As an LEO, I have to shake my head at what people think I wear. How many times have I heard it called "Bullet Proof Armor"??? I am issued a new lvl IIIA vest every 5 years. We currently upgraded our budget to about $900 per officer... that's front/rear panels, two concealable carriers and the ballistic insert... Survival Armor "Falcon6" if anyone wants to look it up. It's honestly the best-of-the-best when ithe comes to LEO concealable armor... still not "rifle rated".
I've contemplated buying lvl 3 or 4 armor for myself, but I honestly could not do my job in that armor. It's too bulky and too heavy.
Cops aren't clueless in this matter. It says right on the front cover what will and what will NOT be stopped by our armor. There's still a bunch of agencies that only issue lvl II armor... which doesn't even protect against magnum handgun loads.
2 years ago I shot the FN 5.7 at a retired vest. Every round penetrated both panels of our lvl IIIA armor (minus the ballistic plate insert, because those don't retire). So now what? Do we ban the 5.7x28 too? The .22WMR will penetrate as well... I hear the 7.62x25 does a decent job on some armors as well...
Just wait till some forward thinker brings forward the 9x25 Dillon, and shows what a 90gr projectile does at 2100 fps.... (ps. I want one!)
Why stop there... anyone have any idea what a Gamo Hunter Extreme, loaded with .177 PBA ammo, will do to a vest?