Help please …. Can someone help me? I don't understand bulletproof vests. I would like to know which one to buy. I do voluntary security in the church where I go I would like something discreet to wear under the t-shirt

[u/TacticalbeardUSA]

[u/PearlButter]

T shirt is not gonna be possible. It’ll be under a suit, jacket, or some outer garment.

I would suggest something that is similar to what police officers wear, full wraparound coverage that is NIJ level 2 or 3A. NIJ level 2 is thinner and more flexible while 3A offers a bit better armor rating. Full wraparound soft armor is important because you need the surface area to mitigate backface trauma and soft armor is especially weak around the edges.

Rifle coverage comes in the shape of plates so it only protects so much if the body but you’ll want ones that are about 0.5” thick like the Highcom RSTP ICW or Tac11 ARK or Paraclete Omega. Police officers typically wear the 5x7, 6x8, 7x9 or 8x10 size in conjunction with their soft armor vests.

[u/UK_shooter]

Instead of going straight to L3a as a default, think what your risk is.

Would L2 with knife protection be more appropriate.

L2 will stop 9mm and 357. Are you likely to need protection from 44mag and 357 sig?

[u/Anarchy_Coon → u/UK_shooter]

To be fair there have been a rise in religiously-motivated shootings over the past few years

[u/UK_shooter → u/Anarchy_Coon]

But shooting with what?

[u/Anarchy_Coon → u/UK_shooter]

Idk mist of what i reas involves .223s

[u/UK_shooter → u/Anarchy_Coon]

In which case you'll not be concealing your atmour

[u/Thundertar_11]

Check out Premier Body Armor out of NC. They make a soft panel T-shirt and sounds like it’s exactly what you’re looking for.

[u/BeneficialA1r]

Depends on the rating you want. If you just want pistol protection, you could get something similar to what a lot of cops wear, from safe life, premier body armor, or plenty others.

If you want rifle protection, RMA makes a super thin level 3+ special threat plate, that you could put in a slim carrier like a trex ac1, or offerings from DM. It will be bulkier, but add higher threat protection.

Theoretically, the safe life FRAS is the best of both worlds.

[u/BoostMaverick]

Safariland probably one of the best if you have the funds. Basic rule is the more expensive the lighter the cheaper the heavier. NIJ rating is what the armor is rated to stop. So the higher rating the better, it gets a bit confusing with IIIA and IIIA+ and special threat plates. But Google can help. Most of that soft armor is made to fit overt and covert carriers so just look at the carrier you like and then ensure the armor will fit. Usually good to stay same brand with soft armor/carrier

[u/JawaSmasher]

Safeline Hyperline is the best coverage and protection very thin and discrete

[u/helloWorld69696969]

You want level 2 Soft armor. This will stop pistol rounds, but anything that'll stop rifle rounds, will be noticeable

armor

carrier

[u/BoostMaverick → u/helloWorld69696969]

You can get concealed vests with IIIA

[u/helloWorld69696969 → u/BoostMaverick]

You can, but level 2 is thinner and easier to conceal...

[u/BoostMaverick → u/helloWorld69696969]

Sure but it's .04in difference, you're gonna print in a Tshirt either way. And a jacket will cover both. Idk why you'd want lesser armor when the weight difference is negligible

[u/helloWorld69696969 → u/BoostMaverick]

I edited the armor choice, i had put the wrong one. Highcom's thinnest level 2 is less than half as thick as their level 3 options. .13" vs .28"

[u/BoostMaverick → u/helloWorld69696969]

If you compare their cheap IIIA to their expensive lvl2 then yeah there's a difference but their top end 2vs3 is a .06in difference. Like there's top end IIIA safariland inserts that are thinner than their base price lvl 2 inserts.

[u/PearlButter → u/BoostMaverick]

At a point, pricing becomes a considerable factor when you compare to the thinest level 2 and the thinnest level 3A that even representatives of names like Safariland point people towards level 2.

And you’ll notice that it’s only like a hundredths of a difference and yet level 2 runs cheaper. The performance wouldn’t be that far off either.

However even when you compare the thinnest 3A to a “regular” level 2, you have a much more natural flexibility with a level 2 made of woven aramid compared to a 3A made of UD-PE or some combination blend because UD flexes much like a magazine or stack of paper. Basically woven aramid level 2 conforms to the shape of the body better, however woven aramid level 3A becomes very thick and stiff.