You can find our $225 AR600 steel plate package WITH plate carrier (same ones in this video with coating) here: tacticon.com/product/ar600-level-3-body-armor-with-battlevest-plate-carrier-package/
I ordered the AR600 bundle, along with trauma pads, last week. You guys got it to me in 3 days. That speed and service alone impressed me but I was really blown away by the quality of the plate carrier and trauma pads. Overall the experience of buying my first ever set of armor and plate carrier was excellent. Thanks!
Why did you go with ar600 instead of ar500 or 550? Will the ar600 crack faster with 308 and is there a realistically low number of 308 where cracking occurs on ar600 (less than 20 rounds)? With steel plates, I have heard that 55g will zip through it with longer barrel lengths. I have witnessed a 20 in rifle with 62g gold dots chip an ar550 plate at 100 yards. Is there a fps number where steel is defeated in less than half a mag?
@@sierraharvester Weight. I'm disabled and have a very bad low back/neck with nerve damage to both legs and arms (from degenerative disc disease, nerves got compressed). The AR600 is a couple pounds lighter which makes a huge difference for me. Yes, with longer barrels at close ranges .308 & other rifle rounds will penetrate it as will steel core/tipped 5.56 but I can't afford ceramic and settled for what I could afford. That sale price was the only way I could afford even that much. We all must work with what we have I guess.
@@TacticonArmament can you confirm this armor does/doesn’t stop M193? In an older video of yours it’s stated it does . But Buffman shot holes through it using M193 and it doesn’t list it on the website only M855. Then this video only demonstrated with M855. I ask because I do like your products I’ve been looking at.
"If you've taken 6 shots..." Pauses for a moment "Things are going bad for you." -Nolan. By far one of your best lines so far. Y'all never fail to make me laugh. I can't wait to be able to get my hands on some of y'alls products!
Very educational, simple language, no tricks, transparency, and all of you sound like genuinely nice people we can strike up a conversation with at a bar. Very awesome.
Yeah, my personal favorite are the guys that talk about how the secondary frag will kill you; not considering shot placement on actual human sized targets, or the fact that anyone with body armor on probly has a 2 foot long metal box that they’re lugging around infront of them at all times. And there are plenty of guys who’ve caught rounds in the face that ricocheted off their weapons. Nothing is a sure thing in a real two way range. You can mitigate as many risks as you can imagine and dump billions of dollars into gear and years of training; but a 7 year old kid with a rust covered AK can still drop you. Steel is cheap and very practical for the average man
You guys are truly amazing. I wear as much of your gear as I can for work and am actively working to transition all of my kit to your products. Thank you for being so awesome!
I am very pleased to see this video, and am very pleased with my Tacticon AR600 level III+ plates and carrier! Truly wish you guys all the best. Oh yeah, I need mag pouches to put on my carrier, expect to hear from me soon!
I love your transparency and willingness defined the limits of your products. This is awesome to dispel a lot of the common notion that steel is cheap and dangerous. I’m looking forward to receiving mine soon! The benefit of working with steel is it’ll be a good work out for sure lol.
Need to do one of a certified lvl4 ceramic to show the haters that yes, it will eventually separate and frag, but that ceramic would’ve been dust well before that
I spent weeks researching ceramic and steel armor, really trying to pick which i would go for as my first main set of plates. It was between level 4 ceramics or 3+ steel w/ a 3a soft ballistic panel behind it. Weight was roughly the same, i know higher end ceramic level 4 plates can be lighter, but lower cost options tend to be around the 8-9 pound range, roughly the same as steel. Ultimately i went steel because, really possible situation, you take a single pistol caliber to the plate and proceed to handle the situation. Ceramic is now crunchy and compromised, and you need to do some type of repair. Steel wouldnt really even notice the hit, no true appreciable damage. To me its not about being able to take a mag dump to the chest, but its ability to take damage over time without being compromised and troublesome if it cannot be easily replaced.
"Ceramic is now crunchy and compromised, and you need to do some type of repair. Steel wouldnt really even notice the hit" You have no fucking clue what you are talking about
I wanted level four but for my first body armor set up I’m going with ar600 3+. This set up allows for lighter weight and multi hit capabilities. Body armor DOES NOT make you super human! Train as much as possible and be safe.
As far as the uncoated plate. A few of us have some bit of a spare tire in the middle. It seems that wearing a plain steel plate with a belly might actually angle the plate as to direct splash/spalling upward toward the neck/head.
And this video proves why I laugh when people say never use steel plates. I’d rather have a bruise than a hole😂 they say oh it’s to heavy. I say get out and train with it. Get sum!! Tacticon all day. Got my whole setup from you guys. I train frequently and never had a issue.
Yeah and these dumbasses on Facebook groups for plate carriers bashing people who use steel plates and try to say that ceramic is better than steel when it has an expiration date of less than 7 years, can crack if you drop it and isn't nearly as multi-hit capable as steel. Get hit in the same spot more than once or twice and you're most likely dead with ceramic. With a burst fire weapon that's highly likely. And these guys who are going around saying that steel is junk and will get you killed are often active military people who don't even know any better but are somehow experts because they're in the military. These are people who think that simply because they paid more for something that it somehow magically makes it better. No stupid you just paid more for something that isn't as good and in less than 7 years you're going to do it again. 😂
I own steel plates and recently I got a lighter set of PE plates. The weight is an issue if you plan on doing extended work on foot. For the everyday American man with a vehicle; steel is the best stuff to keep in like the trunk of your car. It’s cheap and insanely effective (not only actual edge to edge protection, but also; the increased weight of the plate directly translates to less experienced impact from rounds). Now walking and running around in the woods and mountains, or in an urban setting; your speed and endurance are going to be the difference between life and death more so than anything you are wearing. In some ways it may be smarter to just have a rifle and a Fanny pack with mags than any body armor. Play to your personal strengths and abilities/ your area and routines. What works for delta guys in Mogadishu may not be directly applicable to your life and your foreseen future
@@Nothanksbuddy My thoughts exactly. Level 3 body armor isn't really suited for Run and Gun and unless you train on a regular basis you're not even capable of doing that. It's better suited for light patrols and sentry duty. If I have to take off to the woods or mountains especially it's not coming with me unless it's in a vehicle.
@@sdw261they like to say "no modern army uses steel" ignoring that both Ukraine and Russia have been using steel, the German army uses steel, and that SWAT will bring steel depending on the situation.
