it really surprises me that they are not making hybrid armor. i think it could be a good idea, if they used thinner ar500 plates on the body side, and the plastic layers on the outside. The plastic should stop most of the impact, as well as the bullet fragmentation, and the steel should help spread out that impact, as well as provide a final stop for the bullet. And it shoudl be thinner than an all plastic version. It might even be beneficial if they stuck a layer of ceramic in there too.
They can, but it's much more expensive. Bonding a steel plate to a plastic plate like this takes a lot more effort and production cost than you would think.
@@JohnDoe-zh6cp Pardon me if I sound dumb, but what stops having a carrier rig be slightly wider to fit both a thin plastic plate and a thin steel plate in? I mean it sounds so simple but I think it would be fine, or am I wrong?
SmilingMoos3 They're built to snugly fit standard plate sizes. Making it wider would cause normal sized plates to slide around which would be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous
When I looked into this, the deal breaker was heat sensitivity. The manufacturer said that in hot climates, if this armor is left in a vehicle that's in direct sunlight, that interior temps (can get over 150 F) which will irreversibly reduce the protection level.
So this is the modern equivalent of the classical gambeson: many layers of a soft materiel that spread impacts and turn blows, a bit vulnerable to "armor piercing" sharpness head-on, but awesome at protecting from incidental shots. Let's face it: weight-efficient armor is never intended to have you stand there like a jerk and take multiple point-blank attacks. It assumes you are doing something sensible to avoid and deflect while you carry out your tactics. It's like Tolkien said of castle fortifications (approx): "No walls will stand if men abandon them." I'd like to see this lightweight technology taken to the next level, like an interlinked/layered body coat with limb cover as well, similar to scale-armor of past eras.
Nano tech gambeson yup, the main issue being that jihadists are apparently actually armed with penetrator rounds due to the Saudi's and most of the US's developed enemies are capable of steel core rounds easily in a war (Unlikely to happen due to M.A.D), would be interesting to see if they hold their own against these rounds but I am not really sure if they would. On a side note I love the idea of them creating a modern equivalent of lorica segmentata (properly fitted unlike in most portrayals) using this plate technology or motorcycle protection that can be used by maniacs like me :P.
Thanks for the reference. Reading between the lines a bit on that article, it looks like the incumbent supplier knew all the dirty bureaucratic tricks and fine-print loopholes to avoid competition in the market. Lockheed-Boeing did similar stuff to block SpaceX for several years, which cost taxpayers many billions of dollars in overcharges for inferior service.
Kyle Wynne luckily at the range a lot of the engagements in Afghanistan and some Iraq distances were fought at, it helps to negate quite a bit of the penetration on those rounds. It would be interesting to see how it does against a 5.56 green tip and 7.62x39 mild steel core at 100-200 meters, which are very likely combat range scenarios. 5.56 green tip velocity tends to drop off quite a bit due to poor ballistics of the round.
@@helmsscotta just me being pinicity but I've heard that imperial casualties were very low because the rebel blaster fire just disabled the soldiers but not killed them, ie it knocked them unconscious but didn't kill
@@oliverworley5162 IIRC the stormtrooper armor is supposed to save the wearer from one shot from a blaster at the cost of a likely concussion from the blast. And blaster bolts in the story are usually plasma balls that would melt normal steel. Plasma typically a plot explanation for penetrating armor of things like terminators
Nice review, a Mil/cop could also take the steel armor for the torso and the lighter polymer one for the back. The front would be the most risky area and with this hybrid choice there will still be a weight saving. For the sides it would even be possible the use of dragonskin (the flexible armor) if they are still in business. That will add a little extra weight for the sides protection.
This armor is also part of the total package of different materials used in the M-1 Abrams tank, of course it is much thicker and the total package also includes cold rolled homo- genius steel plate, depleted uranium, Kevlar and carbon fiber on the inside to catch any spalding or fragments of the other layers shooting out and bouncing around the interior. In extreme cases I use one of these plates in my carrier on the outside of my steel plate in the front panel if I don't have a lot of moving around to do.
I could see that armor being very effective for LEOs, they could effectively replace the lvl 2 soft pads in their carriers with the UHMWPE lvl 3. They would weigh about the same, and gain them see protection. Other use would be Seals (especially SWCC), Cost Guard port and river patrols, game wardens on lake patrol, Navy boarding parties, or really anyone on the water.
Really cool to see someone show this stuff finally, I don't know about all that backface deformation though, doubt you could keep walking with those bumps. Alot of trade offs. Good vid
Im an Old Marine (former) I love my AR5oo Steel Plate but it sure is heavy now that im pushing 55yoa but Im gonna stick with the steel thanks for the breakdown Semper Fi
Should watch the video where they get a 50 cal BMG and and shoot clear threw the AR plate and the plastic armour stops it dead, not sure about what brand was the plastic polycarbonate plate was.
I'm interested in seeing more work done with carbon nano tube plates. Saw some prototypes last year and was really impressed. Super thin, light and was level 3.
Man you missed out there “ new “ lvl3+ plates are only just under 8lbs buuuuut if your lucky I’m sure some one will trade you there “ old production “ lvl3+ plates that were 15lbs I mean talk about goals ;P
Great video. I’ll have to look into the plates for my active shooter vest. When your already wearing soft body armor and a duty belt, putting on steel plates over that adds up.
Something else to consider is that the plastic armor does not have edge to edge coverage, l believe. I think it's something like 2 inches from the edge is not as protected. Ar500 armor did a video on the differences in coverage but that weight difference is crazy. Two of these plates weigh less than one steel plate (they were able to reduce the weight on the plastic armor to 2.7 lbs).
So It's basically like a linothorax. Basically a bunch of sheets of soft but strong material stacked on top of one another and bonded together. The linothorax was basically made up of many sheets of linen (remember that the linen they used is stronger than the chemically treated and processed mass produced linen we commonly see today) tightly bonded together with animal glue. Very effective against slashes and arrows but not so much against blunt force. This seems to have the same advantages as well as disadvantages due to the similar construction but with stronger material I assume.
My question is why not pair this with the steel plate? Like rather than having the armor have that many layers instead get rid of like a 5th and then have it attacked to a steel plate. It'll be larger and heavier I guess.
In my testing on NIJ .08, it took 2 rounds in the exact same spot no problems. The 3rd hit, in the exact same spot, went through on 7 tests (several different loads of 5.56 and 308).
