Bullet Proof Vest For Sale: A Brief Guide

Bullet Proof Vest For Sale: A Brief Guide
If you have been on the hunt for a bullet proof vest for sale in South Africa, you have certainly come to the right place. In this brief guide, we will provide some crucial information about these vests and the performance you can expect from them. Additionally, we will also offer some interesting facts regarding these lifesaving pieces of equipment – after all, it always pays to be well informed.
With a product as vital as a bullet proof vest, quality can mean the difference between life and death. Luckily, with Futurama, you have a vast and varied selection of excellent, high-quality products available to you at the click of a button. Whether you are looking for tactical gear, optics, home and garden equipment, gadgets, outdoor gear and more, we have got you covered.

 

Can You Buy A Bullet Proof Vest In South Africa?
You are able to purchase bullet proof vests in South Africa – in fact, you have a few different brands and options available to you. In our online store alone, we stock vests from Condor, Imperial Armour, Zebra, and Duke – all of which are of the highest quality. These companies are renowned in the industry, and they have an immense knowledge of the science behind ballistic protection solutions.

How Much Does A Bullet Proof Vest Cost?
This answer will depend on a few key factors, namely; the material used in the vest, the protection level they provide, and the accessories included. With that being said, you can expect to pay between R5,000 - R 20,000 for a bullet proof vest for sale in our store. As a baseline, the price of a plate carrier (plates not included) is between R3,000 and R10,000 – these offer a substantial amount of protection and are an ideal option for a range of objectives.

Can A Bullet Proof Vest Stop AK 47?
In order for a vest to be considered level III rated, it needs to be able to withstand up to six shots from 7.62x51 NATO rounds. Armour of this rating would be capable of stopping rounds from an AK 47. Vests of a lower rating will not be as reliable against higher impact rounds. In summary, the answer to this question will depend quite heavily on the specific vest and plate pairing you are thinking of purchasing.

How Many Bullets Does It Take To Break A Bulletproof Vest?
According to the standards of the NIJ in the United States, soft armour inserts should be able to take six shots before breaking. Of course, some higher-end brands are capable of withstanding significantly more damage, with certain vests being observed to handle plenty of rounds from level IV weapons. It is typically advised to replace armour panels after encountering a shot as this ensures the safety of the wearer.

Is It OK To Wear A Bullet Proof Vest?
The short answer is yes, is it perfectly acceptable for anyone to wear a bullet proof vest if they wish to do so. There are zero restrictions on this kind of protective wear in South Africa, and you do not need to be a part of the military, police, or any other government organisation to wear one.

 

 

A Few Products From Our Online Store
Now that we have covered a few commonly asked questions, let’s get into a few excellent bullet proof vests for sale from our online shop:

Zebra Armour Complete Delta 2-90 Bullet Proof Vest System – Level IIIA
If you know a bit about personal protective gear, you may have already heard of Zebra Protection, who are without a doubt one of the finest manufacturers of bullet proof vests in the industry. This particular bullet proof vest comes equipped with a full Molle system, fully adjustable sides and shoulder attachments, and hardy ALCP3+ Level III+ ICW IIIA plates.
The Molle system adds some remarkable versatility when it comes to attaching pouches for accessories and creating flexible preferences that better suit the user. This vest also includes a drag handle, front and back hard armour plate pockets, and a plethora of heat management materials are available too, if necessary. Experience unhindered movement and a full range of motion with this fantastic product from Zebra Protection.

Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier
This plate carrier has been created using Mil-Spec 500D Cordura Fabric which has impressive tensile strength. To top it all off, nylon webbing has been fed through the whole vest to guarantee longevity and performance. Whilst the design is simple, oftentimes, simple is better. The pouches are incredibly accessible and facilitate rapid donning and doffing when necessary.
The vest features hook loop webbing, adjustable Cummerband with soft armour pockets, heavy-duty webbing for modular attachments, and more. It is almost impossible to find a plate carrier with this level of performance while also being cost-effective. We cannot recommend this offering from Condor enough.

