Ballistic vests

tools · March 1, 2007, 09:39 PM

What is the best ballistic vest? Who sells them at good prices?

jeo556 · March 1, 2007, 10:00 PM

Google "Dragon SKin" body armor. I'm no ballistic vest expert but from the information I've seen on them they are "THE BEST POSSIBLE". There was a episode on futureweapons on the Military channel not too long ago where a dragonskin vest stopped a frag grenade at point blank range. I'm sure that they are not cheap but if you want the best you gotta pay for it.

Jeo556

tools · March 2, 2007, 09:05 PM

Anything decent less than $5000?

spacemanspiff · March 2, 2007, 09:10 PM

Second Chance. Safariland. Both are good choices. A level IIIa is pretty good.

tools · March 3, 2007, 05:42 PM

How about these vests I find on eBay for about $350, from Israel? Anyone with actual experience with one of these?

Indrid Cold · March 4, 2007, 04:54 PM

Jeo, while DragonSkin is supposedly the best, I haven't found anything to suggest that it's being sold to civilians at the moment. Now I don't know why it wouldn't be, but it seems like they are only making sales to LE/Military only.

FM12 · March 7, 2007, 02:11 AM

Get a good point blank, second chance, or something like that. If you get more protection than you REALLY need, the vest will likely be to uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, especially in hot weather. Take this from someone who has some experience in it. Ebay sometimes has this type of gear for sale, both used and new...also make sure you get the rightr size...this is NOT the most comfortable stuff in thew world to wear, but is rather comforting when it's needed! Also determine what type coverage you NEED, such as with or without side coverage, whether to buy a trauma plate, etc.

hknut · March 8, 2007, 09:35 AM

I got a friend selling a military IIIA vest with front and rear impact plates. If interested PM me.

skeeter · March 16, 2007, 11:39 PM

Selling American Body Armor helped me pay for College. I still have a dealer sample in large if you are interested - Level II

trooper3385 · March 28, 2007, 01:43 AM

I use to have a Point Blank vest and my dept. changed over to Paca. There lighter weight and seem a little cooler than the Point Blank. I'm waiting for a new one to come in right now. I'm not sure if they stuck with Paca, or switched to a different brand. They replace all the vest after 5 yrs. Apparently, moisture (water & sweat) will break down the kevlar over time.

March 1, 2007, 09:39 PM	#1
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	Ballistic vests What is the best ballistic vest? Who sells them at good prices?

March 2, 2007, 09:10 PM	#4
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,017	Second Chance. Safariland. Both are good choices. A level IIIa is pretty good. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

March 4, 2007, 04:54 PM	#6
Indrid Cold Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 205	Jeo, while DragonSkin is supposedly the best, I haven't found anything to suggest that it's being sold to civilians at the moment. Now I don't know why it wouldn't be, but it seems like they are only making sales to LE/Military only. __________________ "Don't depend on the enemy not coming; depend rather on being ready for him." Sun-tzu, The Art of War

March 8, 2007, 09:35 AM	#8
hknut Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Olympia, Wa. Posts: 534	I got a friend selling a military IIIA vest with front and rear impact plates. If interested PM me. __________________ "Gun control is like trying to reduce Drunk Driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars" Walk softly and carry a big SIG.

March 1, 2007, 10:00 PM	#2
jeo556 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2007 Location: Southwestern, PA Posts: 267	Google "Dragon SKin" body armor. I'm no ballistic vest expert but from the information I've seen on them they are "THE BEST POSSIBLE". There was a episode on futureweapons on the Military channel not too long ago where a dragonskin vest stopped a frag grenade at point blank range. I'm sure that they are not cheap but if you want the best you gotta pay for it. Jeo556

March 2, 2007, 09:05 PM	#3
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	Anything decent less than $5000?

March 3, 2007, 05:42 PM	#5
tools Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Posts: 124	How about these vests I find on eBay for about $350, from Israel? Anyone with actual experience with one of these?

March 7, 2007, 02:11 AM	#7
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,526	Get a good point blank, second chance, or something like that. If you get more protection than you REALLY need, the vest will likely be to uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, especially in hot weather. Take this from someone who has some experience in it. Ebay sometimes has this type of gear for sale, both used and new...also make sure you get the rightr size...this is NOT the most comfortable stuff in thew world to wear, but is rather comforting when it's needed! Also determine what type coverage you NEED, such as with or without side coverage, whether to buy a trauma plate, etc.

March 16, 2007, 11:39 PM	#9
skeeter Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Posts: 858	Selling American Body Armor helped me pay for College. I still have a dealer sample in large if you are interested - Level II

March 28, 2007, 01:43 AM	#10
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 793	I use to have a Point Blank vest and my dept. changed over to Paca. There lighter weight and seem a little cooler than the Point Blank. I'm waiting for a new one to come in right now. I'm not sure if they stuck with Paca, or switched to a different brand. They replace all the vest after 5 yrs. Apparently, moisture (water & sweat) will break down the kevlar over time.