DKX Max III Hard Armor

HIGH-3

While walking the aisles of the last SHOT Show, one particular product caught my eye. It was a hard armor plate floating in a tank of water. My initial thought was, “that thing couldn’t stop a BB.” But, as my wife often points out, “wrong again, trooper.” Then I find out the plate I saw floating is NIJ Standard 0101.06 Type III certified. That’s right — rifle-fire resistant.

First, how would something as light and buoyant as this body armor stop a bullet? And second, how would a product like this not sop up an olympic-size swimming pool load of water and be rendered inefficient? The answer: It’s Dyneema fiber. This stuff, even its raw fiber form, is buoyant and hydrophobic (repels water); it’s 15 times stronger than steel and 50 to 75 percent less dense. If that’s not the definition of high-tech, I don’t know what would be.

No “optional delusion” here, this really is the DKX Max III
hard armor plate floating in water. It’s that light.

NIJ Standard 0101.06

If you have problems with insomnia, pick up a copy of the published NIJ Standard for body armor. You’ll be thrust into deep REM before the first sheep clears the fence. But, information from that propeller head factory is actually quite valuable if you’re buying your own body armor or if you’re the guy making recommendations to senior staff on purchases for your department.

All the velocity, specific mass and cross sectional density stuff is confusing at best, so let’s break it down to it’s most simple form. Type I protects against lead .22 Long Rifle and .380 ACP; Type IIa, slow 9mm and .40 S&W; Type II, fast 9mm and .357 Magnum; Type IIIa, .357 SIG and .44 Magnum; Type III, rifle calibers; and Type IV, armor-piercing rifle calibers. Now, there are lots of other calibers around, but this should give you the picture. If you need to know specifics, break out your scientific digital calculator and read the standard.

The DKX Max III plates fit quite nicely into
the Critical Safety Equipment plate carrier.

The DKX Max III

It’s a Type III hard plate made to fit in an external carrier that will protect you from rifle calibers. Previously, most plates were ceramic or steel and weighed between 7 and 11 pounds each. Considering you need a front and a rear plate, that’s an extra 14 to 22 pounds to carry around. The DKX Max III weighs just 2.9 pounds and it floats. It also has multi-hit capability — something ceramic plates have problems accomplishing. Each plate has its own RFEV ID chip embedded with supporting software to monitor wear and lifespan. The DKX Max III is designed and warranted to last 7 years. That’s longer than most any other body armor product. It’s drop resistant and doesn’t need to be X-rayed to check integrity.

Critical Safety Equipment Carrier

DKX Armor partners to provide the carrier. It’s from Critical Safety Equipment, a US company supporting law enforcement, military and security professionals. The carrier is made in the US with American raw materials. It consists of 1000D Dupont Cordura with high-quality zippers and buckles. You can get it with or without the cummerbund. Also, it’s set up with MOLLE gear attachment points, has side plate pouches, shoulder pads and comes in coyote tan, black and ranger green. CSE is confident enough in their product that they provide a lifetime warranty.

This is a great combo for tactical folks and patrol cops ready for an active-shooter incident. If you need military-level, anti-armor piercing capability, you’ll need to get some ceramic, but for American law enforcement, Type III should suffice.

For more info: www.americancop.com/dkx-armor and www.americancop.com/critical-safety-equipment
By Dave Douglas