While level 4 body armor offers the maximum protection, you and your loved ones likely won’t need to stop 30.06 M2AP armor-piercing bullets, and a lower grade piece of armor would be plenty protective. The NIJ classifies body armor into five different threat levels. on the soft clay test surface, a FAIL). Soft armor is constructed by tightly weaving aramid threads, 100% UHMWPE (ultra-high molecule weight polyethylene), or a hybrid of UHMWPE and aramids into a flexible yet protective bullet catcher that stops the spinning (rifled) motion of the projectile, dissipating its penetration power. Soft armor is best used as concealed armor for patrol or other duty with long hours, as it is lighter, flexible, and more comfortable than hard armor. 1 List of body armours 1.1 Armour Body Armours (Strength) 1.2 Evasion Body Armours (Dexterity) 1.3 Energy Shield Body … Plate Armor Curve (Top is Level III+, Bottom is Level IV) Your body is curved, so it’s well worth your comfort to spring for the curved chest plate, even if it’s a few dollars more. and .44 Magnum, which level 2 armor does not protect against. This protects against nearly all handgun rounds, including both .357 Sig. Level 3 body armor offers a more comprehensive range of protection and defends against nearly all handgun rounds as well as 7.62 rifle rounds. However, while Level IV body armor can protect you from rifle fire, you won’t do much running around while you’re wearing it. Soft Body Armor Level III-A ~8 – 10 mm thick approx: Level III-A is a little bit thicker, a little stiffer, heavier-duty and more expensive, but will protect against many other of the uncommon pistol threats, for example, it is rated to protect against 9mm sub-machine-gun and .44 Magnum. Level IIIA is the fourth level of protection, so it will also stop all rounds covered by lower levels of body armor (Level I, Level IIA, and Level II). Since 1973, Point Blank has grown into an internationally diversified company with the most visible brand recognition, considered today to be the premier source of body armor systems in the world. There are several different standards of ballistic protection; higher the level, higher the protection. NIJ Level IIA armor is typically soft body armor, meaning that it is composed of layers of high-strength woven fibers. NIJ standards are broken down into seven threat levels: Level II and IIIA are soft armor designed to stop pistol rounds, Level III and IV are hard plate armor built to withstand rifle bullets, and the three Spike levels stand up to improvised bladed weapons. Level III polyethylene plates are ultra-lightweight and can stop rifle bullets up to and including 7.62mm/.308 caliber. This is a common option for many first-time buyers, but unfortunately, does not offer as broad protection as many other body armor products. The important things you want to look for is the CE level 1 or CE level 2. Level IV armor will offer the highest level of protection registered by the NIJ. Level III body armor protection. Polyethylene is the third – and lightest – option. This is not only one of the most popular varieties of armor we sell at Body Armor Megastore, but it is also one we highly recommend. Level IV body armor is typically sought after by people more likely to encounter extreme danger such as Law Enforcement, Military or Security Contractors. In Part 2 of this two-part series, we explain the NIJ armor protection levels and which armor stops which threats. FREE SHIPPING ON U.S. ORDERS $60+. The levels are designated based on the product's ability to stop specified rounds at specified velocities. Level III Body Armor Review Pros and Cons. By adding a ceramic face, polyethylene plates can be certified to Level IV and will stop steel core and tactical rifle rounds up to and including 166-grain .30 caliber M2 armor-piercing. Level IV body armor is designed to stop .30-06 M2AP armor piercing rounds. Levels of body armor. Basically, more layers of ballistic fiber are added to the body armor to make it more protective with each rise in level. All body armor products are categorized into one of six levels. Level iii armor is rated to withstand 7.62 mm FMJ (US military M80) rounds with a mass of 147 grains and … JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Level IIIA. For BODY ARMOR LEVELS please see this article.Choosing the correct type of body armor is important to ensure you are protected completely. A ballistic protection level indicates to what extent a body armor can provide protection against bullets. Level 2 body armor offers protection from some, but not all, handgun rounds. Armor with this rating is capable of protecting against .44 Magnum or 9mm submachine gun ammunition. Level III body armor is designed to protect against rifle calibers up to 7.62×51 or .308 Winchester at a velocity of 2780 ft/s, as well as all lower level calibers. This is a large caliber round with plenty of powder behind it. Armor Levels: Which Armor Stops Which Rounds, Top Cold Weather Tactical Jackets for 2020, Propper Offers the Best in Big and Tall Tactical Gear, Army Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform Now Widely Available. Pros. Body armour is a type of armour equipment. This includes: 8 g (124 gr) 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 398 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) Today there are two main types: regular non-plated body armor for moderate to substantial protection, and hard-plate reinforced body armor for maximum protection, such as used by combat soldiers. Higher levels mean more body armor thickness, weight, and protection. For