Iraqveteran8888 Pits Spartan AR550 Armor Against a 12-Gauge

TFB Staffer
by TFB Staffer

The Target Man’s Spartan AR550 Armor isn’t just tough, it’s tough as nails – or, more accurately, tough as Level III body armor. According to The Target Man, their AR550 has a 10% harder ballistic core than its predecessor, and they’ve done the testing to prove it. Significant research went into the creation of AR550, in fact, the company tested others first, such as AR650, which they found to be too brittle for body armor. Apparently AR650’s BHN (Brittle Hardness) range resulted in fracturing, whereas AR550 is what The Target Man describes as the “sweet spot” BHN. AR550 can withstand the stress created during the manufacturing process as well as the force of higher velocity rounds, including at close range. Better still, these are triple-curved plates, which the company cites as an industry first. On their site you can see the armor go up against XM193s, M855s, and M80s, but if you want to see it pitted against a 12-gauge shotgun, head over to Iraqveteran8888’s Youtube page – or just scroll down, and watch it here.

Specs from The Target Man:

Size: Choose from 8″ x 10″, 10″ x 12″, or 11″ x 14″

Configuration: This armor comes as a pair, meaning you will receive both front and back plates, and optional side plates

Level III+ Side Plates: Choose from either 6″ x 6″ (small) or 6″ x 8″ (large)

Chest Plate Weight (per plate): 8×10 approximately 6.4 lbs, 10×12 approximately 8.1 lbs, 11×14 approximately 9.3 lbs

Side Plate Weight (per plate): 6×6 approximately 2.7 lbs, 6×8 approximately 3.1 lbs.

Thickness: .25″ AR550 plus approximately .25″ coating makes this slim profile plate overall .5-.6″ in total thickness

Visit https://www.thetargetman.com/product/level-iiiadvanced-triple-curve-atc-spartan-ar550-armor/ for a closer look at Spartan AR550 Armor

TFB Staffer
TFB Staffer

TFB Staff, bringing you the latest gun news from around the world for a decade.

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  • Wetcoaster Wetcoaster on Aug 14, 2015

    I hate seeing tests with pedestrian calibres like 12 Ga. Show us some hot .45-70 loads or Nitro Express, magnum rifle calibres or even big handgun calibres like .460 or .500 S&W

    • Wetcoaster Wetcoaster on Aug 15, 2015

      @ I'm not so much interested in the penetration of those big game calibres as the blunt trauma and how much deformation is inflicted on metal trauma plates (and how much damage is sustained by ceramics).

      Admittedly, I'd love to see some .338 LM results too. Those aren't dedicated AP rounds, but as you mention, their pointed form and high energy might do the job anyway in a situation where something like M80 ball would be stopped without trouble.

  • Iksnilol Iksnilol on Aug 16, 2015

    What about those plastic plates that weigh very little? UHMWPE or something it was called. Everybody talks about them not taking heat well but nobody mentions what kind of heat. Also could it be isolated to protect against heat/cold?

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