Here you will find detailed information and frequently asked questions about Armored Republic and the body armor we manufacture.
For more information, please visit Hunter Special Steel Co., Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Production time?
Production time is the time it takes to fabricate your order. We are a manufacturer and make all armor in-house in our Phoenix, AZ facility. As a result, a backlog of production can occur, causing the production time in a product to expand. We do our best to provide accurate production times but shortages in materials along with hikes in demand can cause unexpected delays. One thing we can guarantee is your items will be fabricated and shipped in the order they were received and under no uncertain terms will be shipped out to you as soon as we possibly can.
What is Processing time?
Processing time covers two portions of your order.
Why aren't some of the items in my order with no Production Time shipping after Processing Time has been exceeded?
We ship all items together to keep shipping costs to a minimum and help keep our warehouse efficient. This means the item in your order with the longest production time will be the expected Production time frame for the entire order. Once the last item in your order has been fabricated, your order is expected to ship out within our standard processing time. If you would like to ensure items with different production times ship ahead of items with longer times, it will be necessary to place separate orders for the items instead of placing all the items in one order. If you have already placed an order for all items and would like to split your order so the items with lesser production times ship ahead of the longer items, please give us a call at 602-501- M-F 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM MST and we can split your order. Please be advised there will be a second shipping fee charged for this service.
What are the different body armor lines?
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What is Armored Republic body armor made of?
Armored Republic uses an advanced ballistic grade steel alloy core blend as the backbone of our armor. This material is much harder than traditional steel and other alternatives of &#;steel armor&#; currently on the market. Our material is specially designed for us and to our standards for use in ballistic applications. The combination of our ingenuity, manufacturing techniques, and experience in the armor and tactical gear industry allow us to produce armor that is unmatched in performance and quality. Our in-house manufacturing allows us to offer our armor at a realistic and affordable price point.
The core of our body armor measures in on the Brinell Hardness Scale (BNH) between 504 and 519. Reliable traits of our core such as consistent thickness and temper are what we&#;ve built our reputation on. Armored Republic is known for producing reliable and effective body armor solutions. Simply put, we 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 our unique manufacturing techniques.
We encourage you to be wary and do your research on any armor solution you choose, regardless if you decide to purchase elsewhere or from us. 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.
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What is spall and fragmentation mitigation?
When a bullet strikes a hard armor plate, it can result in fragmentation or spalling, which are pieces of the bullet or plate (or both) ejected from the impact. It was a concern we began to address from the start of Armored Republic in .
After much research, we landed on a proprietary coating we call FragLock&#;. This specially formulated polyurea is similar to that used by the military, taking full advantage of the technology and incorporating it in the production of our body armor.
Our FragLock base coat completely seals the plate, providing it a 20-year shelf-life against the elements, and has been shown to offer some ability to divert frag away from the wearer. Our FragLock Build-Up Coat offers the same weather resistance as our base coat, but also captures most of any frag resulting from the bullet&#;s impact on the armor, reducing or eliminating spall and fragmentation. Due to our plates being hand sprayed, our plate weights have a variation of +/- 10% of the overall plate weight.
More information on our FragLock coating can be found on our FragLock Fragmentation Coating page.
Does Armored Republic have certifications, independent and in-house testing?
All Armored Republic 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. Our Level III body armor is tested to NIJ-STD-.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 our Phoenix, Arizona manufacturing facility.
Level III body armor is designed to offer protection against the rifle caliber 7.62x51 NATO M80 Ball / .308 Winchester at velocities up to 2,780 feet per second.
Armored Republic 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 that nothing is &#;Bulletproof&#;, there are many variables at play that 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.
View independent testing.
View test videos and product reviews.
How Does Armored Republic perform for multi-hit, standalone, and stab-resistant?
Within the rated calibers Armored Republic 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 losing material and becoming useless after just a few rounds. Armored Republic, because of our advanced steel core, loses very little material after impact on the strike face. Our method of mitigating spall and fragmentation relies on our exterior protective coating, and not the armor&#;s backbone, the steel core. This aids in longevity and greatly enhances our body armor&#;s multi-hit capability.
Armored Republic steel core 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 standalone solution.
Armored Republic steel core is stab and slash resistant to all hand-held-edged weapons.
Is Armored Republic body armor maintenance and care-free?
This is another area where Armored Republic products take one more step further from traditional body armor. Our body armor is practically maintenance and care-free. We&#;ve engineered our armor to last a lifetime. Each and every component we choose is properly prepped, sealed, and applied with longevity in mind. Our body armor:
· Does not need to be stored in a special configuration. Such as on a flat surface, hanging vertically, or in a padded case.
· 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.
· Is safe to transport in your vehicle through rough terrain, secured or not.
· Is 100% sealed and impermeable to liquids, harsh elements, and most chemicals.
· Is safe and reliable for long-term storage.
· If your Armored Republic body armor gets dirty, let it be and insert back into plate carrier, or wipe with a damp cloth to desired cleanliness level, place back into plate carrier.
Can I own body armor?
We sell to responsible law-abiding civilians, law enforcement officers, and military personnel who are residents of the United States. Armored Republic does not have a standardized policy for civilian sales outside of the United States. Our body armor is available to residents in all states with the exception of Connecticut and New York. Connecticut and New York residents must be active law enforcement or military and provide necessary credentials or need to have items shipped out of state. Please read our Terms of Use for further details.
Do you offer discounts to first responders?
The company is the world’s best ar500 metal supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
We offer a multi-use discount code to military, law enforcement, and first responders. To receive a discount code, we simply ask that you our support team: . We ask that you send us any form of credentials to verify your status, this can be any of the following: Photo of an ID, letterhead, from an official account, etc. We will then send you the discount code to use at the checkout, providing 10% off body armor, plate carriers, and complete plate carrier packages with armor that are not on promotion or sale.
