- Product Details
- Shipping and Returns
- The BPZ Promise
- Why Bulletproof Zone?
The Spartan Armor Systems AR550 Steel Body Armor Plate delivers Special Threat Rated Level III+/RF2 rifle protection, manufactured entirely in the USA from American AR550 ballistic-grade steel. The AR550 carries a special threat rating to stop rounds up to 5.56x45 M855 Green Tip, and the Single Curve Full Coat variant is NIJ Listed under NIJ 0101.06 Level III. Two coating options — Base Coat for corrosion protection and Full Coat Encapsaloc — address different user priorities. Available in 10x12 and 11x14 in Shooters Cut, and 10x12 in High Mobility Cut, with Single Curve and Advanced Triple Curve (ATC) geometries.
Who this is for
- Law enforcement officers: who need rifle-rated front and back protection in a duty plate carrier at a price that allows two-plate loadouts without budget strain.
- Responsible civilians: building a home-defense or range-ready armor system who want domestic manufacture and documented special threat performance against common rifle calibers including M855.
- Military and security personnel: seeking a cost-effective steel plate backup or training plate that meets NIJ 0101.06 Level III listing requirements in the Single Curve Full Coat configuration.
Ballistic performance
AR550 steel is a harder alloy grade than the more common AR500, and that additional hardness translates directly into a higher certified threat ceiling. The AR550 plate is rated to stop 7.62x51mm M80 Ball — the NATO full-power rifle round — which satisfies NIJ 0101.06 Level III requirements. Beyond that baseline, the AR550 carries a Special Threat Rating of Level III+/RF2, confirming independent testing against 5.56x45 M855 Green Tip (penetrator round) at standard velocity.
Two coating configurations are available. The Base Coat provides corrosion protection for the steel core and keeps weight and thickness at the bare-steel minimum. The Full Coat option applies Encapsaloc, a proprietary coating that significantly reduces fragmentation and spall risks — the byproduct steel fragments that are the primary secondary hazard of any steel armor strike. For any deployment where a round may actually impact the plate, the Full Coat option is the operationally appropriate choice. The Single Curve Full Coat variant is NIJ Listed under NIJ 0101.06 Level III.
Plate compatibility and cut geometry
The AR550 is available in Shooters Cut and High Mobility Cut. The Shooters Cut (10x12 and 11x14) offers maximum frontal coverage and fits the majority of plate carriers designed around standard 10x12 or 11x14 pockets. The High Mobility Cut (10x12 only) removes material from the upper shoulder corners, reducing weight by roughly 1.4 lbs per plate compared to the Shooters Cut equivalent, and increasing shoulder and arm range of motion — the trade-off is reduced upper-chest coverage.
Both cuts are available in Single Curve and Advanced Triple Curve (ATC). Single Curve plates have a straightforward front-to-back bend that seats correctly in most flat or single-curve plate pockets. The Advanced Triple Curve geometry adds a vertical contour that conforms more closely to the torso, improving both comfort during prolonged wear and stability under a carrier. Specifications for Single Curve and ATC variants are identical within each size and coating option. Contact us if you need fitment confirmation for a specific carrier model.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Spartan Armor Systems
- Material: AR550 ballistic-grade steel, American-made
- NIJ designation: Special Threat Rated Level III+/RF2; Single Curve Full Coat variants NIJ Listed under NIJ 0101.06 Level III
- Rounds rated: 7.62x51mm M80 Ball (Level III); 5.56x45 M855 Green Tip (Special Threat Level III+/RF2)
- Coating options: Base Coat (corrosion protection); Full Coat (Encapsaloc — spall and fragmentation mitigation)
- Available cuts: Shooters Cut, High Mobility Cut
- Available curves: Single Curve, Advanced Triple Curve (ATC)
- Available sizes: 10x12 (Shooters Cut and High Mobility Cut); 11x14 (Shooters Cut only)
- Weight — 10x12 Shooters Cut Base Coat: 8 lbs, 1 oz (3.66 kg)
- Weight — 10x12 Shooters Cut Full Coat: 8 lbs, 10 oz (3.91 kg)
- Weight — 10x12 High Mobility Cut Base Coat: 6 lbs, 10 oz (3.01 kg)
- Weight — 10x12 High Mobility Cut Full Coat: 7 lbs, 8 oz (3.40 kg)
- Weight — 11x14 Shooters Cut Base Coat: 9 lbs, 15 oz (4.51 kg)
- Weight — 11x14 Shooters Cut Full Coat: 11 lbs (4.99 kg)
- Thickness — Base Coat: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
- Thickness — Full Coat: 0.5 in (12.7–15.2 mm)
- Country of manufacture: USA
- Warranty: 5-year warranty against manufacturer defects
- SKU: SA-550-SNGL
Fit and carrier compatibility
The 10x12 and 11x14 Shooters Cut dimensions are the two most common plate pocket sizes in production plate carriers. Any carrier with a 10x12 or 11x14 plate pocket — single-curve or flat — will accept these plates in the Single Curve variant. The ATC geometry seats best in carriers with a formed or single-curve pocket; avoid forcing an ATC plate into a flat rigid pocket. The High Mobility Cut 10x12 fits the same 10x12 pockets as the Shooters Cut variant, with extra clearance at the shoulder corners. Soft armor backers can be used behind these plates in carriers that include a backer sleeve. Contact us for carrier-specific fitment questions.
Frequently asked questions
What rounds does the AR550 stop?
The AR550 is rated to stop 7.62x51mm M80 Ball at Level III threat parameters, and carries a Special Threat Rating of Level III+/RF2 to stop 5.56x45 M855 Green Tip. This covers the majority of common rifle threats. It does not carry a Level IV rating and is not rated against hard armor-piercing rounds such as 30 caliber M2 AP.
What is the difference between Base Coat and Full Coat?
Base Coat applies corrosion protection only, keeping the plate at minimum weight and 0.25 in thickness. Full Coat applies Encapsaloc, a proprietary coating that significantly reduces spall and fragmentation — the steel fragments ejected rearward when a round strikes the plate. For active-use armor systems, Full Coat is the operationally recommended choice. The Full Coat variant also qualifies for NIJ Listing under 0101.06 Level III in Single Curve configuration.
What is the difference between Single Curve and Advanced Triple Curve (ATC)?
Single Curve plates have one bend running horizontally across the plate face, matching the basic contour of most carrier pockets. Advanced Triple Curve adds a second and third contour axis — essentially a more body-shaped bend — that improves both torso contact and comfort during extended wear. Ballistic specifications are identical between the two geometries for the same size and coating.
What is the difference between Shooters Cut and High Mobility Cut?
Shooters Cut provides full rectangular coverage with standard shoulder corners. High Mobility Cut removes material from both upper corners, reducing weight by roughly 1.4 lbs per plate on the 10x12 and increasing shoulder mobility. The trade-off is reduced coverage of the upper chest and clavicle zone. High Mobility Cut is available in 10x12 only.
Does this plate need a soft armor backer?
Steel plates do not require a soft armor backer to function. However, pairing a Level IIIA soft backer behind the steel plate provides added trauma reduction and can help manage any residual spall not captured by the Encapsaloc coating. Whether a backer is needed depends on the threat environment and the carrier's available depth.
Can this plate be shipped to my state?
This plate cannot be shipped to New York or Connecticut due to state body armor restrictions. All orders are subject to US export regulations. Under 18 U.S.C. § 931, any person 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.
