NIJ IIIA Lightweight Body Armor Torso Plate Alpha Shield
NIJ IIIA Lightweight Body Armor Torso Plate Alpha Shield
Hardcore Defense

Alpha Torso Plates (2, with pads & anti-spall buildup)

Regular price $149.00

For those more concerned about handguns and melee weapons than rifle threats, Hardcore Defense offers our Alpha Torso Plates, made from the same material as our proven Alpha Shield.  Get all the advantages of steel without the weight of rifle plates!  Compared to soft armor the Alpha Torso Plates provide superior edge hit and multi-hit protection, transmit negligible blunt trauma, and have no shelf life or storage limits. 

As with our popular Delta Torso Plates we're not going to play pricing games by selling you plates at or below cost and then charge a huge markup on a trauma pad or the anti-spall coating.  Even for a pistol-rated armor application these features are important, so every Alpha Torso plate pair automatically comes with trauma pads and anti-spall coating.

Our Alpha Torso Plates are flat for ease of storage and more discreet wear under a jacket (depending on the carrier).  Flat plates also tend to be more comfortable for many users, because unless the torso is particularly narrow the edges of curved plates dig in or chafe at the collarbones and shoulder blades. 

Features & Specifications:  

  • NIJ IIIA:
    • 9 mm 124 grain full metal jacket at 1400 fps
    • .44 Magnum 240 grain Lead Semi-wadcutter at 1400 fps
    • Also stops lesser threat rounds including .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP
  • Ballistic steel, Rhinoliner® coated for corrosion resistance
  • 12 mm Trauma Pad included with every plate
  • Anti-Spall buildup included with every plate
  • No shelf life or storage restrictions
  • 9.5" x 12.5", weight 4.3 lbs each
  • Plate + trauma pad ~ 0.75" thick
  • Made in USA

    Purchase includes two torso plates and two trauma pads.  To complete your armor package, please check out our Lightweight and Advanced plate carriers, sold separately.  

    Note:  our torso plates leverage our ballistic certifications for the Alpha Shield per NIJ Standard 0108.  Body armor (including hard plates) is typically tested to NIJ Standard 0101 which uses the same test rounds and velocities as 0108, but requires additional drop testing, thermal preconditioning, and backface signature measurements.  These additional test steps are important to properly challenge ceramic and ballistic fiber plates but are less of a concern for steel plates.  NIJ testing is a long and expensive process AND the current revision of the standard is in the process of being replaced with a completely new revision.  We will wait for the new standard to be released.  In the meantime think of the Alpha Torso plates as very conveniently shaped backpack inserts.

    Free Shipping within the continental USA.  (We cannot ship to any P.O. boxes!)  International customers please click here for more information.

    Current ship time is approximately 1-2 business days after receipt of order.  

    Purchaser is responsible for complying with all local, state, and federal laws regarding purchase and use of ballistic protection products.  Hardcore Defense assumes no liability for illegal use or misuse of the product.  It is usually legal for civilians to purchase and own body armor within the United States.  Residents of Connecticut and individuals convicted of a felony are prohibited from possessing bulletproof vests and other body armor.


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