[Lucky Jim]

I'm no expert, but is there really such a thing as a totally bullet-proof vest?
I don't think there is is there, because Brit/US troops in Afgh wear them and still get shot don't they?

Another thing:- do we need to buy vests at all, can't we make one ourselves by getting hold of a few thick steel plates and sewing them into an old jacket or something?
Or even simpler, how about drilling a couple of holes in a steel plate and hanging it round our neck, buttoning it under our jacket to protect us from chin to groin?

 

[Lucky Jim]

..Jim, mild steel will not stop rifle bullets. I've got a piece of 3/16" thick mild steel plate that I put a 30-30 round thru @ 100 yards. The jacket was left bonded to the edge of the hole, the innards kept right on going.

Yeah my take is that no matter how thick and super-duper expensive armor is, sooner or later a zomb will come along with a rifle capable of penetrating it.
So I think all we can do is buy (or make) armour that'll at least stop most regular handgun rounds, maybe 3/16" steel would do that?
Personally I'd wear the heaviest armour that it'd be possible to comfortably carry, say a half-inch steel slab hung round my neck and buttoned under my jacket.

PS- there's a good lesson to be learned from tank warfare, namely that no matter how thick a tanks armour is (e.g. the German Tiger), sooner or later a tank will come along capable of penetrating it such as the US Pershing, Brit Firefly and Russian T-34/85, especially if firing solid tungsten ammo.

 

[Lucky Jim]

This Russian WW2 guy seems to have a nice vest of some sort-