Body Armor - Steel vs Ceramic

[ArebearFTW]

Do you think that steel plate could withstand about 8 shots of 9mm?

[RagingPheonix]

Didn't Knights wear steel plate armour, yet theirs could only withstand the impact of earlier firearms? What makes this kind so different? It gets me thinking, probably wouldn't want to see a knight wearing this kind of full steel plate armour and a sword charging on a battlefield using guerilla tactics...

[zyklonzip]

How much were the steel plate

[TheHurricaneJohannes]

I've been checking Youtube and Google for a third option, besides soft armor like Kevlar, namely polyurethane (Lexan), but I find nada. What am I missing here? If you think about it a 10 cm plate of 'bullet-proof glass' seems like a good idea, but obviously there's a catch...? Anyone who could enlighten me?

[akzo74]

@TheHurricaneJohannes Lexan is not polyurethane it's a trade named polycarbonate, also that 10 cm plate of glass is enormous when you think about it since it's roughly 4 times thicker and much heavier than a standard rifle plate.

[corporacionmonstruo]

" handle with care " ?????? lol

[techdeckdude4]

gunwebsites guy ?????WTF

[Kliffton415]

Steel is cheaper lol

[Thunkful2]

compare? I expected you to shoot at both & see the results.

[Nexgcs]

Rated level?

[ArrowSmith95]

this guy sounds exactly like the gunwebsites guy...

[44SCB]

If u had Titanium it could be twice as thick with the same weight and be a lot stronger.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@44SCB

nope

[KaskaMatej]

@GearBuyersGuide why not?

[tsunayoshi987]

@44SCB

Titainum is not as strong as steel usually but can perform as well, lvl 3 titainum bulletproof plates are about just as thick as steel but weigh as much as the ceramic, however they can not be shaped as well as steel or ceramic,

the benefit of ceramic plates are that they can absorb more blunt trauma and new ceramic plates these days depending on the type are thinner than the ones on the video

[ulfhunden]

@44SCB Titanium plates are the same thickness as steel, 6mm for level 3 and weigh a couple pounds less, about 7.5 pounds.

[lepricoun]

how thik is the steel plate is this plate hardened ?

[tsunayoshi987]

@lepricoun

its like .7 cm thick usually or less

[achrisley]

I was considering the steel plate option and was wondering; How thick does the steel plate have to be to rated to take rifle rounds?

What kind of steel and where could i get one?

[tsunayoshi987]

Steel plates are like .7 cm or less I have some ill be willing to sell you for $50 for 1 8x8 lvl 3 around 5 lbs, they can take up to fmj ak rounds, hit me an email if you are interested, to su.chilliam@gmail.com

[iLik3c0o0ki3s]

is he the guy from gun websites?

[KingOfSage]

Okay just to make this clear to everyone, the steel is very strong. It has litterally been built to take damage. The ceramic plate is not as strong as reinforced steel. It is however, MUCH lighter, cheaper, and easier to make. Economically, it's the better decision. Plus this isn't made from the same material as dinner plates. It's a special ceramic built to deflect/reduce impact.

[tsunayoshi987]

@KingOfSage

also the higher density of ceramic material makes it a better trauma absorber than a steel plate

[akzo74]

@tsunayoshi987 ceramic is not higher density, typical armor ceramics are about 1/3 the density of steel and they're only better trauma absorbers because they are backed with fiber reinforced epoxies. Without that backing the ceramic would out-plug or spall into you.

[luigisf]

I heard somewhere that boron carbide(the material inthe ceramic plates) is the second hardest material next to diamond, is that true?

Anyways, hopefully the US will be the first to discover a practical way to use carbon nanotubes to provide our troops with the best protection.

[KingOfSage]

@luigisf No it's highly durable and very effective. But it's not close to the hardest material. The hardest materials have carbon in them but they are extremely brittle. So to use it for armor wouldn't be useful, plus it doesn't have any cushion. You would take full impact. But it is the strongest ceramic so far. And the way it's made keeps it from completely falling apart, so it's resilient.

