- Product Details
- Shipping and Returns
- The BPZ Promise
- Why Bulletproof Zone?
The Caliber Armor AR550 Level III+ Steel Side Plates deliver AR550 abrasion-resistant ballistic steel protection in a compact side-plate form factor, available in 6x6 and 6x8 inch sizes. Tested and verified to meet or exceed the ballistic resistance specified under NIJ Standard 0101.06 Level III and also tested against special threat parameters from NIJ Standard 0101.07 Rifle 2 — qualifying these plates as Level III+ rated. Each plate ships with a single-bend profile and your choice of standard coating or PolyShield anti-spall coating. Made in the U.S.A.
Who this is for
- Plate carrier users running the Caliber Armor MOPC or EXO: these side plates drop directly into the VAS side plate pocket, rounding out full torso coverage alongside your front and rear main plates.
- Officers and security professionals who need rifle-rated lateral coverage: the AR550 steel core handles Level III threats and the special threats listed under NIJ 0101.07 RF2, providing dependable side-body protection at a lower profile than a full-size plate.
- Shooters and range-safety personnel who prioritize multi-hit durability: AR550 steel stops multiple projectile hits without the single-strike failure risk associated with ceramic strike faces.
Compatibility with parent armor
These side plates are sized for standard side-plate pockets: 6x6 inches for minimal-footprint loadouts and 6x8 inches for extended lateral coverage. For use with the Caliber Armor MOPC or EXO carrier, the matching VAS side plate pocket is required and sold separately. Both sizes ship with a single bend to conform to the body contour at the ribcage. Contact us to confirm fitment with other plate carriers before ordering.
Function
Side plates cover the lateral torso — the flanks and lower ribcage — left exposed by a standard front-and-rear plate setup. The AR550 steel core stops multiple hits and produces minimal back-face deformation, meaning a defeated round does not transfer energy into the body in the way a composite plate can. The single-bend geometry keeps the plate seated against the body during movement without creating pressure points.
Ballistic performance and spall management
AR550 is a high-grade abrasion-resistant steel alloy. These plates carry a Level III+ designation because they defeat the special threats specified under NIJ 0101.07 RF2 — including M855 5.56x45 — beyond the baseline Level III round set. They are also tested and verified against NIJ Standard 0101.06 Level III threat parameters.
One known characteristic of steel armor is spall and fragmentation on impact. When a round strikes bare steel, jacket material and steel fragments can redirect toward the shooter's arms, neck, or face. The optional PolyShield anti-spall coating, formulated specifically for these plates, significantly reduces fragmentation risk by containing and redirecting jacket material on impact. For any steel plate setup, PolyShield is the recommended coating choice.
NIJ designation
These plates are rated and tested to NIJ Standard 0101.06 Level III and carry a Level III+ designation reflecting verified performance against the special threats listed in NIJ Standard 0101.07 RF2. The PolyShield-coated variant has a published NIJ certification technical specification sheet (AR550_Level_III_Armor_with_PolyShield_NIJ_Cert.pdf). Buyers who require formal CPL verification should confirm the specific listed variant against the NIJ Compliant Products List.
Specifications
- Brand: Caliber Armor
- Model: AR550 Steel Side Plates
- Material: AR550 abrasion-resistant ballistic steel
- NIJ designation: Tested to NIJ STD-0101.06 Level III; Special Threat Rated Level III+ / NIJ STD-0101.07 RF2
- Available sizes: 6x6 in, 6x8 in
- Bend: Single bend
- Coating options: Standard coating; PolyShield anti-spall coating
- Weight — 6x6 standard coating: 2.5 lbs
- Weight — 6x6 PolyShield coating: 3.0 lbs
- Weight — 6x8 standard coating: 3.31 lbs
- Weight — 6x8 PolyShield coating: 4.0 lbs
- Country of manufacture: USA
Frequently asked questions
What plate carriers do these side plates work with?
These side plates fit any carrier with a 6x6 or 6x8 side plate pocket. For the Caliber Armor MOPC and EXO carriers specifically, the VAS side plate pocket accessory is required and sold separately. Contact us to confirm fitment with other carrier brands before ordering.
Are these side plates NIJ-rated on their own?
