Steel Vs. Ceramic Body Armor - Separating Fact From Fiction

[@danielrumble11]

I have used both. The steel I own and the ceramic was issued thru the military. You are so correct about the pros and cons of both. The thing I love about the ceramic is how much it weighs compared to the steel but I love the durability of the steel. Great video as always sir keep it up,and stay safe.

[@Manokanalasify]

A few things to add. When we were in service, we had steel plates. The level of fragmentation depends on the type of the bullet. The bullet basically explodes into powder and small droplets. It's not too dangerous, but it's nasty as hell. All the coating are bullshit. We used to take two 2nd class kevlar sheets/plates and make a sandwich kevlar/steel/kevlar. First kevlar layer stops the fragmens second kevlar layer is for extra safety and it acts as a shock damping element. If your plate carrier has three compartments you can put it as it is. If it has only one, you can tape the sandwich with tape and use it. Heavy? Yes.

[@Arcanechainmoible]

Had me literally cracking up around 10:30. Great point! Good man. Thanks for your video.

[@thesouthernpatriot24]

PERFECT video man literally a perfect video!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was almost a victim of the internet GI Joes debate of steel and ceramic. I started to second guess myself and my purchases. This is the information I needed to here and at the perfect timing too. A common sense approach. The best answer yet “if your getting hit multiple times, you have done something seriously wrong”....lol. Thanks again man.

[@RTTGunsGear]

I'm happy it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@FreedomKat]

Such a great and honest explanation! We are of the same mind on this issue! Spread the love of steel and ceramic and be of a prepared mind.

[@rich4150]

Love the statement that if you're getting hit so many times in the same place you are probably doing something more wrong than your choice of Armor! This is by far the best vid on Armor I have seen!

[@highdonny]

I bought steel because i just didn't want to spend $800 every couple years

[@noahmcdonald5208]

Ceramics don’t go bad that quickly that’s just when the warranty expires, if u take care of them they’ll last longer

[@MikeMcclendon1377]

Lol... Exactly

[@evanblankenship2689]

@@noahmcdonald5208 yup, always do the tap and torque test 👍

[@alefdesign1990]

Funny the non steel fan boys never wanna talk about backface deformation

[@MikeMcclendon1377]

Thank you for making this video and putting the actual facts out there. I've been seeing a certain company who post on Facebook often advertising their brand get laughed at by people and that he's saying what you just said about dying from wearing their armor. I would have guessed what those knuckleheads said and bought that brand of armor myself and I love it. I do my exercises with it and thankfully I haven't got to use it for his true intention yet. Again, thank you for this video and keep up the Great work!

[@ProactiveDefenseLLC]

My only negative on ceramic would be the golf or baseball size back face deformation.

[@jhonsauceda6024]

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we just want beskar armor or at the very least a helmet like Bobba Fett that isn't modular.

[@kenofken9458]

I'd rather have the juice to hire somebody like Bobba Fett. In the fictional and real worlds, one pattern you see consistently is that the people really in charge of things rarely ever have to put themselves in the line of fire.

[@sam9067-p8s]

Stuff blocks lightsabers! Only beaten by the mysterious invisible plot armor you see on Finn :D

[@dankim7488]

This is a very well put together and informative video. Ive been looking into getting my first body armor and of course i too have been bombarded by people saying never get steel. I remained skeptical of their hysteria but i still found it wise to do extensive research about their claims. For me steel has more benefits to me than ceramic. And all the pros youve mentioned are it. And then some. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@RTTGunsGear]

Thank you! I also have honest videos shooting both steel and ceramic that backs up a lot of what I've said and debunks basically all of the scare tactic anti-steel maniacs out there. Again..thank you!

[@brucelambert344]

Do you have bag for Your plates ans stop fragmentation?

[@Narsuitus]

Excellent comparison video. I have them both and love them both. Hope I am never in a situation where I have to use them.

[@toxicgunzandgamez465]

Damn was that a shot at PSA 😂😂😂

[@caveman8178]

Great video. I have both but prefer ceramic simply for the wieght.

[@kenofken9458]

One question on the ceramic: How much stock do you place in the 5-year limit on the plates? It seems to me like it may be more of a liability limit than a true operational one. To the extent it is the latter, I would think it assumes daily wear. For the many of us likely to keep plates in a nice climate controlled environment 95-100% of the time, are they really likely to lose ballistic capability at the 6 or 10-year mark?

