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Thread: Will soft body armor stop an arrow?

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    Will soft body armor stop an arrow?

    Aramid based ballistic armor is designed to stop bullets, not cutting or stabbing attacks. Still, bullet resistant vests are pretty tough. What do you think? Can a Level IIA vest stop an arrow fired from a 55 lb compound bow? Don't cheat. Make your prediction before you watch the test.


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    We fired a 55lb compound bow with a 290 gr carbon fiber arrow tipped with four different arrow heads (listed below) at Level IIA body armor. The body armor is backed by clay, to simulate a body and approximate back face deformation.

    4 blade 150 gr broad head
    Muzzy 3 blade 100 gr broad head
    90 & 100 gr field points
    Last edited by AndrewWiggin; 10-13-15 at 10:23.

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    What was the backing material? It looked like clay or something and like it was solid enough to stop the arrows on its own, but I could be wrong.

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    The manufacturer has to use cutting instruments during production, so one would think any blade type projectile would cut Kevlar.
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    Prediction:
    No, lower level vests are not stab resistant enough to stop a double edge weapon, much less one traveling at 300+ fps.


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    I can't see the video at work. But I'm guessing it'll do a fair job... I'd rather have the vest than not.

    The vest is supposed to distribute and disburse the energy behind the arrow.

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    Only a vest with stab protection might stop an arrow... or a rifle plate.
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    It all depends. A field point or less efficient broadhead design may very well get stopped. Those points are going to try and push the material out of the way, where the layered woven Kevlar excels in dissipating the energy.

    I remember a test years ago on an elk hide where a field point and "pointed" broadhead couldn't be pushed through, while a "cutting tip" broadhead went through like a knife through butter.

    One of those should go through with ease out of a 55# bow.

    BTW, I didn't have time to watch the video. Was I close?
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    There's no fukkin way. I'm not watching the video. But I'd bet that ONLY a steel armor plate will stop an arrow.
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    Quote Originally Posted by DreadPirateMoyer View Post
    What was the backing material? It looked like clay or something and like it was solid enough to stop the arrows on its own, but I could be wrong.
    It's clay. Very soft. You could push your fingers right through it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by markm View Post
    There's no fukkin way. I'm not watching the video. But I'd bet that ONLY a steel armor plate will stop an arrow.
    How much would you bet? ;-)

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