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BulletProofVest

Ballistic Vest for Law Enforcement

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If you are law enforcement agent or a security guard or you are somebody that needs to have a personal protection, ballistic vest can be an optimal choice. This bulletproof vest protects against ballistic threats. These soft armor ballistic vests can reach level 3A protection. These vests are very lightweight, durable, and dependable. This is body armor gear for dangerous scenarios and harsh environments.

Why to buy bulletproof vest

A soldier or a law enforcement person is more likable to face threats when they are on duty or even off duty. Though, while choosing body armor, one should research in which area are they working on? As, when comes to bullet proof vests you will find different types of vests with different materials in the market. Though, by identifying your work, you will be able to purchase the best body armor that suits your needs, and will give you the level of protection you need. Here are some of the consideration, the main threats you may face if you are in these professions:

Military personnel: In war zones, it is very important to carry and wear bullet resistance protection vest to give a coverage and protection from the ballistic threats. Since in war zones, the threat of being shot is high. The wearer must make sure that they wear bullet proof vests to provide coverage and protection to their body. These vests can contain heavy plates, which also provide protection against rifle rounds.

Prison officers and police: It is obvious that the threats encounter in these professions is very high and massively when they are patrolling. An officer or a police who is working in a city is more prone to face the threats. The officers and police are frequently involved in situations where they are been attacked by needle, knife or being shot at. In such times, the bulletproof vest should help in spike and stab protection of such sharp objects which an officer may face in there day to day situations.

The ballistic vest brings a lot of benefits to the soldiers, police, law enforcement offices to give a protection coverage during the shootings and other dangerous situations when they are on their duty. The vests are made up of strong fibers which absorb energy which comes from bullets shot from pistols. These ballistic vests absorb the energy by its ballistic layers and stope the bullet.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing Bulletproof Vests

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Personal security plays vital role, especially on the job where you can be attacked. There many cases why one should always seek personal security. For this reason buying as ballistic vest is the best step to get there.

The bulletproof vests which are used by civilians are made from ballistic fiber as Kevlar. These soft armor vests are considered being the best against handguns as they reduce the energy impact of the bullet and they not only stop the bullet but also reduce trauma to the body, these IIIA vests mainly used against pistols ammunition as 9mm and .44 mag.

Bulletproof vests which are used in military and security sector have armor plates to increase their protection. In such vests, they use multiple layers of woven materials backing the front and back armor plates. Some of these vests also have stand-alone plates on sides to provide side protection as well.

Benefits of wearing bulletproof vests:

• Some of them have affordable price
• They provide ballistic protection for upper body
• Soft armor vests are flexible and can cover other areas as neck, groin and shoulders
• Some of them are lightweight and concealed, and can easily be hidden under clothes

Before purchasing a ballistic vest, consider some important things:

• Against what threat you seek protection
• Is the vest you buying is new and from what brand
• Are these vests were tested
• What is the weight of the vest
• What kind of fiber is used in the manufacturing of this ballistic vest

If you are going to purchase bulletproof vests, keep important thing in mind, these vests can be illegal in your living area, best to check with the law enforcement before you buy one.

Make sure it is perfectly fitted on your body, take proper measurements before ordering especially when buying online.

Varieties of Ballistic Vests

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Bulletproof vest is type of body armor, that protects your upper body from bullets depends on its ballistic rating. When used with hard armor plates these vests provide protection from rifle round. These type of ballistic vests usually used by the military. Before purchasing such vest, one thing should always keep in mind that you should get the ballistic protection level or higher of what you need.

There two types of bullet proof vests that are highly popular: the first one is the Tactical Vest (also know as External Vest) and the second one is Concealable Vests.

Tactical vest can carry your gear and armor plates to protect against high caliber guns. They usually use MOLLE system and in some cases they have a backpack attached to them. They use ballistic material as aramid and polyethylene to stop the bullet. Some of them are fitted with ceramic armor plates level NIJ III and NIJ IV. They have wider protection than concealable vests and they more durable.

Concealable vest these vests are easily worn under jackets and can be easily concealed under clothes. They are highly lightweight bulletproof vests as they made from lightweight ballistic material. This type of body armor protects your body from lower caliber guns as handguns.

These vests usually have smaller protection area than the external vests. For better coverage of your body, better to use tactical and external body armor.

How and where to Buy

Before going to purchase such vests, first search in law enforcement supply shops, where you can get a new bulletproof vests from known brand.

