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Ballistic Body Armor: An alternative to firearms
The growing fear of firearms in our country is something to take notice upon. It is affecting various community groups such as our veterans, friendly gun enthusiasts, and even the hard working parents wanting to protect their families from the upcoming outrage of today’s society. Many are beginning to believe that Anti-gun lobbyists are starting to catch the ears of those in power. Already, gun laws and gun free zones are becoming more and more restricting. What seems to be a way to control firearms in America is becoming a national outrage from our patriotic Americans. As a result, a growing number of civilians are considering a non-lethal alternative to firearms. Civilian body armor is a growing market for those looking for protection without owning a firearm. Body armor can also be the perfect accessory for veterans and gun enthusiasts alike. While it may not be a perfect alternative for personal protection such as a firearm, it is understandable why many have turned to ballistic vests as a means of safety. The image of violence is heavily portrayed when civilians notice the presence of a firearm while a bullet-proof vest seems to be an ultimate tool for true “self-defense” in the ballistics world.
Bulletproof armor: An Introduction
Bulletproof armor is the type of protection most commonly used in all occupations made hazardous due to encounters with firearms. Bulletproof vests protect people by dispersing the energy of a round and deforming it in order to minimize blunt force trauma.
There are many different types of bulletproof vests designed for encounters with certain firearms and situations. For example, there is soft-body armor designed to be more lightweight and concealable as well as tougher body armor that can protect people in intense combat situations.
This report will detail the different types of body armor available, the materials used in the creation of body armor and how armor is categorized according to the National Institute of Justice on Body Armor (NIJ).
National Institute of Justice on body armor: A history
Firearms are one of the most dangerous threats faced by law enforcement officers in the United States, according to the NIJ. During the past three decades, ballistic-resistant soft body armor has saved the lives of more than 3,000 police officers.
Body armor is critical safety equipment that law enforcement and corrections officers need for personal protection. The NIJ establishes and updates performance standards for body armor, conducts testing against these standards to ensure that body armor complies with the standards and sponsors research to improve body armor.
Due to this rigorous testing, police body armor is one of the best-known products resulting from NIJ-funded research. The NIJ’s police body armor performance standard for ballistic resistance is the only national standard for police body armor.
The NIJ standard is known worldwide, and it is the performance benchmarkfor ballistic-resistant body armor.
NIJ on Different types of body armor
Protective vests for law enforcement officers include ballistic-resistant and stab-resistant body armor that provides coverage and protection primarily for the torso. Different kinds of armor protect officers against different kinds of threats.
Ballistic-resistant body armor protects against bullet penetrations and the blunt trauma associated with bullet impacts. This type of armor includes soft body armor that protects against handgun bullets and less flexible tactical armor composed of soft and hard components that protect against rifle bullets.
Also available to officers is stab-resistant body armor that protects against knives and spikes. This type of armor works better for corrections officers.
Manufacturers also create combination armor that protects against both bullets and stabbings.
When purchasing body armor keep in mind what situations one will encounter before choosing.
NIJ body armor levels: General overview
The official U.S. National Institute of Justice Body Armor Classification ranks bulletproof vests and other body protection (made of Kevlar and other materials) on a scale from I to IV for its ability to protect against bullets fired from weapons of different power.
For example, at the low end of the scale, type IIA armor has the ability to protect against smaller handgun bullets; one needsat least 16 layers of Kevlar for this armor. Higher up the scale, type IIIA armor can protect against more powerful handgun bullets such as .44 Magnum; one needs at least 30 layers for this.
It is important to note that even Kevlar has its limits. For protection against rifle bullets (ordinary or armor-piercing), which travel much faster with considerably higher kinetic energy, Kevlar is not enough. Kevlar needs to be combined with steel and ceramic plates for these situations.
