AR500 Armor Warrior DCS Plate Carrier Package

Bill Battles

In our zeal to equip ourselves for personal defense we forget that sometimes the bastards shoot back. If that’s a scenario of concern for you, check out the new Warrior DCS (Dynamic Combat System) Plate Carrier package from AR500 Armor.

It combines a top-quality, full-featured plate carrier with front and rear 10″ x 12″ Level III+ lightweight armor plates, a double AR15/M4 magazine pouch with four magazine capacity, a double pistol magazine pouch with two magazine capacity and a Tornado Style horizontal chest-mounted pistol holster that adjustable for pistol’s with or without a rail-mounted light and/or laser. And it has to be one of the best deals we’ve ever seen: the whole nine yards for $365 in black, coyote, OD green, Multi-Cam or ATACS-AU. You can upgrade the front and rear armor plates from flat to curved for an extra $40, and add two 6” x 8” flat side armor plates for $50 ($75 for curved side plates).

When purchased as a complete package, the Warrior DCS plate carrier comes complete with front, back and side-armor, a fully-adjustable and light-compatible Tornado style horizontal pistol holster, and four-mag AR-15/M4 magazine and dual pistol magazine pouchesall in your choice of color or camo options.

The steel-core, Level III+ lightweight armor plates will defeat all defensive handgun rounds, as well as the most common rifle threats in existence: the 5.56 NATO M193, M855 and SS109 at velocities up to 3,000 f.p.s., and the 7.62×39 and 7.62 NATO M80 Ball at velocities up to 2,850 f.p.s. All AR500 plates are multi-hit capable and have a standard PAXCON Line-X Base Coat, which is an industry leading spall and fragmentation mitigation protective coating which also provides protection against chemicals, liquids and other harsh elements. Another pretty cheap option is the PAXCON Buildup Base Coat on the plates, which greatly enhances their spall and fragmentation mitigation properties. The Build Up Base Coat will defeat and better contain multiple hits of 7.62 NATO M80 Ball fired as close as 10 yards from the strike face. The Build Up increases the plate thickness by 1/4”, adds 3/4 of a pound and is a $50 upcharge for the chest and back plates, or a $75 upcharge for all four plates.

To help keep the wearer as comfortable and cool as possible, the interior of the Warrior DCS is lined with heavily-padded, moisture-wicking 3D spacer mesh for improved air flow. Shoulder straps are fully adjustable for ride heightone of which features a quick-release buckle for ease of donning.

The plate carrier itself is constructed from 500 Denier Cordura and Mil-Spec webbing. A single quick-release, front-mounted shoulder buckle is located on the left shoulder, and strategically placed to not interfere with the butt stock of your weapon, a common problem with other plate carriers. PALS/MOLLE webbing lines the front and rear of the carrier, and is pre-tensioned to permit easier webbing of the included mag pouches and holster. Vertical webbing allows attachment of QUASM buckles for easy chest rig adaptation, and guide tabs ride along each side of the carrier for easy wire or hydration tube routing.

The fully padded shoulder straps are adjustable for proper plate ride height, and a reinforced, semi-rigid cummerbund prevents sagging with side armor installed, and is fully adjustable to accommodate different girths. Easy pull handles on the front of each cummerbund side allow for quick on/off. The inner side of the plate carrier is lined with padded, moisture-wicking 3D spacer mesh for improved air flow. The heavy duty drag handle is located on the back side of the plate carrier and secures flush to the carrier via Velcro to prevent snagging. All of the hardware used provides the lowest IR signature possible.