hello guys!! just wanted to ask a favor if anybody of you have bought vests online? because I'm planning to buy one as a gift for a good friend of mine who just graduated in the police force. so I was trying to browse some sites and found this awesome [URL="http://www.dangerproof.com"]bulletproof vest[/URL] online store, but the thing is that I don't know much about vests.. so can anybody recommend me something?? thanks a lot T__T

No clue . I'd try Cheaper Than Dirt .

You want a Bullet Proof vest ??

Lots of things to consider. Mainly the class of vest:

Type I: Almost usesless rated to stop 38 Special and 22LR

Type IIA: 357 Magnum and 9 mm ( 1090 ft/s )

Type II: 357 Magnum and 9 mm ( 1175 ft/s "+P" rounds) But at higher velocities then IIA.

Type IIIA: 44 Magnum and 9 mm ( 1400 ft/s from a SMG)

Type III: 7.62 mm NATO/308Win

Type IV: 30-06Spring AP

You can get all but type III & IV as soft Armour, with the last 2 normally using soft armour underneath to help take some of the blunt truma away.

Dimitri

This is a gift that is not a secret to the receiver. Ask him what his department recommends for everyday wear. The highest threat level sounds good but the devil to wear all day. They are hot and Heavy which fatigues you rapidly The idea is to get one that you will wear for a full shift and longer every day you work.
Check out Second Chance vests. That is what many departments and individual officers buy.
Second Chance Body Armor
Second chance has saved many officers.
I commend you for wanting to take care of your friend while he is at work. Tell your friend to face the threat because most officers killed while wearing vests take a hit in the upper arm or armpit that is unprotected. This happened to one of my men and close friends. The bullet entered the armpit area and passed through both lungs and heart. Had he faced the threat his chances of being here today would have been high.

I wish people would stop calling it bullet proof vests - it's NOT, it's soft body armour that often incorporates plates. These plates are used for 2 things:-

1. To up the level of the armour and

2. To lessen the blunt trauma.

Level 4 with plates won't stop a .50 BMG and possibly a .338LM.

Repete,

You just got to wait till Level V (338 L.Mag) and Level VI (50BMG) come out. Both will probably weigh 50 pounds or more for the appropriate level plates and thick enough Level IIIA soft armor.

Dimitri

most departments that I know of use the class IIA vests

I suppose that the best start point is working out the most likely threat he is likely to face on a regular basis, then factor in the most lethal threat he is ever likely to face. Also consider knife threats, which I notice don't get a mention in above posts. From there you should be able to work out the level of vest he is most likely to need.

Your next consideration, as popgun alluded to, is comfort. It may be the best vest in the world, but if it is too uncomfortable to wear all the time, Murphy's Law says he will not have it on when its needed.

Vests with plates are better than soft vests....but they are rather uncomfortable and cumbersome.

As for Brands....I have heard good things said about Second Chance Vests, but apart from that I can't offer any more advice.

You are a good friend for wanting to do this....it not everday you find a mate who thinks enough of you to want to do something like this. Well done.

Cheers, Vince