Posted by on 11/29/2021 to
Bulletproof vests and plate carriers offer great protection against projectiles, and they are becoming more common all the time. The difference between the two is that bulletproof vests give protection through the material they are made of, where plate carriers protect by holding the ‘plate’ or ballistics armor inside of it. It is the material of the plate that provides the protection so plate carriers are not going to do any good without that plate. Bulletproof vests tend to be lighter than plate carriers due to not having plates made of hard material but depending more on the Kevlar that the vests are made with. Bulletproof is not completely accurate, it’s bullet resistant. Also, it depends on the bullet. The bullets the vests are resistant to are specifically pistol-fired handgun rounds. It is important to note that when a type of body armor offers protection from a handgun round, it is specified that it comes from a regular short barrel handgun. As you may already know, this is because a round will gain more momentum as it is propelled through the barrel. More barrel length means more momentum, which means more power. Pistol and rifle ammunition are different as well, with rifle ammunition tending to have more propellant, which means more velocity.
Vests and plate carriers are made from either steel, polymers, or advanced synthetic fibers. Kevlar is a popular and strong synthetic fiber that is commonly used for bulletproof vests. Steel and polymers are used in making the plates. One of the best polymer plates out there is made with Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). This material can have a similar stopping power to steel without as much weight. It also has positive buoyancy, which can be very helpful if you need to traverse water.
When it comes to the protection they provide, there are several levels. The higher the level, the more protection you can expect. If there is an A next to the level, say Level IIIA, then it is LOWER in terms of protection than if there is no A. As you will see. The kind of protection that you can wear under your clothes, concealed, is not generally going to work against rifle ammunition. That is because to stop something at that velocity, you will need to use heavier and harder materials.
Though potentially life saving, it’s still extra weight you have to carry around with you. Plate carriers with plates can weigh a lot. Lugging an extra 20 pounds or so makes moving that much harder. You have a choice to wear either a carrier with the two main plates, front and back, or 4 plates which include side plates. The more dangerous the situation the more protection you will want. So having the option to prepare accordingly depending on the current situation is very useful.
The VISM Tactical Body Armor Level III Plus Hard Ballistic Panel is made out of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and is well priced. We have many choices of plate carriers that work well with it. These carriers vary in design, including tactical pockets and different colors or camo.
Level IIA - Offers protection from 9mm and .40 S&W ammunition fired from a regular handgun. Not rated for rifle ammunition protection or short-barreled rifles.
Level II - Offers protection from 9mm as well as .357 Magnum fired from a regular handgun. Not rated for rifle ammunition protection or short-barreled rifles.
Level IIIA - Protection against .357 SIG and .44 Magnum ammunition fired from longer barrel handguns. Not rated for rifle ammunition protection.
Level III - Protection against 7.62mm FMJ lead core rifle ammunition.
Level IV - Protection against .30cal steel core armor-piercing rifle ammunition.