US Palm has just released Level IV armor. Does anybody have any opinions on it? Specifications in the advertising are as follows:
Plates $400
AirSave cut, Large [10”x12”] , both front and back plates included
Level IV stand alone ceramic/steel hybrid construction [7.62 APM2]
1/4" foam and .03" poly sealed insert to provide additional drop protection
Sealed edges for durability and lower carrier wear
17.4 lbs. for complete system [2- plates + carrier]
Available in MultiCam, Ranger Green, and Coyote.
Images: They look a lot like the plates reviewed by DocGKR here.
This is an intriguing package, provided it actually provides the level of package it’s advertising. The way the protection level is described does not instill a whole lot of confidence…
While the armor package in this kit has been certified to withstand up to and including 7.62 APM2, it is up to the customer to determine the suitability of this product for use in their particular application and customer assumes all risks associated with such determination. US PALM and SGCUSA do not warranty this armor package for any particular purpose.
I wonder if that’s just lawyer talk, or if it’s a way to cover their butt because the product isn’t up to snuff.
My only concern is the cut. I prefer to always have the SAPI standard cut, so that it will fit a wide assortment of carriers. It can be more difficult to shoot with these air crew style cuts.
Their incompetent lawyer put that in. It is an attempt to avoid the implied warranties found in the Magnuson-Moss warranty act, but the wording used falls short. Also, regardless of any disclaimer of warranties, calling the plates level IV is itself a representation which may override the disclaimer.
In other words, that short passage was not written by the engineer who designed the armor.
The plates being sold by U.S. Palm/OST appear to be recent production Airsave plates made by Simula–these apparently are a bit different in construction than the older Ceradyne Airsave plates we tested that were received from DRMO. As Sinister noted, the Airsave plates are heavy; they are also not an ideal cut or curve for active shooting use.
