Defense US Palm and Armor Express: Body Armor self test David Reeder September 27, 2013 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. US Palm recently posted this video. Watch it and then we'll cover some details. That is Matt Davis of Armor Express. He is demonstrating his confidence in the ballistic capabilities of the Level IIIA panels Armor Express provides to US Palm (a Scottsdale, AZ based manufacturer of excellent loadbearing gear, AK magazines and other gear). It was, according to US Palm, a panel picked randomly from their inventory (US Palm uses Armor Express panels exclusively). Armor Express is, FYI, the manufacturer of the body armor that saved Oak Creek Police Department Lt. Brian Murphy when he responded to the active shooter murders at the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin last year. It's not the first time he's shot at himself to demonstrate the quality of the armor built by this family-owned business. Remember this video? Go to 00:36. Watch the (completely understandable) reaction of his father. To say this implies a high level of confidence in the product is a gross understatement. As you can imagine, controversy over whether Mr. Davis should or should not have done this (and US Palm made it public) has been significant, which is a little surprising. It's by no means the first time he's done it. Comparisons have been made to placing live photographers downrange during live fire training, though personally I believe that's a case of comparing apples to oranges. Statements have ranged from ‘You can't fix stupid‘ to ‘How's he walkin' around with a bucket of balls like that?' It's not the first time brave, confident and/or arguably foolish men have volunteered to test body armor. I remember as a rookie in the 90s, hearing about Richard Davis (Second Chance body armor) shooting himself in the chest with pistols provided by local police agencies. Going further back, there are pictures of NYPD officers in the 20s allowing other officers to shoot them within just a meter or two for similar demonstrative purposes. There are those who would argue the sort of demonstration Matt made was unnecessary, with undue risk. Others would say it's commendable; he asks others to trust their lives in his product, why shouldn't he? Personally I find it reassuring and convincing as hell. Your thoughts? Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
