Bulletproof Vest Experiment

Home, Home on the (Shooting) Range

Research:  
After hearing conflicting reports as to exactly what would and would not penetrate a Kevlar vest, I
decided to test a kevlar panel myself.

Problem:  
What weapons will and will not penetrate a bulletproof vest?

Hypothesis:  
The Bulletproof vest will stop projectiles from the M1 .30 Carbine, the .22 LR Rifle, and the .38
Special, but will fail against the .223 Pistol, the .30-30 Rifle, the 70-pound pull compound bow, and the
 edged weapons (replica rapier, butterfly knife, Gerber lockblade knife).

Materials:  
One Kevlar vest panel, pre 1987 testing standards, with 12 layers of Kevlar, from Bulletproofme.com.
Approximately six inches of wet newspaper, kept moist throughout the experiment
13 gallon white plastic kitchen garbage bag
Duct tape to maintain stability
One replica rapier
One butterfly knife
One Gerber lockblade pocket knife
One 70-pound compound bow with field points and broadhead arrows
One M1 (.30 caliber) Carbine, WW2 era, with inexpensive FMJ ammunition
One Titan Tiger .38 Special (2" barrel) with Alabama Ammo brand hollow-point ammunintion
One Savage Model 99 .30-30 Rifle, with Winchester 180 grain soft point ammunition
One Kel-Tec PLR 16 Pistol with Surplus .223 Ammunition
One Marlin Model 60 .22LR Rifle, with hollow-point ammunition


Top to bottom, left to right, 70 pound pull compound bow with an arrow,  bayonet (not used due to a
chipped point),  Savage  Model 99 .30-30 rifle, Titan Tiger .38 Special snub-nosed revolver, Kel-Tec
PLR 16 pistol, replica rapier.



Marlin Model 60 .22lr Rifle (top, with scope), WW2-era M1 Cabine (bottom).

Procedures:
Put newspaper in the garbage bag, and pour water over it until it is wet.
Tie off garbage bag so it stays tigt to the newspaper
Duct tape the kevlar panel to the garbage bag
Hit Kevlar panel with weapons (from 2 feet away), being careful not to hit the same area twice

Results (image heavy):