US Military Surplus Flak Vest: Does It Still Work?

Published on June 13, 2022
Duration: 11:41

This video tests the effectiveness of a US Military surplus flak vest, likely from the Vietnam to Grenada era, against various modern ammunition calibers. Despite its age and intended purpose of stopping fragmentation, the vest demonstrated surprising resilience, stopping .22LR, .38 Special, and .45 ACP rounds. It only failed against a high-velocity 9mm round fired from a short-barreled submachine gun, showing partial penetration. The instructor highlights that even old Kevlar can retain some protective capability, though it's not rated for direct bullet impact.

Quick Summary

US Military surplus flak vests, primarily designed for fragmentation protection, can still offer surprising ballistic resistance. This Kevlar-based armor successfully stopped .22LR, .38 Special, and .45 ACP rounds in testing, though it was penetrated by higher-velocity 9mm ammunition.

Chapters

  1. 00:08Introduction to the US Military Flak Vest
  2. 00:36Intended Purpose: Fragmentation Protection
  3. 01:27Sponsor: National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR)
  4. 02:01Testing .22LR Ammunition
  5. 03:16Testing .38 Special Wadcutter
  6. 04:03Testing .45 ACP Ball Ammunition
  7. 04:41Testing 9mm Luger Ammunition (Pistol)
  8. 05:28Testing 9mm Luger Ammunition (SMG)
  9. 06:36Testing .45 ACP Ammunition (Longer Barrel)
  10. 07:25Key Takeaways and Vest Performance
  11. 08:03Weight and Construction Analysis
  12. 08:29Historical Significance and Impact
  13. 09:31Thanks to Botach and Viewer Engagement
  14. 10:02Conclusion and Channel Subscription

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary purpose of the US Military surplus flak vest tested?

The US Military surplus flak vest, commonly issued from the Vietnam to Grenada eras, was primarily designed to protect against fragmentation from sources like grenades and artillery shells, rather than direct bullet impacts.

Can old Kevlar body armor still offer protection?

Yes, even old Kevlar body armor, potentially decades old, can retain some protective capability. This video demonstrated that a surplus flak vest successfully stopped several common handgun calibers, exceeding expectations for its age.

Which calibers did the US Military surplus flak vest stop?

The tested US Military surplus flak vest successfully stopped .22LR, .38 Special, and .45 ACP rounds. It showed partial penetration against 9mm from a pistol and was penetrated by 9mm fired from a longer-barreled submachine gun.

How does the weight of old Kevlar flak vests compare to modern body armor?

While older Kevlar flak vests are generally heavier than modern body armor made from materials like UHMWPE, they are considered relatively lightweight for their construction and era, offering a balance between protection and mobility.

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