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Archive for the Bullet Resistant Category
What are the standards implemented by the National Institute of Justice?
Why body armor?
Why body armor?
Firearms have shown to be a threat to a lot of lives all around the world, including the United States. Body armor has come into play, safeguarding the life of a lot of people, for at least the last three decades. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene conducted a study, where they compared officers that wore body armor daily to those who did not. Results showed how officers who do not wear body armor as a routine are 3.4 times more likely to be fatally injured from a torso shot than those officers who do wear protection. Law enforcement and correction officers have relied, and continue to do so, on the protection provided by bulletproof vests. But how do they choose the right protection? The answer is by following the NIJ standards.
What does NIJ stand for?
Not everyone’s armor is made to shield the same impact, reason why there are various levels of protection that need to be taken into consideration. Therefore, when choosing the right body armor, it is essential to ensure that it adheres to the protection level you need. The best way to get an accurate estimate is by following certain common standards. Even though there are several standards set by different departments, the most widely used guidelines are those set by the National Institute of Justice, recognized as one of the world leaders at standardizing body protection. The NIJ standard is the only one that is nationally accepted for the body armor worn by law enforcement, which proves why it is the most reliable and used measurement. When handling body armor, the NIJ has three specific tasks, the first one being the establishment and update of voluntary minimum performance guidelines for the body armor. Secondly, they are to conduct testing against those standards to make sure that the body armor in question meets those guidelines. The other major task the NIJ is responsible for is sponsoring research with the ultimate goal of improving body armor in general, since technology and new discoveries are constantly improving and growing.
What is the standard used now?
The NIJ Standard-0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor was released on July of 2008 by the National Institute of Justice. The “.06” standard is responsible for setting the minimum performance requirements and examination methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor meant to shield impacts directed at the torso. Something to take into consideration is that the fact that this new standard has been imposed does not mean that the body armor models that comply with the .04 standards are invalidated. However, it is recommended to follow the new standard rather than the old one. Also, the NIJ Standard-0101.06 requires more rigorous testing of ballistic armor.
What does NIJ level I protection include?
The first level of the National Institute of Justice is NIJ Level I, which is the most basic level of protection. This armor protects against .22 caliber Long Rifle Lead Round Nose (LR LRN) bullets with nominal masses of 2.6 g (40 gr) impacting at a velocity of at least 320 m/s (1050 ft./s). It also protects against 380 ACP Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with nominal masses of 6.2 g (95 gr) with a velocity impact of 312 m/s (1025 ft./s) or less. In more general terms, this level of body armor protection shields against the impact of small handguns only.
What does NIJ level IIA protection include?
The second level of protection, NIJ Level IIA is a little more complete than the first one in the sense that it not only protects against small handguns but also against low velocity handguns as well. This type of body armor protects against 9mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a minimum velocity of 332 m/s (1090 ft./s) and .40 S&W caliber Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets with nominal masses of 11.7 g (180 gr) at a minimum velocity of 312 m/s (1025 ft./s) or less. Additionally, it protects against Level I threats as well. NIJ Level II protection is usually required by police departments and full-time guards.
What does NIJ level II protection include?
The third level is referred to as NIJ Level II because it is basically the same thing as NIJ Level IIA, but with a little more of protection. Instead of just shielding impacts from small handguns and low velocity handguns, it also protects against high velocity handguns. In more specific terms, it shields impacts of .357 Magnum jacketed soft-point bullets with nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr.) going at a velocity of 425 m/s (1,395 ft./s) or less and against 9mm full-jacketed bullets with nominal velocities of 358 m/s (1,175 ft./s). It is also great protection against most of the other factory loads in caliber .357 Magnum and 9mm and is assumed that it also protects against the Level I and IIA threats. This type of body armor tends to be heavier and with more bulk than the levels before it. It is usually worn by full time officers.
What does NIJ level IIIA protection include?
The National Institute of Justice provides levels that range from NIJ Level I all the way to NIJ Level III. In between those there is NIJ Level IIIA, which is one of the most commonly sought levels of body armor protection. A person that is looking for a complete protection that can be worn daily usually refers to this level. This armor protects against impacts from a .44 Magnum, semi jacketed hollow point (SJHP) bullets with nominal masses of 15.55 g (240 gr.) impacting at a velocity of 426 m/s (1,400 ft./s) or less, and against 9mm full-metal jacketed bullets with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr.) impacting at a velocity of 426 m/s (1,400 ft./s) or less. NIJ Level IIIA also protects bullets from small handguns, low velocity handguns, high velocity handguns, high powered handguns and sub machine guns.