[@RTTGunsGear]

It is more of a liability limit rather than an operation or function limit. That's not to say that degradation isn't a thing though. But yes, assuming you've taken care of your plates, the "limit" can be more of a gray fuzzy line. My ceramic plates basically live in my truck and are worn 6 to 10 times per month. So mine will degrade faster than many.

[@lyfandeth]

A different company told me the problem is that even on the shelf, the adhesive used to bond plastic or fabric layers will break down and separate.

[@SellswordCC]

I wear have ceramic and steel plates. I think it'd crazy how people say that steel is a liability. It may be older tech but it was used to save the lives of Rangers in the past. That works for me.

[@saltyshellback]

I probably have enough snack cakes on me that I don't need body armor 😋

[@abigailsaoirsefinnegan]

Currently have RMA plates. But I bought those because they're level 4 and they were $300 for 2 plates and a condor MOPC with free shipping. (Back in 2019)

[@hvyduty1220]

First time here loved your neutrality loved hearing you talk the truth about both I watched all the videos on steel watch the videos on ceramic super job

[@RTTGunsGear]

Thank you!

[@toejam7606]

They expire, the drywall inside breaks down. At least my aliexpress one did.

[@Cameroon110]

Good video as always Matt o been looking for a good plate thanks Matt

[@RTTGunsGear]

Thanks! There's a bunch of links in the description. But there's a ton of options out there.

[@billtravis100]

Clear concise info. Thanks!

[@Brett235]

I am looking to purchase my first body armor. People tell me to stay away from steel because of the spall. I'm not sure what to purchase.

[@RTTGunsGear]

Here's some very nice ceramic armor bit.ly/3ZZfecb

[@priscomatro2490]

Thznk you for sharing.

[@JMAAD]

i am sooooooooooooo going to buy the plate bags.

[@RTTGunsGear]

I'll be getting 4 of them soon hopefully.

[@montielscustoms2648]

Thank you, you're very appreciated. Perfect explanation and breakdown 👌

[@isaiah2622]

Great video lots of information that I needed answered! I'm in need of body armor.

[@JMAAD]

#FACTS ...............# AR500 Steel plates for my money BECAUSE where are you going to get new Ceramic plates from when SHTF ? #LongTermPreparedness #SHTF

[@kenofken9458]

It probably depends on the scope and nature of what's actually hitting the fan, so to speak. We tend to think of SHTF only in terms of some global civilization-ending collapse, some sort of instant total reversion to medieval times. Nothing's impossible of course, but chances are far greater that it would be something very different from that. Something is always in the fan blades somewhere in the world at any given time, and even in failed states, the market for weapons and other military hardware is always functional. Supply always finds demand, and if economic and manufacturing systems came apart at a wider scale, someone somewhere will find themselves in control of a warehouse full of un-issued ceramic plates, anything else you can think of, and some things you can't. They would want something you have, or something a middle man has who trades with you.

[@sam9067-p8s]

If SHTF ever happens they'll likely make body armor illegal and seize it along with firearms. Look up New York's S9407B or Congress's failed attempt Responsible Body Armor Possession Act.

[@kolinmartz]

10:03 THIS. Thank you. This is what I say every-time someone want to start the steel vs ceramic argument. It’s personal preference. Like it shouldn’t have to come to their more fatal cons. Because at that point, you’ve fucked up bad. If this is a singular event. You’re fucked. That’s on you at that point and whatever plate you’re wearing didn’t matter at that point. You’re just in a situation you have no business being in at that point. You have to have zero sense of situational awareness, or cover and concealment, or both for someone to shoot you multiple times in one go with either plates. If someone can take their time and shoot a nice tight shot group on your ceramic plate or make you spall liner fail, they have enough time to shoot you up where you’re not protected. You’d have to be sitting still for either plates to fail. You did not study the ways of the onion.

[@georgepopescu1327]

There are quite a lot of videos on youtube showing tests done with AR500 Steel with factory coating and the results are actually scary. I have no dog in this fight, I don't sell such things but If I would wear steel plates I won't trust the rubber coating on that plates at all, i would buy an aditional antispalling sleeve made with kevlar

[@grahamhancock4904]

Yeah dingleberry, that's the basic anti rust coating. The actual build up coating will catch as many rounds as ceramic is rated for before failure and rounds passsing thru

[@dimsuminab0x]

All depends on the application, if you're running and gunning then yeah ceramic is preffered, but if you're training or home defense steel is more than enough.

