Lighter and/or thinner plates provide better mobility and impinge on shooting ability less, which in itself adds to survivability.
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Forum seller JRH Enterprises sells the Shot Stop plates.
They have been game changers for me in terms of weight/comfort and threat level.
Bizarro double tap.
Cheap ones are literally 2x the plate. I prefer to keep a small profile and light weight, and maximize maneuverability while defeating 90% of the threats. It's all personal preference based on what you expect I guess. Fitness comes in too.
Honestly, if cost is not an option, hesco 4800lv.
OK I understand the argument for lighter... I guess. You do you.
I run an Eagle SPC with Ceradyne ESAPI swimmers can't say I feel burdened or limited, but it's what I'm used to. Could be I'm draggin weight I don't need.
Don't worry about bullets ricocheting off you and hitting someone else. Worry about the spalling coming up and perforating your throat. Also, steel plates are easily defeated by 55gr fmj from a 18/20" barrel. And m855 goes through UHMWPE like its not even there. Pay extra fro ceramic, its lighter and stronger. And a high quality lvl IV plate very well be lighter than a cheap lvlIII or III+
What is the lightest, quality, and "comfortable" plates to stop 30.06 AP ("black tip")? I guess that is roughly, what, Level IV or ESAPI resistance?
Don't want to say that cost is not an object, but performance would be my key concern.
Double Tap
As i understand it: Level IV is an NIJ (civilian) rating tested for 30.06 AP. SAPI is a military plate which essentially meets the same rating. ESAPI is an enhanced SAPI design which in combination with a soft armor vest has the potential (not a guarantee) to resist more than one hit with 30.06 AP. Not a highly likely scenario, but ...
ETA: ESAPI is also supposed to be tested to a higher level of abuse (drops, general abuse) but I'm not sure what metrics are involved.