Can Soft Body Armor Save My Melons?

Published on September 24, 2020
Duration: 12:32

This video demonstrates the effectiveness of Level IIIA+ soft body armor against various handgun calibers, including .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 7.62x25mm Tokarev. While the armor successfully stops these handgun rounds, the impact energy causes significant blunt force trauma, as evidenced by damage to a watermelon target. The video also highlights that soft armor is not designed for rifle threats, showing its penetration by 5.45x39mm rounds. The testing is conducted by Brandon Herrera, a respected figure in the firearms community.

Quick Summary

Level IIIA+ soft body armor effectively stops common handgun calibers like .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. However, it is not rated for rifle threats, as demonstrated by the penetration of 5.45x39mm rounds. The primary concern with stopped handgun rounds is blunt force trauma, which can cause internal injuries even without penetration.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Soft Body Armor Testing
  2. 00:24.380 ACP Test
  3. 01:599mm Luger Test
  4. 04:01.40 S&W Test
  5. 05:58.45 ACP Test
  6. 07:547.62x25mm Tokarev Test
  7. 11:22Rifle Caliber Overkill

Frequently Asked Questions

What handgun calibers can Level IIIA+ soft body armor stop?

Level IIIA+ soft body armor is designed to stop common handgun rounds. In this test, it successfully stopped .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and even the higher-velocity 7.62x25mm Tokarev round.

What are the limitations of soft body armor?

Soft body armor's primary limitation is its inability to reliably stop rifle-caliber rounds. As demonstrated, rounds like 5.45x39mm easily penetrate Level IIIA+ soft armor, highlighting the need for different armor types against rifle threats.

What is blunt force trauma in relation to body armor?

Blunt force trauma occurs when a projectile is stopped by body armor, but the kinetic energy transfers through the vest. This impact can cause internal injuries, bruising, or broken ribs, even without projectile penetration, as shown by the damage to the watermelon target.

Does soft body armor protect against rifle rounds?

No, standard soft body armor, such as Level IIIA+, is not designed to protect against rifle rounds. Rifle rounds have significantly higher velocity and energy, requiring hard armor plates (like Level III or IV) for effective protection.

More Tactical & Gear Videos You Might Like

More from Brandon Herrera

View all →