@@sdw261Ceramics don’t have an expiration date, they have a warranty period. We do torque and tap tests in the military at the end of that period, and as long as the plate passes the toque and tap, it’s still good to go.
Random question, would you guys ever consider putting rounds into plates in a fully loaded plate carrier? I'm talking fully loaded magazines in pouches, ifak, all the usual kit; taking rounds.
I’d really like to see it try M193 out of a 20” or various hunting calibers. I’m just curious as to how it would hold up. That’s one thing about ceramics: they seem to stop nearly everything at least one.
Yeah for most small diameter fast hunting calibers you really need lvl 4... Basically depends on your location, in my location I'm just as likely to get center massed with a 22-250 or a 25-06 as 5.56, so I'll keep saving for lvl 4 plates (which tacticon also sells, but sadly it sells out fast like today with a smoking hot discount code!) But these plates are 100% perfect for budget reasons or areas where high powered hunting rifles aren't the most likely threat in a local area "catastrophe", Basically these would be perfect for most more urbanized areas... 🤔 Just my opinion! 👍
@@berryreading4809 I would agree, I have shot clean holes through 3/8in AR500 steel targets with factory 22-250 ammo, and with the right handloads .257 Roberts will also punch through like nothing
@@kyoMcMushy There is footage of it on youtube... M855 is deadly for HDPE, M193 is deadly for hardened steel... Atleast to 20 yards (possibly 50, It's been a while since I went down that rabbit hole) although AR500/600 production does vary by manufacturer/processes I'm sure, along with quality control and batch testing... So X brand plate may stop it while Y brand will not. It's worth doing some video searching. I think buffman range had some videos of failures, but I went down a multiple channel several hour rabbit hole trying to find a definitive answer and still don't have one for standard weight (I think usually 3/8" plate) stopping REAL M193 from 20" barrels... Or even hot .223 40gr varmint loads... Polymer tipped vs lead nose vs FMJ doesn't even matter above certain velocity thresholds... The impact energy basically makes a circular fracture from what looks like a mini explosion in high-speed video and makes the little knocked out plate plug into a projectile... (atleast from my understanding and limited knowledge) But like I say I didn't do those tests, make and form the steel, or compare results across different brands, so I can't give you a perfect answer on the topic... 🤔
I think I have seen enough to trust your guys testing and process for making effective armor to trust my life with. I still pray that it never has to be used but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
I've also seen people cite unreliable reviews of AR500 armor from like a decade ago because all the people reviewing them were clearly sponsored, but now when someone shills for ceramic armor of a certain brand, it's "informational"
I finally pulled the trigger on a plate carrier and plate combo. I got it from tacticon armament. I’m satisfied with the purchase! And the carrier has an integrated admin pouch for mags or whatever else. My next purchase will be their level 4 lightweight armor.
Great question. We have a multitude of our plates out with NIJ right now getting tested for certs. I am not fully sure about the process and how long it takes Ie: lead times and such, but we do have them getting tested by the NIJ - Nolan
I want answers because buffman range proved that the ar600 plates from you guy's didn't stop m855 , m193 or M855A1 like your advertisement said when i bought the damn plates
I have seen you complaining about this several times, tell ya what I will buy YOUR DAMNED PLATES FROM YOU! but since they are used it will require a price reduction, not me screwing you, but no one pays full price for used anything. I watch all of Buffmans Videos and take it for what it is, a BACK YARD TEST! both him and Mr Guns'N Gear are known for killing Plates. I bet you $100 that no one in the great boogaloo will be shot at by M855A1 because that shit is not easy to buy in bulk. Hell I intentionally looked for it and only have 1,000 rounds of it. So basically sell the shit or quit complaining, you and me both stand a better chance of getting hit by lighting than getting shot with 55gr Ball
Company backed products, quality rifle, ammo, indoor range, camera and production equipment… “Hey, get me some printer paper and those Dollar Tree balloon weights out of the lunch room!” 😂🤣😂 Love it, thanks for the demo!
For the potential fragging of the neck, would the angle of the plate due to the fitting of the carrier matter? I noticed your rig was draped over the dummy instead of "fitted" so the plate was higher up to protect the upper lungs and heart.
I thought that too. It looks like the carriers were sagging, top away from the head. Yes that will determine where the frag goes. I assume that is why he had the separation/penetration at the bottom and not the top. But this is still a good test. Its obvious that the plates took multiple hits before having a coating failure. I'm impressed.
I'm curious about deflection. What happens if you get shot at an angle and how severe of an angle does it take to divert the round into your arms or other extremities
Catching the spalling and fragmentation from direct hits is one thing, but what about glancing impacts or shots that arent from straight ahead perpendicular?
@TacticonArmament I haven't seen that sort of test anywhere else on UA-cam so I'd be very interested to see the results. I have my theories but so does everyone else, it'd be nice to have more concrete evidence/data to go off of. Gun fights are dynamic and very fluid, so it stands to reason that most incoming rounds would be off centered and therefore have more deflection/ricocheting effects than splash or spalling. Just my thoughts. Love yer gear and content. Keep it up, stay frosty 🙏🏽🫡 🇺🇲
What is the preferred coating of choice? Polyurea? Id love to buy plates from you guys but im canadian and our options are a little more limited up here. We have options for poly or line-x coated, same price. Is one better than the other?
If stuff does go down in America it will be like a war nobody has seen with more guns than any point in history so ya im 100% rocking ar500 steel plates, talk all the smack you want about ceramic vs steel but a ar500 is by far you best bet at survival
I’ve said it before to people and been laughed at; but the only problem I see with steel is weight. It’s best in class affordability, best in class durability, best in class total edge to edge coverage…. But the stuff is like 4 times the weight of some high quality ceramic/PE plates. If you are just a man that wants something to throw in your trunk that will stop rifle rounds; steel is cheap and effective. However: if you plan on walking or running anywhere with your kit on for any length of time, consider lighter (and more costly) options
Thank you for doing this test! Ive always said about how i would rather have steel especially in a shtf scenario but everyone acts like im a peasant 😂😂
Good video, I’m mostly here for the comments, waiting for the steel hate guys, you can’t convince some ever, I bought steel , ceramic and poly all have their uses, love my steel except the weight and fit if I’m in the rig all day long, that being said I’ve done it and it’s not terrible but does tire you more. FYI to all the steel hatters , I’m sure this doesn’t prove anything to you still, but then nothing will ever. Also I keep steel in my vehicle because it’s not affected as much as the others in the south’s extreme climate changes.