[@Krymoff]

the price of Freedom is constant alertness and willingness to fight back. many people joining territorial defense forces of Ukraine without any basic protective gear and body armor and as a patriots they're fighting for freedom even being shot ... is anyone here willing to help with SAPI plates level 4 to protect Ukrainian people's lives???

[@robertvondarth1730]

Plates (and shields ) can be made from fiberglass welding cloth and epoxy resins. You can add porcelain tiles to the face as well.

[@hvyduty1220]

Well said

[@SIDR93]

Hi!! Deeply appreciate this video. As I’m going back into Ukraine for the third trip. I was using local gear before and am researching what to get for myself. Excellent point on the breakable in dropping the ceramic. One question. The side parts of vest. A mix? Just that I’m only 5’ and steel is soooo heavy. Plus unloading truckloads of relief.

[@RTTGunsGear]

Side plates add weight and bulk and can hurt mobility. However, they also add protection. I don't run them, but it's going to depend on your perceived threat and what you believe the likelihood is of getting engaged from all sides.

[@SIDR93]

@@RTTGunsGear I’m more worried about shrapnel from missiles and the fallout that ensues than direct fire. Good to know about the mobility. Just felt rather naked on the sides when wearing normal plate on front and back.

[@matthewriegner5180]

Ceramic shelf life I've heard is not a thing. That's just the warranty period. However, I always imagined that was because either 1. Because likelihood of having a drop or damage from wearing time period or 2. Because the adhesion/adhesive holding layers together may have a higher likelihood for deterioration assuming wearing/usage/temp changes. Ceramics are also made from different materials than your bathroom tile and not sure if that has a shelf life to it. Not sure if it's real or not.

[@RTTGunsGear]

Ceramic tiles for something like your bathroom or kitchen are a bit different ceramic, but they're also sealed from moisture from the manufacturer or sealed after installation. Everything has a shelf life on a long enough timeline. Steel armor can even "go bad" (get rusty) if improperly stored. Which means it loses some of its capabilities.

[@jimmygriswold9258]

Couldn’t you wrap the steel plate in some 3/8 Polly tubing split down the side, to prevent it from sloshing in the carrier? Or a Kevlar pillow case ? I’m new to body armor, just thought a fresh pair of eyes might help!

[@RTTGunsGear]

One could do 100 different things to mitigate that. You could wrap the edge in duct tape as well. For this video, it's not so much about the what could be. But what is. Thanks though.

[@brucelambert344]

Do you have a adress who make this plates and foi you have name of bah who makes plates Steel for no fragmentations thank very mutch

[@shamblershamfam3597]

First video of yours I have watched. I appreciate you NOT being a high speed, former military gear douche.

[@DesertTactical]

That comment on your video looks veeeeery familiar, Matt!🤣🤣🤣. Great video explaining the pros and cons to both. I run plates with the spall coating in a spall bag. Works for me. I wonder if the dude with $10k Nods Gave this video the first dislike! Haha. 🤣

[@RTTGunsGear]

That idiot is what spawned this video.

[@DesertTactical]

@@RTTGunsGear oh, I’m sure. As soon as I saw your thumbnail I knew it. 🤣.

[@RTTGunsGear]

@@DesertTactical I just love it when people try to act as an authority on an item because they buy expensive things...that aren't that item. Like that idiot literally said, I own expensive night vision and that's why I know about body armor.

[@DesertTactical]

@@RTTGunsGear 🤣🤣🤣. Facts.

[@speeddemon4579]

Probably a dumb question but I’m pretty new to body armor. I have a Condor Sentry plate carrier with AR500 level 3 shooters cut plates. A subtype curve in front and a flat plate on the back. I’ve seen some people put level 3a soft armor and and trauma pad in with the plate. What are your thoughts on that and how what order would you layer the three in if it is a good idea?

[@RTTGunsGear]

So, if you're buying steel and soft armor, you may as well buy level IV ceramic. If I were to layer soft and monolithic steel armor, I'd put the soft armor on top of the steel. With the trauma pad obviously under all of it.

[@Talishar]

A bigger issue that I see is people pushing cheap ceramics. Cheap ceramics are often nearly as heavy as level III+ steel plates (I saw one cheap certified ceramic plate being only a few ounces lighter than a fully built-up steel plate). The other issue is that the NIJ actually has a lot of leeway on how much of the edge can be ineffective to create the actual effective surface for the rated threat. A lot of the cheaper ceramics push closer to the NIJ allowable which turns a 10x12 shooter's cut into effectively a 6x8 plate. A steel plate is usually effective to the edge but the edge will suffer accelerated coating wear. When I see people hard pushing $120 certified ceramic plates I usually respond with, "you get what you pay for." There's a reason why those ceramics are dirt cheap and it's often the case that they are purely level IV plates and can't take multiple hits, have large dead edge space and heavy as hell.

