Bullet Proof vests in two parts........?

Question

1. If a bulletproof vest fails to stop a bullet, do you still call it a bulletproof vest? 2. If it fails to stop a bullet, is that considered false advertising, afterall, they did say it was bulletproof?

Answer 1

What fstop said. No such thing as a bullet "proof" vest........

Answer 2

They are called bullet resistant.The term "bullet proof" probably started during the Korean War.
The Korean War was the first (US) war where protective vest were standard issue.The main weapon of the North Korean and Chinese armies was the PPSH-41 submachine-gun.It fired a 7.62 pistol round.At medium and longer ranges,the chances of the round penetrating decreased.Once word got around about this, the term bullet proof became common.
Until recently the standard issue vest was intended to stop only shrapnel (from artillery rounds,mortars).This is where the term flak vest comes from.Flak is what was called artillery rounds fired into the air and and exploding at American bomber formations during WWII.By the way,late in the war bomber crews were issued protective vest (and steel helmets). Now the vest come issued with ceramic plates to prevent penetration by rifle (7.62) and heavy pistol (.357 and .44) rounds.The vest themselves are designed to prevent penetration by 9mm rounds.
During the 60's and 70's, police were starting to be issued "bullet-proof vest". This term was technically correct since most criminals had been using .22 ,.25 and .38 caliber pistol ammunition.The vest being able to defeat these low powered rounds.
But as the power of the rounds increased, the better the protection of the vest had to be.

Answer 3

It's called a Flak Jacket for a reason. It wasn't intended to stop a hi-power rifle bullet. Some of the new law enforcement body armor with kevlar/ceramic plates in the chest and back CAN stop a bullet, but only if the bullet hits said plate.

For comparison, if an ER crew saves 999 patients, but number 1000 dies, are they innefective as a team?

Answer 4

1 They market the vests as bullet RESISTANT no proof. Secondly there are several levels of bullet resistant vests. Level 2a will stop low power rounds level 3 stops larger stuff keep adding levels and trauma plates and eventually it will stop rifle rounds. Then after all the added levels they are still non effective against a knife.

Answer 5

"Bullet Proof" is a slang term. When I was in we called them "Flak Jackets." I have no idea what the current slang term is.

Properly trained soldiers know what their equipment can and cannot do. The military comes up with enough stupid names for things that they use their own. I wore a "brain bucket" or "k pot" but never a "Kevlar Helmet." I was trained with a "Pro Mask" never an "M-17 Mask, Field, Chemical Protective."

Troops don't care about words, they know from training and experience what to expect of their equipment.

Answer 6

well it all depends on the round that hits the vest and distance most bullet proof vests are 90% effective

Answer 7

It is body armor, not a bullet proof vest.

Answer 8

Show me the ad that calls the product bullet proof.

Answer 9

well there is a soft vest that stops most pistols and shotguns, then there is a hard plate vest to stop rifle shots

Answer 10

1 round in the throat will negate all of that