M855 is more problematic for armor of any variety. The mild steel penetrator and the Velocity will be more of an issue than just mass. Thats why Lvl 3 will stop 7.62, but you need Lvl 4 or Special Threat rated plates when dealing with 5.56
Level 3 can stop 7.62 FMJ but cannot stop 5.56 green tip. Level 3+ can stop green tip in addition to everything else below it. 5.56 has a higher velocity than 7.62 which makes its more problematic when in conjunction with the steel core penetrator. Green tip will zip right through lvl 3 armor.
Id like to beleive you but there is just too many camera cuts where the paper could have been replaced. Ive seen way to many videos of coated plates do nothing for spalling.
If the plate is in a kevlar pouch, you should be "ok" if you get hit on the edge of the plate. Still a good idea to have a coated plate. But if anything gets though the coating, the kevlar should catch it with ease.
So keep in mind, that this test is being done head on with the plate more or less straight up and down. Imagine how you shoot and move, and adjust results accordingly. Either way, it's doing the job it's supposed to, and admirably at that.
I definitely think that the steel plate was angled differently than it would be worn on the body hence the heavy bias of the frag going downward, perhaps not enough to negate points made in the video but it should certainly be noted
If anything when worn on the body it would be more downward of an angle. With how the pectorals overhang the abdomen. Unless the abdomen is protruding bast the pectorals. In that case...
@@TacticonArmament Well, the latter is what is most common in this country. Regardless of how we feel things should be, it's probably more important to deal with reality as it actually is right now. And that's gonna mean ~60% of users will have bellies larger than their pecs, along with waistlines broader than their shoulders, and with basically no ability to move at speed, loaded with gear or not.
Would adding steel slight outward lips around the plate sides, redirect the frag somewhere safe? Is this a smooth brain thought? Like a 90 degree angle border to deflect that 180 frag
So they started by shooting the edges of the ceramic but focused on the center of the steel. Both shots on the edge of the steel fragged too. Almost like they’re trying to sell you steel plates
How does the plates hold up to xm193 and m855a1 ? Or is this more of a test for the coating? As far as the coating testing it look like it holds up great
M855 A1 penetrates the plate at 45 ft out of a 20 inch barrel. Out of a 10.5 inch barrel it wont penetrate. M193 goes through about half the time or less at 45 ft. It does stop .308 ball ammo six shots in the test I saw none went through( the rounds were moving at 2,900 fps). so 762X39 wont go through. a lot of hunting ammo won't go through. It does stop M855 green tip all the time. M193 out of a 16 inch barrel does not do so good against it.
This guy does the most scientific and technically honest tests of armor plates I have seen so far. This video will answer your questions. ua-cam.com/video/qF9Z5FUlk6Y/v-deo.htmlsi=kiB6mK_2YfpobAU3
@@Yorktown-pb8bd the video fro Buff range that I posted below shows pretty much what you said, although he was able to penetrate with m193 from 45 ft out of a 16" barrel
The tactical flops, and those gorgeous curls..... All that is left is a fanny pack and I wouldnt be able to contain myself. Keep up the good work Nolan ❤😂
Coat that plate with the coating on already with an additional glued on cover of nylon. That will keep the coating on longer, the problem is it splits off
How come my AR600 3+ plates I got from your company say just 3 on the back face sticker, not 3+. But the ar600 3+ side plates actually say 3+ on the back face sticker. Did I get a misprint sticker or are the ar600 3+ plates not actually 3+ Model TA600STL Lot number BA249
Have there ever been tests with the plate at a slight angle? Like if you were to be shot by someone in a trench and you were above them? I dont know if that wpuld change anything.
@@TacticonArmamentdamn how did I missed that thank you brother I got my stuff today from y'all. Just take my money I love y'all stuff the predator v4 feels robust.
3:53 "no fragmentation a!ywhere to be seen..." What, we gonna just ignore the 3 SCREWS THIS POOR FELLA HAD DRILLED INTO HIM? Bet those are steel nails... Kidding! Great test and video. Thanks for the education!
I want to know genuinely how deadly are the fragments from the plates, why aren't the edges of the plate sloped to divert the fragmentation away from the neck and can the fragmentation be deadly if put under fbi standards, bottom line, can something as simple as wearing long sleeved uniform (field shirt etc) reduce the potential harm from the fragmentation to the arms, since the neck is difficult to cover in any sort of protection, rather easier would be to slope the edge of the plate to divert frag.
With steel, it would be difficult to achieve that sort of bend with the plate. On top of that most people when shooting with plates lean forward, making a downward angle. Rather than the plate being either straight up and down or tilted back towards the face. And yes any extra layer of clothing would help stop any frag. I would like to do one of these tests again with clothing rather than paper to get a better understanding. Thank you for the suggestion and question.
Test the plates at a non-90 degree angle. Some dudes are fat, everyone sits, and we all move into different non-90 degree positions. I'm curious if this plays a role in how effective anti-spall is. I think this is the main situation where poly and ceramic beats steel. It captures so angles are handled better.
would like to see what ap and m855a1 do i know that those rounds are less like to come into contact with but would like to see it also love the video not alot of manufacturers show this kind of stuff
No fair!! You didn't show the 'spall' penetrating the cardboard from the uncoated plate in the carrier! Yes, it tore up the carrier, BUT, did any meaningful spall hit the surrounding areas?
Yes the $225 package comes with the coating. You can find it here: tacticon.com/product/ar600-level-3-body-armor-with-battlevest-plate-carrier-package/
I almost bought sleeves for my plates as extra protection and to fit them snugly in the carrier, so it's nice to see a video showing the coating hold up against a full magazine.