[alielbaryeshua]

I've got Level III steel plates. After wearing it all day, and your not in shape, the steel can weigh you down. The guy I bought it from shot sample steel plates with everything from AK, AR-15, Chinese 5.8, and even a Dragonov. All on the same plate.

These are great plates, hold their own. But they will take some getting use to as far as the weight goes. And they are comfortable, despite the square appearance. A little hard to work with if your on your back, which you shouldnt be anyways.

[sgtking11b]

Steel plates actually hold up better compared to ceramics. Ceramics are rated only for 3 hits 2 inches apart or more but no closer than 1 inch from the edge in order to be listed as multi-shot. You put a round closer than 2 inches and it has a high chance of going through. Steel you can stack rounds and ontop of each other and it may go through in 3-4 hits on the exact same place. We tested the steel plates and 300rds later no penetration with various rifles and cals at 15 ft.

[johnnyghee]

Another huge difference: When ur cornered, engaged and taking heavy incoming fire from the police who are busy wasting you for trying to rob that bank while wearing your spiffy new armor that you first saw on Gear-Review, the ceramic plate will give you approximately .0005 seconds longer life vs. the steel plate when the sniper with the 50 cal AP round zaps you in the plate carrier.

[Captainslav]

@johnnyghee

Sadly police do not use 50 cal AP rounds : / barrett hates leos and wont sell to them. Why do you think most cops have switched to glock, HK, colt and other brands?

[jrmyscttwds]

@Captainslav Barrett just won't sell to the government of the People's Republic of California.

[johnnyghee]

@Captainslav WTH RU typing about, friend?

[fjkhoury01]

this guy sounds awefully similar to the gunwebsites guy...love your vids man!

[fatdan172501]

@fjkhoury01 its the same guy lol. they are sister channels.

[xxReaverXXCerberusxx]

I always hear that steel ricochets a round and that one can deflect it upward toward the chin. Though I'm in the need for some ballistic protection. Overall what do you think

[GearBuyersGuide]

@No1Richman

you sound like an ignorant racist o.O

[predatortheme]

@GearBuyersGuide

agree... btw Very nice video thank you!

[seargantbeckett009]

@No1Richman Its very unfortunate that you have developed that type of personality.

[GUNSFOREVER1]

Why do plates say strike face...it makes me wonder.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@GUNSFOREVER1

So they aren't put in backwards by accident

[GUNSFOREVER1]

@GearBuyersGuide Oh thanks...i thought it means strike people in the face when they're wearing plates lol.

[frogseb]

@GUNSFOREVER1 so the bad guys know where to shoot you

[GUNSFOREVER1]

@frogseb in the face lol

[XDsubcompact]

I had ceramic sapi plates in Baghdad for over a year and they're actually pretty resilient. I dropped mine countless times and didn't have any problems. I also never heard of anyone damaging their plates while I was there. It' s probably just a precaution for the idiots that think they're indestructible.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@XDsubcompact

true, but did you X-ray them occasionally? they can develop cracks which make them much less effective (Im told)

[Prometheus3052]

@GearBuyersGuide it depends on the make and brand of the ceramic. Some have incredibly strong bonding and laminates that makes it more resistant to damage from dropping.

[Kliffton415]

I own this condor compact plate carrier with steel plates as well. I think the inside padded lining to remove sweat away from the body is too thick. Makes the profile of the vest big.Over all...Great high speed low drag vest that protects all you need when mobility is necessary.

[unedited98]

Steel is shit..... bullet splash..... single curve causes it to hit your face... They're heavy as hell ..... they rip through carriers..... they dont stop bullets nearly as well as ceramic.

If you want nice plates look up BAE Systems Low Pro ceramic - thin, light weight and they're still Level IV combination - not cheap - but good insurance

[acefox16]

i like how it says "handle with care"

[GearBuyersGuide]

@acefox16

they are made of ceramic, so they can crack if dropped.. when craked they are not as or even non- effective

[acefox16]

@GearBuyersGuide yeah i know, i think its funny, seeing as how its made to sop a bullet.