What does NIJ level III protection include?
After NIJ Level IIIA, the next level of protection is called NIJ Level III. This level protects against impacts from 7.62mm full-metal jacketed bullets (US military designation M80) with nominal masses of 9.7 g (150 gr.) impacting at a velocity of 838 m/s (2,750 ft./s) or less. Also, it provides protection against threats such as 223 Remington (5.56mm FMJ), 30 Carbine FMJ, and 12-gauge rifled slug, as well as Level I through IIIA threats. NIJ Level III is considered one of the best levels, since it protects from a larger range of guns. Specifically, it can receive bullets from small handguns, low velocity handguns, high velocity handguns, high powered handguns, sub machine guns, machine guns, high powered rifles as well as assault rifles.
The Best Body Armor
The Best Body Armor is a company that specializes on providing the highest quality of body armor at the lowest prices. It not only offers body armor that has surpassed the Department of Justice guidelines but that also exceeds National Institute of Justice standards for NIJ IIIA and NIJ III. All the products are assembled and manufactured here in the United States, and come with a 10-year warranty included. Every unit is to be custom made to spec, hand inspected individually, and sold direct from a United States government sanctioned body armor manufacturer. We offer one size vest, since they can be easily adjusted to any body type. All the body armor is tested by independent, government sanctioned weapons labs, and each vest is individually made and inspected for each customer to provide a vest that offers maximum protection against any attack. All the plates are made with a specialized shooter cut to provide the maximum coverage possible while also having enough space for good mobility.
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The ‘not too distant’ future of body armor
When it comes to the technological development of body armor and bullet proof vests one struggles to find a current middle ground. You have either the kevlar vests, which offer less body coverage and less protection but more mobility, or the heavier vests which boast higher stopping power, protection and can take multiple projectile hits but at the cost of mobility, comfort and in some occasions overheating. So why hasn’t there been any new development being the vital equipment that it is. You argue it’s the greed of private companies or the bureaucracy of the government which have halted any “groundbreaking” new technology in recent years, yet some big ideas have begun to come to light that promise a revolutionary new equipment that might save countless troop and civilian lives. So, taking into consideration that an average soldier needs about 31 pounds of armor to be fully protected and even with the minimum amount of gear still totaling in at around 21 pounds, the Army is being forced to switch troops to a lighter 16.5 pound vest that offers 1/4 of the protection. The main concern all manufacturers have with tackling this problem is making heavy armor plates at least 10 to 20 times lighter than any current plating without it affecting the integrity of the armor. Apart from the obvious weight concerns, current vests have the problem of overheating in harsh climates to the point where soldiers are forced to remove them in order to avoid heat strokes. And most heavy armored vests offer limited mobility and can cause stress fractures if used for an extended amount of time; so developing a vest that that is flexible, fits tightly, offers a high level of protection and doesn’t overheat is the overall goal.
When considering the problem of weight, 16.5 pounds of body protective gear is still unreasonably heavy if you are in battlefield harsh conditions; so future vests are aimed to be 10 pounds or less in order to hit a more manageable weight. Some manufacturers are considering using a type of boron-carbide ceramic plating that can weigh up to 30 percent less and offer even higher protection than the currently used by the military, adding to this an improved construction process that is being tested to make the plates fit more comfortably to the contours of the chest and spine. All this would be useless if the vest isn’t wearable for an extended period of time; in response to this heat issue, an inner vest cooling system is being developed that allows the wearer to maintain a safe body temperature under any environmental condition involving an inner shirt with a heat exchange that uses the circulation of water to provide cooling by means of a thermo-controlled valve that self regulates accordingly. Some light armored vests, mainly ones that use kevlar, are going to be replaced by body armor made from M-5 fibers which offer greater strength and 1/3 of the weight. That, and it relies on self-adjusting plates that prevent serious bruising to the chest but allow plenty of flexibility. Other options are liquid kevlar vests, this technology is reliant on a thickening liquid called polyethylene glycol which transitions from soft to rigid when impacted by a projectile, preventing any penetration and softening the impact. This type of liquid armor may just hold the key to the future of body armor since it’s implementation in all types of vests is currently being studied. So we can say the future is bright for body armor or even more importantly is that we’ll sleep better knowing we’re better protected.