Nice informative vid.I like how you really got into the plates to show the results of the impacts but I must say,I was scared for you whenever you started using that knife,glad you shut the camera down at those times lol
I just recently ordered a pair of UHMWPE plates. It'll be interesting to see how much it helps reduce the pull of loaded magazines in the water. Definitely going to swim in it.
Fuck. I knew that was a million dollar idea. I used to work in a UHMW polymer production warehouse. I took home a 1 foot by 1 foot and 2 inch deep section of the denseist material we had and everything I shot it with stopped the rounds. Glad to see someone is capitalizing on it.
Great review. Comprehensive and informative. Thank you. Let’s hope competition and demand can bring the price down a little more. For the time being steel is king.
Literally just got a Spartan carrier with IIIa front plate, A IIIa back plate, and 2 side plates for $175 total after tax and shipping. Bam. Labour day sales!
I'm currently patent pending with my own body armor. I hope to hit level 3 protection at around 1 inch thick and 2.6 lbs. Also buoyant and knife/slash proof. Shelve life is 7 years. Currently at level 2 and 2a.
I'm not a young grunt, on patrols, moving from position to position these days. I did my time lugging around steel plates, and I think that if I can put aside the additional cost, I will be getting two plates of this plastic armor. I tend to take care of what gear I do have, so I am not as leery about the banging around etc. Something AR500 should consider, with the recent school shootings, is marketing this product to parents for stuffing into a backpack. One plate, held in front of you while you reduce your body profile during a shooting, could very well make a difference. If my daughter were still in public school, I would have already bought her one, and a backpack to hold it.
Makes sense to me. What Doesn’t make sense is TNB touting these new plates as super tough and complaining that it took him over 20min to tear it apart with tools and then warn that having it bounce around in your vehicle will damage it. Which is it tough or fragile.?
@@damiangrouse4564 It's obvious that the bouncing around statement comes from the manufacturer, letting you know that these UHMWPE Plates do work as he demonstrated but need to be cared for and have a 'Protective' shelf life. When you press and 'glue' things together under extreme pressure, eventually they can come apart. (delaminate).
Backpack plates and carriers(backpacks with a pocket on the inner back of it) have been on the market for a couple of years now that I know of. It has become more well known since the florida school shooting.
Thanks for the video I won't get any plastic body armor because you showed that after several hits close together the bullets would be going threw the plastic armor.
@You? Me? Who? kinda it was only made to survive glancing plasma bolts, and light bolts, envirment, and shrapnel. It can be burned through woth stronger shots.
You had me until mention of shelf life. My steel and ceramic plates may be heavy, but they will never expire just by sitting around waiting to be used.
The shelf life is more based upon experience with soft armor. That’s why I specifically said “nominal shelf life” as UHMWPE hard armor will likely last a lot longer than 5 years if not damaged through abuse.
Anon You would think people are smart enough to know that,but they aren't. For week-end warriors it will last a hell of a long time unless subjected to high heat all day in the trunk of a car.
C Kim - It's not heat that destroys PE and other plastics; it's UV. You don't want this thing sitting in sunlight for the same reason olive oil comes in a brown/green/blue bottle.
Thank God for black gold. Without it, we wouldn’t have advancements like this. What I would like to see is a hybrid plate. Something like about half the thickness, maybe 2/3, of the plastic with probably half the thickness of the steel with the plastic outboard. Might have just completely given away one of my product ideas, but if someone else can produce it YEARS before I can, at least life’s will be saved. 🤓😉😎🇺🇸 #AR500Armor
Maybe if they were to take out a few of the front layers of plastic and replace them with a layer of boron carbide thinner than what's used in ceramic plates, the plates would not only be cheaper, but also better at stopping steel core rounds? They might be a bit heavier though.
Welded & shape cut custom curved mold with high strenght& compression cam handle. USED 80 LAYERS OF 1.8 oz. Spectra, then 30 layers 6oz/yrd. Zylon, then 10 layers of 45 degree/90 degree thick weave 10 oz. Kevlar, finished layer was solid high impact1/2" thk. plate UHMWPE. wraped it all in 1K Carbon-Fiber for cosmetic apperence. each layer was hand soaked in 630 epoxy&115 hardner. Gave it to a work mate Irac/ desert storm GI . Bets around the shop were would it hold up to 30-06 ballistic rounds they snuck home. Kept pestering him to see their quarry trips blasting my plate, but it was such a snob piece of gear it never took a round. Was 1&3/8"thk. 12" x13". Baked to a graduated heat cure in my own kitch oven(never cook food in it anymore). Power Carbide bandsawed off the mold.
Good job getting it apart. Most interesting part of the demo. Would have been interesting to see what a penetrator round would have done. Like would it go through like butter, or would it have been slowed down a lot and just barely squeak through.
That’s what the NIJ did in coming up with their rating. I specifically said I wasn’t shooting the armor to test it- I was just shooting it to show you how it worked. Take it up with the NIJ if you think their ratings are BS.
according to a video on ar500.com channel nij allows for 44MM of deformation of clay backing and it still "passes". 44mm will do some serous damage to the human body but as stated in every comment, much less than rounds entering your body
Surprisingly, it does rather well. In fact, a steel plate will transfer more energy. The trade-off is protection against penetrating rounds for added weight with steel, and that's because of the molecular toughness, which is why more energy will transfer -with more space in between molecules, the UHMWPE acts much like ceramic composites.
The light weight construction opens to doors to many new product lines. Vehicle protection or possibly a chalk or dry erase board for a classroom that can be deployed during active shooter scenario
Great video! 👍 I personally would use this over steel because of weight alone. I workout with both plates - 16lbs of armor (pushups/squats) and I can't imagine wearing this rig in harsh terrain all day trekking. No thanks!
Yes, I saw the scorpion level lll, I have a set of composition plates but only rated .44 mag, also have ar500 steel for serious stuff and UHMWPE hard plates rated lllA+ for .308, .556 and .762. Hope I never need them.
I need some of these because I'm not in operator shape and the steel plates are so heavy that a 30 minute range session just kills my back. I used to work in the plastics industry and got a kick out of shooting many different types of plastic. The Lexan brand polycarbonate was so tough that bullets would bounce off of it. Problem was though that after so many rounds it would get brittle and break apart.
The "Lexan poly" could work for me, after taking one shot I sure as hell would try to be some place different before taking anymore! I used to work in composites on aircraft, we sure worked up some toxic crazy brew epoxy's to apply with carbon fiber and some of the aramid fiber stuff. It took several washings to get the smells out of stuff!