I just threw a 3a panel over the front plate in my steel rig. The back plate almost never has any limb that breaks the perpendicular plane coming off the plate, unless you have an insanely fat ass. Frag coming off plates also has been tested against FBI spec ballistics gel and what you need to know about ballistic gel; is that it is not a replica of human tissue. It was developed as a standardized medium for testing ballistics and it was determined to be “close enough”. from the studying I’ve done; the FBI’s own experts have stated that the first 2-4 inches of penetration into ballistics gel represents penetration through the average person’s skin alone. That obviously has a huge variability person to person and body part to body part, but funnily enough the best steel spalling testing I’ve seen on ballistic gel had most of the copper jacket flakes stop in that 2-4 inch margin. Obviously you don’t want anything in your neck or armpits; but it’s a far cry from how some people believe frag will blow your limbs off and penetrate your skull. The carrier itself catches frag; and the recent shift to simple Kevlar wraps/sleeves makes frag not a problem at all. Another fun fact is that the damn soviets figured out how to make cheap an effective rifle rated body armor by putting steel or titanium in a Kevlar-type carrier back in the day when the best out operators had was just pistol rated Kevlar.
@@NothanksbuddyI don’t think anyone says bullet fragments will penetrate a skull or blow a limb off. However your armpit, neck and groin have arteries more or less just under the skin, that is where people are saying the fragments might kill you.
@@stormy0307 I’m aware of that. However; allot of fake experts do believe fragmentation is more lethal than it really is. Fragmentation injuries and deaths are mitigated on an incredibly small percentile window by professional militaries. In truth; in a firefight, will your ballistic vest be the difference between dying and not? More than likely it won’t to YOU. But on a large enough scale; that decrease in casualties is a great benefit to a large war fighting organization. Your best bet to defend your life is to 1-avoid dangerous areas and people 2-maintain situational awareness 3-have a plan to leave wherever you are 4-have ready access to a firearm If you envision yourself doing some sort of offensive action to defend life and liberty; LEO/MIL/your family has been kidnapped by the cartel/etc, then you can judge the effectiveness of different body armor. For most applications; steel is just fine. As your chances of getting shot at increase; consider investing in better protection and better gear in general. And truly; consider improving your cardiovascular fitness before buying ANY tactical gear. A 7year old Somalian with a rusted bolt action will body every single fat, untrained gear queer. Fitness directly impacts your survival
I have the steal plates with the lining then some company sells a kevlar sleeve that goes over the plate to catch all frags that the liner doesnt catch
@@LootDropShepherd steel plates are not rated level 4 by NIJ, and no steel plate is taking what you just stated nor weighting 4lbs each. But whatever you have to tell yourself to justify your purchase.
I don’t plan on getting shot in the back, but question for everyone. Do you carry back plates in your carrier? Are they a different shape than the front? Went hiking the other day with TA steel plates front and back. Good sweat 😅
You can find our $225 AR600 steel plate package WITH plate carrier (same ones in this video with coating) here: tacticon.com/product/ar600-level-3-body-armor-with-battlevest-plate-carrier-package/
I ordered the AR600 bundle, along with trauma pads, last week. You guys got it to me in 3 days. That speed and service alone impressed me but I was really blown away by the quality of the plate carrier and trauma pads. Overall the experience of buying my first ever set of armor and plate carrier was excellent. Thanks!
Why did you go with ar600 instead of ar500 or 550? Will the ar600 crack faster with 308 and is there a realistically low number of 308 where cracking occurs on ar600 (less than 20 rounds)?
With steel plates, I have heard that 55g will zip through it with longer barrel lengths. I have witnessed a 20 in rifle with 62g gold dots chip an ar550 plate at 100 yards. Is there a fps number where steel is defeated in less than half a mag?
@@sierraharvester Weight. I'm disabled and have a very bad low back/neck with nerve damage to both legs and arms (from degenerative disc disease, nerves got compressed). The AR600 is a couple pounds lighter which makes a huge difference for me. Yes, with longer barrels at close ranges .308 & other rifle rounds will penetrate it as will steel core/tipped 5.56 but I can't afford ceramic and settled for what I could afford. That sale price was the only way I could afford even that much. We all must work with what we have I guess.
I haven't seen another company come close to this level of consistent transparency. Amazing stuff.
We really appreciate the kind words! And are doing our best. we don't like the wizard behind the curtain thing that a fair amount of companies do
@@TacticonArmament can you confirm this armor does/doesn’t stop M193? In an older video of yours it’s stated it does . But Buffman shot holes through it using M193 and it doesn’t list it on the website only M855. Then this video only demonstrated with M855. I ask because I do like your products I’ve been looking at.
srt plate my friend little bit above this anything under .308 i believe but obviously do ur own looking. @@jw4052
"If you've taken 6 shots..." Pauses for a moment "Things are going bad for you." -Nolan. By far one of your best lines so far. Y'all never fail to make me laugh. I can't wait to be able to get my hands on some of y'alls products!
Very educational, simple language, no tricks, transparency, and all of you sound like genuinely nice people we can strike up a conversation with at a bar. Very awesome.
We need a Tacticon Highcut Ballistic helmet!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
HELL YES WE DO!!
Id be happy with even a bump helmet.
Imagine using a circumcised helmet
They just launched it! Looks sick, I already want it, but can’t wait to see some testing.
In!
"If you've taken six rounds to the plate..." ***takes a long pause and looks at camera*** "Things are going bad for you." absolutely killed me!🤣
6 shots on the plate and none on legs, arms, feet or head? Damn, it's not only that you're in a bad place, you're also frigging lucky as hell
Yeah, my personal favorite are the guys that talk about how the secondary frag will kill you; not considering shot placement on actual human sized targets, or the fact that anyone with body armor on probly has a 2 foot long metal box that they’re lugging around infront of them at all times. And there are plenty of guys who’ve caught rounds in the face that ricocheted off their weapons. Nothing is a sure thing in a real two way range. You can mitigate as many risks as you can imagine and dump billions of dollars into gear and years of training; but a 7 year old kid with a rust covered AK can still drop you. Steel is cheap and very practical for the average man
@@Nothanksbuddy You're right nothing is a sure thing. I caught a ricochet in the neck at a one way range.
Bro.
You guys are truly amazing. I wear as much of your gear as I can for work and am actively working to transition all of my kit to your products. Thank you for being so awesome!
Level 4 ceramic shorty bois are gonna say your supposed to be using xm193 in a 20 inch barrel instead of what they actually have in their loadout
This is the kind of transparent quality content videos people want to see when purchasing products on SHTF situations Tacticon being awesome 💯
Impressive. You gentlemen are knocking it out of the park with the stress tests. Keep it up.
My friends, thanks for finally dropping the video and for the transparency. Much love from Canada
Sorry it to so long my guy! Lots and lots of editing and filming!
