The Great Plate Debate

[Lowdown3]

If SAPI plates are sized correctly, they do interfere with a proper stance. That's why you almost always see one of the following in almost every photo or video of US infantry:

Wearing the plates too low. That's what you see most often. They let out the shoulder straps to make the plates hang low, so they can get more stock on their shoulder.

Or they'll just put the heel of the stock in their shoulder. More often than not you'll see a combination of the two.

Also why SOCOM plates exist. They're a little shorter and wider than SAPI, but they have a more aggressive swimmer's cut. Unfortunately they're unobtainable, and carriers made for them don't accommodate any commercially available swimmer cut plates. It's pretty much madness. The commercially available plates all conform to either 10x12 or SAPI dimensions, and all the carriers are either SAPI or SOCOM. So your best bet is to find swimmer cut SAPI and put them in a standard SAPI carrier.

Placing them up to the little "V" notch correct?

[okie]

Placing them up to the little "V" notch correct?

Yep. The higher the better obviously, but at some point they will choke you, so do what feels reasonable.

[CRAMBONE]

I’ve always gone by “notch to bottom of sternum and nipple to nipple”.

Decent diagrams where plates should sit.
https://imgur.com/a/rnS8ECj

And it’s funny seeing everyone say steel plates are a boot move. I’ve been issued a lot of steel plates made by high end gear manufacturers from fairly high speed groups. They are stand alone level 4. And work great in a Lo-pro carrier. I do have backers behind them though.
Now the plastic/composite super lightweight plates that Tier 1 units get are amazing!

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

Watching MrGunsNGear shoot the hell out of the LAPG Level IV plates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9-_6envfiE

Can somebody tell me why I should not buy these plates? This is for a SHTF rig only. Thanks.

[ViniVidivici]

You should! They are one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

You should! They are one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

Never ever thought I'd own my own personal hard armor, and yet 2021 has already convinced me it may not only be prudent, it may (sadly, and hopefully not) come in handy one day.

[okie]

Watching MrGunsNGear shoot the hell out of the LAPG Level IV plates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9-_6envfiE

Can somebody tell me why I should not buy these plates? This is for a SHTF rig only. Thanks.

Not bad. Roughly the same weight and protection as ESAPI plates when you factor in the soft backers. Too heavy for my taste, but if you're into lvl 4 then that's far from the worst out there.

[omegajb]

Not bad. Roughly the same weight and protection as ESAPI plates when you factor in the soft backers. Too heavy for my taste, but if you're into lvl 4 then that's far from the worst out there.

The level III plates are about 1lbs lighter and performed almost as well.

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[Jellybean]

I’ve always gone by “notch to bottom of sternum and nipple to nipple”.

Decent diagrams where plates should sit.
https://imgur.com/a/rnS8ECj

And it’s funny seeing everyone say steel plates are a boot move. I’ve been issued a lot of steel plates made by high end gear manufacturers from fairly high speed groups. They are stand alone level 4. And work great in a Lo-pro carrier. I do have backers behind them though.
Now the plastic/composite super lightweight plates that Tier 1 units get are amazing!

There's your key word there.
The dolts buying the el-cheapo steelies IS a boot move.

The level III plates are about 1lbs lighter and performed almost as well.

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Yes, but IIRC the LVL3 LAPG plates won't stop 855, like most Lvl 3 "plastic" plates.

[CRAMBONE]

There's your key word there.
The dolts buying the el-cheapo steelies IS a boot move.

Yeah not advocating buying $20 metal plates of eBay. Just stating there are quality steel plates out there but they are pricey.