Dyneema is the way to go level III++ for the same thickness a level 3 is only 3/4" and you don't need padding the defimation on the back is very minimal. I shot one at point blank range 7.62 fmj not 50 feet the distance that is required by N.I.J. to certifie level III, still no penetration. I've used this material since the early 2000 and we were doing as someone mentioned in a post below hybrid model with blends of metal, dyneema and Kevlar sold a bunch overseas. Also dyneema doesn't have a shelf life the problem with plastic like that plate is similar to Kevlar when it gets wet the material will break down and even if it's sealed as person wears it the plate goes thru different temperatures changes and eventually, effectively, small amounts of mositure begin to form inside the the the plate, and so the material starts to break down. This is why all vest that are made of Kevlar have a manufacturing dates because they only have a 7-year shelf-life where it is only guaranteed it will stop whatever threat level they are graded at. Back somewhere in the mide 2000 out in California a new armoring company opened up and they rushed through all of the N.I.J. testing on this new plastic material they had developed got a contract with several of the police departments and only a couple of years later the the vest's that were level 2 couldn't even stop a 22 Cal. several officers lost their lives and others were injured there was a big lawsuit. If anyone is interested hit me up and I will be glad to help.
@@TWANGnBANG - I know, however most people who are not as in involved in the industry might not, so I used the brand name because others might recognize it the secret to better levels of protection is compression we take the material form it then compress it, a new material I'm very excited about is graphene there is a company in Iceland that is working on mass production so to hopefully lower the cost and make affordable to use in armoring applications, I'm sorry I didn't mention in my earlier post, but I like your channel and way you go about explaining different subjects in this industry when I first got involved way back at the beginning of 2000 I was amazed at how many people believed that the shoot outs on TV and the movies where close to being real, and so the term *bullet proof* was an actual thing where in the realm of ballistics it is resistance and to what level of resistance that is needed. My main product is glass and offering affordable protection for bomb blast and ammunition protection. Keep up the good work.
You misspoke. The Level 3 NIJ standards test protocol only requires .308 hits. Level 3 plates are not tested against 5.56/.223 at all. That's why AR500 Armor.com released a series of Level 3 + plates because it was discovered that M193 at point blank can defeat normal level 3 plates. Testing of the new M855A1 round which is not designated as AP can easily defeat Level 3 armor as well. The only sure way to protect yourself is getting a Level 4 plate if you think a threat from the U.S. government is likely.
Argentum this plate acts like a sponge soaking up energy on the initial impact topping normal “ standard rounds” but the secondary piercing ability that’s inside m855, Black tip.308 will carry on through as it discards its lead/copeer shell . It can stop m193 even tho it’s lvl3 and not lvl3+ however this plate won’t stop m855 green tip penetrators like a hard armor lvl3 plate will due to that small pice of steel inside it. Basically this plate like UBER soft armor. Definitely cool if you just want to buy 1 plate to put in your everyday backpack Incase an emergency happens at a mall or concert ect
I am curious, where might I purchase a "Tactical Bathtub"? ... uh, asking for a "Friend". On an unrelated side note: When my unit was patrolling the irrigated farmlands IVO Taji, Iraq (think Central Valley of California, with irrigation canals everywhere), I was ground guiding our HMMWV one night across a small bridge over a canal (using AN/PVS-14 night vision monocular), I managed to tumble backwards into a MUCH LARGER (and DEEPER) canal. I suddenly found myself underwater at the bottom of said canal. It was PITCH BLACK, even with my Nods, and I had around 75 lbs. of gear strapped to me (IBA vest, 13 magazines of 5.56 ammunition, radio, grenades, an M-4 rifle, binoculars, strobe light, chem lights, helmet, and pretty much the kitchen sink thrown in for good measure, back then I was a Pack Mule). There was NO WAY I was going to "Swim" to the surface, and this was before our body armor was equipped with the Quick Ditching ripcords of the later models (probably installed because others had drowned in similar fashion). Luckily, I'm from Florida, and had spent a LOT of time training in Water Confidence Drills. So even in cold, pitch black water, with 75 lbs. of gear strapped to me, I had the presence of mind to feel the bottom and notice that it was sloped. I literally CRAWLED on my hands and knees upwards until I found the surface and air to breath. Afterwards I sat shivering like a damn fool (winter in Iraq, there was snow on the ground) in the back of our truck for the rest of the patrol, and tried not to think about all the Bio-Hazards such canals in Iraq contain. My losses that night were a flooded out digital camera, and a modest amount of pride having fallen ass over tea kettle into the abyss. But it could have been MUCH WORSE. I really could have used floating SAPI plates that night... SSG. U.S. Army (Medically Retired) Infantry / Sniper / SOF Intel (SOT-A), multiple tours
Lol. Instead of 'Yoo Heiij Emm Double-You Pee Eee', just call it Dyneema. Still the best (literal) breakdown vid of this type of rifle plate on YT, thanks man..
Light floats multiple shott wont splatter... Great armour... Heard you can make your own armour from fiber glass blankets and resin with preasure clamps....
you are a good salesman.....presenting costs/benefits in a easy to follow format. This is great for the frontal body mass hit but what about the flesh exposed to hot lead....anything for that?
The knights of England knew all about ballistic armour they made it from lambs wool, loosely woven with animal sinews and silk woven in to it, they also invented thermal insulation at the same time, light weight, warm, body armour, that was 400 years back,
I accidentally noticed uhmw wss quite resistant to penetration and wondered if i would see this eventually. It seems like a combination of three materials would combine multiple benefits.
They must have forgot to include the free tube of AR500 AsstroPlate jelly, that also comes in handy on those lonely nights when its just you your body armor an AR10 and Rosey palms😜 hehe
I like this tech... Could be useful in a backpack setup for students and every day walk around gear. The first company that makes a Jansport insert wins...