Bullet Proof Vest For Sale: How Do They Stop Bullets?
The plates inside of body armour are made up of extremely strong non-woven or woven ballistic fibres, and some incorporate both into their designs for optimal performance. The way that these vests stop bullets can be likened to the way a net would stop a tennis ball. In the few thousandths of a second that the whole process occurs, upon impact, the vest causes the bullet to slow down. The subsequent energy is then dispersed across the whole panel.
The bullet then “mushrooms”, which is what happens when a bullet hits a hard surface, turning into a mushroom-like shape. This further slows the bullet and helps the vest’s stopping process. As you can imagine, the slower the bullet is, the better the chances of the wearer coming out unscathed. It is the dispersal of energy that is the most crucial aspect of these vests, as bullets travel at incredible velocity – better to spread this power and speed across a panel than to have one spot bear the full brunt of the impact.

Bullet Proof Vest For Sale: How Long Do Ballistic Vests Last?
Depending on who you ask, the answer is between 5 - 15 years and most warranties are between 5 - 10 years. Why do they have a lifespan? Well, most good quality bullet proof vests have been painstakingly manufactured to retain their protective qualities for the specified period. However, if body armour is worn every day, it will eventually begin to experience signs of wear and tear. This applies even if the vest has not been hit in the past.
Regardless of how long the vest has been used, we recommend that you carry out regular checks of the ballistic plates and plate holders to ensure that there is no noticeable damage – including tears, burns, and creases. If you make an effort to look after the vests well, they should easily exceed the warranty period and be perfectly safe to wear for a while after their expiry date.
If you notice any worrying damage that might hinder the protective gears’ ability to perform, we suggest purchasing new plates. There is no reason to take unnecessary risks with something as essential and potentially lifesaving as a bullet proof vest. Most products should come with a handy instruction manual, so follow the guidelines closely and you shouldn’t have any issues.

 

How To Clean Your Protective Ballistic Vests
We would recommend that each individual has two plate carriers for the protective plates. If you do, you will guarantee that you always have a spare, even when one has just been washed. Washing the carriers is very important, as debris and dust can build up on the fabric and begin to compromise the vest, or worse: the ballistic plates inside. The carriers are simple to wash, all you need to do is stick closely to the cleaning instructions provided with the product and you shouldn’t have any difficulty.
Cleaning the ballistic panels, however, requires a little more attention and know-how because they provide actual bullet resistance. It is still vital to give them a good clean every now and then, to make sure that they stand the test of time. All you need is a damp sponge and mild soap, then wipe each panel down on the back and front, without getting the sponge too wet. It is never a good idea to throw these plates into the washer or dryer.
While it is true that many of the better brands create plates that are water-resistant, we highly recommend that you do not fully submerge them in water. If they are soaked, it can interfere with the many layers that make up the ballistic fibres inside the plates and bend them out of shape. If this happens, they cannot be straightened out and the plate becomes a liability. Do not iron your plates either, as the focused heat also carries the danger of compromising the layers of ballistic fabric.
We would also suggest that you dry off the carriers and panels in a well-ventilated room with no direct sunlight, if possible. Again, this is to prevent any warping of the critical materials inside. Neatly place the whole vest on a hanger and leave it to dry for a few hours. All in all, it is not complicated to successfully clean your bullet proof vests, it just requires a small amount of caution and some attention to detail. If you look after your vests well, they will look after you for many years to come.

Ensure That The Panels Are Inserted Correctly
When it comes to using ballistic vests, there are few pieces of advice more pertinent than this. The panels have been designed in a very specific way, and if they are not placed into the carrier correctly, the implications could be lethal.
The panels have been created with a “strike face” which catches and disperses the energy from the bullet. The back side of the panel has been designed to reduce trauma to the body and ease the impact for the wearer.
If the panel is flipped, it will not be able to perform the way it was designed to, and this could mean the system won't work. With that being said, there are plates that can be reversed because they are equipped with a dual strike face. It is always better to err on the side of caution and carefully examine the instructions before assuming that your panels are constructed this way.

About Futurama
At Futurama, our mission is to help you change the world. While this may sound like a tall order, we have started with a very simple plan: Whenever you shop with us, we offset x2 the carbon emissions normally produced from shipping, fighting the good fight against climate change and helping you minimise your carbon footprint.
If you are in need of a bullet proof vest/vista, we have got your back. You can expect expert advice when it comes to deciding on the right purchase for you, as well as safe and secure shopping and even hassle-free returns. You can find us online or say hello in person at one of our two physical stores (Somerset West and Somerset Mall, Cape Town).