[nunvikingsofthesea]

@GearBuyersGuide good video, very informative, I am considering about getting a pair of rifle plates, I was always thinking about ceramic but after seeing your video, I am more leaning towards steel, a few of my concerns: I dont have that much money just to spend on body armor, and etc. second off, I want something concealable under clothing, and since steel is thinner, and lastly I am willing to give up some comfort, I wont be wearing it all the time, what is your opinion?

[SNIPERSTEVE420]

@acefox16 though ceramic is very breakable, it is extremeley dense, denser than still in fact, and will stop objects from passing through it better than steel, thats why it is used for body armor. but like he said once it breaks, it will not be as effective.

[Ihasgecko]

You can't effectively compare a steel weight vs. ceramic, unless that one was stand alone, most are not. Most ceramic plates need to be worn in conjunction with a 3a soft armor insert to equal the stopping power of that level 3 steel plate. Those two together would, I think, exceed the weight of the steel. For that reason I like steel. It is also worth mentioning that steel plates can have ricochets causing the wearer or friendly parties injury where as ceramic absorbs most fragments.

[TheWeeklyLawReports]

i love how it is designed to stop bullets but says handle with care on it lol.

[Blunder1248]

What happens if u take the steel plates and freeze it to -300 Fahrenheit and bring it back slowly to room temp? In engineering it make the material super strong as it steadies the atomic structure.

Could help with stopping a bullet!

[swordmaster2k1]

@Blunder1248

They already do that.

[GodOfWar5341]

Great vid. Hey Gear you got any good sites for some plates at a fair price. Thanx

[ZurkElite]

what is that big hunk of steel with the holes in the background??

GREAT VID BTW!!!

STEEL = The BEST!!!

[GearBuyersGuide]

@ZurkElite

That is a plastic armor rack, a place to let armor dry

[MooseDaAirsoft]

@ZurkElite Agreed, it can take more hits.

[DieWolfen]

the thing that works the best is layered steel armor, somewhat how the romans layered their armor, if a plate gets dented or broke you can simply remove it and replace that one piece and not the whole vest

[CBAsystems]

LS ARMOR PLATES >Attachment capability to tactical vest..Level IV ---4.2 lbs

[WORDECODETHIT]

Excellent video sir.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@WORDECODETHIT

Thanks

[bahamabrz]

I have ofter wondered why the U.S. military is so resistant to using "Dragon Skin".

Cost must be the issue. Why else would they ignore a body armor solution that otherwise seems superior to all others?

[GearBuyersGuide]

@bahamabrz

Because it melts in the heat and doesn't work

[alezatf]

@GearBuyersGuide why does it melt?

[revolrz22]

@alezatf

The company that supplied the glue that the makers of DS used messed up, and the scales came apart at temperatures approaching the summer time temperatures of the middle east.

This defect has since been rectified, but before it was the DS makers invested all their time in bitching, whining, and moaning to the media about it. When the fix happened, the army was already invested in other armors and is not obliged to buy from suppliers who bitch at the army for their own fuck up.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@revolrz22

OK well, thats how the woorld works

DO when you need to, or make excuses later..

[bahamabrz]

@GearBuyersGuide The data seems to disagree with you.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@bahamabrz

What "data" some TV show?

[knifecollector93]

@bahamabrz thats the way the military works. supplys cost more then the men themselves.

[MaxAC40]

@bahamabrz

Dragonskin plates can't be replaced, They're integrated into the vest.

.

Plates are designed to be replaced. With interceptor, you can take gunfire and replace the plates cheaply/easily/on the fly.

.

If dragonskin is hit ONCE, the vest MUST be replaced. The damaged discs are compromised. You don't want a questionable vest.

.

It's 10,000 vs. 500 dollars

Both will protect the individual, you shouldn't plan on getting hit 30 times

It's 10,000 vs. 100 dollars to replace every time.

