Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reports compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Little
more than 10 years ago, the most common threat to law enforcement offi-
cers was the .38 caliber revolver. Officers generally were shot one time at
extremely close range. However, this statistic is no longer true. The preva-
lence of 9 mm semiautomatic weapons has changed the dynamic. Today
officers are more likely to be shot multiple times, also at close range, with
a weapon firing 9 mm hardball ammunition. We believe that this trend
will also apply to private sector end users as well. How does this fact affect
the type of SBA that you should consider wearing?
The most obvious concerns are obviously the higher velocity (and
hence greater penetration) of the 9 mm bullet as well as the greater like-
lihood of being hit with multiple rounds. An assailant is now likely to be
armed with a handgun carrying 16 rounds and will empty it, firing with-
out regard to the constraints followed by law enforcement officers and
protective personnel. The NIJ does use the 9 mm hardball round at a
velocity of 1,400 feet per second as the standard while testing level II and
IIIA vests. However, the NIJ does not test the armor for effectiveness
against multiple hits in rapid succession. This is an unacceptable fatal flaw
in the testing process.
Vests behave differently when hit by multiple rounds in
rapid succession.
David has personally shot dozens of level IIIA vests of
different manufacture. While many perform adequately when hit by mul-
tiple rounds fired one at a time, most completely fail when hit by rapid
semiautomatic fire or short bursts with a submachine gun (SMG). The rea-
sons are complex. Armor works by dissipating the energy of the rounds as
they strike the vest. In some SBA, the effect of rapid fire overwhelms the
armor's ability to dissipate the energy and results in penetration. In other
cases, the armor, especially the ultra-lightweight vests made from Zylon
or lightweight hybrids, exhibits tremendous bunching of the ballistic
material when it is shot. The material is pulled toward the point of impact,
causing large gaps in the coverage area. Often successive rounds strike the
vest in an area that suddenly is devoid of ballistic material, and the rounds
easily penetrate the nonballistic vest shell. The recommended protocol
calls for a three-round burst fired from an SMG. All three rounds must
fall within a three-inch-diameter circle.
What is the appropriate standard for use by a corporate executive
seeking armor to wear under clothing? Obviously, such a vest must be
lighter and thinner than SBA worn by police officers or security personnel.
Everyone wants lighter body armor. The trend in the industry is to design
and market vests that are thinner, lighter, and more flexible than ever.
