45 bucks for a flak jacket - Page 3

**Gillespie** · 11-01-2007, 08:43 AM

Kevlar's good for stopping .45 ACP and down. Our Army-issued ACH helmets are rated to stop a 9mm round (although I bought one with my own money that's rated to stop .45 ACP).

Body armor is rated... I'm quite unsure what the classifications are, but I believe our issued kevlar is rated Class III, while the ballistic insert plates are Class IV.

Worn by itself without ballistic plate inserts, the IBAS (and the new one... whatever the Army's calling it) will stop shrapnel and pistol rounds. High-powered ammunition (5.56mm, 7.62mm) cuts right through. The ceramic plates absorb and dissipate the energy of the rifle round, which stops the bullet from penetrating.

I've read somewhere that there are actually ballistic plates that can stop a .50 cal round (Class V)... but I've never actually seen such a thing. I would think plates that can stop a .50 cal would be highly uncomfortable/impractical to wear. :P

**Gillespie** · 11-01-2007, 08:52 AM

Nevermind my post above about the armor classes. That Class V stuff... I think I read it wrong. Body armor is classified in relation to the threat of weapon it can reasonably stop. Class V and Class VI threats are, like... sub .50 rounds (Desert Eagle?) and .50 cal from machine guns (US Browning M2 and the Soviet 12.7mm). Or something.

Class I, IIa, II, and IIIa are civilian and law enforcement armors.

Class III and IV are only available to special police units and the military forces (military Class IV for torso, Class III for the helmet).

**CingularDuality** · 11-02-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gillespie

Kevlar's good for stopping .45 ACP and down. Our Army-issued ACH helmets are rated to stop a 9mm round (although I bought one with my own money that's rated to stop .45 ACP).

That's very strange, as 9mm penetrates more than .45ACP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gillespie

Nevermind my post above about the armor classes. That Class V stuff... I think I read it wrong. Body armor is classified in relation to the threat of weapon it can reasonably stop. Class V and Class VI threats are, like... sub .50 rounds (Desert Eagle?) and .50 cal from machine guns (US Browning M2 and the Soviet 12.7mm). Or something.

Class I, IIa, II, and IIIa are civilian and law enforcement armors.

Class III and IV are only available to special police units and the military forces (military Class IV for torso, Class III for the helmet).

I don't think there is any body armor that will stop a .50 NATO round, considering it cuts through so many light armored vehicles like a hot knife through butter...

And, as far as I know, there are no restrictions on body armor sales to law abiding civilians, regardless of class. I wear level III armor.

**Kebab-Kastike** · 11-02-2007, 08:21 AM

Forget kevlar. Buy Dragon Skin:

By using that you could sit on a grenade whil it goes off and your bones only might get bit shattered but your skin would be ok.

Kerostasis · 11-02-2007, 12:23 PM

So we've had whole threads on the effectiveness of Dragon Skin before, and I think the net result was that Dragon Skin came out to be significantly heavier than existing body armor technologies for a very minor improvement in stopping power. Also stopping power was heavily dependant on the angle of attack -- down angled shots would be stopped easily, while up angled shots could slip between armor plates and tear right through you. That makes the "sit on a grenade" plan somewhat risky, as at least part of the explosive blast will be at the correct up-angle.

mentholated · 11-02-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

So we've had whole threads on the effectiveness of Dragon Skin before, and I think the net result was that Dragon Skin came out to be significantly heavier than existing body armor technologies for a very minor improvement in stopping power. Also stopping power was heavily dependant on the angle of attack -- down angled shots would be stopped easily, while up angled shots could slip between armor plates and tear right through you. That makes the "sit on a grenade" plan somewhat risky, as at least part of the explosive blast will be at the correct up-angle.

Dangle upside down by a noose attached to your foot and you'll be ok. Well, if you have a tungsten trashcan attached to your head.

**Kebab-Kastike** · 11-20-2007, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

So we've had whole threads on the effectiveness of Dragon Skin before, and I think the net result was that Dragon Skin came out to be significantly heavier than existing body armor technologies for a very minor improvement in stopping power. Also stopping power was heavily dependant on the angle of attack -- down angled shots would be stopped easily, while up angled shots could slip between armor plates and tear right through you. That makes the "sit on a grenade" plan somewhat risky, as at least part of the explosive blast will be at the correct up-angle.

Oh snap! I'll never trust bald guy now

11-01-2007, 08:43 AM	#31 (permalink)
Gillespie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,067	Re: 45 bucks for a flak jacket Kevlar's good for stopping .45 ACP and down. Our Army-issued ACH helmets are rated to stop a 9mm round (although I bought one with my own money that's rated to stop .45 ACP). Body armor is rated... I'm quite unsure what the classifications are, but I believe our issued kevlar is rated Class III, while the ballistic insert plates are Class IV. Worn by itself without ballistic plate inserts, the IBAS (and the new one... whatever the Army's calling it) will stop shrapnel and pistol rounds. High-powered ammunition (5.56mm, 7.62mm) cuts right through. The ceramic plates absorb and dissipate the energy of the rifle round, which stops the bullet from penetrating. I've read somewhere that there are actually ballistic plates that can stop a .50 cal round (Class V)... but I've never actually seen such a thing. I would think plates that can stop a .50 cal would be highly uncomfortable/impractical to wear. :P __________________ <ArmA Information/SOPs> <ArmA Admin Team> <TG Req. Reading>

11-01-2007, 08:52 AM	#32 (permalink)
Gillespie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,067	Re: 45 bucks for a flak jacket Nevermind my post above about the armor classes. That Class V stuff... I think I read it wrong. Body armor is classified in relation to the threat of weapon it can reasonably stop. Class V and Class VI threats are, like... sub .50 rounds (Desert Eagle?) and .50 cal from machine guns (US Browning M2 and the Soviet 12.7mm). Or something. Class I, IIa, II, and IIIa are civilian and law enforcement armors. Class III and IV are only available to special police units and the military forces (military Class IV for torso, Class III for the helmet). __________________ <ArmA Information/SOPs> <ArmA Admin Team> <TG Req. Reading>

11-02-2007, 08:21 AM	#34 (permalink)
Kebab-Kastike Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Finland Age: 19 Posts: 1,214	Re: 45 bucks for a flak jacket Forget kevlar. Buy Dragon Skin: By using that you could sit on a grenade whil it goes off and your bones only might get bit shattered but your skin would be ok. __________________ \|TG-E1st\| Kebab-Kastike reporting for duty. My TacticalGamer VOIP&Teamplay videos TG-E1st TacticalGamer European Division \| Team up with us today! Minä kaskean, vihan liekillä kylvän veristä ohraa.

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