Hit cap for casters is 7 hit rating.
From Caulfield's paladin:
Seal of wrynn and beetle clasps are grandfathered. Arctic buckler is grandfathered for players under lv22.
[item]seal of argas[/item] can replace his seal of wrynn. *Quest for ring can be repeated once via faction changing. You can keep the previous quest reward, too.
Pants can be eagle.
[item]breastplate of the terrible price[/item] can be obtained as a quest reward inside SFK in case you don't have access to BoAs. You can also choose [item]godfrey's britches[/item]. *Quest can be repeated once via faction changing. You can keep the previous quest reward, too.
[item]Spidersilk boots[/item] are handcrafted, easy to obtain.
[item]cleansed pauldrons[/item] can be obtained as a quest reward inside WC if you don't have access to BoAs. You can also choose [item]serpentis gloves[/item]. *Quest can be repeated once via faction changing. You can keep the previous quest reward, too.
[item]tumultuous cloak[/item] of the sorcerer uses haste instead of spirit.
[item]spidersilk drape[/item] has 4 hit rating.
[item]shield of talendris point[/item] would be best shield.
Now, a weapon is something I can't get hold of that isn't BoA.
You can stick with some melee weapon, too, like your shadowfang, until you get the BoA.