I am very pleased to see this video, and am very pleased with my Tacticon AR600 level III+ plates and carrier! Truly wish you guys all the best. Oh yeah, I need mag pouches to put on my carrier, expect to hear from me soon!
What part of Arkansas are you from?
@@zachjennings8053 Not from Arkansas, but Missouri. The name is a joke about the Clintons killing people.
I love your transparency and willingness defined the limits of your products. This is awesome to dispel a lot of the common notion that steel is cheap and dangerous. I’m looking forward to receiving mine soon! The benefit of working with steel is it’ll be a good work out for sure lol.
Because it's expensive and dangerous. Just get level 4s
Need to do one of a certified lvl4 ceramic to show the haters that yes, it will eventually separate and frag, but that ceramic would’ve been dust well before that
I spent weeks researching ceramic and steel armor, really trying to pick which i would go for as my first main set of plates. It was between level 4 ceramics or 3+ steel w/ a 3a soft ballistic panel behind it. Weight was roughly the same, i know higher end ceramic level 4 plates can be lighter, but lower cost options tend to be around the 8-9 pound range, roughly the same as steel. Ultimately i went steel because, really possible situation, you take a single pistol caliber to the plate and proceed to handle the situation. Ceramic is now crunchy and compromised, and you need to do some type of repair. Steel wouldnt really even notice the hit, no true appreciable damage. To me its not about being able to take a mag dump to the chest, but its ability to take damage over time without being compromised and troublesome if it cannot be easily replaced.
"Ceramic is now crunchy and compromised, and you need to do some type of repair. Steel wouldnt really even notice the hit"
You have no fucking clue what you are talking about
I wanted level four but for my first body armor set up I’m going with ar600 3+. This set up allows for lighter weight and multi hit capabilities. Body armor DOES NOT make you super human! Train as much as possible and be safe.
@@Bigrig2020-c1d LOL what a massive cope. Just say you want to cheap out on armor.
@@Dero_milsurp I’ll just take yours when the shit kicks off then 😂
@@Bigrig2020-c1d gonna be hard doing that when your pelvic girdle is drippin
As far as the uncoated plate. A few of us have some bit of a spare tire in the middle. It seems that wearing a plain steel plate with a belly might actually angle the plate as to direct splash/spalling upward toward the neck/head.
I guess ya'll have to lose some pounds then 😅
For this election season, we all need to be in shape
I need to eventually get some armor. This was an excellent experiment, and display of the capabilities of these plates.
The transparency, prices, quality of products and mission of this company make me want to be a walking billboard for Tacticon Armament. 🇺🇲
And this video proves why I laugh when people say never use steel plates. I’d rather have a bruise than a hole😂 they say oh it’s to heavy. I say get out and train with it. Get sum!! Tacticon all day. Got my whole setup from you guys. I train frequently and never had a issue.
Yeah and these dumbasses on Facebook groups for plate carriers bashing people who use steel plates and try to say that ceramic is better than steel when it has an expiration date of less than 7 years, can crack if you drop it and isn't nearly as multi-hit capable as steel. Get hit in the same spot more than once or twice and you're most likely dead with ceramic. With a burst fire weapon that's highly likely. And these guys who are going around saying that steel is junk and will get you killed are often active military people who don't even know any better but are somehow experts because they're in the military. These are people who think that simply because they paid more for something that it somehow magically makes it better. No stupid you just paid more for something that isn't as good and in less than 7 years you're going to do it again. 😂
I own steel plates and recently I got a lighter set of PE plates. The weight is an issue if you plan on doing extended work on foot. For the everyday American man with a vehicle; steel is the best stuff to keep in like the trunk of your car. It’s cheap and insanely effective (not only actual edge to edge protection, but also; the increased weight of the plate directly translates to less experienced impact from rounds). Now walking and running around in the woods and mountains, or in an urban setting; your speed and endurance are going to be the difference between life and death more so than anything you are wearing. In some ways it may be smarter to just have a rifle and a Fanny pack with mags than any body armor. Play to your personal strengths and abilities/ your area and routines. What works for delta guys in Mogadishu may not be directly applicable to your life and your foreseen future
@@Nothanksbuddy My thoughts exactly. Level 3 body armor isn't really suited for Run and Gun and unless you train on a regular basis you're not even capable of doing that. It's better suited for light patrols and sentry
duty. If I have to take off to the woods or mountains especially it's not coming with me unless it's in a vehicle.
@@sdw261they like to say "no modern army uses steel" ignoring that both Ukraine and Russia have been using steel, the German army uses steel, and that SWAT will bring steel depending on the situation.
@@sdw261Ceramics don’t have an expiration date, they have a warranty period.
We do torque and tap tests in the military at the end of that period, and as long as the plate passes the toque and tap, it’s still good to go.
Random question, would you guys ever consider putting rounds into plates in a fully loaded plate carrier? I'm talking fully loaded magazines in pouches, ifak, all the usual kit; taking rounds.
I'm hella down, It's just $$$. I will absolutely get to it in the future!
@US2A yeah jake said he was ok with it, do it! (dont tell jake that a stranger said he said it was okay)
Now do an angled test. The main issue with steel, even if it's coated, is not necessarily the spalling on impact. It's the deflection at an angle.
I second this. It would be a good test
I have seen such tests, surprisingly the ceramic was worse at an angled shot, the steel coating worked even better in some cases
A good coating on steel practically swallow the bullet it's really impressive tbh
I was wondering the same thing 🤷♂️
@definitelyadarkangel9225 do we have any idea what coating is used on plates or is that an industry "secret"
I’d really like to see it try M193 out of a 20” or various hunting calibers. I’m just curious as to how it would hold up. That’s one thing about ceramics: they seem to stop nearly everything at least one.