Just last week with all the take your AR.BS,I took mine out to shoot I carried 1 mag + 5 rds fed 5.56 and 5 Rem .223. When I got to the spot I shoot (there always bottles) I got some targets and licked up a 8 inch pvc pipe that was about a ft long. I shot the mag & loaded the 5 red of .223 and shot the pvc pipe at about 15 yards(the reason I wanted to shoot is because I wasn't sure about my sight piture ive had trouble with the fixed sights) I shot the 5 rds .223 and didn't even k nock pipe over then shot the 5.56 and it moved every shot but never went over. After I was done I walked back to it and the .223 barely scratched the surface as far as I could tell the bottom part of the pipe had 4 indents about 1/16 and a hole that just clipped the side but that one hole didnt go all the way threw. I know that pipe has been on that road for 3 years in the sun and what little bit of winters we've had. If Nobody believes it I will go get the damn pipe and show pictures to anybody. I was honestly shocked.
it’s not that confusing, i mean lexan and bullet proof glass has plastics in it, lots of plastics aren’t even seen as “plastics” but it’s a great idea to stop bullets with plastic, you could still have a steel plate backing the plastic armor
I just realized that I have been subscribed to this channel for years. Yet I have never seen the actual videos in my subscription feed. RUclips politics...
Why not have a sheet of very hard but very thin steel in front of the UHMWPE stack? The steel is not there to stop anything, it is there to break or blunt penetrators so it can be stopped by the polyethylene stack.
Having suffered through being in a river over my head while wearing body armor. All I can say is I can't wait for the level 4/5 protection. Swimming is just no fun with body armor
When i worked at a planer they had special type's of plastics that they ran chains on it didn't wear out. If a pice broke off and got tossed into the chipper as scrap it would rage hell for about an hr till it got hammered into oblivion. It was a yellow plastic about a inch thick .
Supposedly the saying goes "If you wouldn't shut yourself in said high heat environment you shouldn't leave your PE armor there". PE can be damaged by continued exposure to high heat.
Hundreds of degrees more than a human can survive kind of heat, yes. Continuously, too. I know the polyethylene business. You're NEVER going to affect the integrity of that armor at anything less than 150F, no way, ever. You would need direct heat at more than 400F to do this, or a continuous heat to make it pliable at at least 250F.
Yes, in car temperatures in Arizona and other warmer climates can easily reach temperatures to compromise UHMW. On a 120 degree day, the average in-car temperature will reach 168-170 degrees after 90 minutes. Even in a more normal place, a 100 degree day will still reach 150 degrees. "This Ultralight plate is manufactured on an ISO-certified production line, but you should know that the ballistic performance of all Polyethylene may be adversely affected, or permanently reduced, by prolonged exposure to ambient temperatures below ~ MINUS 15°F ( - 26 °Celsius) and over 150 °F (65 ° Celsius)."
What if you put a thin but hard plate of aluminum between the plastic and the cushion? That would reduce the amount of bulge that pushed against your body.
UHMWPE Armor and Plate Carrier Kits: goo.gl/JgU1Z7
Current AR500 Armor deals: bit.ly/2k2hHj1
Gday
Can you make your own bullet proof armor
or is it an national fucking secret
You make some of the best videos. So informative and just an awesome delivery and you keep it down to earth and real. Keep up the good word bro.
@@charliebrownau Lots of how to videos on youtube.
@@charliebrownau Not really a secret but it does require some precision equipment and processes
@@3nertia in all do respect, can you name the "precision equipment"? What about a life-preserver with 100 rolls of Duck Tape?
it really surprises me that they are not making hybrid armor.
i think it could be a good idea, if they used thinner ar500 plates on the body side, and the plastic layers on the outside. The plastic should stop most of the impact, as well as the bullet fragmentation, and the steel should help spread out that impact, as well as provide a final stop for the bullet. And it shoudl be thinner than an all plastic version. It might even be beneficial if they stuck a layer of ceramic in there too.
why not thin ceramic plate on top
They can, but it's much more expensive. Bonding a steel plate to a plastic plate like this takes a lot more effort and production cost than you would think.
@@JohnDoe-zh6cp Pardon me if I sound dumb, but what stops having a carrier rig be slightly wider to fit both a thin plastic plate and a thin steel plate in? I mean it sounds so simple but I think it would be fine, or am I wrong?
SmilingMoos3 They're built to snugly fit standard plate sizes. Making it wider would cause normal sized plates to slide around which would be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous
@@JohnDoe-zh6cp so why not invent a wider plate specifically made for dual plates?
I watched your video today I thoroughly enjoyed it you do a great job on these videos kudos to you brother
Its incredible that something so light and made of plastic is able to stop such powerful rounds.
When I looked into this, the deal breaker was heat sensitivity. The manufacturer said that in hot climates, if this armor is left in a vehicle that's in direct sunlight, that interior temps (can get over 150 F) which will irreversibly reduce the protection level.
So this is the modern equivalent of the classical gambeson: many layers of a soft materiel that spread impacts and turn blows, a bit vulnerable to "armor piercing" sharpness head-on, but awesome at protecting from incidental shots. Let's face it: weight-efficient armor is never intended to have you stand there like a jerk and take multiple point-blank attacks. It assumes you are doing something sensible to avoid and deflect while you carry out your tactics. It's like Tolkien said of castle fortifications (approx): "No walls will stand if men abandon them."
I'd like to see this lightweight technology taken to the next level, like an interlinked/layered body coat with limb cover as well, similar to scale-armor of past eras.
Nano tech gambeson yup, the main issue being that jihadists are apparently actually armed with penetrator rounds due to the Saudi's and most of the US's developed enemies are capable of steel core rounds easily in a war (Unlikely to happen due to M.A.D), would be interesting to see if they hold their own against these rounds but I am not really sure if they would.
On a side note I love the idea of them creating a modern equivalent of lorica segmentata (properly fitted unlike in most portrayals) using this plate technology or motorcycle protection that can be used by maniacs like me :P.
You mean like Dragon Skin ? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Skin
Thanks for the reference. Reading between the lines a bit on that article, it looks like the incumbent supplier knew all the dirty bureaucratic tricks and fine-print loopholes to avoid competition in the market. Lockheed-Boeing did similar stuff to block SpaceX for several years, which cost taxpayers many billions of dollars in overcharges for inferior service.
Yeah there's a niche that motorbike armor manufacturers could really exploit here.
Kyle Wynne luckily at the range a lot of the engagements in Afghanistan and some Iraq distances were fought at, it helps to negate quite a bit of the penetration on those rounds. It would be interesting to see how it does against a 5.56 green tip and 7.62x39 mild steel core at 100-200 meters, which are very likely combat range scenarios. 5.56 green tip velocity tends to drop off quite a bit due to poor ballistics of the round.
Ar500 is in N. Phoenix AZ and they are a Militia approved manufacturer. Thumbs up!
