What are bulletproof vests – all the intricacies of choosing something important in our special material. You can learn more about bulletproof vests on the http://military-armor.com.

A little history

The history of bulletproof vests is ancient: even primitive people thought about how to protect themselves from cold steel and used the skins of animals that wrapped the body.

Times have changed, metals have been used for protection. Thus appeared chain mail, cuirass and armor.

Familiar to all chain mail – a shirt made of many round or flat metal rings

In the twentieth century, firearms appeared, upsetting the fragile balance between defense and attack. During the Second World War, there were attempts to create anti-bullet “cuirass”, but due to heavy weight and poor ergonomics, they did not take root.

In the 50s of last century instead of metals began to use durable synthetic fabrics, including nylon. Such vests did not save well from bullets and well from debris.

Kevlar

Epoch-making was the invention of DuPont durable material based on aramid fibers, which received the brand name  kevlar . His vests held ordinary bullets well and did not restrict the fighter’s movements.

This material has several names, such as “SVM”, “creature”, but we know it as “Kevlar”

The principle of the fabric bulletproof vest is simple – the bullet that falls into it is consistently braked by many layers of durable synthetic fabric with a special weave of fabric.

In the process, the individual layers of fabric are torn, “passing the baton” of the ball to the next layers.

A classic bulletproof vest that many people are used to seeing. This model, with a protection level of 3A, can withstand the impact of a powerful pistol bullet 44 magnum

Body armor is usually worn over the head and fastened on the belt with Velcro fasteners. The shoulder straps have adjustment. Modern models redistribute their weight so as to increase comfort by unloading the shoulders.

Modern assault bulletproof vest of modular design: a case with pockets into which the necessary armor plates are inserted. You can compose protection based on needs and capabilities

Kevlar has significant disadvantages:

  • Under the influence of water, the strength of the threads decreases almost twice. This is a reversible phenomenon, but it is unacceptable for such an important accessory. Manufacturers protect Kevlar fabric with waterproof films and special impregnations.
  • Kevlar ages and loses its strength over time. Leading manufacturers of Kevlar vests usually give a 5-year warranty on their products.
  • Prickly cold steel and sharp bullets easily push Kevlar threads apart when hit, bypassing the protection. It is possible to struggle with it, using various ways of weaving of a protective fabric and an armor plate in a modular design.

Plates are made of armored steel, cermets or polymers.

Metal ceramics is a strong and light material that protects well from injuries. But it crumbles from multiple hits, is expensive and quite thick.

Steel is a more durable and cheaper material, perfectly withstands multiple hits and easily saves from cold steel. But steel armor plates are heavy and prone to the formation of secondary fragments, so you need a protective substrate, such as Kevlar.

Polymers are the same Kevlar or more modern highly oriented extruded polyethylene. The latter is comparable in strength to Kevlar fabric, but lighter and stiffer. Light and medium level protection can be built on the basis of such panels. Cons – high price and flammability.

Types of vests

Anti-personnel grenade launchers, bombs and unguided missiles have been widely used for the last 50-60 years. Their fragments have relatively low kinetic energy, but during the explosion of ammunition, many of them are formed, and they can get into any part of the body, causing serious damage.

To protect against splinters, there are anti-splinter vests – relatively light and comfortable. They often have a special protective stand-up collar and a triangular apron for the groin area.

In addition to bulletproof and anti-splinter bulletproof vests, there are special sapper samples. Although they are difficult to call vests – they are almost spacesuits made of a vest, helmet, protective pants, gloves and even additional aprons. They are used by sappers for demining and weigh 20-40 kg.

Special also include vests that protect against cold steel – stab vest. They are resistant to knife cuts and are often used by police in Western countries. In fact, these are light bulletproof vests made of Kevlar and its analogues.

Types of vests

By type of wearing body armor are:

  • Outdoor wear  – put on clothes (shirt or even a T-shirt) and are well visible.
  • Concealed wear  – designed to protect the lives and health of people who are not ready to demonstrate the use of such protection.

