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What Kinds of Guns Do Bulletproof Vests Protect Against?

Bulletproof vests protect an individual by absorbing the shock and preventing the penetration of a gun round. Vests are typically constructed of a dense web of strong fibers, such as Kevlar. There are a number of classes that bulletproof vests are divided into, extending from the lowest, "I," to the strongest and heaviest, "III-A." The dispersion of the impact is just as important since the initial impact can break bones, damage internal organs, and cause blunt trauma. Bulletproof vests are effective against a number of different small-caliber weapons.

  1. .22 Caliber Rifle

    • Bulletproof vests are effective for stopping bullets from .22 caliber rifles. Most .22 caliber rifles are relatively low-powered and do not generate enough velocity to force the small round through body armor. Typical .22 caliber rounds are small and made up primarily of lead, which tends to mushroom when impacting a bulletproof vest. Even the lowest class of bulletproof vest, the type "I," is able to stop a .22 caliber rifle at 1,050 feet per second.

    9 mm Beretta

    • Type "IIA" is capable of withstanding the force and impact of a Beretta 9 mm round. The 9 mm caliber is common among pistols and is longer and more dangerous than a .22 caliber round. The Beretta is a high-powered pistol commonly used in the armed forces as a secondary weapon. Type "IIA" bulletproof vests and higher have been tested to show that a 9 mm round fired at 1,090 feet per second do not have the strength to penetrate the vest.

    .357 Magnum Handgun JSP

    • The .357 Magnum handgun's Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) has been praised as a "car stopper" by Leverguns; however, the weapon cannot penetrate type "II-A," "II," and "III-A" bulletproof vests. At a close range the gun has the power to knock someone off his feet and cause serious bruising to the individual wearing the vest, but body armor will still prevent the round from penetrating. Bulletproof vests have been proven to be effective at stopping a .357 Magnum round traveling at 1,250 feet per second.

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