What Are AR500 Steel Plates?

AR500 steel plates are inserts used in bulletproof carriers, or vests, including the ballistic steel plates used in Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Level III Body Armor. Sometimes called bulletproof vests, their purpose is to protect the wearer against serious injuries from high-impact direct hits and abrasions from small arms fire, incoming shrapnel and stabbings. AR500 is the same steel alloy that’s used in body armor sold to the SWAT team and law enforcement, and is also used in building armored vehicles.

AR500 steel’s name refers to both its being “abrasion resistant” and its 500 Brinell Hardness rating, which is a scale used to rate the hardness of steel and various other materials. The higher a ballistic steel plate’s Brinell rating, the harder the steel that’s in the body armor. Higher Brinell ratings also mean the faster velocity and heavier caliber rounds it will stop without penetrating the plate or going beyond the maximum acceptable indentation or backforce deformation. The National Institute of Justice has set a backforce deformation maximum of 44 millimeters.

Why AR500 Steel Makes Great Ballistic Plates

AR500 high carbon tempered steel is abrasion resistant and strong enough to prevent or minimize injuries to the wearer. Steel is a great alternative to ceramic composite plates due to being less expensive. That being said, steel ballistic plates are slightly heavier (individually weighing eight to ten pounds each), they are thinner and the comfort level is about the same as wearing ceramic ballistic plates.

Still, there are several benefits steel plates have over ceramic plates. They’re less bulky, which makes it easier for the wearer to move about more freely in a tactical situation, which makes them ideal for law enforcement agencies. Steel ballistic plates are sturdier than ceramics, which, if dropped, will sometimes crack possibly creating weak areas of the plates. These cracks in most cases are very difficult to detect which can compromise the integrity of the plates. Steel ballistic plates also have a longer practical shelf life. Although it’s generally recommended that both plates be replaced after five years, steel ballistic plates can last 20 years or more if properly stored and not damaged by moisture or a high impact hit while in use.

How Much Impact Will Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor Level III Withstand?

The National Institute of Justices, which is the only nationally accepted standard for body armor used by law enforcement, rates body armor by the types of ammunition its plates will hold up against. The ¼” AR500 steel plates used in Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor has been given a Level III protection rating by the National Institute of Justice. This means it will withstand all caliber handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum, and multiple rifle rounds up to 7.62 x 51 caliber NATO FMJ ammunition fired from a distance of 50 feet.

For dependable body armor with uncompromising quality at an affordable price, the Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor Level III is an excellent choice for protecting yourself in tactical situations. Need more information on Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 or other body armor and tactical gear? Call us at (520) 396-3335 or contact us online—we’re here to help you with all your personal protection needs!