kazzaerexys

I second BulletProofMe. They generally have good prices on over-stock from department orders and the like, so you can get a new vest for a few hundred, and they are very helpful with the issue of fitting for a concealable vest. If you go that route, you are probably going to want Level IIA for concealability, though in your line of work you may well want the knife-plate insert...

__________________
“What is a moderate interpretation of [the Constitution]? Halfway between what it says and [...] what you want it to say?” —Justice Antonin Scalia

SIG: P220R SS Elite SAO, P220R SAO, P220R Carry SRT, P226, P239 (.40S&W), P2022 (.40S&W); GSR 5", P6.

Superhouse 15

I did see tests about damage to clay and other backing materials from testing vests with higher velocity rounds than they were rated for. I remember one test where a 125gr +P .38 special stopped in 2 layers of material (Twaron?) while the same bullet in .357mag (the vest not rated to stop) stopped in 6 layers. The vest was 15 layers thick. I could not find anyone killed by blunt trauma from a shot that did not penetrate or anything relating damage in clay (over 30mm or something, I forget) to damage in people.

There are plenty of stories about vest failures, the biggest being Second Chance. The founder being famous for invention and innovation of concealable body armor and it being a 1st rate company that was bankrupted by fielding a vest that failed to stop common .40 S&W rounds due to quality of the material and manufacture. The have a bad reputation because of it, but they were once top of the line.

Off topic, but an interesting video. The founder of Second Chance testing and advertising his product. He trusts it

YouTube - Richard Davis

MedPig

Then you will spend hours sitting, making your own gravy, unable to cool off. I was a medic for 22 years, I relied on attitude to protect me. let the scumbags know if they hurt you, when they need help, it might not show, or might take it's time. We didn't favor anyone in gang fights, we didn't care who's neighborhood it was. But if you are wearing armor, SOME bad guys might decide it's because you are armed, and they will take you out first.

(I also learned that if you show a bad guy a spinal tap needle, and suggest that there are worse things you could do to him, they also tend to behave...)

__________________
Guns don't kill people.
Gaping wounds in vital organs do.
============
NRA Life Member
DPMS AP-4 (.223 AND .308) / DPMS LR-308L
Colt M1911A1 / H&K USP45

Superhouse 15

Spinal tap needle. Veterinary needles larger than 14ga and 3". Veterinary ETTs about size 16 or bigger. BVM with a couple of Ammonia caps in the reservoir bag ("the breath of life"). Foley catheter. The sound of the defibrillator charging up. I/O drill........

But some people don't get the hint.

Agent47

For those of you that wear concealed armor, does it affect your IWB carrying or are you fine?

Bark'n

I agree with SIXTO's opinion on this.

If looking for a tactical Style Ballistic Vest designed or EMS I would like to suggest "The Griffin Medic Protection Vest." It was designed by one of my very first partners when I started in EMS when he was the exclusive North American distributor for Pacific Emergency Products. They also own Pacific Safety Products which feature their own line of body armor. Most EMS people are familiar with Pacific Emergency Products EMS bags. They are made in Canada and are the best in quality.

I got to check out the prototype before it went into production. Very nice quality and geared towards EMS instead of LEO needs.

You can check out "The Griffin Medic Protection Vest" here.

__________________
-Bark'n
Semper Fi

"The gun is the great equalizer... For it is the gun, that allows the meek to repel the monsters; Whom are bigger, stronger and without conscience, will prey on those of us who without one, would surely perish."

QKShooter

The latest innovations in body armor - much lighter in actual weight while still offering equal Threat Level IIIA protection - only with greatly reduced bulk & weight and greatly increased mobility.
Check out the two links below.

Ultra Lightweight Body Armor setting the Standard in Comfort Performance and Affordability

Bulletproof Vests Body Armor Bulletproof Vests body armor vests police law enforcement ballistic vests spectra kevlar cops sheriff swat protective

LRFireEMS

Thanks guys, I'm going to check with my supervisors to see if by they will allow something like the Griffin Medic Protection Vest


I'm also going to check out the armor as posted above

Thanks again

SIXTO

Provided the vest is fit and cut right, there shouldnt be a problem. Fat guys tend to have more problems in this area.

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| SIXTO EXPRESS---| ||'|";,__.
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"(@)'(@)""""*|(@)(@)******(@)

LRFireEMS

I kind of anticipated that, I'm not the slimmest of guys , or the tallest unfortunately. Darn genetics