Ballistic Vest > Tactical Gear

Posted: 5/15/2007 4:36:45 AM EDT

I have a list of questions regarding ballistic vests. Hope you have the answers.hat
2. Insert plates called SAPI, what is that standing for?

3. If a ballistic vest is proberly NIJ tested does it mean it is quality and a trustworthy product? If this is true, then why purchase ballistic vest for 1000+ dollars when you can get one NIJ certified for under 300 dollars??!?!?! Something I don't understand here!!

4. Anyone who know the different between Dyneema and UHMWPE fibre WITHOUT Dyneema trademark? By the way what is best Dyneema or Twaron(aramid fibre) for ballistic protection?

5. When buying an armor with level IIIA protection does include stab proof capabilities?

6. What kind of insert plates offers lightest weight with highest protection, Ceramic, Alumina, Steel, or UHMWPE fibre?

Thank you, that was all I had!

PS: Any advise which armor brand is of higher quality?

Posted: 5/15/2007 10:44:24 AM EDT

[#1]

#5 the answer is no stab rating is diffrent than the standard balistic rating

#6 would probly be the plastic plates they make, but they would be subject to damage from the elements and time in service more so than the steel or ceramic plates

that's all the help I got

just my opinion on the plates

Posted: 5/15/2007 5:42:12 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I have a list of questions regarding ballistic vests. Hope you have the answers.

1. What is SAPI standing for? Small Arms Protective Insert

2. Insert plates called SAPI, what is that standing for?

3. If a ballistic vest is proberly NIJ tested does it mean it is quality and a trustworthy product? If this is true, then why purchase ballistic vest for 1000+ dollars when you can get one NIJ certified for under 300 dollars??!?!?! Something I don't understand here!!

Here is some info from the Dept.. of Justice web site about the NIJ testing

Body armor performance standards were developed to ensure that commercially available armor meets minimum performance requirements. Standards development, performed by the N I J Office of Law Enforcement Standards located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, followed these basic steps:

The Office of Law Enforcement Standards OLES investigated existing recognized standards and having found none suitable, created a new standard.
Body armor was operationally and scientifically examined to determine attributes and to identify minimum performance criteria.
Minimum performance requirements and test methods were developed to help to determine if a particular body armor manufacturer and model meets minimum performance requirements.
Industry, public safety, and laboratory representatives reviewed and provided input to the standard.
N I J promulgated the voluntary performance standards.
NOTE: Typically, there are no Federal or State requirements for public safety equipment to be tested and approved before sale.

4. Anyone who know the different between Dyneema and UHMWPE fibre WITHOUT Dyneema trademark? By the way what is best Dyneema or Twaron(aramid fibre) for ballistic protection?

5. When buying an armor with level IIIA protection does include stab proof capabilities?

6. What kind of insert plates offers lightest weight with highest protection, Ceramic, Alumina, Steel, or UHMWPE fibre?

Thank you, that was all I had!

PS: Any advise which armor brand is of higher quality?

IMHO if you are trusting your life to it, buy from a reputable well established manufacturer. Point Blank, Second Chance, PACA, American, Safariland. The NIJ standards, as I read them just indicate the product met the minimum standards to do what it advertises. However a lot of factors influence if soft armor is going to actually work or not when it comes down to game day. (e.i. care of the vest by owner, the gun the round is shot from (i.e. pistol vs. sub machine gun or carbine). I once got to participate in some body armor studies with a well known body armor maker and it was comforting to see that the very well worn and outdated vest we were issued exceeded the minimum standards for the vest rating. The vests we shot were LIIa or LII, I don't recall, but they took every round from the pistols and shotguns we could put into them with no penetration.

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