Bulletproof vest question?

Question

What are bulletproof vests made of? Does every single US soldier in Iraq wear one? And I read this article about how a bullet "went through" the bulletproof vest of a soldier in Iraq. How could he get shot if he was wearing a bulletproof vest? Are bulletproof vests really bulletproof then? Thanks if you can answer any of these questions!

Answer 1

If it's a "flexible" vest, it's more 'ballistic protective' than 'bulletproof'. None of the flexible vests will hold up to a close-range rifle shot, where the impact velocity is in the neighborhood of 1,500 feet per second. The vests will, however, provide reasonably good protection against shrapnel. ( As the range increases, the bullet slows down a bit, and the vests become more effective.)

A a pilot, I was issued vest during the Vietnam era that would stop a .30 caliber round at damn near point-blank range. It was a ceramic affair overlaid on a Duraluminum base. Trouble was, it was solid -- no way to flex at the waist with that thing. Also, the impact would knock the wind out of you. (That happens with any vest, if you're too slow to duck! ) It was also hot, and heavy. Attempting to swim with one on could drown you. (Don't ask how I know that!)

The ballistic vests I knew and worked with were made of Kevlar. There are newer materials out there now, and I'm not sure of the names of them. One of the problems with the Army's first version of a vest was that 9mm rounds would go right through them. (A function of velocity and bullet shape.) The Army had to retrofit the vests with an extra ballistic insert in order to provide better protection against 9mm rounds.

All that happened around 1979, when I was a Project Officer for the Combat Developments Command. Ballistic Protective systems for Armor crewmen was one of my projects.

The bottom line? A vest is a good thing -- but it's not 100% certain, especially when the bullets get larger.

Answer 2

Bulletproof vests are made of Kevlar and other materials. There are more correctly bullet resistant. They are designed to stop small arms fire, not high power, hi caliber rounds. A bulletproof vest is not going to stop a 50 cal bullet.

Answer 3

Depending upon the company which manufactures the vest, the majority of bullet-proof vests are composed of Kevlar fibers with a ceramic or metallic insert, depending upon how much weight you want to wear around.

Each vest is rated as to what kind of bullet it can stop. So not all vests will stop every kind of bullet or of shrapnel.

Most of the vests worn in Viet Nam had ceramic inserts to reduce the weight and to stop shrapnel. Shrapnel accounts for the majority of wounds and injuries as compared to bullets.

Answer 4

1). There are kevlar light vests and ceramic heavy ones (they are better).
2). Down in IDF they gave me a kevlar vest, but officer told us, that it's more for psychological protection :-). It can protect you from a good knife stab. And these things are so hot inside. An AK or M-16 bullet will easely pierce any vest.

Answer 5

the vests are usually made of kevlar. a vest will not stop all kinds of bullets. some high velocity rounds can go through them

Answer 6

First of all there is no such thing as a 'bullet proof' vest.

Wearing body armor is a trade off between weight and protection. The current issue body armor is designed to provide protection against a 7.62x39 round over the lungs and heart. It will stop pistol rounds and shrapnel everywhere else.

Answer 7

usually kevlar with either steel or ceramic plates. sometimes higher velocity rounds get through. i knew a guy who got hit from less than 10 feet away and the ak rounds never passed through his armor. he said that it felt like he was being beat with a sledge hammer though. there is always a spot that isn't covered that gets hit and there is always "chinks in all armor"