Best places to keep your gun at home
When deciding what place is safest to store a weapon in your house you quickly realize that there is no perfect hiding spot because it depends on many factors that pin us into tough choices. Like having to choose between always keeping your gun within arms reach or storing it in a safe where it is sure to be out of reach of anyone but you. Or like making the decision of having your gun always loaded and ready to go, as opposed to keeping your weapons in a room separate from your ammunition and body armor.
People who like to keep their guns in drawers, nightstands, and between mattresses argue that in the occasion of a break-in the speed in which you can be armed and ready not only gives you the advantage but decreases the chances of getting caught off guard. Yet, choosing to leave guns strewn about your house does increase the risk of you inadvertently arming your home invader which can leave you in a tougher spot. Another aspect to consider is if to leave your gun cocked; people for it tend to feel safer knowing that fine motors skills is the first thing you lose when the adrenaline starts kicking in, so loading a gun could be an issue for some when in highly stressful situations. Those against propose the argument that cocking the gun not only gives out a warning sound (which could save you the trouble of actual confrontation) but gives you more time to gather your wits before you make any final decisions. As Wyatt Earp once said, “Fast is fine but accuracy is final. Learn to shoot slow in a hurry.”
For some, keeping a loaded weapon close by at all times is not an option. People with children or those who would rather have their guns in a more secure location tend to favor safes. These can range from a small one or two weapons safe, to large ones built to house rifles and body armor as well. But with all gun strongboxes comes the same issue; in the event of a break-in, accessing and arming yourself in time could prove to be a challenge. Considering how a split second can make a world of difference, choosing to keep everything locked in a safe can be a secure yet risky option. Another potential drawback to safes is how expensive it can get to purchase and install some of them, but for people with collections or invaluable weapons this might be the most ideal way to go in terms of safekeeping. Some also reject the idea of safes since they can be specifically targeted by intruders, so a market for concealed safes has a rise in options like fake furniture, ornaments and regular household items that can conceal weapons around their home.
Technology has definitely benefited gun owners recently given the fact that we can now have access to higher grade protection for weapons than ever. Ranging from trigger locks that prevent unintentional discharges to fully customizable gun locks that feature thicker steel, resistance to fire damage, electronic locks, quality upholstery and even fingerprint recognition. With all this technology available there is little excuse for not being protected, but the most important thing to figure out is.. What is your ideal protection?
How effective is a bulletproof vest at stopping gunshots?
How did it all start?
For several years, people did not have proper ways of protecting themselves from bullets. There were only a few options available, and they provided limited, minimal protection but none against the shock of a bullet. After years of researching, a lot of materials were discovered to be effective in the making of bulletproof vests. It was then when Kevlar was invented by DuPont chemist Stephanie Kwolek, who was in the search for a way to make radial car tires lighter. This material is and was capable of cushioning, trapping, and preventing a bullet from reaching and penetrating through to the body. However, the standard bulletproof jacket now consists of both Kevlar and the insertion of plates, and it weights around 4.5 kg. There a several types of plates, made out of different of materials according to the preferences and circumstances of the user. These plates are essential in the process of receiving a bullet, since they prevent the user from being hurt or incapacitated.
How do you I know a vest is “bulletproof”?
In order to define a vest as truly bulletproof, then it needs to be bullet resistant. Being bullet resistant means that the vest can be penetrated by certain types and sizes of bullets traveling up to certain speeds, and it can then stop them from reaching through to the body. When purchasing a bulletproof vest it is important to take everything into consideration in order to choose the adequate bulletproof vest. There a different kinds of vest that are intended to be used in different circumstances. There are vests that are designed to absorb the bullets from small arms fire, and there are those that can protect against larger arms.
How do I correctly wear my bulletproof vest?
Even when bullet resistant, bulletproof vests can still cause injury to the user when shocked by a bullet, especially the ones made out of only Kevlar. For example, when stopping the bullet, it may still force the vest fabric onto the body, causing bruising, other internal injuries. This is why it is essential to not only buy those that include the plates, but also do so in a trust-able, safe company. In addition, in order to minimize the chances of being hurt, it is important to know how to properly use a bulletproof vest. A bullet proof vest should not be placed below the bellybutton. Having the bulletproof vest hang low into the waist can limit the mobility that the user has, and can make simple movements uncomfortable.
Best Bullet provides the best protection at the lowest prices. The vests offered are made out of durable, high tensile fabric with integrated MOLLE webbing and plates that are engineered to exceed all required government standards for military and law enforcement, making us a trust-able company. Hurry now and visit our website to see our variety of vests and find the perfect one for you!