r/canadaguns • u/Anarchy-cap45 • Apr 23 '26
Buy recommendations Level 4 side plates
I've looked around this subreddit and been looking online and i haven't seen any reputable companys in canada that carry level 4 6x6 side plates. if anyone knows a good brand that does carry them, im all ears.
3
u/GhostOoOooo Apr 24 '26
Just go for IIIA soft armour brother. 6x8 if your plate pouches/cumberbund can fit that. Occasionally you'll see branded used hard side plates on gunpost gear section if you're really set on ceramics, but my recommendation is soft IIIA.
1
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
I'll be running hard plates 6x6 to cover my obliques with a 6x8 lllA soft overlapping.
4
u/airchinapilot Apr 23 '26
Have you checked SJ Hardware?
1
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
I couldn't find any there, I could be wrong tho
3
u/airchinapilot Apr 24 '26
Search for AraTech Research LVL IV
.. not sure if that is what you want
1
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
Those are the plates I plan on buying, i just also need side plates preferably in a 6x6 size.
2
1
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
I'm not sure if Aratech makes 6x6 plates. but that would be the brand I would chose if they exist.
1
u/Enough_Challenge7264 Apr 25 '26
Are you sure you really need lv4 side plates? Can you justify having to carry the extra weight, and cope with the additional nonsense involved with having weighted plates on top of your pelvic girdle? Have you ever run while wearing your carrier? If engaged on the two way rifle range, being static means you're dead, no matter what type, or how much armour you're wearing.
I'm no medic, but another thing that's always confused me is how efficient a 6x plate placed to protect under the rib cage would really be? If the round hits just a few inches higher, it would smash through the humerus and continue through heart and lungs...liver's good though! Armour over the shoulder and upper arm would protect vials from enfilade risks far better than a 6x6 plate bashing your hips. Still, I wouldn't want to wear it.
1
u/717Luxx Apr 24 '26
if you want ceramic you could get the ones from canarmor
3
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
I was hoping to avoid any Chinese plate companys, from what I have read, very few canadian companys have reputable NIJ rating So far it's pretty much just Aratech and you can get hesco plates from LOF
1
u/717Luxx Apr 24 '26
they claim to be made in Canada, and others seem to believe them upon visiting the storefront. idk. I have their ar500 lvl4s, less to fuck up than a ceramic plate tho.
reach out to em with your concerns, I've heard they're pretty receptive to questions/comments/concerns.
but nah they arent actually NIJ rated, but a "Canadian equivalent test"
idk if there's anything with domestic origin that's NIJ rated? not too knowledgable myself tbh
3
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
HESCO is the only NIJ rated plates that I have found so far that you can buy in Canada.
3
u/FedInformant Apr 24 '26
Yea LOF is great. I ordered there level 3 soft armor that slides into their cummerbund on their carriers
3
u/masterboatman Apr 24 '26
911Supply can special order HESCO plates as well. That’s where I got mine!
2
2
u/EliteDuck Apr 24 '26
They can, but nobody can import level IVs due to ITAR restrictions. They can just sell 3+ maximum.
-4
u/AHangryBeaver Apr 24 '26
I thought ballistic plates were illegal in Canada?
4
u/Anarchy-cap45 Apr 24 '26
Nope, there g2g, some provinces require a PAL on purchase and manitoba i believe you need a specific permit for body armor.
1
u/AHangryBeaver Apr 24 '26
I have a friend who works for a Ukrainian military manufacturer and I get a wicked discount but I never bought a plate carrier or plates because I figured it was illegal. Pretty sure they manufacture level 4 as well
3
u/Spydude84 Apr 24 '26
They are controlled by the provinces, so it will depend on local laws. I know BC requires either a PAL or a specific license to own them.
1
u/epnk420 Apr 26 '26
Could be wrong but i think it’s RPAL in bc as we’re only allowed to use them for ricochet at range with hand guns
2
u/Spydude84 Apr 27 '26
Unless you can show me the statute, cursory research indicates that you just need a firearms license, it doesn't specify what kind.
1
u/epnk420 Apr 27 '26
Maybe my buddy owns a gun store on the coast and he’s the one that told me that as I asked what what required to purchase it. Like I said I could be wrong our rules aren’t exactly easy to know all of them especially when it’s different from province to province.
2
u/Spydude84 Apr 27 '26
Reading the act, it just says "For the purposes of section 2 (3) (c) of the Act, section 2 (2) of the Act does not apply to a person for the period during which the person ... is an individual who holds a valid licence issued under the Firearms Act (Canada) authorizing the individual to acquire or possess a firearm."
Any PAL is good to go.
17
u/717Luxx Apr 24 '26
genuine question; how much are you really worried about taking 30-06 straight on to the side of your torso?
personally, I have lvl4 front and rear and am planning to grab lvl3 side plates. ricochet and shrapnel is the main worry, will also stop all handgun calibers and intermediary rifle rounds. that's enough for me.