Yeah for most small diameter fast hunting calibers you really need lvl 4... Basically depends on your location, in my location I'm just as likely to get center massed with a 22-250 or a 25-06 as 5.56, so I'll keep saving for lvl 4 plates (which tacticon also sells, but sadly it sells out fast like today with a smoking hot discount code!) But these plates are 100% perfect for budget reasons or areas where high powered hunting rifles aren't the most likely threat in a local area "catastrophe", Basically these would be perfect for most more urbanized areas... 🤔 Just my opinion! 👍
M193 out of a 20" and especially a 20+ inch barrel will zip through these steel plates, even III+
@@berryreading4809 I would agree, I have shot clean holes through 3/8in AR500 steel targets with factory 22-250 ammo, and with the right handloads .257 Roberts will also punch through like nothing
@@PandemicGameplayI doubt that, because m193 is only FMJ and that 20 inch barrel adds a lot of velocity, but not enough to make it go through 3+
@@kyoMcMushy There is footage of it on youtube... M855 is deadly for HDPE, M193 is deadly for hardened steel... Atleast to 20 yards (possibly 50, It's been a while since I went down that rabbit hole) although AR500/600 production does vary by manufacturer/processes I'm sure, along with quality control and batch testing... So X brand plate may stop it while Y brand will not. It's worth doing some video searching. I think buffman range had some videos of failures, but I went down a multiple channel several hour rabbit hole trying to find a definitive answer and still don't have one for standard weight (I think usually 3/8" plate) stopping REAL M193 from 20" barrels... Or even hot .223 40gr varmint loads... Polymer tipped vs lead nose vs FMJ doesn't even matter above certain velocity thresholds... The impact energy basically makes a circular fracture from what looks like a mini explosion in high-speed video and makes the little knocked out plate plug into a projectile... (atleast from my understanding and limited knowledge) But like I say I didn't do those tests, make and form the steel, or compare results across different brands, so I can't give you a perfect answer on the topic... 🤔
You guys rock. I men i love how you test your products and every thing is so affordable. Keep up the great work. Customer for life. 🎉
I think I have seen enough to trust your guys testing and process for making effective armor to trust my life with. I still pray that it never has to be used but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
its the most common and likely round you’ll take
VSO also had a good test demonstrating steel armor can actually be better at preventing front face spall than ceramic
Gotta love how the myth started because of uncoated and unreliable armor plates and then people have treated it as gospel.
I've also seen people cite unreliable reviews of AR500 armor from like a decade ago because all the people reviewing them were clearly sponsored, but now when someone shills for ceramic armor of a certain brand, it's "informational"
its a myth that steel plates are heavy as fuck?
this has nothing to do with weight and everything to do with spall. stfu@@hurpaderpp
some of us are men. @@hurpaderpp
I finally pulled the trigger on a plate carrier and plate combo. I got it from tacticon armament. I’m satisfied with the purchase! And the carrier has an integrated admin pouch for mags or whatever else. My next purchase will be their level 4 lightweight armor.
If your steel plates are nij certified, why are you ceramic plates not
Great question. We have a multitude of our plates out with NIJ right now getting tested for certs. I am not fully sure about the process and how long it takes Ie: lead times and such, but we do have them getting tested by the NIJ - Nolan
fuck steel, there is a reason they use AR500 for targets
Great test nice prism can't say I'm a fan of the rails on it but nonetheless excited to see it in action thanks Nolan
I want answers because buffman range proved that the ar600 plates from you guy's didn't stop m855 , m193 or M855A1 like your advertisement said when i bought the damn plates
I have seen you complaining about this several times, tell ya what I will buy YOUR DAMNED PLATES FROM YOU! but since they are used it will require a price reduction, not me screwing you, but no one pays full price for used anything.
I watch all of Buffmans Videos and take it for what it is, a BACK YARD TEST! both him and Mr Guns'N Gear are known for killing Plates.
I bet you $100 that no one in the great boogaloo will be shot at by M855A1 because that shit is not easy to buy in bulk. Hell I intentionally looked for it and only have 1,000 rounds of it.
So basically sell the shit or quit complaining, you and me both stand a better chance of getting hit by lighting than getting shot with 55gr Ball
Company backed products, quality rifle, ammo, indoor range, camera and production equipment…
“Hey, get me some printer paper and those Dollar Tree balloon weights out of the lunch room!” 😂🤣😂
Love it, thanks for the demo!
This is very good content. Great job.
Thank you!
For the potential fragging of the neck, would the angle of the plate due to the fitting of the carrier matter? I noticed your rig was draped over the dummy instead of "fitted" so the plate was higher up to protect the upper lungs and heart.
I thought that too. It looks like the carriers were sagging, top away from the head. Yes that will determine where the frag goes. I assume that is why he had the separation/penetration at the bottom and not the top.
But this is still a good test. Its obvious that the plates took multiple hits before having a coating failure. I'm impressed.
It would be cool to see balistic gel tests on the spall.
I'm curious about deflection. What happens if you get shot at an angle and how severe of an angle does it take to divert the round into your arms or other extremities
Catching the spalling and fragmentation from direct hits is one thing, but what about glancing impacts or shots that arent from straight ahead perpendicular?
This is a fantastic idea for another video!
@TacticonArmament I haven't seen that sort of test anywhere else on UA-cam so I'd be very interested to see the results. I have my theories but so does everyone else, it'd be nice to have more concrete evidence/data to go off of.
Gun fights are dynamic and very fluid, so it stands to reason that most incoming rounds would be off centered and therefore have more deflection/ricocheting effects than splash or spalling. Just my thoughts.
Love yer gear and content. Keep it up, stay frosty 🙏🏽🫡 🇺🇲
If you have taken 10 to the plate on your chest and you stick around..WTF? Your doing it wrong! But damn! stick around and take 20 more LMAO
What is the preferred coating of choice? Polyurea? Id love to buy plates from you guys but im canadian and our options are a little more limited up here. We have options for poly or line-x coated, same price. Is one better than the other?
If stuff does go down in America it will be like a war nobody has seen with more guns than any point in history so ya im 100% rocking ar500 steel plates, talk all the smack you want about ceramic vs steel but a ar500 is by far you best bet at survival
It’s terrible body armour
I sell more of this armor than any others in my shop. Frag mitigation as standard means they care about your life.
This is the video the internet needed to settle the debate.
I’ve said it before to people and been laughed at; but the only problem I see with steel is weight. It’s best in class affordability, best in class durability, best in class total edge to edge coverage…. But the stuff is like 4 times the weight of some high quality ceramic/PE plates. If you are just a man that wants something to throw in your trunk that will stop rifle rounds; steel is cheap and effective. However: if you plan on walking or running anywhere with your kit on for any length of time, consider lighter (and more costly) options
Thank you for doing this test! Ive always said about how i would rather have steel especially in a shtf scenario but everyone acts like im a peasant 😂😂
Good video, I’m mostly here for the comments, waiting for the steel hate guys, you can’t convince some ever, I bought steel , ceramic and poly all have their uses, love my steel except the weight and fit if I’m in the rig all day long, that being said I’ve done it and it’s not terrible but does tire you more. FYI to all the steel hatters , I’m sure this doesn’t prove anything to you still, but then nothing will ever. Also I keep steel in my vehicle because it’s not affected as much as the others in the south’s extreme climate changes.
