What to expect when hit while wearing soft/hard armor

Hope this is the right forum for this topic.
What effects might one experience when hit in the chest/torso while wearing soft armor, plates with backers or just plates?
As a civilian, all I know is from the movies.... Fall down, play dead, get up after the BG is gone and rip the armor off and check for flesh holes. I expect this will not be the case.
Anyone ever been saved by armor? I guess one would encounter broken/bruised ribs, collarbone injuries, loss of breath (solar plexus) and some other injuries that don't come to mind right now.
What damages can someone expect from a 9mm JHP shot from 5-15 feet away while wearing soft armor? Soft/plates? How about FMJ's?. Other calibers?

I believe I've read Doc say that the service calibers have similar energy as a fast pitch soft ball. As I recall it came up in a discussion about stopping power, and how when a person is shot, it does -not- knock them off their feet like you see in the old westerns.

That said, assuming there is no penetration, I think you'd know you got hit, but there should be no tissue/bone damage.

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Originally Posted by _rab_

I believe I've read Doc say that the service calibers have similar energy as a fast pitch soft ball. As I recall it came up in a discussion about stopping power, and how when a person is shot, it does -not- knock them off their feet like you see in the old westerns.

That said, assuming there is no penetration, I think you'd know you got hit, but there should be no tissue/bone damage.

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Yep. Soldiers hit by 7.62x54R on their hard plates in the field have not been knocked down. In fact, the hit was similar to someone poking you in the chest in terms of "knock down" force.

With soft armor, the effect is a little more pronounced due to the blunt trauma and pain. You can expect broken ribs and a severe hicky. The person isn't "knocked down", the pain can cause a person to voluntarily fall down though. However, if the pain can be removed from the equation through drugs, adrenaline, or just will power then there is virtually no knock down effect. If a 7.62x54R which is the equivalent of a .30-06 will not knock someone down, then a pistol caliber certainly won't unless the person voluntarily falls down.

I have never taken a round, but have heard that armor or not, mental toughness and will to live/fight have a lot to do with what you feel and do at the moment.

Here ya go....I love this video:eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd9-hreCYz8

In theory a hit over the heart area while wearing soft armor could be enough blunt force trauma to injure/stop the heart. This is why soft armor will have a separate trauma plate.

I have never been shot while wearing a vest (soft armor). I am aware of a few Officers I have know of over the years who have taken rounds to their soft armor. The resulting effect on the officer was in one of two ways, depending on the mental state of mind of the individual struck. It either took them out of the fight (mentally), or it severely pissed them off, and they ended the suspects hostile actions.

After the adrenaline wore off, there was bruising in the area struck.

I can't comment about armor with plates, as I have no experience with them.

I can comment on the importance of developing the proper mindset. In the end, you are the weapon. Your gun, your armor, ect. are just tools.

Second Chance used to have a video with tons of survivor debriefs, many of those had no idea they were shot until afterwards.

I was shot at point blank range (about 8-10 feet) by someone armed with a .45 caliber Colt 1911. I was wearing an ABA level IIIA vest with a Spectrashield insert.

It basically felt like I was struck in the chest with a bat. The bruising afterwards was about 6 inches in diameter and was sore for about 7-10 days.

^^Ouch, care to share anymore back story on that^^ I assume this wasn't on purpose. If it wasn't on purpose I bet you got mad as hell.

Here's a link to that second chance video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIhyETXW1u0

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Originally Posted by Iraqgunz

I was shot at point blank range (about 8-10 feet) by someone armed with a .45 caliber Colt 1911. I was wearing an ABA level IIIA vest with a Spectrashield insert.

It basically felt like I was struck in the chest with a bat. The bruising afterwards was about 6 inches in diameter and was sore for about 7-10 days.

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Sorry for the ignorance, but would that be a hit in soft armor, or a hit in soft armor over a plate insert?

About 10 feet away with Glock .40S&W. ABA Extreme Level IIIA body armor. Missed the plate, struck right under the badge. Picture was taken about 3 or 4 days after the incident. The bad guy took 6 rounds and is healing nicely in prison......
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...5/Guns/ABA.jpg

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Originally Posted by CoryCop25

About 10 feet away with Glock .40S&W. ABA Extreme Level IIIA body armor. Missed the plate, struck right under the badge. Picture was taken about 3 or 4 days after the incident. The bad guy took 6 rounds and is healing nicely in prison......
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...5/Guns/ABA.jpg

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WOW...I'm glad your ok pal. What was the bad guy hit with?

Thanks for sharing that with us.

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Originally Posted by TRIDENT82

WOW...I'm glad your ok pal. What was the bad guy hit with?

Thanks for sharing that with us.

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For anonymity's sake, I took the picture.....:ph34r:
The bad guy took several hits from a Glock 22 and survived. The gunfight occurred from either side of a vehicle. Very close, very fast. The bullet wound was discovered when the supervisor arrived and noticed the hole in the shirt below the badge. The job was a vandalism call that turned into a vehicle pursuit that turned into a gunfight. Don't ever take your heads off that swivel! It was only a vandalism call! See how fast a routine call can turn to poo?

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It was only a vandalism call!

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A friend of mine was ambushed and shot 6 times, all over the bad guy getting caught stealing lawn furniture.

Glad you came out on top of that fight, good work sir.

I work with a guy who over Memorial day weekend he took a 12 gauge slug from less than 15 feet to the trama plate. It destroyed the plate. He did have penatration due to blunt force. He spent about 3 days in the hospital before going home and about 10 weeks on no duty. He is now back to work. He returned fire afterwards and handcuffed the guy. He then went over the radio and advised him that he had been shot. Safariland said that they knew his vest could take that but up until then it had not been proven. He is save 1778.

Dan

Did Safariland send him a payment for serving as their test victim?

I was working as a bail bondsman at the time. The person in question was subsequently killed by the S.O after he fired on a deputy after they responded to my 911 call.

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Originally Posted by TRIDENT82

^^Ouch, care to share anymore back story on that^^ I assume this wasn't on purpose. If it wasn't on purpose I bet you got mad as hell.

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The Spectrashield insert was a soft armor type (IIRC) and was designed to slip into the vest in lieu of the little trauma plates. It was supposed to be something better at that time (late 90's).

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Originally Posted by WS6

Sorry for the ignorance, but would that be a hit in soft armor, or a hit in soft armor over a plate insert?

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.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwBYEFJ3CrQ

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Originally Posted by ptmccain

Did Safariland send him a payment for serving as their test victim?

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They have hooked him up with a lot of stuff including a new vest. Being part of the survivor club has benefits but I'd rather just pay the cash.

Dan

Thanks for all the great info. I Have an Eagle SPC, with some level III plates for special events. While I hope I never have to use them, it sure is good to know what I'll be dealing with if the event arises. The concept of being in the right mindset is is also a great point which has go t me motivated to do more training under stress.