LA Police Gear Level IV Body Armor Review: Can It Stop The Threat?

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	LA Police Gear Level IV Body Armor	Check Price

The world is crazier than ever, and I firmly believe that quality body armor is an investment everyone should make.

Whether there’s an event as isolated as a home invasion or as widespread as civil unrest, having body armor as an extra level of protection is never a bad idea.

Today, we will discuss LA Police Gear’s Level IV ceramic plates. On paper, they sound like a great buy, but will they actually protect you when put to the test?

Join us as we discuss our experience and findings after shooting these plates with several calibers from close range (typical defensive-type scenarios).

Why You Should Trust Us

As you’ll see here shortly, we thoroughly test the products we review. We don’t just receive a product and draft up a “review” based on looking at it.

We’ve been fortunate enough to partner with several body armor manufacturers for testing and evaluation, so this is nothing new. While we may test plates differently than the next team, we do so transparently and show you every step (or shot) of the way.

What We Like About The Level IV Plates

The most important thing about body armor is that the plates stop what they say they will. These Level IV plates from LAPG did just that. We hit these plates with everything we had, from .22 LR up to .308 Winchester and 12 gauge, and they stopped everything.

In addition to the performance we saw firsthand, the plates are also affordable, especially if you buy them in a bundle. Lastly, they are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, with the right carrier, of course.

Flaws and Potential Dealbreakers

One reason we enjoy reviewing LAPG products is that the folks there are always transparent, like we are. That’s especially important when it comes to a product that you’re potentially relying on to save your life.

I say all that because the plates’ couple of “cons” are not hidden. They are disclosed right up front, so you know exactly what you’re getting. As long as you know, you can plan and prepare accordingly.

So what are the cons? The plates are NIJ Level IV tested but not certified, there is a one-inch partial foam edge, which means it’s not truly edge-to-edge protection, and they are made in China.

But unlike some other sites, we actually test plates to ensure that they will stop what they are rated to stop, especially given that they are not NIJ certified.

How We Tested

We tested these plates not only for their durability but also for their comfortability.

Prior to hitting the range and blasting away, I wore these plates inside of LAPG’s JTE carrier for walks, workouts, and yard work around the house.

Through those activities, I had to turn, twist, bend, jump, etc., which I figured would be a good judge of the comfortability of these single-curve plates. Leaning forward while already crouching was uncomfortable, but that’s somewhat to be expected from any plate.

Now to the exciting stuff…the range performance!

Range Report

Once range time was upon us, we took our time and shot the plate with every caliber we had on hand, which consisted of the following:

• .22 LR
• 9mm
• .223
• .300 Blackout
• 7.62
• .308
• 12-gauge

Despite taking multiple rifle rounds, placed close together and even some in the same cavity, not one round successfully penetrated the plate. Plenty of bulging was on the back of the plate, and the front had cavities the size of golf balls, but you’d still be alive and in the fight.

We shot each round from roughly ten to 15 yards to replicate closer to defensive distances.

We started with a .22 LR LRN shot out of a Smith & Wesson M&P15-22, and as you’d expect, the plate laughed it off like a BB gun.

Next up was a 115-grain 9mm FMJ round shot out of a Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact. We only saw a very minor bulging in the back, but you could tell this plate could take several more 9mm hits with no issue.

Stepping up to a 55-grain .223 round out of a Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 is where things started to get more interesting.

We wound up having a decent-sized cavity in the face of the plate, but still only minor bulging on the back. Again, I’m confident this plate could take a few more of these rounds with no issue as long as they weren’t all in the same exact spot.

We then took our CMMG Dissent chambered in 7.62×39, which resulted in another cavity in the front and more deformation in the rear, but again, there was no penetration.

Of course, we had to hit the plate with some .300 Blackout and wound up accidentally shooting the same cavity from the 7.62. Surprisingly, no penetration.

Still, at only about ten yards, we loaded up the .308 and took our shot.

This, by far, would’ve caused the most pain and likely some serious bruising, as you’ll see the massive bulge in the back. However, no penetration! I know it sounds like a record on repeat by now.

Last but not least, we figured why not hit the plate with our 12 gauge? With 8-shot coming out at 1,280 feet per second, the ceramic was essentially crumbling.

After all of those rounds at a close distance and some shots even in the same spot, the plate remained undefeated.

Zero penetration.

Where To Buy LAPG’s Level IV Plates

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Accessories

LA Police Gear JTE Plate Carrier

If you’re going to buy plates, you’re going to need a plate carrier.

LAPG also sent out one of its JTE (Just The Essentials) plate carriers with armor for testing. It is a minimalistic and lightweight carrier that these 10×12 plates fit in perfectly.

There are many MOLLE slots on the front, a fully adjustable cummerbund, and a drag handle. It’s very adjustable to fit all body types, so the one-size-fits-all works well for most. I’m 6’6 for size reference, and it fits me fine.

After wearing it for many hours, both shooting and working out, I found it comfortable, and once adjusted properly, it stayed put.

There are a ton of plate carriers out there, so no matter how minimalistic or fully loaded you want yours to be, you can find them with a simple Google search.

Conclusion

As I mentioned earlier, what really matters is how the plates perform. By the end of our testing period, the plates took several handgun, shotgun, and rifle rounds at close range and stopped them all with ease.

I’d recommend spending the extra money on the multi-curve plates for added comfort, but I definitely wouldn’t turn down another pair of these single-curve plates.

What armor do you want to see us test next? Drop it in the comments below!

As always, be safe, train hard, and have fun!