Yes. These plates are independently tested and verified to meet or exceed the ballistic resistance defined under NIJ Standard 0101.06 Level III, and they carry a Level III+ designation reflecting performance against special threats from NIJ Standard 0101.07 RF2. The PolyShield-coated variant has an associated NIJ certification technical specification sheet.
What is the difference between standard coating and PolyShield?
The standard coating is a base protective finish. PolyShield is Caliber Armor's proprietary anti-spall formulation, designed specifically for steel body armor. It significantly reduces fragmentation risk by capturing and redirecting jacket material on bullet impact — the same material that can otherwise travel toward the wearer's arms, neck, or face. PolyShield adds approximately 0.5–0.7 lbs depending on plate size.
Does this side plate stop M855 / green tip rounds?
Yes. The Level III+ designation specifically covers M855 5.56x45 — a round that standard Level III plates are not required to defeat. These plates are tested against the special threat parameters listed in NIJ Standard 0101.07 RF2, which includes M855 and similar intermediate rifle threats.
Can I use these without a primary front or rear plate?
Side plates cover the lateral torso only and are designed to supplement a front-and-rear plate setup, not replace it. Using side plates alone leaves the front and back torso unprotected. For complete torso coverage, pair these with Caliber Armor's full-size front and rear AR550 plates in a compatible carrier.
Can these side plates be shipped to my state?
These plates cannot be shipped to New York or Connecticut due to state body armor restrictions. All orders are subject to U.S. export regulations. Under 18 U.S.C. § 931, anyone with a federal felony conviction for a crime of violence is prohibited from purchasing or possessing body armor.
Bulletproof Zone will ship orders as soon as possible. For example, if you purchase three items, they will be shipped to you based on lead time and availability. This way you get as much of your order as soon as possible, which means that your order may come in separate packages, especially if you order products from different manufacturers.
We will bear the shipping cost for products returned because of product defect, misrepresentation, or false description. Afterward, we will initiate a full reimbursement should you decline an offer to replace the item with the same item of equal value and assured quality.
Order Confirmation:
As soon as you place your order with Bulletproof Zone, you will receive an order confirmation e-mail. This means that your order has been logged in our system and your credit card has been pre-authorized for the purchase. Afterward, we contact our suppliers to confirm the availability of the product you are ordering for immediate shipment. If your item is on backorder or unavailable, we will cancel the pre-authorization and duly inform you via e-mail.
Order Shipment:
Orders are shipped within five business days from the date of your order unless specified otherwise on the product page. The product page will contain the most accurate estimate on shipping and lead times. Shipping and lead times provided on the product page are our best estimates based various factors including order volume, information from our manufacturer, raw material fluctuations, etc., and may vary due to these factors.
You will receive an email containing the tracking information of your order after the order has been shipped to your location. If you do not receive tracking information from us within seven business days of the lead time specified on the product page, feel free to follow up with us at orders@bulletproofzone.com.
Bulletproof Zone is not responsible for lost or stolen packages. A tracking number will be provided when the package is shipped. It is the buyer’s responsibility to provide a safe place to receive mail. Once an item has been marked as delivered by the carrier, the seller is not responsible should that item go missing.
Some of our products are carried by manufacturers in various countries. Due to the nature and cost of the products that Bulletproof Zone sells, you may be charged additional import duties upon delivery. Our support team can help in investigating abnormally high import duty charges but we are unable to cover the cost of any import duties.
Damages:
We take full responsibility for any obvious damage to your product caused by wrong packaging or delivering an already defective product. Please inspect the packaging of your item(s) when they arrive, if you notice any damage, you should document it when signing for delivery. If the item(s) contained in the package arrives damaged, please send photos to support@bulletproofzone.com, and we will process an insurance claim on your behalf.
Returns and Cancellation Policy:
We back all our products with a customer satisfaction guarantee, so we created a fair return and cancellation policy.
All sales are final. No Refunds, No Cancellations. In most cases, once the order is processed, it is final and not cancellable. We may allow exceptions due to an order error or wish to return your order after delivery for any reason other than a product defect or misrepresentation. Any cancellation request is subject to an administration and cancellation fee equal to 10% of your order with a minimum of $35, whether order shipment is successful or not.