I think the port security guards will love them
or the coast guards
Iirc some SOF units run swimmer cut UHMWPE.
Proof that Star Wars Stormtrooper armor works... It's even white!
But not against rebel blasters.
@@helmsscotta just me being pinicity but I've heard that imperial casualties were very low because the rebel blaster fire just disabled the soldiers but not killed them, ie it knocked them unconscious but didn't kill
its white because they wanted it to work
@@oliverworley5162 IIRC the stormtrooper armor is supposed to save the wearer from one shot from a blaster at the cost of a likely concussion from the blast. And blaster bolts in the story are usually plasma balls that would melt normal steel. Plasma typically a plot explanation for penetrating armor of things like terminators
damon sturgill 10/10 I felt offended first but that was good joke that made me audibly laugh
Nice review, a Mil/cop could also take the steel armor for the torso and the lighter polymer one for the back.
The front would be the most risky area and with this hybrid choice there will still be a weight saving.
For the sides it would even be possible the use of dragonskin (the flexible armor) if they are still in business.
That will add a little extra weight for the sides protection.
This armor is also part of the total package of different materials used in the M-1 Abrams tank, of course it is much thicker and the total package also includes cold rolled homo- genius steel plate, depleted uranium, Kevlar and carbon fiber on the inside to catch any spalding or fragments of the other layers shooting out and bouncing around the interior.
In extreme cases I use one of these plates in my carrier on the outside of my steel plate in the front panel if I don't have a lot of moving around to do.
I could see that armor being very effective for LEOs, they could effectively replace the lvl 2 soft pads in their carriers with the UHMWPE lvl 3. They would weigh about the same, and gain them see protection. Other use would be Seals (especially SWCC), Cost Guard port and river patrols, game wardens on lake patrol, Navy boarding parties, or really anyone on the water.
Your channel is underrated. Your videography and verbiage is extremely professional.
Thank you!
Really cool to see someone show this stuff finally, I don't know about all that backface deformation though, doubt you could keep walking with those bumps. Alot of trade offs. Good vid
Not sure about that because the armor clearly didn’t move too violently off the rubber dummy. Might sting, but probably not debilitating.
TWANGnBANG yea after watching that again I have to agree with you. Good vid man keep it up.
2SecksC
Yeah it looks like you'll walk away but with broken ribs
Still be breathing, thats the main thing.
jameswyrm8 Bruising? Definitely. Fractured Ribs? Possibly. Broken ribs? Doubtfully.
Im an Old Marine (former) I love my AR5oo Steel Plate but it sure is heavy now that im pushing 55yoa but Im gonna stick with the steel thanks for the breakdown
Semper Fi
Glad the info was helpful!
NRSS Cheatham ii
Should watch the video where they get a 50 cal BMG and and shoot clear threw the AR plate and the plastic armour stops it dead, not sure about what brand was the plastic polycarbonate plate was.
I'm interested in seeing more work done with carbon nano tube plates. Saw some prototypes last year and was really impressed. Super thin, light and was level 3.
They have suit coats that are level 3..where is that technology? Should be heavily marketed
I actually got AR500 plates FOR the weight.
Who needs a lead weight vest, when you can buy a weight vest that stops bullets?!
:)
My man lol
Michael Peila right on, I do push ups and pull ups with mine.
Yes.
Man you missed out there “ new “ lvl3+ plates are only just under 8lbs buuuuut if your lucky I’m sure some one will trade you there “ old production “ lvl3+ plates that were 15lbs I mean talk about goals ;P
The fact there is no spalling is enough to choose these over 500 steel.
I love the tack that it floats on it own. So cool.
The floatation aspect could be a big thing. Not so much here in AZ, but it is still a great feature.
Actually impressive. Thanks for sharing this with us Cameron!
Great video. I’ll have to look into the plates for my active shooter vest. When your already wearing soft body armor and a duty belt, putting on steel plates over that adds up.
That would be a good combo.
Something else to consider is that the plastic armor does not have edge to edge coverage, l believe. I think it's something like 2 inches from the edge is not as protected. Ar500 armor did a video on the differences in coverage but that weight difference is crazy. Two of these plates weigh less than one steel plate (they were able to reduce the weight on the plastic armor to 2.7 lbs).
Hope they make a level 3+ rated UHMWPE plate rated to stop m855 green tip. Some other companies do and there getting the plates down to 5lbs
Angel Armor Truth Snap 855.... Stops m855 green tip and weighs under 3 pounds. Level III plates start at 1.45 pounds....
So It's basically like a linothorax. Basically a bunch of sheets of soft but strong material stacked on top of one another and bonded together. The linothorax was basically made up of many sheets of linen (remember that the linen they used is stronger than the chemically treated and processed mass produced linen we commonly see today) tightly bonded together with animal glue. Very effective against slashes and arrows but not so much against blunt force. This seems to have the same advantages as well as disadvantages due to the similar construction but with stronger material I assume.
My question is why not pair this with the steel plate? Like rather than having the armor have that many layers instead get rid of like a 5th and then have it attacked to a steel plate. It'll be larger and heavier I guess.
Thank you for being so detailed. Great video!
Thanks for watching!
In my testing on NIJ .08, it took 2 rounds in the exact same spot no problems. The 3rd hit, in the exact same spot, went through on 7 tests (several different loads of 5.56 and 308).
Thank you Twang I purchased last week the Veritas my first body armor Excited... I also used you discount code.
Awesome!
Definitely informative. Idk how I was never subscribed to you. 🤔
In this case. We add body armor on and around our shoulders with neck protection slats. Plus around our loins and groin.
Your Arctic/winter warfare pattern tactical bath tub is impressive
Nice informative vid.I like how you really got into the plates to show the results of the impacts but I must say,I was scared for you whenever you started using that knife,glad you shut the camera down at those times lol
I just recently ordered a pair of UHMWPE plates. It'll be interesting to see how much it helps reduce the pull of loaded magazines in the water. Definitely going to swim in it.
If they put a thin layer of the titanium Honeywell mesh in the plastic armor that is in some current armor it should stop green tips.
What's with the shelf life? Was it 5 years? Why in the world would this plastic composite not last beyond that?
Fuck. I knew that was a million dollar idea. I used to work in a UHMW polymer production warehouse. I took home a 1 foot by 1 foot and 2 inch deep section of the denseist material we had and everything I shot it with stopped the rounds. Glad to see someone is capitalizing on it.
