1. What Level of ballistic protection should I get?
Do you need protection from pistol threats or Rifle Threats ? Soft Kevlar vests stop pistol and Fragmentation threats, but it takes a rigid Rifle Plate to stop a rifle bullet.
For handgun protection it is important to know that Level II-A, Level II and Level III-A all stop the overwhelming majority of PISTOL projectiles you are ever likely to encounter (plus 12 gauge, OO buckshot), and also to know that No vest is ever 100% proof under ALL conceivable circumstances. There is always a tradeoff between more protection and wear-ability or concealability - so the level of protection chosen is a personal choice.
- Level II-A is ~16+ layers of Kevlar®
- Level II is ~22+ layers,
- Level III-A is ~30+ layers.
The biggest difference between Levels is the amount of blunt trauma impact protection. Ballistic details at Ballistic Protection Levels...
- Level II-A might be the best choice if thinness, comfort and concealability are the most important factors, e.g., if wearing for long periods, or with a lot of movement.
- Level II is often worn by police officers. A great balance between blunt trauma protection, versus cost, and thickness / concealability / comfort. What we recommend most often...
- Level III-A is a little thicker, stiffer, heavier and more expensive, but will stop more of the uncommon pistol threats, for example, it is tested for 9mm sub-machine-gun and .44 Magnum. Plus it gives you more blunt trauma impact protection possibly better to return fire in a gunfight.
- Stab-Resistant vests are available, but we generally do not recommend the added cost unless there is a specific knife threat. Why? Not that we don't like to sell our most expensive vests but Stab-Resistance makes the vest a little heavier and thicker and significantly stiffer, and therefore less comfortable and concealable. Secondly a regular ballistic vest does offer some Knife protection from slashing attacks.
2. What about protection from RIFLES ?
The much higher velocity of rifle rounds requires HARD Body Armor Rifle Plates Level III or Level IV Ballistic Steel, Ceramic or Polyethylene - usually ~10" by 12" (~25 by 30 cm.) and generally from 3 to 8 lbs (1.6 - 3.6 kg.) per plate to cover the Chest and / or Back (that's 6 to 16 lbs. Front & Back)
SOFT Body Armor vests only offer pistol, Fragmentation, and shotgun protection (birdshot and buckshot, but NOT shotgun slugs). Even doubling up TWO Level III-A soft vests would NOT stop a rifle bullet!
Very comfortable - unless it gets hot! You usually don't notice an extra 3 - 5 lbs. of weight all that much, and vests don't restrict freedom of movement very much (if fitted properly), BUT...
Heat buildup is always a problem in the summer. No vest on earth can honestly claim to be comfortable when it is hot and / or you are exercising and sweating hard. The thickness of the ballistic panel insulates you, and the waterproofing of the ballistic panel simply prevents effective cooling through the vest.
So, in a very hot environment, you might want to leave a gap on the sides for extra ventilation when we size you, and accept only partial side protection.
It really depends on your body type, your clothing and that the vest fits you properly.
Vests are only roughly 0.25" thick (6mm) so just a shirt can cover it up nicely if the shirt is loose, and not too thin. A thin dress shirt may need a T-shirt over the vest to conceal well. A sweater, or suit-jacket makes it easy.
Rifle Plates are an extra 0.25" to 1" thick (6 - 25 mm) and thus require a jacket, sweater, Battle Dress Uniform, etc., etc. to conceal.
5. I'm on a budget, what is the least expensive, GOOD protection?
Level 3 is adequate (and may be the best choice if concealment, light weight and/or comfort is the first priority over more blunt trauma protection).
Not a good idea as you would weaken your vest so it will not work as well in a real life shooting, and might even fail, especially for shots close together.
If you want even more reassurance, we can sell you an old pre-1987 ballistic panel for you to test shoot ($25). These stop the standard test rounds of .357 Magnum JSP, and 9mm FMJ. For legal reasons we don't sell these older panels for life-saving ballistic protection, as they were tested under the old NIJ 0101.02 standard.
8. Why should I buy from Armored Policy?
Briefly, we offer quality protection at a competitive price without flash or gimmicks. What sets us even further apart is responsive service.
We treat our customers as we would like to be treated.
We care that you end up satisfied.
Simply put, we want you to be happy:
If you are not completely satisfied with your retail purchase we will CHEERFULLY do our best to make you happy...
- we will work with you to better your comfront
OR
Our Guarantee of Satisfaction doesn't apply in cases such as Custom, Special-order, or Made-to-Order items not normally stocked. If this is the case, we will always let you know BEFORE you approve your order.
12. Shipping - How fast / How much?
2-6 weeks
13. Is it legal for civilians to buy Body Armor?
In general, yes - for law-abiding folks. A felony conviction makes possession of Body Armor illegal under federal law and in many states - see A Survey of State and Federal Law.
We have had civilian clients with many different Civilan needs for body armor so we understand vests for civilians. Our policy is to only sell to Law-abiding adults who have a lawful purpose for Body Armor. (A parent or guardian may buy for a minor with a legitimate need.)
Residents of Connecticut are prohibited from buying Body Armor unless the sale is face to face (or unless the buyer is a police officer, Police Department, or military). See A Survey of State and Federal Law.
We cannot ship to residents of Connecticut
who are not police or military.
Some states are considering new legislation to prohibit or restrict sales of Body Armor to civilians, e.g., New York. If you are in a state that passes such a law, you would be well advised to make your Body Armor purchase now before it becomes much more expensive and inconvenient, if not prohibited altogether.
Contact us for larger quantity pricing.
Shipping Level III and IV RIFLE Plates outside the US requires a U.S. State Department export permit which can take 3 weeks to 2 months, generally at least a month. Please plan your purchases accordingly.
Level II-A, Level II and Level III-A Body Armor generally does NOT require a Department of Commerce export license to most countries.
To check on Body Armor regulations in your country, or estimate import duties and taxes into your country, please consult your government.
We strive to put our best price upfront on the website for small quantities. We do offer a 20% discount for 3 or more units in one order for most of our products. Call or email for quotes on large quantities.
The issue is: do you want to carry your armor onto the plane yourself to ensure you have it when you arrive (but with possible security hassles) OR do you want to put it in your checked luggage, and avoid possible security screening hassles, but at a higher risk of lost bags, theft in transit, etc., etc.
At the Transportation Security Administration, Body Armor is NOT on the list of prohibited items. But they also say:
"The prohibited and permitted items list is not intended to be all-inclusive and is updated as necessary. To ensure everyone's security the screener may determine that an item not on this chart is prohibited."
So if you want to carry your armor on the plane, we suggest bringing your professional credentials, and getting to the screening checkpoint with plenty of time to spare, just in case the security screeners have a problem with your armor, and request that you check your Body Armor in checked baggage.