Body Armor

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!

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.

Protecting your body, or the person you are guarding, with a bulletproof vest is a smart choice. Technology has allowed manufacturers to create body armor that stop a variety of bullets which prevent death or major injuries from occurring.

There is concealable, semi-rigid and rigid body armor that affords various levels of protection. Depending the level of protection that you require, you may find that the body armor that you were going to select would not properly protect you. A good rule of thumb that you can use when selecting a bulletproof vest is to choose a vest that can stop a bullet from the firearm that you currently carry. Here we touch on the benefits and limitations of Type III bullet proof vests.

Type III Body Armor

This type of body armor is not concealable, so it is worn over your clothing. It provides you with pockets and loops to hold extra ammunition and other pertinent gear.

Due to its semi-rigid nature and weight, this type of body armor is worn in tactical situations for short periods of time. The mobility of person that is wearing this type of vest is somewhat reduced. In order for a bulletproof vest to have a Type III rating, the National Institute of Justice requires the vest to stop the following bullets:

AK47 7.62mm Full metal jacket bullets with a caliber of 7.62mm, that impact with a minimum velocity of 2,850 feet per second and have a nominal mass of 166 grams.
This rated vest will also provide the same protection as Type I through IIIA vests.

These bullet proof vests will provide protection against bullets that are fired from rifles. The vests are typically worn by SWAT members and other tactical personnel as the likelihood of succumbing to this kind of fire is greater than that of a patrolman.

Maintaining your Bulletproof Vest

Just as you would oil and clean your firearm, it is important that you properly care for your body armor. To determine the proper way to care for your vest, you need to locate the tag on the vest. Some of the recommendations may include:

• Removing the plates from the carrier as they should never be washed or cleaned
• Keep the carrier away from bleach and starch products
• Do not dry the vest outdoors or in the shade as UV light can degrade the vest fibers

Taking the time to determine if a tactical bulletproof vest is right for you will ensure that you are properly protected. For continued performance and durability, it is important to properly maintain your protective gear at all times by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Having the right protective gear can mean the difference between surviving a serious calamity and dying. There are many individuals that unsuspectingly come under fire who were not properly protected. If you are in an employment position that requires a certain level of protection, then you should consider some of the many bulletproof products that are available on the market.

You may already know that you can purchase body armor that can be worn under or over your clothes. Depending on the rating of the vest, you may be protected from many types of small arms fire, as well as bullets from rifles. However, there are additional products that can be purchased which protect you from specific arms fire and are functional for everyday use.

Bulletproof Bags

Individuals that require a lower degree of protection and do not want to or need to wear a bulletproof vest can purchase bags and briefcases that will provide them with the shield that they need. Typically, the bags that consumers can purchase will provide up to a Type IIIA rating which will stop bullets such as .22, .38, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .40 and .44 Magnum calibers.

When confronted with a situation where you may be fired upon, these bags open quickly to afford protection against an oncoming bullet. If you have purchased a briefcase, the case will open to 180 degrees, allowing you to hold the top and bottom portion of the bag as a shield. Other models of bulletproof bags may also contain additional layers that can shield the body from head to toe when it is opened.

These products are normally made out of Kevlar, which is a special yarn-thread that is woven into the garment to create a protective cloth. The cloth is then cut and layered into the shape of the product. There are also other bulletproof materials, such as Spectra Shield, that may be used to create other body armor products.

Bulletproof Clothing

Many companies have created clothing options for individuals seeking every day protection that prefer not to wear regular body armor. These companies have created jackets and other items that provide the same protection as the bags mentioned above. These jackets have the ability for extra plates to be added to increase the rating if the needed arises.

If you are considering the purchase of protective gear, then you should take the time to determine what you are needs will be. Bulletproof products that are discrete can provide you the protection you require without having the wear traditional body armor.

The men and women that serve in law enforcement need to be protected on an everyday basis. These individuals are met with constant danger as they patrol the streets of our nation. Most police departments require that their patrol officers were some form of body armor as it reduces the chances of serious injury when they come under fire.

Patrolmen and Patrolwomen

In order to be protected against the threat of a gunshot, a patrolperson can wear a bulletproof vest that has a rating of Type IIIA. This particular type of vest happens to be the highest concealable personal body armor that is available today. While it is unlikely the officer is going to come under fire from a rifle, they are protected from various types of bullets, such as .22, .380, 9mm, .40, .357Magnum and .44 Magnum.

Since these vests are typically worn under the uniform, they need to be form-fitting so that the officer can move properly in them. If the vest is too big, the officer may be at a disadvantage should they need to discharge their fire arm as the vest may have shifted.

Tactical Officers

Every major city and town will more than likely have a special response unit. These highly trained individuals will handle situations that involve kidnappings, bomb threats and other hostile situations. The bulletproof vests that these individuals will ear will more than likely be rated Type III or IV. They will protect the individual for small arms fire as well as bullets from a rifle.

It is important to note that these vests are heavier than Type I through IIIA and they are more restrictive in their movements. This is because the vests need to withstand shots fired from rifles.

Corrections / Jail Personnel

Individuals that work in the corrections system do not typically have to worry about the threat of gunfire since the inmates are locked up in their cell and the only ones with fire arms are the guards. The real threat these individuals face are from stabbings. Inmates often create stabbing devices out of metal and other objects that they will impale the guard with.

To combat this threat, guards can wear concealable body armor that will protect against stabbings. There are two classes of vests (Edged Blade and Spike Class) with three levels in each class. The levels are based on the amount of energy the vest can stop, which is measured in joules.

Law enforcement personnel need to make sure that they remain protected at all times because there are individuals that are waiting to take advantage of them. By properly determining the risk of injury involved in your line of work, you will be able to select the appropriate vest that will meet your needs.

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. Why not by you? You can find excellent and unique varieties of these vests.

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. Personal 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.