Will Steel Body Armor Kill You?! 

Watch the full test here. Every shot on the plates. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-J6TqBgkvE1g.html

Thank you for providing non-veteran average civilians, like myself, a reliable option for protecting ourselves. You are helping us stay independent and self reliant when the government is telling us to sacrifice freedom for safety.

I’d always prefer the faint possibility of some bullet fragments than the definite possibility of a bullet in my chest.

Jake, if after 20 hits you're not thinking to get "the F outta there", perhaps "steel v ceramic" isn't the top internal conversation to be having?

I also love that tactical advice that if you find yourself being shot 20 times in the plate your ought to get uh… out of the way!

I've used ceramic and kevlar professionally (aka: it's been issued to me), but, never steel. At first, I was going to get the ceramic like I'm used to, but, started thinking about the multi-hit capability of the steel. Here's my thinking (and no, I'm not saying I'm correct. Just my opinion and I could be wrong)... If you're using it professionally hitting targets or on a SWAT/Tactical Team, the lightweight benefits of ceramic makes sense to me. Those raids are "normally" not that long and drawn out (I know things don't always go to plan), and if you do end up getting hit in your ceramic plates (and you survive. Kinda important), you can get new plates once you're back on base, back at your department, etc. However, in a SHTF scenario for the everyday citizen, you're not likely to have the option of replacing your compromised plates. Obviously, I don't want to take a hit at all, but, if I take a hit to my ceramic plates after society has collapsed or if WW3 kicks off (ya know, things be looking sketchy nowadays), I don't have a department/agency or a supply unit that can replace my now compromised ceramic plates, and I doubt I'm going to be able to order any new ones online. This is where I think the multi-hit capability of steel plates (that are properly made and coated) would be beneficial, especially if you have your plates in a kevlar sleeve to help the frag-coating even more. Again, just food for thought. I don't think either one is "wrong" for someone to get. Which is why last night, I finally ordered my first set body armor. I ordered the AR600 Level 3+ Body Armor With BattleVest Plate Carrier Package. I also ordered some trauma pads, an IFAK V3 kit, and a R3S mag pouch, but, that clearly has nothing to do with the armor topic.

This is exactly why I buy from you. This elevates you above the rest, among so much other stuff you do. Thank you! 👊🏼

I’m becoming a MASSIVE fan of this channel and this company.

Man, I want to say the SAPI plates we were issued in '04-'05 were ceramic over steel. They were super SUPER heavy, think I estimated around 40lbs for my kit! If I was on my back, I felt like a turtle with my limbs flailing around. Had to roll sideways onto my hands and knees to stand up. Good to see the industry advancing since then.

You guys have a lot of haters online. I'm glad you are putting them to rest with these videos. Keep it up. Not only are you guys proving that your product is legit, but you are educating folks who have clearly consumed false information or misunderstood the content they've watched. Glad to have local folks fighting the good fight. I recently bought my first carrier with AR600 steel plates from Tacticon. Videos like this are what keep my confidence high in this company and why I will be a return customer.

I like the brutal honesty coupled with facts. Nice way of putting other manufacturers on notice as well. Bringing back integrity to the consumer is why you have my support.

So glad I found your channel/company a month ago. Its nice to see a company with good affordable products that back it up with informative content... Aaaaaand can make me laugh my ass off.

I enjoy your willingness to dive into details.

You guys give me PSA vibes. Loving it. Keep up the good work!

Great video, thanks for the conformation. I bought your 10x12 3+ steel frag coated plates before they were certified,, only because I have complete confidence in everything you sell! Keep it up

Seriously love all the work you guys do, and love your products just as much. Keep it going!

Thanks for this video. When researching which type of plate I wanted I chose your steel plates. Not because of cost but because of how well they hold up. I trust them so much I bought two more plate carriers, one for each of my sons

I recently snagged a carrier and plates from one of your recent sales. I’ve already written a review on your site, but thank you again for providing a great product at a great price point. Hopefully I never need it, but better to have it and not need it than really wish I had it.

Great video Jake. This among many other things is why I support you and your company.

As an owner of the steel from this company along with the compression pads and the elite plate carrier, If I've taken 30 rounds to the chest that would induce enough "splash to come out the bottom to cut up my legs I wasn't going to need my legs in the first place. The only major downside to steel is its weight. But that's what we train for right?

New customer here, I bought a very well priced Optic though, not your manufactured Armor. I very much like the attitude/mind-set of the company. Doing the 2in. outer edge on your plates is a perfect example! Well Done!!! If your scope tracks... I'm coming back for a couple of your plate-carrier combos!