[GearBuyersGuide]

@MaxAC40

Great points, thanks

[silentknight2112]

@MaxAC40 dragon skin isnt 10,000$? ive seen it for around 4k its still a large amount of money just pointing out

[HONORGUARD308]

@MaxAC40 the IOTV is around $2000 and dragon skin can be replaced, it slips in the vest the same as the large material comforter. sure its still more expensive tho and the IOTV is doing just fine

[Elena9535]

@MaxAC40 Considering Dragon Skin can be hit so many times with 7.62 hard steel rounds, I wouldn't think it'd be compromised after a single hit. :) Or two. Or three. Or four, or five, or six, or seven, or eight... Or nine...

...Or ten...

...Or twelve...

[TaylorLuatner]

Thanks for the tips

I watched this for video games . LOL

[warriorofsteel01]

Youd probrodly want to put padding behind that steel armor.,..thad hurt like a bitch. lol

[ItsJustRhys]

why dont we just fight it out tooth n nail with swords, ballistas, forts, shields and bows n arrows be easier

[warriorofsteel01]

@ItsJustRhys only when the ammo runs out... lmao

[XxMusashiYamatoxX]

can AK47 rounds penetrate steel? Ceramics ain't good because they can't take repeated hits IMO.

[dudrhkd7]

steel will do the same

[PRSpl4yer]

You can get multihit ceramic plates; they're a little thicker and are usually backed with kevlar, but they'll take multiple hits of 30-06.

[Oxstayne]

dragon skin is the best. but not available, and not used by the U.S. Military :(

[GearBuyersGuide]

it melts

[bisstube]

wierd. i didnt know that. i learn something new everyday!

[TheRealTaco87]

Finally someone gets it!

[tiamat9989]

Do you know a good website or company that sells fairly cheap steel plates with the cut corners you mention here?

I can't seem to find any that has cut corners and 9.5'' x 12.5'' from searching google.

Thanks!

[GearBuyersGuide]

sorry no, I don't

[tiamat9989]

hmm, that being the case, would grinding down a little bit of a steel plates' edges affect its overall protective strength? I imagine that if it's just solid steel it shouldn't matter.

The usual 10'' by 12'' is a tad bit large for me and my plate carrier, and I don't really like full rectangular plates.

Thanks again!

[GearBuyersGuide]

my only concern would be any heat treating / strength issues...

but that would only at the very edge I guess

[Aracuru]

DSG arms is as close as you can get.

[HecklerandKochdude]

@tiamat9989 go to a welder or metal shop they have AR500 steel which is rated for thousands of rounds of rifle and pistol

[tiamat9989]

great! thanks a ton.

Do you have a guess as to how much a plate would cost in that case?

[HecklerandKochdude]

@tiamat9989 no idea but it doesn't matter. If you pay a few hundred or thousand DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH U GET, It will save your life i would guess somewhere like 100-200 per plate for the front and back less for sides.

[kalasnikov121]

@tiamat9989 security usa pro

[tomfunfun0530]

@tiamat9989 isnt steel worse when it comes to protection i heard ceramic platings can stop armor piercing rounds can steel procters do the same

[primeribs1]

how many shots can a rifle plate take from an assault rifle?

[GearBuyersGuide]

Of course real life is un-predictable, but in testing I think these need to stop 3 rounds within a certain distance and a set a distance apart from each other..

So the answer is 3 in testing, but in real life it might only stop the first through the same spot..

[primeribs1]

thanks for the info!

[AKlover]

Is there any truth that bullets often skip up or down after hitting the steel plate? Resulting in neck/head wounds from ricochets.

[GearBuyersGuide]

Very much so, it's a real disadvantage of steel but it also happen with ceramic.. best bet is alwasy don't get shot at

[AKlover]

Thanks for the response I guess I will look into steel plates with some sort of coating.

[GearBuyersGuide]

I REALLY like ceramic more.. but steel is better than nothing.. perhaps a layer of soft armor taped on the front to help keep fragments down?

[Speed00007]

Why do you like ceramic more? Is it much more safer than steel?

[GearBuyersGuide]

Well ceramic is MUCH lighter, and it's more comfortable (better shape next to body)

[hydrashok556]

EGI Tactical makes steel armor plates (Level III) coated with a polymer layer to cut down on bullet fragments.

Pretty good deal at $100 each.

[GearBuyersGuide]

that sounds like a good idea, bot a bad price either