Ballistic vests classified according to their level of protection, which is classified into the following levels:

• Level I: This type of vest protects you from the bullets of 0.22.
• Levels II-A and II: This type of vest protects you from the bullets as 9mm and 0.375 Magnum bullets.
• Levels III-A: type of vest protects you from the bullets of 9mm and 0.44 Magnum bullets.
• Level III and IV: Called hard body armor, it offers protection from rifle rounds as 5.56mm and 7.62mm.

Types of Ballistic Vests

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There many different types of body armors but the most popular are the ballistic vests that used for anti-ballistic protection. The bulletproof vest provides a ballistic protection against bullets and even knife stabs. The anti ballistic vests protect against bullet rounds and other ballistic threats. There also stab-proof vests that protect from various stab attacks as knife stabs.

Types of Ballistic Protection Available

There are many types of ballistic vest that are available in the market.

Anti-stab vest: These vests offering protection against knives and needles. They can also be made in a way to also protect against bullets.

Soft armor: these ballistic vests considered to be the standard ballistic body armor and the most popular type. They protect against handguns as 9mm and up to 0.44 magnums rounds as level 3A vests (NIJ 3A).

Armor Plates: these plates covering front and rear parts of the body from high caliber gunshots as long range rifles and assault rifles. Such types, of body armor become common in the war areas and used in plate carrier. These vests usually cannot be worn undercover. They also can provide protection against minor explosions.

Modern ballistic jackets contain multiple layers of thick fiber which reduces the effect of bullets with such ballistic cloth. The bullet stopped by those multilayer fibers, while causing a small trauma to the body.

The Advantages of Bulletproof Vests

The main benefit of the anti ballistic armour is that it can easily be concealed in clothes. These vests are flexible as well as they are light in weight and you can easily wear them just like a shirt or a jackets. Their cover made up of smooth fiber so that they will not harsh your skin.

The second main benefit of the bulletproof vest is that it can be fitter with armor plates for higher protection against high caliber bullets in addition against stabs and other threats. The bullet proof vest by it self is lightweight and come in different models and sizes.

What level of protection should I get to my Body Armor

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Body armor is used to provide protection from weapons, which would cause bodily injury and/or death. Modern day armor is used to guard individuals from the penetration of bullets from guns and rifles. They prevent bullets from passing through the armor and causing injury to inner organs by catching the bullets and absorbing the energy upon impact.

There are different levels of protection from ballistic attacks; level I, level II, level IIIA, level III and even level IV. Different levels of armor provide different levels of protection. What level of protection do you need?

For handgun protection, Level II-A, Level II and Level III-A are adequate. These levels stop the most of the pistol projectiles. The main difference between Levels is the amount of blunt trauma impact protection. Their specifications and applications are as given below:

Level II-A ~4 mm thick approx: Level II-A might be the best choice if thinness, comfort and concealability are the most important factors, e.g., if wearing for long periods, or with a lot of movement. Today’s body armor vest, made from highly resistant “futuristic” fabrics, is lightweight and flexible. It is convenient to wear.

Level II ~5 mm thick approx: Level II is often worn by police officers. A great balance between blunt trauma protection, versus cost, and thickness / concealability / comfort. What we recommend most often…

Level III-A ~8 – 10 mm thick approx: Level III-A is a little thicker, stiffer, heavier and more expensive, but will stop more of the uncommon pistol threats, for example, it is tested for 9mm sub-machine-gun and .44 Magnum. Plus it gives you blunter trauma impact protection – possibly better to return fire in a gunfight.

Level III and IV: Soft body armor is up to Level IIIA only and protects against handguns. If you need higher level of protection, you need Level III and IV body armor. They have special plates inserted in the front and back pockets of the vest. Level III and IV protect against rifle/machine gun fire whereas Level IV protects against armor piercing ammunition and Level III does not.

There is always a trade off between more protection and wear-ability or concealability – so the level of protection chosen is a personal choice. It can be of light weight or heavy weight. Vest shops even offer light weight vest for V.I.P. female. Better to get a lower protection level that you can wear conveniently and regularly, than the highest protection that isn’t worn! The best vest for you is the one you are actually wearing when shot!

Qualities of Bullet Proof Vest

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Whether you are a cadet, a sworn in officer, a first responder, security guard, military personnel or any other type of employee who puts their life in the line of fire on a daily basis, a bullet proof vest is a necessity. Bullet proof vests and other body armor are made from layers of threaded fabrics that when pressed together are able to resist gunfire from standard weaponry. It is best to recognize your level of need and decide from the most effective product in your desired range.

