Bigger concerns

In May, the Army recalled some 20,000 helmets because some screws shattered when hit directly by bullets in -60°F environments. [Source]

Last month, some ballistic plates were recalled because they had unauthorized beveled edges, even though that didn't affect their performance. [Source]

The idea of helmet recalls for substandard performance should probably unnerve me, let's face the facts. If I'm in a -60°F environment, I'm going to have bigger concerns than the screws of my helmet get hit dead on by bullets.

And though the ballistic plates that go in the flak vests can repel bullets up to 7.62mm (the kind the AK-47 fires), I'm far less concerned with beveled edges than I am with the fact that I still have to handle them with care.