A Treatise on Body Armor

Bullzeye

I read this online. I dont know if it is entirely accurate, but I thought it might be useful to any of the LEOs or anyone else who might use body armor for protection. Maybe I'm preaching to the choir, but I figured it couldnt hurt.Listed is the vest and the rounds that it protected against in tests: Level II-A:.22, 40 grain, LR, 1050 fps.22 AUTO, 50 grain, FMJ, 810 fps.38 SPECIAL Lead, 158 grain, RN, 850 fps.22 MAG., 40 grain, SP, 1,180 fps.38 SPECIAL, 125 grain, SJHP +P, 1028 fps.38 SPECIAL, 158 grain, Lead +P, 1090 fps.38 SPECIAL, 110 grain, JHP +P, 1235 fps.45 AUTO, 230 grain, FMJ, 810 fps.357 MAG., 158 grain, JSP, 1250 fps.357 MAG., 158 grain, Lead SWC, 1250 fps.41 MAG., 210 grain, Lead, 965 fps9mm, 95 grain, JSP, 1250 fps9mm, 124 grain, FMJ, 1090 fps10mm, 170 grain, JHP, 1175 fps12 GAUGE, OO BUCKSHOTLevel II:All of the above, plus:41 MAG., 210 grain, JSP, 1300 fps.44 MAG., 240 grain, JSP, 1180 fps.44 MAG., 240 grain, Lead SWC, 1200 fps.357 MAG., 125 grain, JHP, 1450 fps.357 MAG., 110 grain, JHP, 1550 fps.357 MAG., 158 grain, JSP, 1395 fps9mm, 115 grain, SILVERTIP, 1170 fps10mm, 175 grain, SILVERTIP, 1225 fpsLevel III-A:All of the above, plus:9mm, 116 grain, FMJ NORMA, 1150 fps9mm, 123 grain, FMJ LAPUA, 1200 fps9mm, 123 grain, FMJ GEGO, 1200 fps9mm, 115 grain, FMJ IMI, 1200 fps.44 MAG., 240 grain, SWC (Gas Checked), 1400 fps9mm, 124 grain, FMJ - Sub-Machine-Gun, 1400 fps Level III:All of the above, plus:7.62x51mm (.308 Winchester), FMJ, 150-grain, 2750 fpsLevel IV:All of the above, plus:.30-06, armor piercing alloy-steel core, Teflon-jacket saboted, 166 grain, 2950 fps [This message has been edited by Bullzeye (edited 01-21-2002).]

competentone

Bullz,You've got some of the levels and their protections mixed-up. Level IIIA is about the highest "soft armor" practical for concealed wear.Level IV and V are usually achieved with "plate" armor inserted into pockets of a soft vest.And of important note: Most vest are warrantied by the manufactures for only about five years--the kevlar or polyethelene ("Spectra") fibers can break-down, reducing the stopping capabilties. I've seen people selling very old vests at guns shows "advertising" the level and stopping abilities--but the dates on the label were old (or absent).

RugerNiner

Did you know body armour is unlawful for civilians to wear in PA. I'm not sure about other states. CCW are easy to get in PA. so you can protect your self from by shoooting someone but can't protect yourself from getting shot. I'm pretty sure I got my facts right.

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Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!

Redleg

Ruger, I just looked it up. It is illegal for a person to wear body armor in the act of committing a crime. Civilians anywhere can have body armor.Brian

Bullzeye

5.56?I'd imagine it probably has about the same penetrating power as a .30-06 roundI know the trauma plates on the Army armor will stop 7.62x39 Russian, but wont stop 5.56mm. Higher velocity I suppose.

Evil ATF

The Level IIIA ABA vest that I wear is rated to stop a .50 AE round. The blunt trauma alone would kill me, but at least the round won't penetrate!

lrarmsx

It is as much the speed of the bullet as the size. If it is small and pointy, it will go through more layers of a vest. A .22LR will penetrate more layers of a kevlar vest than a .45acp. The .223 is very small, pointed, and is traveling relatively fast, hence its penetration capability is quite high. (SS109 is even better of course, that is one of the reasons the military uses it)

Bullzeye

The (ahem) "pointiness" of a bullet has a lot less to do with its penetrative power than you might think.To suggest that a .22 is more likely to penetrate a vest than a .45 just because the .22 is smaller and pointier is a fallacy. But a common one.Velocity and inertia are the most important factors as to whether a bullet penetrates a vest.A 9mm is much rounder and fatter than a .22LR, but whereas a level I-A vest will stop a .22LR round, it still takes a Level III-A vest to stop a 124-gr. FMJ 9mm.Why? Inertia equals mass times velocity. The 9mm is a helluva lot bigger than a .22, and also a helluva lot faster.Thats why it takes a very strong vest to stop a .50AE round, even though it's not terribly fast. It's huge, and that makes up for the velocity in the I=MV formula.[This message has been edited by Bullzeye (edited 01-22-2002).]

will270win

If it ain't banned in KA it is legal almost anywhere! Only convicted felons cannot use, wear, or own body armor here in the land of fruits and nuts.

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, take it to a mechanic. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

Bullzeye

Bullzeye sez:"If ya hit him right between the eyes, he's dead no matter what's coverin' his chest"Dead Before You Hit the Ground.....