How do I clean my carrier?
We suggest trying to spot clean it with a soft cloth with water and mild cleaning solution like hand soap, baby soap, or shampoo. If the entire carrier needs to be cleaned soak your plate carrier in water and the mild cleaning solution you chose and then agitate the water by hand. From there dip your plate carrier in clean water until the soap is gone and leave to hang dry.
IMPORTANT: We recommend not drying your plate carrier in direct sunlight as it can speed up the fading of the carrier, unless, of course, that is your goal.
Read further details here: How to Clean & Store Your Armored Plate Carrier
Do you ship outside of the U.S.?
Currently, we do not ship outside of the 50 United States. We do not ship to APO addresses.
Can you expedite my order?
Since our armor is made to order we generally will not expedite an order over someone else's order unless you are active military and are about to be deployed. In such a case, a copy of your orders is required.
Do I need side plates?
While the statistics of people engaged at a side profile are low overall, they rise quickly in an ambush, while riding in a vehicle or if you are a member of a dynamic entry team, so we do recommend side armor.
Can I put a rifle plate in front and a soft armor plate in the back of my carrier?
You can do this, but we recommend against it for a number of reasons. First, the uneven weight distribution will cause your carrier to pull down in front increasing the strain on your shoulders. Second, the soft armor limits you to level IIIA protection in the back and if you are facing rifle caliber threats this is dangerous; in an ambush or firefight, your movements may not always keep your back facing away from the changing direction of the incoming threat as well as protect you from friendly fire in the ensuing panic to suppress the sources of incoming fire.
Can I travel (fly) with body armor?
We recommend calling ahead to TSA as the restrictions are dynamic, changing, especially if it is travel outside of the United States when entry through a foreign countries Customs is required. The TSA website states that body armor is allowed in both checked and carried luggage with the caveat that "our officers make the final decision on whether an item is allowed at the checkpoint."
Can I put a steel plate, soft body armor, and a trauma pad all together in a plate carrier?
Generally, yes as most plate carriers will fit up to 1"-1.25" of thickness without compromising the plate pockets securement flap.
What determines the 20-year shelf life of your armor?
The FragLock&#; coating is designed to last for 20-years. The ballistic steel core of our body armor has an indefinite shelf life as long as the coating is not compromised and exposes it to moisture, including sweat.
What do trauma pads do?
Trauma pads, made from non-Newtonian soft materials, dissipate the transferred energy across the surface of the pad as opposed to allowing energy to be focused exclusively at the point of impact. The pads accomplish this by not following Newton's law of Viscosity, i.e., allowing a constant transfer of energy to a specific point on the surface area, but rather dissipating the transferred energies across their surface. In the event of a bullet strike on a plate causing the backside of the plate to deform from the kinetic energy delivered by the round; trauma pads spread that transferred energy over the larger area of the pad to lessen the energy delivered to the point of impact, and your internal organs in its path. They cushion the blow.
Can I use a promotion or discount code on an item that is on sale, discontinued, or seasonal?
The items we offer on sale, are discontinued, or that are sold seasonally (such as mystery boxes and gift cards) are typically already offered at an MSRP discount price lower than the sitewide code. For this reason, we do not allow the &#;stacking&#; of discount codes, gift cards, and sale or promotional items at this time. We periodically release discount codes simultaneously to assist with purchasing items that are NOT covered under the sale or promotional package pricing at that time.
Pros and Cons of Alloy (Steel) Armor
Metal alloys (such as steel) are a popular choice for rifle-rated body armor. If you&#;re more focused on pistol-rated armor, you should check out our soft armor section. If steel's additional weight is a concern, you may want to check out our polyethylene page.
There are some things you should know about steel armor before deciding. As with soft, polyethylene, and ceramic armor, there are pluses and minuses to running steel. In this section, we want to go through each of the pros and cons so you can decide if steel armor is suitable for you.
First, we&#;ll cover the basics of steel armor.
Manufacturers make steel armor out of high-carbon metal alloys. What type of steel is used in body armor? The most common are steels like AR500 and AR650. These materials can withstand significant impact and are abrasion-resistant (AR). Their hardness and durability make them ideal recreational targets for the range.
Unlike polyethylene armor, which &#;captures&#; the bullet, and soft armor, which &#;catches&#; the bullet, steel armor disintegrates and redirects the bullet upon impact.
Steel armor plates go up to level III (including III+), meaning they also protect against the threats in level II and IIIA. Most proponents would tout steel's high ballistic rating and affordable price as two main draws. But those aren&#;t the only appealing features.
Let&#;s look at the main reasons people like steel body armor.
At Armored Republic we've put together another Knowledge Base article to deep dive into that comparison: Steel vs Ceramic Armor Plates
Of all the body armor categories, steel gives us the most highlights to discuss. But don&#;t decide just based on the sheer number of benefits. Ensure those benefits are the specific ones you're looking for in your body armor.
5.56 M855/SS109 (Green Tip) at a velocity of 2,780 FPS
If you go up to level III+, you get the following additional protection:
7.62x39/7.62x51/5.56 M193s
.223/.308 WIN
20-year shelf life
, so you don&#;t have to replace it nearly as often.
Now that we've covered the many benefits of steel armor, let's talk about a couple of drawbacks. Steel armor certainly has its share of critics. Why is steel body armor bad, according to them? Most of the complaints fall into two categories.
Our goal is always to equip free men with the tools of liberty to protect their God-given rights. That means providing you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision on your end. For more information on alloy body armor, head to our Body Armor page and check out our A series.
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