Also, looking at the NIJ standards, Type III specifies a 7.62 mm FMJ (M80). What was the rationale for using 5.56 green tip (M855)?
M855 is more problematic for armor of any variety. The mild steel penetrator and the Velocity will be more of an issue than just mass. Thats why Lvl 3 will stop 7.62, but you need Lvl 4 or Special Threat rated plates when dealing with 5.56
Level 3 can stop 7.62 FMJ but cannot stop 5.56 green tip. Level 3+ can stop green tip in addition to everything else below it. 5.56 has a higher velocity than 7.62 which makes its more problematic when in conjunction with the steel core penetrator. Green tip will zip right through lvl 3 armor.
Was this a “base coat” or “build up coat” ?
IIRC in the other video he said just a base coat.
P.S. I would still put mine in a spall bag from Tactical Scorpion Gear if I had either.
Good to know. My biggest concern is the weight I have to carry with steel
Just got my OD green St. Paddy’s day sale V2 plate carrier today! Ceramic is cool, but steel is steel!
Id like to beleive you but there is just too many camera cuts where the paper could have been replaced. Ive seen way to many videos of coated plates do nothing for spalling.
Great video. Personally weight is my main factor. Saving 8 to 10 pounds is huge for my age and mobility level. But still vey educational
If the plate is in a kevlar pouch, you should be "ok" if you get hit on the edge of the plate. Still a good idea to have a coated plate. But if anything gets though the coating, the kevlar should catch it with ease.
So keep in mind, that this test is being done head on with the plate more or less straight up and down. Imagine how you shoot and move, and adjust results accordingly. Either way, it's doing the job it's supposed to, and admirably at that.
I definitely think that the steel plate was angled differently than it would be worn on the body hence the heavy bias of the frag going downward, perhaps not enough to negate points made in the video but it should certainly be noted
If anything when worn on the body it would be more downward of an angle. With how the pectorals overhang the abdomen. Unless the abdomen is protruding bast the pectorals. In that case...
@@TacticonArmament Well, the latter is what is most common in this country. Regardless of how we feel things should be, it's probably more important to deal with reality as it actually is right now. And that's gonna mean ~60% of users will have bellies larger than their pecs, along with waistlines broader than their shoulders, and with basically no ability to move at speed, loaded with gear or not.
Would adding steel slight outward lips around the plate sides, redirect the frag somewhere safe? Is this a smooth brain thought?
Like a 90 degree angle border to deflect that 180 frag
The problem is creating that bend, to get it the steel would have to be heated too much that it becomes too brittle.
Mill it out or weld it on?
@@jtaylorb88 maybe a sleeve with a steel top? I’m just trying think of a sure way to prevent spall
So they started by shooting the edges of the ceramic but focused on the center of the steel. Both shots on the edge of the steel fragged too. Almost like they’re trying to sell you steel plates
I've been looking for a company to buy my first plates from
I may have found them. This is some quality stuff
I love this channel more with each video. Like the t-shirt, can we get a April 19th, 1775 shirt?
good call, I'll look into it. Thank you so much for the support
First shots at Lexington should be acknowledged indeed.
How does the plates hold up to xm193 and m855a1 ? Or is this more of a test for the coating? As far as the coating testing it look like it holds up great
M855 A1 penetrates the plate at 45 ft out of a 20 inch barrel. Out of a 10.5 inch barrel it wont penetrate. M193 goes through about half the time or less at 45 ft. It does stop .308 ball ammo six shots in the test I saw none went through( the rounds were moving at 2,900 fps). so 762X39 wont go through. a lot of hunting ammo won't go through. It does stop M855 green tip all the time. M193 out of a 16 inch barrel does not do so good against it.
it even 308 or 30-06
This guy does the most scientific and technically honest tests of armor plates I have seen so far. This video will answer your questions.
ua-cam.com/video/qF9Z5FUlk6Y/v-deo.htmlsi=kiB6mK_2YfpobAU3
@@Yorktown-pb8bd the video fro Buff range that I posted below shows pretty much what you said, although he was able to penetrate with m193 from 45 ft out of a 16" barrel
What happens to the bullet / frag if the steel plate gets hit at an angle? It seems unlikely any coating would be able to catch a deflection.
Ill be testing that soon. Along with frag sleeves
The tactical flops, and those gorgeous curls..... All that is left is a fanny pack and I wouldnt be able to contain myself. Keep up the good work Nolan ❤😂
It's so much wrapped up into one package
Science! Awesome video. You guys rock. 🇺🇸
Coat that plate with the coating on already with an additional glued on cover of nylon. That will keep the coating on longer, the problem is it splits off
You guys are the best.. Nuff said!
Placed an order. Thank you for the demo.
If lower separation is much better than upper 😂😂 seriously though great video and looks like a great company. I will buy my next plates from you guys.
Bullet hurt? Yes! Bullet hurt very much?yes! Bullet unalive you? NO!
i am so going to spary paint that on the next set 😂
How come my AR600 3+ plates I got from your company say just 3 on the back face sticker, not 3+.
But the ar600 3+ side plates actually say 3+ on the back face sticker.
Did I get a misprint sticker or are the ar600 3+ plates not actually 3+
Model TA600STL
Lot number BA249
Have there ever been tests with the plate at a slight angle? Like if you were to be shot by someone in a trench and you were above them? I dont know if that wpuld change anything.
Couldn’t a thin layer of J channel welded around the outside edge of the plate catch all the slag for a long time?
Frikin love your armor and plate carriers.
Cheers bro
Hey… why TF has nobody just welded a little lip around the edge of the plate? 🧐
Show us how to attach a chest rig to the vest
ua-cam.com/video/-jJ4e0hP_8s/v-deo.html
@@TacticonArmamentdamn how did I missed that thank you brother I got my stuff today from y'all. Just take my money I love y'all stuff the predator v4 feels robust.
@@ronaldc8973I keep trying to reply to you and my comments seem to disappear on my end
@@ronaldc8973video is unlisted, can only see it by being sent the link OR clicking on the link on their website
@@chrisraw294ah I see thank you
3:53 "no fragmentation a!ywhere to be seen..."