[@eltenda]

Great video and infos as usual bro I decided to go for ar 500 a few years ago I just need a better plate carrier

[@fredmyers485]

Yeah, spalling is bad but if you take a .308 in the chest, the bruising of you ribs and the turbo load in your shorts are gonna be more pressing issues 🤣. Thanks for the tip on the spall bags.

[@dennisl8657]

Thank You!

[@rayfieldlatson862]

Thank you it makes sense what you saying thank you

[@Jbainbridge5]

Completely serious question, and I'm also a very broad man: why do you wear plates that are generally manufactured, and are there custom sizes?

[@RTTGunsGear]

I don't know what you mean by "generally manufactured."" And there are three basic sizes... 8x10, 10x12, 11x13. I'm sure if you're willing to pay out of the nose, a company somewhere will make a custom set of plates. But I've never heard of it.

[@jaycampbell2332]

lol great job. 👏

[@galatian5]

Question, what makes ceramic armor "expire"? Does it suffer the same effect of kevlar in where the fibers become loser or degrade over time? I'm personally just looking for IIIA plates.

[@grahamhancock4904]

It doesn't expire per say. It's fragile and prone to cracking if dropped and needs to be x-ray around the "expiration" date

[@JSmith-ce2xf]

I'm not taking a position on this, but the argument has been made that ceramic can have an indefinite shelf life, assuming it's rarely used (i.e. for a home defense application).

[@RTTGunsGear]

I think indefinite is a bit of a push. But yes, the lifespan can absolutely be lengthened without use. But long exposure to humidity can still effect the ceramic, even without use. Just like in a very humid environment, even coated steel plates can start rusting.

[@JSmith-ce2xf]

@@RTTGunsGear Thanks for the response. Your analysis certainly makes sense, and it's very clear that there are pros and cons of each type. I also like your recommendations to get the buildup with steel, and that both types can safe your life.

[@MegaChevy65]

In a shtf situation where I need something to last that won't have to be replaced steel would be my choice. Ceramics are nice because of the weight but I can't really tell to much of a difference when I'm wearing either one. I do worry about the back deformation on ceramic plates vs steel though. Broken ribs, internal injury. Should do a test on that. Would like to see the outcome.

[@RTTGunsGear]

Many years ago I did a test with steel plates from Scorpius Tactical. And made a jig with 5/16 wooden dowel rods to represent ribs. Check that out.

[@MegaChevy65]

@@RTTGunsGear I'll definitely have to look for that 👍

[@isaactjones]

Fantastic video! Common sense

[@sakofree]

I am running 11x14 Polyethylene (UHMWPE) plates mostly because of the light weight I had a level III set and later bought a level IV set so I have set up 2 carriers one for an AR15 the other for an AK both with level IV in front and level III in the back

[@RTTGunsGear]

I'll get some UHMWPE plates one of these days. It's just out of my budget for now. Thanks for watching.

[@KJaxPack]

i wonder if i wrapped a steel plate with flex seal tape and then sprayed it with flex seal.

[@RTTGunsGear]

I think Demo Ranch did something like that.

[@BluesStraightFromTheHarp]

I made my own plates using only materials found in a general dollar store, with a spending limit of $15.00. (On a challenge & for fun) These were not expected to stop anything, other then maybe .22 long lol. They were much lighter then AR550+ Would I depend on these in a combat environment, no…hell no! There’s no replacement for the real thing however, I would use them if I had to…absolutely. These plates totally blew us away! Using green scour pads under the mastic truly caught every piece of fragmentation, the common ceramic tiles over the two hard cover books stopped everything listed below easily. So I absolutely believe that flex seal, especially the spray would work well! Try it! Side note, we lit up one plate with 5.56 rounds and absolutely no stopping that speed! Especially at that range. But, it worked great for high caliber hand gun rounds as well as lower caliber eg 9mm FMJ through a 16” barrel. So, LVL IIA perhaps? In synopsis, this plate stopped repeated close range shots of multiple calibers with barely any deformation at the back. We were all totally surprised, nothing made it through! Materials used listed below: 2-1” thick hard cover books, spline to spline, sitting in pan. 2-11”x11” baking pans (books fit into pans after tin snipping baking sheet high sides) as general carriers for the books, one baking sheet per back of plate 9-common counter top style ceramic tiles atop the books. (3 running up the left, 3 up the right side & 3 up the center & atop of all the tiles behind) Adhesive used just to pin down the tiles Tightly wrapped electrical tape around the books, pans and tiles 5-green scour pads atop the wrapped materials above (as secondary anti spall agent) 1- thick coating of duct sealant (as used in HVAC applications) over everything as primary anti spall agent. Finished the experiment with a roll of green colored duct tape to wrap everything, more for looks as it made everything look as one piece. This garbage stopped everything from both hand guns & rifles, starting with .22 lr , .380, 9mm from 16” barrel, 45 acp, .45 long & .44 magnum were shot using only hand guns running FMJ ammo from a distance of 15’. I believe I was trying to mimic realistic distance according to FBI data, which was I think 11’ at the time. All for $12 bucks, some crap laying around the garage, and a fun experiment!

