Preview: Full Forge Gear Shooter’s Cut Armor Plates

by
posted on January 26, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Full Forge Gear Shooter’s Cut Armor Plates

A maker of durable backpacks, range bags and gun cases—Full Forge Gear recently leveraged its knowledge of heavy-duty materials to leap into the personal-armor market with the introduction of the Shelter plate carrier and two different lightweight plate options compatible with it.

Both offered in a shooter’s cut, which provides a greater coverage area than swimmer’s cut plates but grants the arms less range of motion, the Extreme Lite plates are Level IIIA (rated to stop handgun bullets up to .44 Mag.) by the National Institute of Justice, while the Feather Weight plates meet NIJ’s Level IV standard and are thus capable of countering even many high-velocity rifle cartridges. Incredibly light for their respective ratings, Extreme Lite plates weigh only 1 lb., 5 ozs., each and the Feather Weights run 6 lbs., 11 ozs., apiece.

MSRPs are as follows: Shelter, $180; Extreme Lite (Level IIIA), $136; Feather Weight (Level IV), $216. For more information, visit fullforgegear.com.

Latest

Ruger Beretta Agreement F Updated
Ruger Beretta Agreement F Updated

Beretta Holding and Ruger Agree to Partnership

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. and Beretta Holding S.A. have announced that both companies are entering into a strategic cooperation agreement.

Return of the Encore: T/C Arms Brings Back Its Iconic Single-Shot

In 2024, former owner Gregg Ritz purchased Thompson/Center Arms. Now the company has introduced a modern take on its classic Contender/Encore concept: the ENCORE PROHunter.

7 New ARs for 2026

While it's certainly a saturated marketplace these days, the AR-15 has never been more popular with American firearm enthusiasts, and many manufacturers are continuing to feed the need with new options loaded with new features.

The Drawbacks of Being a Numbers-Oriented Gun Guy

Like any hobby or pastime that is in any way even vaguely related to machines or technology, firearms attract a (possibly) disproportionate number of “right-brained,” STEM-oriented personalities who like numbers.

First Look: MDT Hand Cannon Slingshot

Slingshots are fun, but they can also be a legitimate backup defensive tool—in 2023, a 13-year-old Michigan boy saved his 8-year-old sister from being kidnapped by using a $3 slingshot to fire a marble and a rock at the assailant, striking him in the chest and head.

The LCP Meets Magpul: Ruger's LCP Max with Magpul's EHG

Over the years, Ruger has enhanced its LCP with the introduction of the LCP II and LCP Max. New for 2026, Ruger is offering a new version of the LCP Max with the addition of a Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.