What, we gonna just ignore the 3 SCREWS THIS POOR FELLA HAD DRILLED INTO HIM? Bet those are steel nails...
Kidding! Great test and video. Thanks for the education!
Ceramic bros raging hard
I want to know genuinely how deadly are the fragments from the plates, why aren't the edges of the plate sloped to divert the fragmentation away from the neck and can the fragmentation be deadly if put under fbi standards, bottom line, can something as simple as wearing long sleeved uniform (field shirt etc) reduce the potential harm from the fragmentation to the arms, since the neck is difficult to cover in any sort of protection, rather easier would be to slope the edge of the plate to divert frag.
With steel, it would be difficult to achieve that sort of bend with the plate. On top of that most people when shooting with plates lean forward, making a downward angle. Rather than the plate being either straight up and down or tilted back towards the face.
And yes any extra layer of clothing would help stop any frag. I would like to do one of these tests again with clothing rather than paper to get a better understanding.
Thank you for the suggestion and question.
Hey Nolan, great content. Where can I find the batch number of my plates?
Test the plates at a non-90 degree angle. Some dudes are fat, everyone sits, and we all move into different non-90 degree positions. I'm curious if this plays a role in how effective anti-spall is. I think this is the main situation where poly and ceramic beats steel. It captures so angles are handled better.
would like to see what ap and m855a1 do i know that those rounds are less like to come into contact with but would like to see it also love the video not alot of manufacturers show this kind of stuff
Are you Paul Harrell son ?
No fair!!
You didn't show the 'spall' penetrating the cardboard from the uncoated plate in the carrier!
Yes, it tore up the carrier, BUT, did any meaningful spall hit the surrounding areas?
Is the coated plate what comes with the carrier for $225?
All of their steel plates have the coating.
Yeah, my $150 set came with coating.
Yes the $225 package comes with the coating. You can find it here: tacticon.com/product/ar600-level-3-body-armor-with-battlevest-plate-carrier-package/
Is this a base coating or a build up coat?
I’m curious if doing this test would yield different results if you shot the carrier at an angle.
I have a video on it check it out!
can you confirm what those exact coated plates you are testing are so i can buy them please? i’m wanting the exact ones in the video
I almost bought sleeves for my plates as extra protection and to fit them snugly in the carrier, so it's nice to see a video showing the coating hold up against a full magazine.
I just threw a 3a panel over the front plate in my steel rig. The back plate almost never has any limb that breaks the perpendicular plane coming off the plate, unless you have an insanely fat ass. Frag coming off plates also has been tested against FBI spec ballistics gel and what you need to know about ballistic gel; is that it is not a replica of human tissue. It was developed as a standardized medium for testing ballistics and it was determined to be “close enough”. from the studying I’ve done; the FBI’s own experts have stated that the first 2-4 inches of penetration into ballistics gel represents penetration through the average person’s skin alone. That obviously has a huge variability person to person and body part to body part, but funnily enough the best steel spalling testing I’ve seen on ballistic gel had most of the copper jacket flakes stop in that 2-4 inch margin. Obviously you don’t want anything in your neck or armpits; but it’s a far cry from how some people believe frag will blow your limbs off and penetrate your skull. The carrier itself catches frag; and the recent shift to simple Kevlar wraps/sleeves makes frag not a problem at all. Another fun fact is that the damn soviets figured out how to make cheap an effective rifle rated body armor by putting steel or titanium in a Kevlar-type carrier back in the day when the best out operators had was just pistol rated Kevlar.
@@NothanksbuddyI don’t think anyone says bullet fragments will penetrate a skull or blow a limb off. However your armpit, neck and groin have arteries more or less just under the skin, that is where people are saying the fragments might kill you.
@@stormy0307 I’m aware of that. However; allot of fake experts do believe fragmentation is more lethal than it really is. Fragmentation injuries and deaths are mitigated on an incredibly small percentile window by professional militaries. In truth; in a firefight, will your ballistic vest be the difference between dying and not? More than likely it won’t to YOU. But on a large enough scale; that decrease in casualties is a great benefit to a large war fighting organization.
Your best bet to defend your life is to
1-avoid dangerous areas and people
2-maintain situational awareness
3-have a plan to leave wherever you are
4-have ready access to a firearm
If you envision yourself doing some sort of offensive action to defend life and liberty; LEO/MIL/your family has been kidnapped by the cartel/etc, then you can judge the effectiveness of different body armor. For most applications; steel is just fine. As your chances of getting shot at increase; consider investing in better protection and better gear in general. And truly; consider improving your cardiovascular fitness before buying ANY tactical gear. A 7year old Somalian with a rusted bolt action will body every single fat, untrained gear queer. Fitness directly impacts your survival
Definitely would like to see an comparison between the AR600 to an ceramic 💪🙏
I have the steal plates with the lining then some company sells a kevlar sleeve that goes over the plate to catch all frags that the liner doesnt catch
All that weight and extra money just to imitate ceramic lmao
@Dero_milsurp my plates are 4 lbs each and can take everything up to AP 30.06. 30 rds of non AP 30.06 did eventually break it.
@@LootDropShepherd steel plates are not rated level 4 by NIJ, and no steel plate is taking what you just stated nor weighting 4lbs each. But whatever you have to tell yourself to justify your purchase.
Tacticon is really one of the only straight-talk marketing teams out there (that persuades and convinces you with evidence).
cheers brother
Which steel plate did you test AR500 III+3 or AR600 III+3?
you should have put a pressure sensor behind the plate to see how much blunt force trauma is given off by getting shot with a standard 556 round
Are protective coats and a frag sleev safe to use?
That choice of background music is choice.
good stuff, gents
Bro...as a combat vet myself....i love Tacticon. I believe in yall. Would love to be an affiliate for yall. i push yall to my subs all the time.
Given the recent compromises of the integrety of the NIJ testing team, are you still comfortable using them as your advertized benchmark?
Until someone comes out with a new industry standard.... probably gonna have to stick with the only one we've got.
Can you guys make a video comparing all of your lasers/lights?
I don’t plan on getting shot in the back, but question for everyone. Do you carry back plates in your carrier? Are they a different shape than the front? Went hiking the other day with TA steel plates front and back. Good sweat 😅
What's the rating for the coated plate? Im not sure its ever meantioned.
Given that he's using green tip, its level 3+ ar600
No gimmicks! Love it