"The Outfitter for Competition Shooters"

Purchasing Ballistic Armor

Can I own ballistic armor?

We sell to responsible Civilians, Law Enforcement Officers, and Military Personnel who are residents of the United States. We DO NOT sell ballistic armor outside of the United States. Ballistic armor is available to residents of all states except Connecticut. Connecticut residents must be active Law Enforcement or Military and provide necessary credentials.

What kinds of ballistic armor are there?

Ballistic armor can be hard armor such as steel or ceramic plates, or it can be soft armor such as kevlar inserts, In addition, we sell ballistic helmets and can outfit law enforcement agencies with ballistic gear such as shields, pole ladders, and more.

How do I order ballistic armor?

Ballistic armor is very customizable and as such we ask all our customers interested in purchasing call us to place their order. Ordering individual items such as plates, carriers, and accessories can be done through the website however ordering kits and packages require calling the order in.

How long does it take to receive my order?

Ballistic armor is custom built and as such usually requires about 2-4 weeks lead time prior to receipt. We do our best to ensure you keep our customers advised of where their purchase is in the manufacturing process and when it ships.

Here you will find detailed information and Frequently Asked Questions specific to body armor manufactured by AR500 Armor.

What is AR500 Armor Body Armor made of?

AR500 Armor uses an advanced ballistic grade steel core as the backbone of their armor. This material is much harder than traditional steel and other alternatives of “steel armor” currently on the market. Their material is specially designed to their standards for use in ballistic applications. AR500 Armor's in-house manufacturing allows them to offer our armor at a realistic and affordable price point.

The core of AR500 Armor body armor measures in on the Brinell Hardness Scale (BNH) between 504 and 519. Reliable traits of the core such as consistent thickness and temper are what AR500 Armor has built their reputation on. AR500 Armor is known for producing reliable and effective body armor solutions. They use the highest quality ballistic grade steel available in the industry. Few in the industry have the ability to obtain the same quality material and utilize their unique manufacturing techniques.

AR500 Armor encourages you to be weary and do your research on any armor solution you choose, regardless of brand. Look for quality and a reputation you can trust as not all “steel armor” is created equal and required to meet strict quality standards and product testing standards.

Spall and Fragmentation Mitigation: Line-X Paxcon

One of the largest concerns is what happens to your body armor when a bullet impacts the strike face. After much R&D AR500 Armor landed on a ballistic product offered by Line-X. Many know line-x for their reputable truck ben liners. However, Line-X also has a dedicated line for military applications which includes the Paxcon PX-2100 protective coating; a purpose designed spall and fragmentation mitigation coating. AR500 Armor takes full advantage of this technology and has incorporated the spall and fragmentation mitigation coating in the production of their body armor.

AR500 Armor is an approved OEM applicator of Line-X Paxcon spall and fragmentation mitigation coatings. The performance of Line-X Paxcon greatly exceeds standard truck bed liners such as Rhino Liner, Herculiner, and other specially applied and off-the-shelf options, in their testing.

More information on the Line-X Protective Coating can be found on the AR500 website by Clicking Here.

Certifications, Independent, and In house testing

All AR500 Armor finished products are subject to extensive ballistic testing. This includes independent lab testing pre and post manufacturing, from its raw form to a completed product, and in house batch testing. Independent lab tests are performed by the most reputable independent ballistic test laboratory in the United States, HP White Laboratory, Inc. AR500 Armor Level III Body Armor is tested to NIJ-STD-0101.06 Level III Calibers (Military Ball), Shot Placement and Deformation standards. Testing to the same and more extensive standards is also performed in-house in AR500 Armor's Phoenix, Arizona manufacturing facility.

Level III Body Armor is designed to offer protection against rifle calibers up to 7.62x51 NATO M80 Ball / .308 Winchester at velocities up to 2,780 feet per second.

AR500 Armor tests our level III body armor with the following calibers:

• Pistol Calibers: .22LR, 9mm, .40 S&W, 45 ACP, 10mm, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum
• Rifle Calibers: .223/5.56 (M855 62g Penetrators), 7.62x39, 7.62x51 (M80 Ball), .308 Winchester, 12 Gauge 3” Magnum 00 Buck, and 12 Gauge 1oz Slugs
• Platforms include a variety of Handguns, Pistol Caliber Rifles, and Rifles to obtain a wide variety of velocities for a given round

Third party testing has been performed with calibers up to 5.56 XM193, 7.62x54R, 30.06, 6.5 Creedmore, and .338 Lapua Magnum. Results with higher calibers may vary as they are typically over the threshold of Level III rated armor.

It is also important to note than nothing is “Bulletproof”, there are many variables at play which determine a given type of armors effectiveness. It is equally important to understand that even if body armor prevents penetration; preventing injury or death cannot be guaranteed.

Multi-Hit, Stand-Alone, & Stab Resistant

Within the rated calibers AR500 Armor Body Armor typically performs well above the industry standard in being multi-hit capable. Alternatives such as Ceramic and Kevlar become compromised to a much greater extent when sustaining impact on the strike face. Often loosing material and becoming useless after just a few rounds. AR500 Armor, because of their advanced steel core, loses very little material after impact on the strike face. Their method of mitigating spall and fragmentation relies on the exterior protective coating, and not the armor’s backbone, the steel core. This aids in longevity and greatly enhances their body armor’s Multi-Hit capability.

AR500 Armor Body Armor does not need to be used in conjunction with other panels or armor to be effective for its rating. It is designed as a Stand-Alone solution.

AR500 Armor is Stab and Slash resistant to all hand-held edged weapons.

Maintenance & Care Free

This is another area where AR500 Armor products take one more step further from traditional body armor. Our body armor is practically Maintenance and Care free. AR500 Armor has engineered their armor to last a lifetime. Each and every component they choose is properly prepped, sealed, and applied with longevity in mind.

• There is no set shelf life or expiration date.
• AR500 Armor does not need to be stored in a special configuration. Such as on a flat surface, hanging vertically or in a padded pelican case.
• AR500 Armor is not fragile or subject to stress fractures and will not be compromised when used in training via running, jumping, rolling, or hitting obstacles and objects.
• AR500 Armor is safely transportable in your vehicle through rough terrain, secured or not.
• AR500 Armor is 100% sealed and impermeable to liquids, harsh elements, and most chemicals.
• AR500 Armor is safe and reliable for longer term storage.

If your AR500 Armor body armor gets dirty, let it be and insert back into plate carrier, or wipe with damp cloth to desired cleanliness level, place back into plate carrier.