale of body armor to convicted felons. Be sure to check your state laws before purchasing plates.
Level 4 Plates are made from a combination of Ceramic and Polyethylene. Two types of ceramics are monolithic and matrix pieces. Typically, a monolithic plate provides edge to edge protection whereas matrix needs a non-ballistic edge binder to hold the pieces in place. If you have questions during your acquisition process be sure to reach out to the EOD Gear staff. We will work with you and get your questions answered so you make the best decision for your command.