Body Armor

From The Gun Tutor Safety, Security, Sport I’ve been reading a lot about National Institute of Justice (NIJ) tested body armor. As a security guard, I don’t face a lot of high risk threats, though I work in areas where weapons are not unheard of, and where threats can emerge at a moment’s notice. The reality is that on most days you won’t need the vest, but on a day that you do, you really really do. I have also worked bail enforcement, and if I return to bail work I most certainly want to wear a vest while on the job. For these reasons I have been thinking a lot about getting a vest to wear while on shift. Choosing body armor can be a daunting task. There are a lot of companies out there offering body armor that describes itself as meeting the NIJ standards, however, when you get down to the details, many of these manufacturers do not offer gear that has been tested and certified by the NIJ. Most of the manufacturers offering vests at “discount” rates have simply bypassed testing and certification. The NIJ tests vests at several levels: 1. Type IIA is tested against and must stop 124 grain 9mm FMJ ammunition at 1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s and 180 grain .40 caliber rounds at 1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s. 2. Type II is tested against and must stop 124 grain 9mm ammunition fired at 1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s and . 357 Magnum 158 grain Jacketed Soft point bullets fired at 1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s. 3. Type IIIA is tested against and must stop .357 SIG 125 grain flat nose bullets moving at 1470 ft/s ± 30 ft/s and 240 grain semi-jacketed hollowpoint .44 Magnum rounds moving at1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s . 4. Type III is getting into plate ammunition, although there is flexible type III that is manufactured, which is a little different than the standard soft armor typically considered a bullet proof vest. These plates are tested against and must stop military grade M80 7.62 rifle rounds. 5. Type IV is tested against, and must stop, armor piercing rounds. Steps you can take to select quality body armor: 1. Go online to the NIJ website to find manufacturers that have been tested https://www.justnet.org/other/ballistic_cpl.html 2. Visit the manufacturer sites and find distributors. 3. Contact distributor sales reps to determine what documentation you must provide to purchase. In most states it is legal for civilians to purchase body armor, however, some manufacturers only supply police and military clients for liability reasons. 4. Measure yourself according to the manufacturer or distributor guidelines. 5. Place your order. Some manufacturers, to reduce the cost of production, test at an independent lab. These tests can prove gear is equivalent to NIJ certified manufacturers, but you are also at the mercy of the lab. Are the distances, loads and projectile speed consistent with the standard? Where numerous tests conducted, or was only one panel tested? Does testing follow all NIJ guidelines such as the proper backing material for testing? To see the full standard published by the NIJ, download the PDF here http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/223054.pdf Another option for security guard or civilian purchase is to buy refurbished police body armor. Departments buy new vests every five years after the warranty has expired. Manufacturers can rework these vests, fixing defects and providing additional years of use. Though not, new, these vests can be a good option to increase safety at reduced cost, especially if your security job is limited in pay and benefits. If you see advertising for low cost body armor that presses you to “buy now” to get in on a special offer, take a look to see who the manufacturer is and how the vest has been tested. When stepping forward to protect others, whether you are acting as a civilian to guard your family at risk from a home invasion or as a security or law enforcement officer stepping forward to stop crimes against the community, protecting your own life is paramount. A bullet proof vest may be a helpful tool in maintaining your safety. Share this: Facebook inShare1 Email Digg StumbleUpon This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged body armor, bullet, buy, civilian, National Institute of Justice, police, proof, purcase, rifle plate, security, Vest. Bookmark the permalink. ← 5.11 Tactical Gear For the Holidays Massad Ayoob Discusses the Zimmerman Case and Stand Your Ground → 2 Responses to How to Select and Purchase Body Armor and Bullet Proof Vests Bruce says: December 3, 2012 at 12:56 pm Good information, Alan. I just got a plate carrier form Grey Ghost Gear when they had their 1/2 off sale. Now I am think about the armor to fill it. Do I go with hard plate versus soft armor? I have found some hard plate cheaper, but is that needed? Do you have any input there? Reply dynamiteutah says: December 3, 2012 at 1:27 pm Yes, I have some initial thoughts. A lot of soft body armor wraps around the side and overlaps on the ribs, which can make it hard to fit into a plate carrier, unless it is designed to combine soft and hard armor. I was looking at soft armor that fits into plate carriers, but my thought was that the soft armor could bunch up and allow a bullet to slip through the openings. My thought is to use level III plates with a plate carrier and get a level II wrap around vest for concealment. The level II’s are tested against 9mm and .357 mag, so I feel confident with that in most situations. The level IIIa steps up to stop .44 mag, but I’d think it rare to face such a revolver in a robery or home invasion scenario. Reply adsense Hosted Advertising Hosted Advertising The Gun Tutor Proudly powered by WordPress.