Bullet proof vests come in various levels. For instance a lightweight, level IIA is made of lighter weight fibers while a level IV is heavier weight and as a result much more cumbersome. Few officers would be comfortable performing regular duty in a Level IV bullet proof vest. Commonly, IIIA is used for general law enforcement needs. It is also recommended to look at how the ballistic panels are constructed inside the vest.

When purchasing a vest, you have to ensure that is authentic. There should be disclaimers on the vest and each should have a recognizable serial number and safety testing information from the National Institute of Justice. As you shop for body armor, look at the individual ratings to ensure you are buying one that will give you an optimal level of protection.

For private investigators, under cover officers and even off duty use, many people choose to wear concealed vests that fit under normal clothing without being recognizable. These will help to protect against small gunfire and simply offer a peace of mind protection for every day use.

Another consideration is the type of fibers that your vest is made from. Traditionally, they are either made from Spectra, which is a newer fiber or Kevlar. Neither of these vests will provide total protection against heavy artillery fire and many can be reinforced with trauma plates designed to add extra protection to areas of the torso. Still, the head, neck and other areas of the body are left unprotected. Often due to poor fit, bullet proof vests can leave openings into the main torso where a bullet can penetrate which is why it is essential to understand how to purchase a well fitted vest.

It is important to consider your body armor as your partner against crime. Research concludes that body armor has saved thousands of lives and has progressively decreased the amount of line of duty deaths in police officers in the last decade. Today’s bullet proof vests are made with comfort and safety in mind and come in a wide array of designs that can effectively save your life and reduce your chance of injury.

The History Behind Body Armor

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Militaries around the world have been trying to protect their personnel for hundreds of years. The only way to win wars was to have the largest troops that would be able to fight and stay alive to the very end. As longs as countries had strength in numbers, they could take over and occupy their intended targets. However, as nations became creative with their weapons they also created better protective gear.

Timeline

In the beginning, warriors wore chain mail which consisted of metal rings that were linked together to form a shirt that was worn over clothing. This type of armor would provide protection from a sword strike. Other countries would wear layers of animal skin, such as rhinoceroses as their skin were very durable. In some instances, actual metal plates would be constructed that would provide a certain level of protection.

In the 1960s, Natick Laboratories designed a vest carrier that held ceramic plates which stopped 7mm rifle rounds. In 1969, police officers would begin to use the Barrier Vest that was made by American Body Armor. It was the most widely used body armor product in its time.

In later years, weapons became stronger and companies found new ways to protect against bullets. In 1965, a DuPont scientist named Stephanie Kwolek created Kevlar. This revolutionary material would provide decades of protection from various bullets.

In 1989, the Allied Signal Company created Spectra which were a clear contender against Kevlar. The result of these two products is the same, which are high quality bulletproof vests. Since this time, other materials have been made such as Zylon, Dyneema and Gold Flex.

The Future

New technologies are making it possible to make body armor stronger, more durable and lighter. Many scientists are using liquid or fluid based materials that either coat fibers or turn into a solid state when under impact.

Testing methods are also set to become more rigid in order to ensure uniformity and safety. The National Institute of Justice will be testing for sun exposure, heat, moisture, stretching and detergents to see how it affects the life of a bullet proof vest.

Many manufacturing companies are making 2020 soldier suits that are being presented to the U.S. military and Congress. This futuristic body armour gear provides new features and added comfort.

How Does BulletProof vest Personal Body Armor Works

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If you want to protect yourself from bullets fired by terrorists or hidden enemies, wear bodyarmor. Personal Body Armor, commonly known as ‘Bulletproof vest’, can save your life from bullets. Soldiers have been wearing armor for thousands of years to protect themselves from enemies. Body armor is widely used by military, police, and body guards all over the world.

Body armor is a ‘bullet-resistant vest’. Body armor has a web of very strong fibers. When a bullet strikes it, the impact energy is transmitted to the vest from the bullet. The fibers absorb and disperse this energy causing the bullet to deform. The web is hard enough to deflect the bullet. To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction and so the armor stuff pushes out on the bullet with the same power or nearly the same force with which the bullet pushes in, so the armor is not penetrated. Additional energy is absorbed by each successive layer of material in the vest; until such time as the bullet has been stopped.

Fibers of Bodyarmor prevent the bullet from penetrating inside. The multiple layers of the vest work together like a web and thus a large area of the vest prevent the bullet from penetrating. This also disperses the forces. However this may cause blunt trauma resulting into some non penetrating injuries to inner organs of the body. Research is going on to find more suitable material so that a vest is constructed from a single ply of material.

