AMI SAPI3 11x14 size plate

[DocGKR]

I am 6 feet tall, wear a 44L coat, and find the 10x12 plates are smaller than ideal for my physique. Larger folks would DEFINITELY need at least an 11x14 plate.

Thankfully, AMI has finally released a larger 11x14 size version of their SAPI3 compressed Dyneema plate. The one we tested weighed in at 4 lbs 5 oz.

Keep in mind that compressed polyethelene armor like the SAPI3 stops all level III threats except M855 “greentip” and M855A1.

The image below shows a 10x12 plate on top of the new 11x14 SAPI3. The larger plate can definitely provide more protection for the aortic arch on bigger folks.

[Reagans_Rascals]

I would be much more interested if they were Level IV, I am a big guy with a 54" chest… and would love to have a bigger plate… but I’ll stick with my smaller Level IV plates for now before I drop down in protection

[chapperjoe]

Does this fit in all standard carriers?

[caporider]

@Reagans_Rascals

I would be much more interested if they were Level IV, I am a big guy with a 54" chest… and would love to have a bigger plate… but I’ll stick with my smaller Level IV plates for now before I drop down in protection

Isn’t NIJ Level IV only tested/rated for single hit protection against 30.06 AP, whereas Level III is tested/rated for multi-hit protection against 7.62 FMJ? I know there are plates advertised as III+ and IV+ but those are not NIJ standards as far as I know. It seems to me that choosing between Level III and Level IV plates is a tradeoff instead of a linear progression from better to best.

[DocGKR]

It fits all standard carriers built for 11x14 plates, it would not fit in a carrier designed for a smaller plate.

Plates carriers are built to fit a specific plate size, for example U.S. military sizing for plates is as follows:

Extra Small - 184 x 292 mm (7¼ x 11½ in)
Small - 222 x 298 mm (8¾ x 11¾ in)
Medium - 241 x 318 mm (9½ x 12½ in)
Large - 260 x 337 mm (10⅛ x 13¼ in)
Extra Large 280 x 356 mm (11 x 14 in)

Thus an 11x14 plate typically needs a standard XL carrier…

[DocGKR]

Reagans Rascals–would you truly be dropping down in protection?

Depends. Many level IV plates are rated to stop ONE hit from a .30-06 AP round. Is that a threat you are facing? If I was going up against a CONUS threat with something like an AK, I’d likely prefer to have a multi-hit level III plate than a single hit level IV, since very few CONUS threats use AP rounds…

[Reagans_Rascals]

@DocGKR

Reagans Rascals–would you truly be dropping down in protection?

Depends. Many level IV plates are rated to stop ONE hit from a .30-06 AP round. Is that a threat you are facing? If I was going up against a CONUS threat with something like an AK, I’d likely prefer to have a multi-hit level III plate than a single hit level IV, since very few CONUS threats use AP rounds…

what if you had a Level IV multi-hit?

also… doesn’t a “single hit” rating for the Level IV’s you are referring to, mean it can withstand a single hit from .30-06 AP… while sustaining multi-hits from a lesser threat such as an AK or 5.56?

I would think that attaching the term single hit, would mean it can withstand a single hit from its highest rated threat, not just from any threat.

Any info would be appreciated

[kdcgrohl]

@Reagans_Rascals

what if you had a Level IV multi-hit?

also… doesn’t a “single hit” rating for the Level IV’s you are referring to, mean it can withstand a single hit from .30-06 AP… while sustaining multi-hits from a lesser threat such as an AK or 5.56?

I would think that attaching the term single hit, would mean it can withstand a single hit from its highest rated threat, not just from any threat.

Any info would be appreciated

I’m interested in this as well. Also, to add to RR’s question, isn’t M855 fairly common in CONUS? Wouldn’t that be a threat to consider as well?

Doc, thank you for any further enlightenment.