Thank you for being precise, to the point, without hem hawing around. A nice change of pace. You get a sub.

Just bought a new carrier and plates from you today. Stoked to get it.

Right on for the honest info and review, and putting your neck on the line shooting your own product

Thank you for finally putting a plate into a carrier unlike so many others. I got a carrier and plates from a guy who sales your products in my state. Thanks for making affordable options

Thanks for being an honest manufacturer.. when looking at armor, weights are a big factor for me. I’ll take a look at your product line.

Great information,awesome channel guys!!

Holy smokes, an honest and forthright video! Slow clap for objective information. Three cheers! Ya'll should do more of this.

Ahh this is refreshing. Was so tired of seeing the hate on steel armor. This really puts it to bed. I have a coating build up on my plates but will be adding a spall sleeve as a failsafe.

You Guys/Tacticon are fkn awesome. I got my first 3 or 4 items from you guys and they are awesome. Getting ready to order another plate carrier and some plates, the 500 bundle

Thank you for being honest people I found one of your bags on Amazon then found your website and yt channel and have been hooked ever since, turned all my friends onto your products and am getting armor when I get paid, you guys need the elite plate carrier on the ar600 bundle :(

This company has THE best customer service I have ever had the pleasure to deal with. Keep it up because in the end, that is what keeps your customers coming back! Love the line (paraphrasing) “ if you’re getting shot 20 times in the plate, you need to get the fuck out of the way”.

Love y’all’s gear! Awesome plate carries and bags

I think I’m about ready. This is a great video full of information.

I only recently discovered your channel, good stuff.

Good afternoon Y’all! First, thanks for being a true company….. 100 % backing your stuff! I have one of your carriers and steel plates, and I have all the faith in them! Thanks for putting out quality stuff for us, you and your company needs more thanks from us! Take care and my best to all of you!!

The best video on RU-vid about plates. Thank you for posting!!!

Remember a while back for a long time I was throwin a lot of comments at ya bout makin somethin like this cause I honestly had my doubts so I definitely do appreciate ya doin this video

Love what you guys are doing with social media including your Instagram. I've also bought multiple sets of armor from your company and will continue to do so. My only counter that I would raise is who is actually running slick plate carriers? Anybody wearing a plate carrier is typically at a minimum carrying six magazines of ammo as well as a tourniquet and usually some other type of gear around the front of their body armor. So the issue of bullet splash or spall in my opinion is almost a non-issue in that if you take a round you most likely will have something blowing up around your body. I'm a firm believer in steel plates but also see the value of plates without a buildup coat for the simple fact that no build up coat saves you around 1 lb on your plate carrier front and back. If you throw in side plates, there's about another 1 lb between the two side plates. Personally, knowing that I'm going to have items all over the front of my plate carrier that will explode if ever shot, I'd rather take the weight savings as 3lbs, while not seeming like much, definitely adds up.

Thank you for sharing. I’ve bought armor and other products from you. 100%satisfied!!! I’m picking up some more items today. My father served 20 years in the Air Force. I try to support veteran owned companies whenever possible. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!

I bought a set of both steel and composite from you guys just to have options . And my wife had to have set as well. That and that few lbs lighter makes a difference for my “non service “ connected knee pain . Goes well with that pleasant ring my head that I would be lonely without. I do run with my steel setup majority of the time just to prove to myself I still got it .

Thankyou I have more knowledge on this subject and thankyou for becoming the most reliable company that actually test prove their product and makes me feel safe in trusting my instincts in these reliable products

Best video about the subject, thank you.

And... by the way i really enjoy your videos it nice that some people still have a sence of humor.. and i am getting more and more T.A supplies for the family and myself thank you for that

Great info. Good work.

Thanks for doing these tests

Just bought a Level iii+ plate from AR500 and opted for the build-up fragmentation coat. I was a little apprehensive at first, but this video helped to assuage that apprehensiveness. Thank you for this great info!

Just ordered my vest yesterday, cant wait to get it ty

Excellent content!

Thank you for all that you do.

Scientific process? Gives me the warm and fuzzy inside and out Great vid and always enjoy your content! Keep it up!

Finally some honesty! Thank you!

I appreciate these videos from you and how you break it down you have my business and my families business

Thank you! Great video and great info!

Just bought your plate carrier and plates bundle super awesome stuff. Already want another set.

Great video , highly educational .

Big man thank you sir for summing up the results.

Thanks for the info... I have more investigating to do now

Amazing information. Great company and great prices made for the average person. Thank you !

