Hey guys, I think this might be the appropriate place to post this because my questions deal almost directly with the excellent article posted by DocGKR on soft body armor and his recommendation to avoid laminates.
I’ve been looking for a vest to wear when I go to public ranges and to have on hand in case of emergencies. I am not LE or Military so this would not be a duty vest or anything.
But I still want something that is pretty good and I’ve found a decent deal on Point Blank Hi Lite Level II vests and I have some questions about them.
Now, I know “deal” and body armor shouldn’t really be used together but from my understanding the vests are being liquidated only because the new NIJ06 standards are official (correct me if I’m wrong).
Anyway, the vest is listed as containing “Dyneema and Aramids”, now I believe the fact that it uses any laminate whatsoever is reason enough to not consider it, however, I am not entirely sure so I am asking here.
So is the Point Blank Hi Lite vest a good choice or should I look for something that is all Kevlar?
Now, I am on a bit of a budget, otherwise I would just get some IIIA all Kevlar BALCS panels and a concealable carrier.
Thanks ahead of time and sorry if this is posted under the wrong section.
I am not a huge fan of the PB Hi-Lite for LE patrol duty; however, for your intended use, the likelihood of a contact shot is substantially less–in your case any armor is better than none.
I know it’s kind of a goofy setup with ordering from Israel and all, but I am almost completely certain that these vests are just re-branded Marom Dolphin vests. I checked the NIJ website and Marom Dolphin meets the standards.
The only reason I am considering this company over the Point Blank is because these Israeli vests are all Kevlar.
But, I’m new to this and am pretty lost when it comes to what’s good and what’s not.
If you now are considering a 100% p-aramid vest, you could easily purchase a proven, quality U.S. made armor package like the MSA Paraclete K3K3A (available from Grey Group Training) or U.S. Armor Eagle Enforcer.
The Hi-Lite is constructed in such a way that it often fails during contact shots, much like the mechanism discussed here: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19912. However, for the OP’s uses (“public ranges” and “emergencies”) there is little risk of a contact shot; any armor will be better than none.
But the budget is a pretty strict $300 and it will be that way for awhile. I figured I would forgo a new accessory for the AR and get something I have been lacking, which is armor.
And, I’d rather not go used, so the only 2 options in new vests that I could find are the Hi Lite and the Israeli one.
The only “issue” I could find with the Israeli vest is that it seems to have a strange cut for the back panel and it is foreign made.
I do like the fact that the Hi-Lite is American made by a major armor manufacturer though, but the material is what concerns me.