I feel ya zombie tanker 1 shoulda coulda woulda! I still kick myself for missed ops!
Great review. Comprehensive and informative. Thank you. Let’s hope competition and demand can bring the price down a little more. For the time being steel is king.
Excellent video. I really like your style and ability to articulate the information so well.
Thanks so much!
Literally just got a Spartan carrier with IIIa front plate, A IIIa back plate, and 2 side plates for $175 total after tax and shipping. Bam. Labour day sales!
From where ?
Talk about a come up.
I'm currently patent pending with my own body armor. I hope to hit level 3 protection at around 1 inch thick and 2.6 lbs. Also buoyant and knife/slash proof. Shelve life is 7 years. Currently at level 2 and 2a.
That`s some serious Bodyarmor! And so lightweight! Interessting. :) I would love to see that bodyarmor in Escape from tarkov.
They already have some armors with UHMWPE in them. Look at the info of the armors and you'll find a few with polyethylene as the armor type.
Excellent video twang n bang a review followed by a test you have answered all questions before being asked them
I'm not a young grunt, on patrols, moving from position to position these days. I did my time lugging around steel plates, and I think that if I can put aside the additional cost, I will be getting two plates of this plastic armor. I tend to take care of what gear I do have, so I am not as leery about the banging around etc. Something AR500 should consider, with the recent school shootings, is marketing this product to parents for stuffing into a backpack. One plate, held in front of you while you reduce your body profile during a shooting, could very well make a difference. If my daughter were still in public school, I would have already bought her one, and a backpack to hold it.
Makes sense to me. What Doesn’t make sense is TNB touting these new plates as super tough and complaining that it took him over 20min to tear it apart with tools and then warn that having it bounce around in your vehicle will damage it. Which is it tough or fragile.?
I believe they make handheld shields, but I don't think they're marketed towards students. They are more for using alongside a handgun.
@@damiangrouse4564 It's obvious that the bouncing around statement comes from the manufacturer, letting you know that these UHMWPE Plates do work as he demonstrated but need to be cared for and have a 'Protective' shelf life. When you press and 'glue' things together under extreme pressure, eventually they can come apart. (delaminate).
Backpack plates and carriers(backpacks with a pocket on the inner back of it) have been on the market for a couple of years now that I know of. It has become more well known since the florida school shooting.
Thx for this video. I was sitting on the fence about this in backpack form for my kids so... yeah I’m getting couple.
Thanks for the video I won't get any plastic body armor because you showed that after several hits close together the bullets would be going threw the plastic armor.
Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for this video.
This is just the information I needed!!
So the first iteration of Clone Trooper armor.
Would be cool to make a set of Stormtrooper armor with UHMWPE.
TWANGnBANG I cant do it. But you can. So try it :3 we want to see it built. Hehe
WATCH THOSE WRIST ROCKETS!
And they said storm troopers looked like cheap pastic, this proves star wars is realistic
@You? Me? Who? kinda it was only made to survive glancing plasma bolts, and light bolts, envirment, and shrapnel. It can be burned through woth stronger shots.
the code is still effective even today. Lvl 4 coming right up!
You can feel the rising tension whenever the tactical bathtub becomes involved.
Awesome sauce I sure hope they make sizes larger than the 12x10 though
You had me until mention of shelf life. My steel and ceramic plates may be heavy, but they will never expire just by sitting around waiting to be used.
Ceramic plates are prone to damage if not handled with care.
The shelf life is more based upon experience with soft armor. That’s why I specifically said “nominal shelf life” as UHMWPE hard armor will likely last a lot longer than 5 years if not damaged through abuse.
They are talking about wearing 12 hours a day every day for 5 years, not a use by date.
Anon
You would think people are smart enough to know that,but they aren't. For week-end warriors it will last a hell of a long time unless subjected to high heat all day in the trunk of a car.
C Kim - It's not heat that destroys PE and other plastics; it's UV. You don't want this thing sitting in sunlight for the same reason olive oil comes in a brown/green/blue bottle.
Thank God for black gold. Without it, we wouldn’t have advancements like this.
What I would like to see is a hybrid plate. Something like about half the thickness, maybe 2/3, of the plastic with probably half the thickness of the steel with the plastic outboard.
Might have just completely given away one of my product ideas, but if someone else can produce it YEARS before I can, at least life’s will be saved. 🤓😉😎🇺🇸
#AR500Armor
Maybe if they were to take out a few of the front layers of plastic and replace them with a layer of boron carbide thinner than what's used in ceramic plates, the plates would not only be cheaper, but also better at stopping steel core rounds? They might be a bit heavier though.
Welded & shape cut custom curved mold with high strenght& compression cam handle. USED 80 LAYERS OF 1.8 oz. Spectra, then 30 layers 6oz/yrd. Zylon, then 10 layers of 45 degree/90 degree thick weave 10 oz. Kevlar, finished layer was solid high impact1/2" thk. plate UHMWPE. wraped it all in 1K Carbon-Fiber for cosmetic apperence. each layer was hand soaked in 630 epoxy&115 hardner. Gave it to a work mate Irac/ desert storm GI . Bets around the shop were would it hold up to 30-06 ballistic rounds they snuck home. Kept pestering him to see their quarry trips blasting my plate, but it was such a snob piece of gear it never took a round. Was 1&3/8"thk. 12" x13". Baked to a graduated heat cure in my own kitch oven(never cook food in it anymore). Power Carbide bandsawed off the mold.
Sounds pretty cool.
Good job getting it apart. Most interesting part of the demo.
Would have been interesting to see what a penetrator round would have done. Like would it go through like butter, or would it have been slowed down a lot and just barely squeak through.
Thanks for all the hard work. Great stuff.
It should have a styrofoam pad to reduce the amount of power to the body. Styrofoam will helps a lot to ruduce big amount of power, shock or wave.
WHERE CAN I BUY PLASTIC BODY ARMOR?
Tactical Bathtub!!! That was good!
I demand a test with this armor with clay behind it to really see what kind of impact is transferred looks like it will be hell on your internals.
Jonathon Parker Better than a bullet's effect on your internals...
That’s what the NIJ did in coming up with their rating. I specifically said I wasn’t shooting the armor to test it- I was just shooting it to show you how it worked. Take it up with the NIJ if you think their ratings are BS.
