Pistols that make Ballistic Vests run and hide...

***zackwatt*** · 07-22-2012, 19:19

Because of recent events I have a friend set on getting a FN Five Seven in case he has to protect himself from someone wearing a ballistic vest....

Personally I see no point in it, ballistic vests aren't magic. Most rounds are still going to make for a bad day. Not to mention, the problems with over penetration against an unarmored individual.

All that aside...it got me thinking about pistols that stand a good chance defeating certain types of body armor.

The only ones I know of are FN's Five Seven and the pistols that shoot 7.62x25 Tokarev...

cowboy1964 · 07-22-2012, 19:34

What are the odds that if one has to use their weapon to defend themselves that it will be against someone wearing body armor? 100,000 to 1? I'll continue to carry a more effective round than a 5.7.

TexasTerror · 07-22-2012, 19:37

The shooting had me thinking of a AR pistol in a backpack. It's not as readily available as a concealed pistol but with the right ammo it would have been a good thing to have in that situation. I was thinking M855 but I don't know why all is out there and how they do against different body armor. Not to mention the velocity loss going from say a 16" to 7.5" barrel. I had watched a video of a guy shoot a 1/4" steel plate from maybe 80 yards with M855 and it left a nice size hole. Full penetration.

***zackwatt*** · 07-22-2012, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

Myth. Civilian 5.7 ammo is not going to penetrate a good vest.

Left that bit out, the availability of specific ammo...or lack there of.

uzimon · 07-22-2012, 19:38

ak pistol
ar pistol

my762buzz · 07-22-2012, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackwatt

The only ones I know of are FN's Five Seven and the pistols that shoot 7.62x25 Tokarev...

Handguns of 7.62x39, 5.45x39, .454, .460, or .500 have the potential to defeat nonplated vests. The key is minimum velocity. IIRC around 1800 fps.

gunowner1 · 07-22-2012, 19:43

The unfortunate incident in Colorado has not made me rethink my carry procedures in any way,shape,or form.The chances of running into a BG wearing body armor are really slim. If he is wearing body armor he is already ahead of me and probably has me outgunned.

***zackwatt*** · 07-22-2012, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunowner1

The unfortunate incident in Colorado has not made me rethink my carry procedures in any way,shape,or form.The chances of running into a BG wearing body armor are really slim. If he is wearing body armor he is already ahead of me and probably has me outgunned.

Couldn't agree more.

raven11 · 07-22-2012, 19:45

You could buy a cz52

g30sfjeepguy · 07-22-2012, 19:52

I like the five seven the price just is out of my range. I've always wanted one though just think they are cool.

ChuteTheMall · 07-22-2012, 19:53

Get rid of that nickle-plated sissy pistol and get yourself a
Draco!

arclight610 · 07-22-2012, 20:12

The guy had plates in, so nothing short of a .300 Winmag would have worked.

M2 Carbine · 07-22-2012, 20:15

Kel Tec PLR .223

CitizenOfDreams · 07-22-2012, 20:21

Stupid question... Are there any handguns that fire 7.62x39 or .223? I mean, handgun-sized handguns, not just AK-47's with a sawed off stock.

Deaf Smith · 07-22-2012, 20:24

Buffalo Bore makes a 125 gr .357 Magnum load that gets 1591 fps from S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel.

That might do if it's a FMJ load and 6 inch barrel.

Deaf

jakebrake · 07-22-2012, 20:25

500 smith and wesson.?

480 ruger

475 wildey

454 casull

Berto · 07-22-2012, 20:28

You might as well plan on a piano falling on your head, too.

Decguns · 07-22-2012, 20:30

The 5.7 is useless against body armor unless you have some AP ammo. Those civilian 5.7 loads are about as effective as a .17 Rimfire. The problem with pistols? No civilian legal AP ammo.

The only reason you'd need AP pistol ammo to defeat a body armored bad guys is because the average shooter is a horrible marksmen, even under the best conditions. Honestly, 95% of pistol shooters couldn't make a head shot at 21 feet if their life depended on it.

Powder · 07-22-2012, 20:33

Even if you unload a mag into his chest (with body armor), I would think the bullet impacts would throw him off enough for someone to jump him at that point.

I don't think you can just shake off 10 or 15 rounds in the chest so easily.

***volsbear*** · 07-22-2012, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Even if you unload a mag into his chest (with body armor), I would think the bullet impacts would throw him off enough for someone to jump him at that point.

I don't think you can just shake off 10 or 15 rounds in the chest so easily.

Oh I don't know. Try watching the LA bank robbery videos.

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WoodenPlank · 07-22-2012, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by arclight610

The guy had plates in, so nothing short of a .300 Winmag would have worked.

Where did you get that info? I have yet to see anything indicating WHAT type of body armor he had on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CitizenOfDreams

Stupid question... Are there any handguns that fire 7.62x39 or .223? I mean, handgun-sized handguns, not just AK-47's with a sawed off stock.

Nothing truly handgun-sized, no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by volsbear

Oh I don't know. Try watching the LA bank robbery videos.

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The two shooters in the North Hollywood incident were wearing vests, home made additional pieces of armor, but only one had in a trauma plate.

arclight610 · 07-22-2012, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodenPlank

Where did you get that info? I have yet to see anything indicating WHAT type of body armor he had on.

Nothing truly handgun-sized, no.

The two shooters in the North Hollywood incident were wearing vests, home made additional pieces of armor, but only one had in a trauma plate.

My bad, I rescind my last statement. He wore tactical style body armor that costed between $2000-3000, but it did not specify whether it was just soft or hard. In that case, any high velocity pistola will do.

WoodenPlank · 07-22-2012, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by arclight610

My bad, I rescind my last statement. He wore tactical style body armor that costed between $2000-3000, but it did not specify whether it was just soft or hard. In that case, any high velocity pistola will do.

If you pay $2,000-3,000 for soft armor, you are really doing something wrong.

While witnesses at the scene report he was in "body armor", I have yet to see any actual confirmation that it was indeed armor, and not simply something that LOOKED like armor. A company did come forward to say he had ordered a Blackhawk vest (no armor) and magazine pouches from them a few weeks prior to the shooting. Seems like it's at least possible the shooter actually had no functional torso armor on, just a carrier and magazine pouches.

nursetim · 07-22-2012, 21:38

This was years ago mind you, but there was a Durham NC officer shot with a .22 through his vest if I am not mistaken.

A fella at a gun show tried to sell me a knife but mentioning how it would penetrate a bullet resistant vest like a hot knife through butter. I told him that was a repugnant sales pitch. Never got the knife.

glock2740 · 07-22-2012, 22:14

BP jackets aren't magical. Get shot with one on and it isn't pleasant. At the range that you will be in a shooting scenario, hitting a BG wearing a BP vest and he'll know it. That's enough to slow him down enough for some head shots.