Armor plates are designed to ensure your safety at higher threat situations, so it is important that you choose the best one for yourself. While choosing an armor plate for yourself, you really need to know why you need it as it is going to decide the quality and type of armor plate you will be buying. For the potential body armour buyer, there is a lot of material to sort through, and you may spend months studying before you find precisely what you’re looking for. Buying an armor plate does not necessarily mean that you are going to be part of violence or any armed forces as owning body armors has become quite usual for civilians as well. The most common type of armor plate owned for war protection in the military is level plates, they are recommended because they can defeat 30 caliber armor-piercing bullets that weigh 166 grains and have a muzzle velocity of 2,880 ft/s. So, if you are looking for the right armor plate for yourself, a level if plates is highly recommended.
However, while doing your research regarding the armor plate that you are going to buy, the following are some significant points to keep in mind:
Quality
The quality check must be done beforehand to know what you are actually paying for and whether it actually protects you. For this purpose, level IV plates work the best. So you need to check if the armor plate is made of ceramic as ceramic makes sure to absorb the intensity and impact caused by the bullet shot, keeping you safe. The surface of ceramic while backing up absorbs the rest of the energy and effectively holds the bullet and keeps the jerk of the bullet to a minimum.
Weight
The weight for your armor plates matters the most so that you are not only protected but also comfortable in it. At times steel armors weigh so much that the overall performance of the person wearing it gets affected due to it, as your speed is directly proportional to the weight of your armor. So, it is advised that you check the available variety and materials in the market and choose the best. Usually armor plates are made of steel, ceramic, or polyethylene, each has its own benefits. But, ceramic is lighter in weight than the others, making it easy to wear and ensure your safety at the same time as well.
Also, if the size of your armor is not according to you, then it will definitely make you uncomfortable, so keep in mind to get the armor plate according to your size.
Level of protection
The most important thing which civil people overlook is to check the level of protection of their gear, which is the most important thing while getting your armor plate. A good armor provides protection against multiple shots; to be exact, it can withstand up to 30-06 APM2 rifle rounds, which is great. Moreover, to be sure of the quality of your armor check with the company if the armor plates were tested and certified.