Listen up folks,
I just came back from the range and here's the result of the tests on one of the soft insert coming from my israeli made body armor.
First thing to mention is that the insert is made of 17 layers of a bullet resistant material.
Each layer is in fact composed of 2 thin sheets pressed together to form one layer.
I shot it with a .22LR rifle, a Glock 17, a .45ACP pistol and a S&W 629 (.44 magnum).
.22Lr at 7 yardsthe bullet went through 2 layers.
9 mm at 7 yardsthe bullets (cast & FMJ) went through 3 layers.
.45 ACP at 7 yardsthe bullet (FMJ) ripped through 2 layers.
.44 magnum at 7 yardsthe jacketed soft point bullet pierced 4 layers.
.44 magnum at point blank range (less than 3 feet)the jacketed soft point bullet zipped though 9 layers and came to rest on the 10th layer, also 7 inner layers were pierced propably due to the fact that the insert was laid directly on a sandy backstop instead of a 1/4" wooden plate as with the other tests.
Note that only the .22LR round didn't deform the inner surface of the insert, the other calibers do cause deformation that break holes in the 1/4" wooden back stop.
The hole on the wood made by the .44 magnum is the size of a fist.
In view of the results I doubt that someone wearing this vest can survive a .44 magnum because of the trauma involved.
I'm wondering if a trauma pad can effectively safe his life.
In conclusion, don't rely on a level IIIA vest to save your life against threats higher than .22LR unless you wear a trauma pad but I can't garantee that either.
I also fired 2 rounds of Sellier & Bellot .223 out of a 20" bbl AR15 at 200 meters.
Without surprise they went through the 17 layers with no expansion.
Here are some pics of the test:
Bullets recovered in soft insert, from left to right 9mm cast bullet, .45ACP FMJ, .44 magnum jacketed soft point. Sorry but a friend took the 9mm FMJ bullet and the .22LR standard velocity bullet.
The 44 magnum bullet rested there.
Trauma causedby the44magnum at back of the insert.
Soft insert cover, front face.