I'd say it's probably less damage than the spalling injuries you'd sustain from 4 shots of .308
according to a video on ar500.com channel nij allows for 44MM of deformation of clay backing and it still "passes". 44mm will do some serous damage to the human body but as stated in every comment, much less than rounds entering your body
Surprisingly, it does rather well. In fact, a steel plate will transfer more energy. The trade-off is protection against penetrating rounds for added weight with steel, and that's because of the molecular toughness, which is why more energy will transfer -with more space in between molecules, the UHMWPE acts much like ceramic composites.
The light weight construction opens to doors to many new product lines. Vehicle protection or possibly a chalk or dry erase board for a classroom that can be deployed during active shooter scenario
Great video! 👍 I personally would use this over steel because of weight alone. I workout with both plates - 16lbs of armor (pushups/squats) and I can't imagine wearing this rig in harsh terrain all day trekking. No thanks!
Yes, I saw the scorpion level lll, I have a set of composition plates but only rated .44 mag, also have ar500 steel for serious stuff and UHMWPE hard plates rated lllA+ for .308, .556 and .762. Hope I never need them.
I need some of these because I'm not in operator shape and the steel plates are so heavy that a 30 minute range session just kills my back. I used to work in the plastics industry and got a kick out of shooting many different types of plastic. The Lexan brand polycarbonate was so tough that bullets would bounce off of it. Problem was though that after so many rounds it would get brittle and break apart.
The "Lexan poly" could work for me, after taking one shot I sure as hell would try to be some place different before taking anymore! I used to work in composites on aircraft, we sure worked up some toxic crazy brew epoxy's to apply with carbon fiber and some of the aramid fiber stuff. It took several washings to get the smells out of stuff!
Their ceramic plates catching 30-06 ap is pretty impressive
Dyneema is the way to go level III++ for the same thickness a level 3 is only 3/4" and you don't need padding the defimation on the back is very minimal. I shot one at point blank range 7.62 fmj not 50 feet the distance that is required by N.I.J. to certifie level III, still no penetration. I've used this material since the early 2000 and we were doing as someone mentioned in a post below hybrid model with blends of metal, dyneema and Kevlar sold a bunch overseas. Also dyneema doesn't have a shelf life the problem with plastic like that plate is similar to Kevlar when it gets wet the material will break down and even if it's sealed as person wears it the plate goes thru different temperatures changes and eventually, effectively, small amounts of mositure begin to form inside the the the plate, and so the material starts to break down. This is why all vest that are made of Kevlar have a manufacturing dates because they only have a 7-year shelf-life where it is only guaranteed it will stop whatever threat level they are graded at. Back somewhere in the mide 2000 out in California a new armoring company opened up and they rushed through all of the N.I.J. testing on this new plastic material they had developed got a contract with several of the police departments and only a couple of years later the the vest's that were level 2 couldn't even stop a 22 Cal. several officers lost their lives and others were injured there was a big lawsuit. If anyone is interested hit me up and I will be glad to help.
Dyneema is just a brand name of UHMWPE.
@@TWANGnBANG - I know, however most people who are not as in involved in the industry might not, so I used the brand name because others might recognize it the secret to better levels of protection is compression we take the material form it then compress it, a new material I'm very excited about is graphene there is a company in Iceland that is working on mass production so to hopefully lower the cost and make affordable to use in armoring applications, I'm sorry I didn't mention in my earlier post, but I like your channel and way you go about explaining different subjects in this industry when I first got involved way back at the beginning of 2000 I was amazed at how many people believed that the shoot outs on TV and the movies where close to being real, and so the term *bullet proof* was an actual thing where in the realm of ballistics it is resistance and to what level of resistance that is needed. My main product is glass and offering affordable protection for bomb blast and ammunition protection. Keep up the good work.
You misspoke. The Level 3 NIJ standards test protocol only requires .308 hits. Level 3 plates are not tested against 5.56/.223 at all. That's why AR500 Armor.com released a series of Level 3 + plates because it was discovered that M193 at point blank can defeat normal level 3 plates.
Testing of the new M855A1 round which is not designated as AP can easily defeat Level 3 armor as well. The only sure way to protect yourself is getting a Level 4 plate if you think a threat from the U.S. government is likely.
These have been tested to stop all that I said.
If that’s true then why didn’t AR500.com designate them as NIJ Level 3 + like their steel offerings?
3+ can stop penetrators. They list what it’s rated to stop and at what velocity right on the page for this plate. Just click and see for yourself.
Argentum this plate acts like a sponge soaking up energy on the initial impact topping normal “ standard rounds” but the secondary piercing ability that’s inside m855, Black tip.308 will carry on through as it discards its lead/copeer shell . It can stop m193 even tho it’s lvl3 and not lvl3+ however this plate won’t stop m855 green tip penetrators like a hard armor lvl3 plate will due to that small pice of steel inside it. Basically this plate like UBER soft armor. Definitely cool if you just want to buy 1 plate to put in your everyday backpack Incase an emergency happens at a mall or concert ect
Argentum also there is no NIJ rating for “ LVL3+” that’s just an industry term that can change meaning from company to company
I'll keep this in mind when I become a scuba assassin.
Reminds me of Vietnam frag armor. About 150 green garbage bags layered together to stop frag.
I do use home made armour in my back plates. Pdhe. Plus steel and ceramics. Maybe more effective than the front..hope I never have to find out
I am curious, where might I purchase a "Tactical Bathtub"? ... uh, asking for a "Friend".
On an unrelated side note: When my unit was patrolling the irrigated farmlands IVO Taji, Iraq (think Central Valley of California, with irrigation canals everywhere), I was ground guiding our HMMWV one night across a small bridge over a canal (using AN/PVS-14 night vision monocular), I managed to tumble backwards into a MUCH LARGER (and DEEPER) canal.
I suddenly found myself underwater at the bottom of said canal. It was PITCH BLACK, even with my Nods, and I had around 75 lbs. of gear strapped to me (IBA vest, 13 magazines of 5.56 ammunition, radio, grenades, an M-4 rifle, binoculars, strobe light, chem lights, helmet, and pretty much the kitchen sink thrown in for good measure, back then I was a Pack Mule). There was NO WAY I was going to "Swim" to the surface, and this was before our body armor was equipped with the Quick Ditching ripcords of the later models (probably installed because others had drowned in similar fashion).
