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Shot some old vests today....

SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
The ambulance service I work for bought us some new body armor a few months ago, so they pulled the old vests (10 yrs old) off the trucks. The old ones have been sitting in a closet at the station, so we asked our Director today if we could take them out and fire some rounds at them just to see how they performed. He said that they were going to trash them anyway, so he gave the "go ahead". Took them to the range and shot the following rounds at them. 9mm Hydra-Shoks, 10mmFMJ, 10mm Black Talons and 45LC lead. I must say, I was surprised that NONE of the rounds made it past the front side of the vest. We dug some of them out, but some we couldn't get through all the fibers. Just thought I'd share this!!
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Comments

  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Doesn't mean it wouldn't still hurt like @#$$ if you got shot while wearing one!
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  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Slider,
    The cops around here tell me that the only thing that can hurt vest (Kevlar panels) are bleach and prolonged sunlight.
    The installed life of a vest is provided by the manufacturer to continue selling vest.
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
    Slider,
    The cops around here tell me that the only thing that can hurt vest (Kevlar panels) are bleach and prolonged sunlight.
    The installed life of a vest is provided by the manufacturer to continue selling vest.


    I've heard this many times over the years. As the results of Sliders' "testing", I'd say it's true. If Kevlar really doesn't have a REAL shelf life, the only way for the makers to sell more is to convince you it DOES have a shelf life.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    You didn't say what the threat level is on the armor.

    We shot up some old armor several years ago. I made big bundles of newspaper, about 14" thick, soaked them overnight in water, and placed the armor on the wetpack before shooting. We were pretty sure the armor would defeat the rounds, but we wanted to see the blunt trauma effect.

    We did not shoot multiple times on the same panel. One panel, one shot. Threat levels varied from IIA to IIIA and I don't remember which threat level armor was shot with which round.

    Firing was done from maybe 6 feet. The .38 Special Winchester 158 grain +P lead hollowpoint made a little dimple. The 9mm 115 grain +P+ made a bigger dimple. The .40 S&W 155 grain +P made a still bigger dimple, maybe 4" in diameter and an inch deep.

    Then we tried the shotgun with 00Buck. It made a large but shallow dimple, and the armor stopped all the pellets.

    Last was the 12 gauge slug. The slug defeated the front panel, penetrated the wetpack, then defeated the back panel, punched a hole in the back of the chair where the wetpack sat, and continued downrange.

    We concluded that, even if the armor were to stop the slug, it would still probably ruin your day to get hit by one.
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  • SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sure enough....I forgot to post that they were all level II-A
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  • CubsloverCubslover Member Posts: 18,601 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would have taken one home......you know......just in case.[;)]

    Terrorists are everywhere, you may never know when it would come in handy.
    Half of the lives they tell about me aren't true.
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  • SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I did take one home...right after the pulled them off the trucks a few months ago. I picked the best one out of the bunch. And, yes, I did get approval from our director!!! I'm an honest guy.
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  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
    edited November -1
    I have an expired vest I got from a LEO friend many years ago. I belive the made date is 1995. I figure it like this, even if it isnt 100% you will still be in way better shape then you would be if you didnt have it. Nothing I have ever heard said that using an expired vest would be worse then none.
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  • BufflerBuffler Member Posts: 821 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try a 22 mag, also a 7.62x25mm Tokarev.
    BE SAFE!! Buffler
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  • chunkstylechunkstyle Member Posts: 2,463 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try a 7.62x39.
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  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I can tell you that a level IIA will not stop most rifle rounds even if you put it on a stuffed animal from the carnival. We thought mighty mouse could surely work but he was killed and stuffing was all around and the newbies were stuck cleaning as usual. It did however stop a 454 at 20 feet fired from my Ruger Alaskan which the trauma will probably be enough to stop your heart from beating in an instant.

    PJ
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  • sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
    edited November -1
    Its sad that an ambulance medic would have to use a bullet proof vest! In another 50 years you will have to drive amored vehicles and paid them in camo.
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  • tacking1tacking1 Member Posts: 3,844
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by sig232
    Its sad that an ambulance medic would have to use a bullet proof vest! In another 50 years you will have to drive amored vehicles and paid them in camo.


    pow...next thing the ministers will have them!
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  • WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,936 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    We had a military flak jacket of some sort, that I wouldn't call a bullet proof vest, and I seem to think it said it could stop a 9mm. Well we got a little excited and did things in the wrong order, We started with a 300Win Mag and worked our way down through rifles and into shotguns then big handguns and then there wasn't much left of it to shoot anymore. It was fun, not real scientific I suppose but it was a wonderful time.
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  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not to hijack, but here's a great unscientific website on penetration tests against various different items including drywall, kevlar, combination locks, etc.

    It's great read with lots of pictures.

    http://www.theboxotruth.com/

    Site it put on by a bunch of AR15.com members.
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  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    there is a program out that police departments donate their old vest, and then they get redistributed to smaller police departments that cannot afford vest

    next time you hear of officer billy-bob-jim-bo taking a round because he didn't have a vest, remebers sliders testing {lol}
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  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    ok, just shake me a little..maybe i'm a little green but why the hell do the ambulance ,(life saving team), have to wear body amour, whats going on in town?? phew.
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  • SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    We don't wear the vests all the time. We have them in cases of a call that could potentially have the need for them. In fact, my policy (as well as our service's policy) is that if the scene is not safe, we do not enter until it has been deemed safe by law enforcement. Can't say enough good stuff about the officers that we have covering our backs around here!!
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  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SLIDER-in-KY
    We don't wear the vests all the time. We have them in cases of a call that could potentially have the need for them. In fact, my policy (as well as our service's policy) is that if the scene is not safe, we do not enter until it has been deemed safe by law enforcement. Can't say enough good stuff about the officers that we have covering our backs around here!!

    intresting....i'd of thought you guys had the upmost respect ,along with other emergency services, been the finest & all.
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  • SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    huh??
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  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    my slang confusing you,[:D] ok ,emergency services are regarded as the trusty peoples servants,to help out ,fix up & the well been factor. i cannot understand anybody wanting to harm someone who is offering a helping hand !
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  • SLIDER-in-KYSLIDER-in-KY Member Posts: 1,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No problem, Mond. You had me a little confused for a minute!! 99% of the time, we are treated very well. There's always the mean drunk or domestic situation that tends to get out of hand. Like I said, it's always nice knowing that the local police officers are watching out for us.
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  • gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290 ✭
    edited November -1
    Back when I was an EMT-A, the first thing done was to make sure the aid-givers weren't in harms' way; you cannot help someone if you're hurt worse than they are.
    I bought some shrapnel panels from a surplus joint a while back (they fit on the open backs of Hummers)to see if they were "bullet-resistant"; not a chance! The first 9mm went right through at 25 yards, after folding the panel several times, another 9mm penetrated all 8 folds.
    Guess that would be a -Ia threat level.
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