Developed in the 1960’s for military forces, bulletproof vests were first used by the police a year after the formation of the very first SWAT team in 1968 and have since been commonly worn only by police officers who are members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. Today, bullet proof vests for sale are worn by police officers on patrol, security officers employed by private companies, and other individuals who require protection against gunshots.
Choosing Your Bulletproof Vest Carefully
For whatever reason you may have, purchasing a bulletproof vest needs careful selection. Depending on who uses it, there are several types of bulletproof vests. The Platinum AA301 series, for instance, is popular with law enforcement officers and as public body armor because of its capacity to overcome handgun shots up to 2000 feet per second (fps).
The Platinum AA302 series is known as the undercover body armor used by undercover agents with thinner straps at the shoulders. Because of its sleek design, this is easily one of the more popular bulletproof vests for salebecause it can be conveniently worn under clothes without being visually obvious.
The Platinum AA303 series is commonly use by the military and police tactical and SWAT teams. This bulletproof vest is designed to allow maximum movement for the army’s Special Forces personnel, has full side protection, and can be used in overt or covert applications.
Differences Between Soft and Hard Types of Body Armor
There are differences between soft and hard body armors and a prospective buyer of one should know them. The latter has metal or ceramic plates which can stop such as shotgun slugs or rifle bullets. The former is made of special fabrics layered to “catch” bullets in flight to disperse force of their impact.
Soft body armor is capable of stopping bullets fired from most handguns, blunt shrapnel, and shotgun pellets like 12-gauge 00 buckshots. Here are the other differences of these two types of body armor which you should know about before buying either one.
Still Other Differences of Soft and Hard Types of Body Armor
Hard body armor: may also be made of polyethylene or steel. The face of the plate is highly-resistant when it comes to impact but vulnerable to damage along the edges if the plate is non-metallic. Careful packing and shipping are a must for this type of body armor.
Soft body armor: as mentioned, it is made from special fibers like Twaron or Kevlar or polyethylene fibers which have either been resin-impregnated in parallel fashion or cross-plied such as Dyneema or Spectra. Lighter in weight than older aramid-type fibers but just as resistant to impact, the newer polyethylene fabrics are more likely to be susceptible to environmental degradation.
Ratings of Protection Levels of Vests
According to the NLECTC or National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, the performance is what is critical, not the construction or the manufacturer of the bulletproof vest for sale. A bulletproof vest is rated based on the amount of impact from a blunt force it is capable of stopping.
There are protection levels which are rated according to a bulletproof vest’s specific capability such as:
Level II-A: made of soft materials, these vests are the thinnest of their kind with a thickness of 4mm or 0.16 inches. These can be worn under clothes for relatively longer periods of time.
Level II: typically 0.2 inches or 5mm in thickness, these vests are worn by police officers in patrol concealed under clothes or under loose-fitting shirts.
Level III-A: stiffer and heavier than the Level II and Level II-A varieties, these are between 8 and 10mm or between 0.32 and 0.4 inches in thickness, designed specifically to stop bullets from .44 Magnums, 9-mm submachine gun-types like Uzis. Although these vests can be worn concealed under clothes, they are ideal for combat situations involving the use of heavy-grain bullets.
Level III/Level IV: these vests have 25cm by 30cm or 10 inch by 12 inch armor plates with thickness range between ½ and ¾ inch or between 6 and 25mm for coverage of the back and chest. Because these plates are obviously heavy (each plate is an additional 4-9 pounds or 1.8-4.1kg to the existing weight of 3-5 pounds or 1.36-2.27kg of the vest), mobility is restricted for the wearer. Level III/Level IV vests are worn by SWAT team members.
Stab-Resistant Vests
There are also vests which are stab-resistant. A bulletproof vest is useless against a knife attack, unlike stab-resistant vests. These have armor plates like those found in the armor plates of Level III/Level IV vests and are worn by personnel of correctional facilities for protection against the possibility of stabbing incidents involving prisoners with improvised stilettos and knives or smuggled sharp weapons like ice-picks.
The use of stab-resistant vests is not limited to personnel of correctional facilities. Residents of neighborhoods where violence instigated by street gangs is prevalent would be safer with these kinds of vests. Like a bullet proof vest for sale, a stab-resistant vest is also rated based on the amount of impact it can deflect. Currently, there are three protection levels that a stab-resistant vest is capable of:
- Level 1: protective against pressure measured at 24 Joules (J).
- Level 2: protective against pressure measured at 33 Joules (J).
- Level 3: protective against pressure measured at 43 Joules (J).
An Affordable, Quality Vest is Available
Before purchasing a ballistic vest for sale you should have calculated the protection level you require with the mobility which you need. A heavy vest, while providing greater protection, would also reduce your mobility. A lighter vest, on the other hand, will allow you flexibility of movement but your protection would be limited. Purchasing a vest would also depend on your budget. You don’t buy the first bulletproof vest you see without considering whether it’s value for your money or not.
Check out http://bulletsafe.com to find out why it’s the best place to buy a bulletproof vest for a reasonable $299. Manufactured without sacrificing the quality of materials or level of protection, BulletSafe bulletproof vests are ideal for gas station attendants, hunters, private investigators, security personnel, law enforcement officers, and anyone who wants and needs protection from danger. And other than bullets from guns, the vests at BulletSafe are also highly resistant to sun, moisture, and fatigue.
Add-Ons and Used Body Armor
Do remember that body armor like a bulletproof vest protects the torso primarily. Protection for your neck, shoulders, groin, and neck will require add-ons. Ensure that these add-ons will not be additional restrictions for you if your bulletproof vest is already the heavy type; additional protective layers add to the overall cost of the vest as well.
A word of caution on used body armor: while it has been tested and deemed by the National Institute of Justice to be resistant as the newer types of armor, the fabric of a used vest carrier’s outer shell may be wear out faster than a new Kevlar vest for sale; this will require replacing the carrier’s elastic sooner and cost you additional expense.