Guard Dog Level IV+ Body Armor Test

Overview of Guard Dog Level IV+ test plan

The video focuses on testing Guard Dog Body Armor’s Level IV+ plates at Take Aim Training and Range. The host explains that standard NIJ Level IV certification requires a plate to stop at least one round of .30-06 specialized penetrating ammunition. The Guard Dog Level IV+ plate is presented as a polyethylene and ceramic composite designed for multi-hit performance with .30-06 black tip. A test plan is outlined using a torso dummy nicknamed “Mr. Hand Select 2.0,” with the goal of placing five separate .30-06 black tip impacts on a fresh plate in different areas rather than stacking shots in one spot. The host notes that stacking multiple rounds in the exact same location is unlikely on a moving target and that the plate is intended to handle spaced impacts across its surface.

Initial 5.56 NATO impacts: M193 and M855

The first live-fire sequence uses a Colt M16-style rifle with 5.56 NATO ammunition. Two common loads are tested: M193 and M855. The shooter fires from roughly 20 feet, placing the M193 and M855 hits in separate areas of the plate to observe how the ceramic face reacts. On inspection, both impacts are clearly visible, with the ceramic front beginning to crack and break around the strike points, which is expected behavior as the ceramic works to disrupt the projectiles. The back of the plate shows no penetration, confirming that both 5.56 loads are successfully stopped at close distance. The host emphasizes that despite visible front-face damage, the plate remains intact and functional after these initial rifle hits.

5.45x39 RPK test with penetrator ammo

Next, the plate is challenged with Russian 5.45x39 penetrator-type ammunition fired from a 23-inch RPK-style rifle. The ammunition is described as in-house stock that can be shot but not sold to the general public, with sales limited to government entities. The shooter notes the rifle’s very light recoil, comparing it to a .22 in feel. The 5.45 round is placed close to one of the earlier 5.56 impacts, further stressing the damaged ceramic area. On the rear of the plate, there is no visible hole or breakthrough, only surface marking and deformation. The test shows that even this enhanced 5.45x39 load, fired from a long barrel for higher velocity, is stopped by the Guard Dog Level IV+ plate without full penetration.

Single .30-06 black tip impacts and deformation

The testing escalates to .30-06 black tip ammunition, which Level IV plates are expected to stop. A 1903 rifle is used to fire .30-06 at the upper portion of the plate, roughly where a chest logo would sit. The round is fired through a magazine pouch on the carrier, and the impact causes noticeable tearing of the carrier seams. On the front, the strike is clearly visible, and on the back there is significant backface deformation and paint disturbance, but no confirmed hole through the plate. A second .30-06 black tip shot is then aimed near the center, around the “Level IV+” marking. Again, the front shows heavy damage and the rear exhibits pronounced bulging, but inspection reveals that the plate still prevents full penetration, though the blunt impact would be extremely painful to a wearer.

Five-shot .30-06 black tip multi-hit test

A fresh Guard Dog Level IV+ plate is mounted on the dummy for a dedicated multi-hit test with .30-06 black tip. Using the 1903 rifle, five rounds are loaded with the intent to impact top left, top right, center, bottom left, and bottom right of the plate. The shooter moves in close to minimize aiming error and deliberately spaces the shots to avoid stacking them. On the front, the ceramic face shows extensive cracking and material loss, with a large cavity where multiple impacts intersected. The rear of the plate displays severe backface deformation and some tearing of the carrier fabric, but closer inspection after removing the plate confirms that none of the five .30-06 rounds fully penetrated. Fragments of the steel core and copper jacket are recovered embedded within the plate material, demonstrating that all five high-performance hits were successfully contained.

Plate construction, weight, and fragmentation control

After the multi-hit test, the plate’s construction is examined in detail. The front ceramic layer is shown broken into large chunks, illustrating how it shatters to disrupt incoming projectiles. Behind the ceramic, the polyethylene composite layers are visible, with sheets torn and displaced where the .30-06 rounds expended their energy. The host notes that while the backface deformation would cause substantial pain and injury, it prevents through-and-through wounds. The plate is described as a standalone design, meaning it does not require a separate spall or trauma liner to manage fragmentation. Jacket and core fragments are captured within the plate instead of ricocheting off a steel surface toward the neck, groin, or arms. The Level IV+ plates are said to weigh around 7 pounds each, which is relatively light for plates capable of stopping multiple .30-06 black tip hits.

Comparison to standard Level IV and steel armor

The performance of the Guard Dog Level IV+ plate is compared to both standard Level IV ceramic plates and steel armor. Previous testing of Guard Dog’s standard Level IV plates included multiple hits from 5.56, 7.62x39, and 9mm, as well as a close-range .300 Winchester Magnum shot into the ground through the plate. Those plates showed heavy front-face damage and back deformation but remained unpenetrated on the rear. The Level IV+ variant adds the ability to stop multiple spaced .30-06 black tip rounds, as demonstrated in the five-shot test. In contrast, steel plates can sometimes take repeated hits in the same area but rely on separate spall liners and are vulnerable to high-velocity small-caliber rounds like M193 from a 20-inch barrel, where velocity can defeat steel. The discussion highlights that the Guard Dog ceramic-polyethylene design offers multi-hit rifle protection with controlled fragmentation and lower weight than many comparable options.