[@robertvondarth1730]

@@BluesStraightFromTheHarp instead of books, use fiberglass welding cloth

[@Commonwealth_Prepper]

Yeah I call bs on that “base coat stops 1-2 rounds of spalling” I’ve seen it will my own eyes and here on KZbin get debunked. No build up coat makes you a walking claymore.

[@RTTGunsGear]

@@Commonwealth_Prepper 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@Ferrus3015]

Question, how does the steel hold up to off axis deflection shots vs ceramic?

[@zachbartlett2829]

No one seems to have a video on this. Its all im looking for

[@j.j.aguilar]

yes it does kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqWZfH96hdF6d8k

[@j.j.aguilar]

@@zachbartlett2829 yes

[@Talishar]

The plate itself would hold up very well, the issue you'll have is ricochets which could bounce that incoming round to somewhere that's not great. The ceramic will catch it somewhat and create a large gouge on really oblique shots but usually wont completely ricochet, although some really oblique shots could end up ricochet off the ceramic plate, cracking it in the process. So ceramics are going to generally be much safer at more off-nominal angles of impact versus steel but at least the steel itself wont physically fail from said shot but the results are not going to be as great for the person getting shot.

[@r1sabotage]

This guy kinda big, looks like he needs a plate for each side of his chess.

[@jamesw7072]

thanks for the laugh. I can't wait for those bullet proof ironman suits to come out.

[@detachmentbravo2-6]

shelf life is a lie its just a warranty . go do the research and you will see ! ceramic it well be good for along time way over 5 years

[@marianocarmona7394]

Steel is better

[@kenofken9458]

There is no ultimate one size fits all solution for anything. It's all trade-offs of one kind or another. I got steel III+ with the full spall coat, and I don't regret getting them, but damned if I'll ever wear the things with any regularity. They're as heavy as sewer lids. There's speculation about whether or not you could get replacement ceramic in future times or events, but I also know the one thing you can't replace at any price then or now is your vertebrae! I don't regret the purchase though. They're cheap and could serve as backups, or sit in a carrier at work as a last-ditch active shooter kit. You could even use them to harden parts of your vehicle or home. My next plates are likely to be UHMWPE. Yeah, they're more expensive and they won't stop the steel-core heavy AP, but they're light enough that I'd actually wear them. On a day to day basis though I consider IIIA to be the way to go. The overwhelming majority of realistic threats I (and probably most American civilians) face are handgun rounds.

[@jameshanna8762]

I went with steel for vehicle ops and stationary duty. If I am patrolling on foot, I won't wear any armor.

[@patwalsh2868]

Hey Buddy, thanks for your input on the differences between different plates, n myths !!! I am about to buy my first set of armor plates, n I’m trying to learn as much as possible !!!! I loved your opinion at the end !! That’s when I hit subscribe, already hit like !!!!! ✌️🍀✨😷💥💥🔫

[@Renaldo135]

I turn your own intro back on you Sir with all due respect. Ceramic DOES NOT HAVE A FIVE YEAR SHELF LIFE at all. That is merely the liability warranty expiration of most companies . No matter if it's five years or ten years ceramic does not "expire"...sure if it get shot you replace it but think of it like a bathroom floor.

[@bricharsstormsmeadowlakesk2653]

Body armor does not expire. Even ceramic. Undamaged it lasts forever. It's ceramic think about that for a minute. It does not deteriorate from time. You just lost all credibility bud. Good luck with your uninformed channel.

[@RTTGunsGear]

It’s funny because you’re wrong and you don’t understand anything really, yet you call me uninformed. You’re as bad as the idiot that tells someone how dumb they are when misspelling everything.