In our time, this distribution has become quite conditional: no one interferes with wearing a “hidden” vest over clothes, and vice versa – to wear a normal light bulletproof vest under the shirt. The advent of modular vests has further smoothed these boundaries, allowing a balance between protection and comfort / visibility.

However, specialized models of concealed wear are actively offered on the market. As a rule, they guarantee easy protection – in particular from pistol bullets. But in the presence of a modular system can be equipped with additional armor plates.

Security

It is difficult to accurately measure the security of a bulletproof vest, because it is influenced by many factors:

  • type of weapon;
  • type of ammunition used – ordinary, armor-piercing bullet;
  • firing range;
  • the nature of the shelling of the bulletproof vest – the number and location of hits;
  • weather conditions.

Producer countries use their own unique methodologies and classifications. 

Europe has adopted its CEN standard. Thus, bulletproof vests of classes BR2-BR3-BR4 provide protection against pistols 9 mm Parabellum, 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum, respectively.

Class BR5 regulates the resistance to the rifle with a standard NATO cartridge 5.56×45. BR6-BR7 bulletproof vests protect against attack by rifles using the NATO 7.62×51 cartridge, lead and steel, respectively. As you can see, the classification is quite simple and concise.

There is a standard in the US – NIJ. According to him, the dent on ballistic plasticine that mimics the human body should not be deeper than 44 mm. There is a division into 3 “pistol” classes and 2 for rifles.

As you can see, classes in different countries differ, and it is difficult to compare them. However, almost everywhere there is one simple rule: a bulletproof vest of a certain class protects against weapons of all previous classes, with a few exceptions. And second – each subsequent class of bulletproof vests is usually heavier than the previous one.

Unloading vests

One hundred years ago, ammunition was worn on a wide belt with two shoulder straps. Cartridge cases, results and flasks were attached there.

In these systems it was inconvenient to climb plastun, and the capacity was limited. Therefore, the appearance of  unloading veins was natural .

This vest is made of durable fabric – first there was a tarpaulin and leather, then synthetic fabrics, with reliable accessories. He has many different pockets and sewn-on results – for rifle and pistol magazines, first aid kits, flasks, walkie-talkies, grenades, etc. All equipment is relatively evenly distributed throughout the body, except for the back.

For individual fitting of the vest, various fixing systems are used, the most popular of which is MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment).

The principle is simple: horizontal strips of fabric with slits are sewn on the vest and the results. A fabric strap extends through these slots and any compatible result can be easily attached and detached.

MOLLE and analogues are actively used in unloading, bulletproof vests, travel backpacks and even civilian briefcases.

In addition to tactical army vests on sale are solutions for hunters and fishermen. The first is characterized by a cartridge case and the results for ammunition, some models have a bag for small game on the back. The latter have many small pockets for various fishing gear.

Tips

Before choosing a bulletproof vest, decide on its type. Civilians in the combat zone will be suitable for something light, such as a vest. For public figures who fear for their lives, the best choice will be a light bulletproof vest, preferably with armor plates. Soldiers need an army model with a high class of protection.

The bulletproof vest does not look like ordinary casual clothes, so do not expect comfort from it, especially from heavy models. You need to get used to it. When choosing a suitable vest, think about how you will move in it, how long you need to stay in it and in what climatic conditions you will have to do it.

Body armor – not a panacea, wearing it, do not provoke the enemy to check the protective qualities. Unfortunately, even a good body armor has weaknesses, such as sidewalls, you should know about them. An injury or even a puncture can be a serious security charge.

In any case, you can not “check the fight” bulletproof vest after purchase, especially on a person. Shooting a vest reduces protection: ceramic plates are destroyed, the protective shell of Kevlar panels is damaged. This can result in the injury and death of the “mannequin”. Remember, the best “test” is a competent choice and application.

Modular design is a very convenient option. You can flexibly adjust the body armor to yourself and the degree of danger. The main thing: a competent approach taking into account the properties of modular plates. Armor plates are a responsible part of protection, so buy and use only new and certified ones, savings are not allowed here.

We hope that our material will help you choose a really reliable defender