I learned a lot, thank you.

Love your content, keep it up.

Very informative, thank you!

Man some companies just sit an rip this lol. thanks for teaching me about spall and splash. I don't have plates yet but it's still to good to learn. I will use splash in my videos instead of spalling when shooting steel.

Thank you for doing what you all do. Happy 4th of July.

Dude you run a company how it should. Super impressed with your NIJ cert congrats. Im buying from you guys.

Thanks Jake!

Solid video!

Very happy with every piece of Tacticon gear I’ve got. Keep it up folks! Do you guys do (or plan to) helmets?

Good stuff good company. I run both as well. Splash bag always a great extra piece of mind

Well this vid just made me more comfortable owning tacticons steel plates as my first ever armor. Even the carriers are nice af. I still need to get me some trauma pads but im glad i found your company. Just wish i had a money tree out back to buy more stuff lmao

I also have a Kevlar collar, for any splash in the throat.

Not that I ever doubted it but feel even more confident now about my ar500 level 3+ 🤘

You're a talented mediator.

This was an awesome video and incredibly informative. I have to admit that I have been one of those people concerned with fragmentation, and I was looking into getting some ceramic plates. Now that I know that as long as I have good quality steel, I'll be fine. Weight doesn't really bother me, and I'd rather be able to take more rounds, if I have to. That being said, if I'm taking that many rounds, then I fucked up somewhere in the past, and I need to gtfo.

These are two individuals I would get a beer with. Cheers, gentlemen.

I own Tacticon steel and I trust my life with it, and I don't plan on hangin around gettin mag dumped on. Thanks guys, I love your gear.

Great info

Well back in my day we said arterial bleeding toughened you up.....😆 Good video and good info presented in a clear and logical fashion. Nice.

I always send my friends to your company for armor great stuff

7:16 my favorite joke! Lol 😂😂

Well ya sold it to me gents. Good job being so open.

Great video

Youre guyses no bullshit approach got me interested and has kept my poverty-stricken ass geared up ready go to thank you brothers!🤙

Thank you for the informative content. Really makes me want to purchase from your company. I'll know exactly what I'm getting. I'm smarter within the first thirty seconds of watching one of your videos.

You guys are the only company that ive ever seen who actually goes out and tests their Armor. You are the most stand up no BS owners and i greatly appreciate you taking the time and spending the money to test armor and to show the world.

For steel, it would be nice to have some kevlar protection in the top half of the carrier to protect the neck. Ya it would be a lot more expensive but I'd buy it if running steel. Old breastplates back in the day utilized a v shaped ridge to stop and redirect arrowheads (from 100lb +yew longbows) that deflected upward toward the neck after impacting the armor. A similar v-shaped ridge would probably also work against splash heading to the neck.

I love my 3+ ar600. The ceramic we had in iraq that was multi hit rated ,I believe, was good for 3-5 rounds. The government made me fought in combat with that, and I was grateful.

And thank you for what you do

And if you have some Kevlar just laying around, you could put it has a cover on top of your steel plates too. To help against splatter too.

"I am in the business of stopping holes" 🤣

Took advantage of your recent sale. Added kevlar sleeves.

Love the explanation, not sure these “other companies” would be so honest about it.

Well I appreciate this as a former us marine I like it when it’s sweet and simple have you tested dropping ceramic plates to see if that affects the over all durability of the plates ? And if you haven’t could you it’s a big reason I’m a steel guy myself I can’t see the use of something like a plate that wouldn’t be usable after a few drops or “light” impacts like diving into the ground

Me and some friends of mine were at a USPSA competition. We had a Ricochet from a pistol come directly back and catch my friend in the neck. Luckily enough of us were there with medkits to take care of it until the ambulance got there. Yes it did hit his artery and he was very close to death even though we were only 10 minutes away from the emergency room. This incident did make the local news

I wear steel plates, i love them i dont care about the weight. Get in shape and the weight of the equipment that can save ur life wont matter. GREAT VIDEO!🙏🏾

Ceramics cool for modern day use when you can buy replacements etc. But for a shtf scenario when resupply of armor is nigh unlikely the longevity of steel would be better imho

I love tacticon. I’m so sick of people fanboying over brands that are break the bank expensive. I have a red dot that I purchased years ago from you guys and it works beautifully. I love it. Keep doing what your doing

Just bought kevlar armor sleeves for steel. Generally less expensive than paying for a coating.

Love my Tacticon setup and at a great value also...!!!!

Just bought some of the level 3+ steel plates. Just know that if i die while wearing these from splash, im coming to haunt you, lol.