All sales are final on all closeout items and for custom manufactured bulletproof clothing once the manufacturing process has begun or not returnable unless there is a product defect or misrepresentation. Applicable to brands such as MC Armor, Israel Catalog, BulletBlocker, Tacticon Armament, Wonder Hoodie, and others.
Before returning any product, you MUST obtain a return authorization from our customer service representative. We can only process AUTHORIZED returns for items.
To make a Return or Exchange:
- Obtain authorization for return or exchange by emailing us at support@bulletproofzone.com explaining the reason for the return or exchange.
- Please use or indicate your order number as attention
Return or exchanges request submission must be within 14 calendar days upon receipt of shipment unless noted otherwise on the product description page. Your return must be in original packaging and unused.
We encourage using USPS flat-rate shipping in returning products to receive a shipping expense refund. Buyers must ensure all returned parcels delivery receipt AND signature confirmation. We highly recommend insuring your parcel as we cannot issue a refund for an item that we do not receive back should it get lost/damaged during transit.
Refunds:
Should an item be returned because it was defective, misrepresented, not as described, etc., Bulletproof Zone will issue a full refund and will reimburse the customer for all shipping expenses associated with the return.
Please allow 5-10 business days from the time the item is received to process a refund. Refunds will only be issued to the original credit card that you use when placing your order.
We stand behind our products 100%!
By purchasing any of our items, the buyer certifies they have read and agree to our shipping, return, and privacy policies.
The Bulletproof Zone Promise
When you buy body armor, you're buying your safety. We don't take that lightly. Here's what every order from Bulletproof Zone includes.
1. Authorized dealer of every brand we carry
Every plate, vest, and carrier we ship comes from the manufacturer directly to our warehouse. We don't sell gray-market product, surplus, or returns. That means factory-fresh stock, the full manufacturer warranty, and real after-sale support — the kind only an authorized dealer can offer.
We maintain authorized-dealer relationships with America's leading body armor brands, including Spartan Armor Systems, AR500 Armor, RMA Defense, Shellback Tactical, Caliber Armor, DFNDR Armor, Protection Group Denmark, BulletSafe, BulletBlocker, and over 40 more.
2. Best price, guaranteed
If you find a lower price at another authorized dealer of the same product within six months of your purchase, we'll refund the difference.
Why the "authorized dealer" requirement? Because gray-market and surplus armor may not be genuine, may have a compromised supply chain, and almost never comes with a manufacturer warranty. We won't price-match against products that may not actually protect you.
3. Free fitment consultation
Body armor only protects you if it fits. Email us a photo and your measurements before you order, and one of our specialists will help you size your carrier and plates correctly — at no charge, no obligation.
4. Trusted by thousands of customers
Bulletproof Zone has been a trusted authorized dealer of America's leading body armor manufacturers for over five years. We have over 4,000 verified Trustpilot reviews from real customers across all 50 states.
Price Match Guarantee — Terms
- You must have purchased the item from our website before requesting the price match.
- Discounted items and "free with purchase" items are not eligible.
- The item must be in stock on the competitor's website at the time of your request.
- The price match is valid for six months from the date of your purchase.
- The competitor must be an authorized dealer of the product. Auction sites (eBay, Overstock), discounters, and gray-market resellers do not qualify.
- The competitor must operate an online store. Brick-and-mortar-only retailers do not qualify.
- Price match applies to the item price plus shipping. Sales tax is excluded.
To request a price match, email us a link to the product on our site and the same product on the competitor's site within six months of purchase. We'll process the refund.
Why Bulletproof Zone?
At Bulletproof Zone, we are passionate about protecting lives. Every piece from our catalog is designed and rigorously tested to provide the highest quality of protection you need from firearms, explosives or even close quarters combat.
We’ve partnered with various manufacturers that operate within the United States under a strict set of guidelines both on a national and corporate level so that when you shop with us, you will be able to select from the highest quality body armor, ballistic plates and tactical gear available on the market.
Whether you are a military service member looking to find your own gear, a professional that operates in the security field, or an avid firearms enthusiast that capitalizes the importance of safety when shooting, our tactical gear will provide you the level of protection you need.
Any questions or concerns? Please call us at (408)-909-4938 or email us at support@bulletproofzone.com and a member of our professional support team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.