Human flesh is soft and weak and bullets are solid and fast. Body armor has proven very effective in saving men lives under different situations. Bulletproof vests of different design and strength are made for different purposed. For example, body armor designed to overpower rifle fire is of either rigid or semi-rigid construction, made metals and hard materials like ceramics. Because of its weight and bulkiness, it is not practical for routine use. It is more relevant for use for short periods of time in tactical situations. It is worn especially to deal with higher level risks. Today, modern generation of concealable body armor is available.

Armor protects your precious life and you can, as per your threat perception, choose out of a variety of levels designed to overcome common low or medium energy handgun rounds to a rifle fire.

How Bullet Proof Vests Are Manufactured

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Workers that are in the line of fire routinely wear protective gear so that they can guard themselves against potential fatal injuries. One of the most important pieces of protection that these individuals can wear is a Personal Body Armor bulletproof vest. This shield-like jacket is designed to provide individuals with safeguard against bullets and even stabbing. While bulletproof vests are merely bullet-resistant more than bullet-proof, there is no doubt that these protective devices are saving lives every day.

There are two common types of materials that are used to make bulletproof vests, which are Kevlar and Spectra Shield. Each of these vests is created using a different manufacturing technique. More information can be found at MadeHow.

Kevlar

Kevlar is also referred to as poly-para-phenylene terephtalamide. It was created in 1965 by a scientist from DuPont named Stephanie Kwolwk. This high-strength product is a liquid polymer that is spun into a fiber which is used to create the body armor.

The thread is first created in the lab by completing a process called polymerization, which brings together the molecules into a liquid form. The liquid is then pushed through a spinneret to create long strands that are then cooled to harden the product into thread. The thread is then spun together to make the Kevlar yarn, which is the cloth that is used to create the body armor. The bulletproof vest manufacturers take the Kevlar cloth and create layers of the product that are then sewn together using Kevlar yarn.

Spectra

This product was introduced in 1989 by the Allied Signal Company, as a rival to Kevlar. The main difference between Kevlar and Spectra is that Spectra bulletproof vests are not created by weaving yarn together. Instead, Spectra fibers (made out of polyethylene polymer filaments) are laid parallel to each other and are then coated with a resin to bond them together.

These Spectra sheets are then layered and coated once more to create a cloth that is nonwoven. To install the Spectra panels on the body armor, the panels are simply inserted into pockets or pouches on the vest without any type of sewing or adhesion being used.

As you can see, the process to create the bulletproof vests is different between Kevlar and Spectra. However, the end result is the same – a protective device that affords military personnel, law enforcement and private contractors/civilians the protection they require from bullets, as well as possible stabbings.

Bulletproof Vest Type IIA Rating Basics

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Whether you are in law enforcement or private security, your personal protection should be of utmost concern. You will not be able to do your job properly if you do not feel confident in fulfilling your duties. The position that you are currently in is inherently dangerous, one way that you can increase your confidence is to use a bulletproof vest. By utilizing a quality bullet proof vest, you can help mitigate any potential impact of a bullet.

Type IIA Rated Bulletproof Vests

The National Institute of Justice characterizes Type IIA rated body armor as being proper for police departments and their full-time personnel. These vests provide protection from the same threats as Type I rated vests, as well as added coverage for:

  • 9mm – Full metal jacketed round nose 9mm bullets, which impacts the vest at a minimum velocity of 1090 feet per second and a nominal mass of 124gr.
  • .40 – Full metal jacket .40 S&W bullets that impact at a minimum velocity of 1025 feet per second and a nominal mass of 180 gr.

    • Taking these details in consideration during your body armor purchase allows you to be better equipped for a wider array of situations.

    Type IIA Purchases

    You can purchase bulletproof vests online for the ultimate in convenience. When purchasing items online, there are some things that you need to consider:

    Return Policy since you are purchasing the vest sight-unseen, you may find that the vest does not fit you properly or you are not happy with it. Make sure that the company you are purchasing from has a return policy of no less than 14 days.

    Size Label every bulletproof vest must have a label on it which clearly displays the rating of the vest, as well as the lot number, the date of issue and other care instructions. If the body armor that you purchased does not contain this information, you should send it back immediately.

    Reputation a great way to have a positive body armor experience is to find a reputable company that others have purchased from. You can read blogs and review sites were real customers have discussed their experience with certain companies. You can also speak with colleagues as to which body armor products worked best for them.

    Selecting the right rating and purchasing from a reputable company will make your purchasing experience easier. By taking the time to understand the different ratings of body armor, you will be able to select the vest that is right for you.