Type iia (9mm; .40 s&W)
Type IIA armor that is new and unworn is tested with 9mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 373 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets with a specified mass of 11.7 g (180 gr) and a velocity of 352 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
Conditioned type IIA armor is tested with 9mm FMJRN with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 355 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1165 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)and with .40 S&W FMJ bullets with a specified mass of 11.7 g (180 gr) and a velocity of 325 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1065 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type ii (9mm; .357 magnum)
Type II armor that is new and unworn is tested with 9 mm FMJ RN bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 398 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) bullets with a specified mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Conditioned type II armor is tested with 9 mm FMJ RN bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 379 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1245 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .357 Magnum JSP bullets with a specified mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) and a velocity of 408 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type iiia (.357 sig; .44 magnum)
Type IIIA armor that is new and unworn is tested with .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and a velocity of 448 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1470 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets with a specified mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type IIIA armor that has been conditioned is tested with .357 SIG FMJ FN bullets with a specified mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and a velocity of 430 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1410 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .44 Magnum SJHP bullets with a specified mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a velocity of 408 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type III (Rifles)
Type III hard armor or plate inserts shall are tested in a conditioned state with 7.62 mm FMJ, steel jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80) with a specified mass of9.6 g (147 gr) and a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
Type III flexible armor is tested in both the “as new” state and the conditioned state with 7.62 mm FMJ, steel jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80) with a specified massof 9.6 g (147 gr) and a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
For a Type III hard armor or plate insert that will be tested as an in conjunction design, the flexible armor is tested in accordance with this standard and found compliant as a stand-alone armor at its specified threat level.
NIJ-approved hard armors and plate inserts must be clearly labeled as providing ballistic protection only when worn in conjunction with the NIJ-approved flexible armor system with which they were tested.
Type IV (Armor Piercing Rifle)
Type IV hard armor or plate inserts are tested in a conditioned state with .30 caliber armor piercing (AP) bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type IV flexible armor is tested in both the “as new” state and the conditioned state with .30 caliber AP bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
For a Type IV hard armor or plate insert that will be tested as an in conjunction design, the flexible armor is tested in accordancewith this standard and found compliant as astand-alone armor at its specified threat level.
NIJ-approved hard armors and plate inserts must be clearly labeled as providing ballistic protection only when worn in conjunction with the NIJ-approved flexible armor system with which they were tested.
Soft Armor Vs. Hard Armor
There are two types of body armor: Hard and Soft armor. Each type has their own strengths and weaknesses. Hard body armor is made of ballistic steel or ceramic or other similar, inflexible material. Soft body armor is made from Kevlar, Spectra, Twaron, or any other fabric-like ballistic material. Hard body armor is much stronger than soft body armor – only hard armor is capable of defeating rifle caliber ammunition and some types of armor-piercing ammunition.
Soft armor is only capable of stopping low-velocity projectiles like handgun bullets, shotgun pellets and fragmentation from explosions. Hard armor is capable of stopping all the aforementioned threats, but it can also defeat high-velocity projectiles from rifles and shotgun slugs.
Soft Armor is strong but relatively light. The specific tensile strength of both Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49 is over eight times greater than that of steel wire, and unlike most plastics, it does not melt. Kevlar is reasonably good at withstanding temperatures and decomposes only at about 450 degrees Celsius (850 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike its sister material, Nomex, Kevlar can be ignited but burning usually stops when the heat source is removed.
Very low temperatures have no effect on Kevlar: DuPont found, “no embrittlement or degradation,” down to -196 degrees Celsius (-320 degrees Fahrenheit).
Kevlar can resist attacks from many different chemicals, though long exposure to strong acids or bases will degrade it over time.
In DuPont’s tests, Kevlar remained “virtually unchanged” after exposure to hot water for more than 200 days and its super-strong properties are “virtually unaffected” by moisture.
Whereas with Hard armor, there is no fear that it is going to melt on the wearer, or degrade after long term usage and ownership. The wearer knows that it is strong, and can last them a lifetime of use.
Conclusion
Bulletproof armor is essential for those working in occupations that expose them to firearms. Most Americans are having the growing realization that owning body armor is now important, and can be the difference between life or death. Body Armor can be made in a varied set of ways for different situations and types of firearms encountered. Through careful consideration and analysis, law enforcement agencies and other security personnel can acquire the vest best suited to their needs, which would be Hard Armor. It is the strongest, and most durable out of all of the choices, and will never let the wearer down when it comes to protection.
References
Body Armor
Date Modified: July 12, 2013
Last Retrieved: December 13, 2015, from
http://www.nij.gov/topics/technology/body-armor/pages/welcome.aspx
Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor, NIJ Standard-0115.00
Last Retrieved December 13, 2015, from
http://www.nij.gov/publications/Pages/publication-detail.aspx?ncjnumber=183652
Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor NIJ Standard-0101.06
Last Retrieved December 13, 2015, from
NIJ Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor
http://www.nij.gov/publications/Pages/publication-detail.aspx?ncjnumber=223054