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#234095 - 10/20/11 10:36 PM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: hikermor]
MDinana Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 2208
Loc: Beer&Cheese country
Originally Posted By: hikermor
Where i come from, bullet proof vests are used to stop rounds aimed intentionally at one's center of mass; hopefully, the rating of the vest will exceed the strength of the round employed.

i believe in most departments these days, bullet proof vests are worn routinely when on patrol.

They don't always work. Just before I retired, I donated two weeks leave to the widow of a ranger who caught an AK-47 round that sneaked in between the seams of his vest.

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that the soft vests won't stop that round. Even the ceramic plates have gaps where the plates don't overlap, not to mention they can fail w/ repeated hits.

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#234112 - 10/21/11 12:34 AM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: MDinana]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
I'm not sure, but I'll bet he had plates. This was on the border at organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. But yes, vests aren't perfect....
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#234114 - 10/21/11 12:44 AM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: hikermor]
Arney Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/15/05
Posts: 2485
Loc: California
Originally Posted By: hikermor
I'm not sure, but I'll bet he had plates.

Sigh, it's a sad state of affairs when a park ranger has to gear up as if he's on patrol in Afghanistan. RIP

Smugglers, pot grows, meth labs in our national parks? Crazy.

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#234167 - 10/21/11 08:48 PM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: dweste]
chaosmagnet Offline
Sheriff
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/03/09
Posts: 3819
Loc: USA
Almost no vests will stop a major caliber rifle round.

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#234473 - 10/26/11 04:13 AM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: dweste]
TAB Offline
Newbie

Registered: 09/20/09
Posts: 27
Loc: The Redwood Forest
If you anticipate getting shot in the torso, then yes, wear one. If not, then no, do not wear one. crazy

If your are still unsure... then place a % to the likelihood that you will be shot at and ask yourself whether or not that is an acceptable risk.

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#234542 - 10/26/11 09:54 PM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: dweste]
Pete Offline
Veteran

Registered: 02/20/09
Posts: 1372
My $0.02

Following up on what CJK said ... you can buy soft armor ballistic pads online. I've got a couple that are about 12 inches square. They're not cheap, but they're also not as expensive as a full armored vest. Just get a couple of the pads and use them to line your backpack. It's unobtrusive. In the event of a hold-up in a disaster zone, you've got some minimal protection if the robber does shoot you with a handgun. Of course, you've got to be able to use your backpack as a shield - if you don't get it off in time - you're dead anyway. With the ballistic pads and the backpack material - it might work against most handgun bullets.

As several people have pointed out - this won't stop a rifle bullet. Use common sense ... which is always the best protection.

Pete2

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#234592 - 10/27/11 04:28 PM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: hikermor]
firefly99 Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 05/28/06
Posts: 58
Originally Posted By: hikermor
Where i come from, bullet proof vests are used to stop rounds aimed intentionally at one's center of mass; hopefully, the rating of the vest will exceed the strength of the round employed.


Wearing a bullet proof vests, DOES NOT mean you can stand still and be a target for someone shoot you with a gun. I would still dive for the nearest cover when shooting starts.



Edited by firefly99 (10/27/11 04:43 PM)

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#234595 - 10/27/11 05:35 PM Re: Place for bullet-proof vest? [Re: Pete]
Hikin_Jim Offline
Sheriff
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: Pete
My $0.02

Following up on what CJK said ... you can buy soft armor ballistic pads online. I've got a couple that are about 12 inches square. They're not cheap, but they're also not as expensive as a full armored vest. Just get a couple of the pads and use them to line your backpack. It's unobtrusive. In the event of a hold-up in a disaster zone, you've got some minimal protection if the robber does shoot you with a handgun. Of course, you've got to be able to use your backpack as a shield - if you don't get it off in time - you're dead anyway. With the ballistic pads and the backpack material - it might work against most handgun bullets.

As several people have pointed out - this won't stop a rifle bullet. Use common sense ... which is always the best protection.

Pete2
How much do those two pads weigh?

HJ
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