Luckily, I'm from Florida, and had spent a LOT of time training in Water Confidence Drills. So even in cold, pitch black water, with 75 lbs. of gear strapped to me, I had the presence of mind to feel the bottom and notice that it was sloped. I literally CRAWLED on my hands and knees upwards until I found the surface and air to breath. Afterwards I sat shivering like a damn fool (winter in Iraq, there was snow on the ground) in the back of our truck for the rest of the patrol, and tried not to think about all the Bio-Hazards such canals in Iraq contain.
My losses that night were a flooded out digital camera, and a modest amount of pride having fallen ass over tea kettle into the abyss. But it could have been MUCH WORSE. I really could have used floating SAPI plates that night...
SSG. U.S. Army (Medically Retired) Infantry / Sniper / SOF Intel (SOT-A), multiple tours
That is terrifying. Glad you're OK.
Lol. Instead of 'Yoo Heiij Emm Double-You Pee Eee', just call it Dyneema.
Still the best (literal) breakdown vid of this type of rifle plate on YT, thanks man..
Dyneema is a brand name. It’s like calling all off-road vehicles “jeeps.”
I'm into bangen and may soon be into twangen . So I subbed.
Great video! Never seen this before! I will actually wear this armor.
If only high quality graphene could be produced in large enough quantities to make plates. It would pretty much take over the body armor market.
Light floats multiple shott wont splatter... Great armour... Heard you can make your own armour from fiber glass blankets and resin with preasure clamps....
you are a good salesman.....presenting costs/benefits in a easy to follow format. This is great for the frontal body mass hit but what about the flesh exposed to hot lead....anything for that?
The knights of England knew all about ballistic armour they made it from lambs wool, loosely woven with animal sinews and silk woven in to it, they also invented thermal insulation at the same time, light weight, warm, body armour, that was 400 years back,
I accidentally noticed uhmw wss quite resistant to penetration and wondered if i would see this eventually. It seems like a combination of three materials would combine multiple benefits.
They must have forgot to include the free tube of AR500 AsstroPlate jelly, that also comes in handy on those lonely nights when its just you your body armor an AR10 and Rosey palms😜 hehe
can helmet made of these plastic ?
Awesome semi auto bolt action! Must be like one of them "ghost" guns
I really can work a bolt fast.
TWANGnBANG love your vids, keep them coming!
Wouldn't the suppressor slow down the rounds
Only if it comes with back up .30 Caliber Magazine Clips... otherwise No Bueno!
sinformant Theres a cut in the video after the first shot dipshit.
Good work on floating armor and light weight.
I like this tech... Could be useful in a backpack setup for students and every day walk around gear. The first company that makes a Jansport insert wins...
Just last week with all the take your AR.BS,I took mine out to shoot I carried 1 mag + 5 rds fed 5.56 and 5 Rem .223. When I got to the spot I shoot (there always bottles) I got some targets and licked up a 8 inch pvc pipe that was about a ft long. I shot the mag & loaded the 5 red of .223 and shot the pvc pipe at about 15 yards(the reason I wanted to shoot is because I wasn't sure about my sight piture ive had trouble with the fixed sights) I shot the 5 rds .223 and didn't even k nock pipe over then shot the 5.56 and it moved every shot but never went over. After I was done I walked back to it and the .223 barely scratched the surface as far as I could tell the bottom part of the pipe had 4 indents about 1/16 and a hole that just clipped the side but that one hole didnt go all the way threw. I know that pipe has been on that road for 3 years in the sun and what little bit of winters we've had. If Nobody believes it I will go get the damn pipe and show pictures to anybody. I was honestly shocked.
it’s not that confusing, i mean lexan and bullet proof glass has plastics in it, lots of plastics aren’t even seen as “plastics” but it’s a great idea to stop bullets with plastic, you could still have a steel plate backing the plastic armor
I just realized that I have been subscribed to this channel for years. Yet I have never seen the actual videos in my subscription feed. RUclips politics...
This is good stuff for guys like me who do armed security best protection for the price. Now if im going in to battle it dragon scale all the way
AR 500 Body Armor is quality at an affordable price. Their level IIIA soft armor is light weight and comfortable.
Very cool. I would definitely buy this body armor.
Why not have a sheet of very hard but very thin steel in front of the UHMWPE stack? The steel is not there to stop anything, it is there to break or blunt penetrators so it can be stopped by the polyethylene stack.
Having suffered through being in a river over my head while wearing body armor. All I can say is I can't wait for the level 4/5 protection. Swimming is just no fun with body armor
Level 5? Is that some classified space force shit?
Between that, GOST, and stacking level 3 steel, I dunno.
When i worked at a planer they had special type's of plastics that they ran chains on it didn't wear out. If a pice broke off and got tossed into the chipper as scrap it would rage hell for about an hr till it got hammered into oblivion. It was a yellow plastic about a inch thick .
if you go on a boat with a PC make sure it has quick release drawstring if you have no flotation device.
Is UHMWPE effected my high heat? For instance if I leave it in my car in the summer. Seems I remember hearing something about that but not sure.
That is a problem with soft armor but not the hard armor.
Thanks! At that sale price this is very appealing!
Supposedly the saying goes "If you wouldn't shut yourself in said high heat environment you shouldn't leave your PE armor there". PE can be damaged by continued exposure to high heat.
Hundreds of degrees more than a human can survive kind of heat, yes. Continuously, too. I know the polyethylene business. You're NEVER going to affect the integrity of that armor at anything less than 150F, no way, ever. You would need direct heat at more than 400F to do this, or a continuous heat to make it pliable at at least 250F.
Yes, in car temperatures in Arizona and other warmer climates can easily reach temperatures to compromise UHMW. On a 120 degree day, the average in-car temperature will reach 168-170 degrees after 90 minutes. Even in a more normal place, a 100 degree day will still reach 150 degrees.
"This Ultralight plate is manufactured on an ISO-certified production line, but you should know that the ballistic performance of all Polyethylene may be adversely affected, or permanently reduced, by prolonged exposure to ambient temperatures below ~ MINUS 15°F ( - 26 °Celsius) and over 150 °F (65 ° Celsius)."
What if you put a thin but hard plate of aluminum between the plastic and the cushion? That would reduce the amount of bulge that pushed against your body.
.... So if we add a thin metal layer can we get this in ODST black and mjorlnir green? Asking for a friend.
thanks , interesting. armor selection sometimes complicated. 👍🇺🇸
the padding is likely what creates positive bouyancy and the armor itself is neutral
A bandsaw cutting out 90* sections would have been great to showcase penetrating bullets