Body Armor. Discussion/Recommendation?

[mh892]

I hope to obtain some constructive information with my serious question.

When on assignment such as FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, FEMA trailer parks or Federal properties one may desire a level of personal protection. I am not infering that all disaster victims or folks on Federal property are bad guys. But, there are areas where one would like a measure of safety from injury.

I would like a simple vest that would be worn under the duty shirt for chest and back protection. Is there a lite wieght 'blade and bullet' stopping vest available? What would one expect to pay for a vest? What do you waer?

P.S. I know this topic has been discussed but I didn't find it. Thanks.

[UtahProtectionForce]

Marom Dolphin, makes a stab and bullet vest. if you dont mind buying forigein products.... they usually sale their vests online through ebay to US customers, or you can contact their office in israel.

[Bill Warnock]

mh892 please give consideration to the following:
What is the threat level existing now or anticipated? Secure a vest that meet the existing threat or one clearly anticipated.
When selecting a vest endure it is NIST approved and a certified laboratory conducted verifications tests. Look for NIJ 0101.04 levels of protection. Procure the vest that meets the threat level.
When looking for a vest that provides puncture (knife or spike) protection, does it fully meet H. P. White Laboratory 0400.02 standards or NIJ stab certification 0115.00.
Precaution: Vests offering only NIJ stab certification 0115.00, they have no, as in NONE, ballistic protection.
It doesn't make any difference as to the manufacturer as long as it meets the testing requirements and the laboratory is an accredited ballistic laboratory. NIST has many accredited laboratories but not all are ballistic laboratories.
If a manufacturer cites a specific laboratory, verify its authenticity by visiting NIST's website.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Christopherstjo]

mh892 please give consideration to the following:
What is the threat level existing now or anticipated? Secure a vest that meet the existing threat or one clearly anticipated.
When selecting a vest endure it is NIST approved and a certified laboratory conducted verifications tests. Look for NIJ 0101.04 levels of protection. Procure the vest that meets the threat level.
When looking for a vest that provides puncture (knife or spike) protection, does it fully meet H. P. White Laboratory 0400.02 standards or NIJ stab certification 0115.00.
Precaution: Vests offering only NIJ stab certification 0115.00, they have no, as in NONE, ballistic protection.
It doesn't make any difference as to the manufacturer as long as it meets the testing requirements and the laboratory is an accredited ballistic laboratory. NIST has many accredited laboratories but not all are ballistic laboratories.
If a manufacturer cites a specific laboratory, verify its authenticity by visiting NIST's website.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

Bill

You give good advice, but leave out an important detail - when purching such a vest where would one most likely find the NIJ numbers. I have looked for a vest but generally find information only on the types of bullets and grains the vest protects against and not the NIJ numbers.

[Bill Warnock]

Bill

You give good advice, but leave out an important detail - when purching such a vest where would one most likely find the NIJ numbers. I have looked for a vest but generally find information only on the types of bullets and grains the vest protects against and not the NIJ numbers.

Thank you Chris, I did leave out the detail to look at the literature that comes with the vest. Also ensure the vest is purchased from a reliable source, one that caters to law enforcement and verify the numbers on the vest with the vendor's website. Some auction houses wind up providing information on sellers who are selling bogus vests or trying to pawn off recalled vests on unsuspecting people. It is hard to run down these sellers.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[davis002]

Seeing that we are on the topic of body armor, I felt I would share a very interesting review of Level IIIA armor.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm

These guys will shoot ANYTHING to see how it holds up against bullets.

[N. A. Corbier]

The Box of Truth is awesome, is it not?

[Minneapolis Security]

Lessons learned:
1. Level IIIA armor stopped the handgun bullets tested, just as designed. Either JHPs or Ball.

2. Once again, "Rifles are rifles and pistols are pistols". Rifles went right through, just as expected.

3. The armor stopped 00 Buck and Rifled Slugs.

4. If your adversery is wearing armor, don't depend on pistols or shotguns. Go for a rifle. As Clint Smith says, "The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down".

5. And, as always, shooting stuff is fun.

I love the summary!

[N. A. Corbier]

Those cavity deformations with the rifles were frightening. Also, I recommend the Box of Truth shooting through drywall. Rifles are powerful things, they almost go through entire houses. Almost.