protection against bladed weapons, choose Spike level rated armor. FragLock Build … The CE level 2 is going to offer you the best impact protection. In general, all STR and STR/INT body armours come with a larger reduced movement speed penalty and all other body armours have a smaller penalty. You will begin to see the lighter weight armor costing a lot more in the $300 range (per plate)! The levels are Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, Level III, and Level IV. Law enforcement and corrections officers who are looking for information about the levels of protection of ballistic body armor can find specific information regarding NIJ compliant body armors in a new, downloadable fact sheet here.. Choose your level based on your mission’s needs. Like shields, body armours have inherent movement speed penalties. Probably the biggest confusion in the world of personal defense is the difference between Level III and Level IIIa body armor. This addition is a delicate process though. While thicker and heavier duty than level II, the materials used to construct IIIA rated armor are still soft and somewhat flexible. Protection:9mm, 45. Prior to the 2017 … Body armor comes in all different shapes, sizes, and levels of protection. Don’t just take our word for it. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 4.4 lb AR500 IVplates can be bought for a… The next level of protection is level 3A body armor. The NIJ (National Institute of Justice) is the main governing body for armor sold in the United States and sets the standards for the various protection and performance levels. Each type is designed for stopping certain calibers and weapons. The NIJ has developed standards to help you choose the best armor for your agency’s and your personal needs. 5 Best Ceramic Level IV Body Armor. While some soft ballistic armor will stop certain slashing threats, it is primarily designed to stop bullets. Spike protection is measured in joules, which is “equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves one meter in the direction of action of the force, equivalent to one 3600th of a watt-hour.” In laymen’s terms, it’s the force exerted by a striking object. Point Blank Body Armor (PBBA) is recognized as one of the first companies in the United States to design and manufacture body armor. The next level of protection is level 3A body armor. This protects against nearly all handgun rounds, including both.357 Sig. Just as with ballistic armor, the level of protection is indicated by a number – higher is stronger. Available in two sizes. For example, Level II body armor would likely stop the III-A test standard, (9 mm submachine gun at 1400 fps) from actually PENETRATING through the Level II vest. Our flagship body armor, Level III is rated to stop six rounds of 7.62x51 M80 NATO Ball ammunition @ 2,780 fps, and special threat tested to stop 5.56mm M855/SS109 (Green Tip) at a velocity of 2,780 fps. Important Notice! They also offer different types of Lv IV armor in varying weights. Hard armor is made using several different types of materials, based on cost and stopping power. Not all armor stops all threats. It is vital when choosing body armor to make sure that it adheres to the proper protection levels. Other body armor products, however, can withstand more powerful rounds like 7.62mm rifle rounds. All Rights Reserved. If you’re not participating in night patrols through Helmand Province you might not need all that nifty molle webbing. Please select The cheapest and heaviest is steel, but it is also the most dangerous because the armor deflects the bullet or bullet scraps (spalling) in all directions upon impact, sending shards flying at high speeds toward innocent bystanders and the officer wearing the armor. The most common application for Spike protection is corrections and prisoner transport, where the biggest threat is often an improvised stabbing device. All spike protection is soft armor and falls under NIJ standard 0115.00 for certification. The NIJ ballistic resistance standard classifies body armor by levels of ballistic performance. What levels of body armor does the US manufacturer offer? Level iii armor is a hard armor rated for rifle protection. 1-st level of protection::protect the fighter from small threats (protection against small-caliber weapons, light knife strikes, shots from 9-mm weapons from a long distance).As a rule, such a body armor produced by US manufacturer weighs no more than 2.5 kg, has small dimensions. An article on The Survivalist Blog showed how to interpret the official rating and protection levels for armor.. Level III protection is specifically designed to deal with strategic confrontations and situations that involve serious firepower. Level II and IIIA are soft armor designed to stop pistol rounds, Level III and IV are hard plate armor built to withstand rifle bullets, and the three Spike levels stand up to … Level III body armor is designed to protect the wearer of the armor from rifle caliber bullets shot from an AR-15 style rifle and every handgun caliber. Some body armor, for instance, is only meant to protect against more common handgun bullets like the 9mm or .357 magnum. Body armor with the IIIA rating continues to grow bulkier than that of the ratings below it. Body armor that has level III protection is outfitted with firm ballistic plates that significantly add extra weight to the protection. and.44 Magnum, which level 2 armor does not protect against. ACP, .357 Magnum, etc. While no body armor can offer 100% protection in all circumstances, an adequate level of body armor will protect the wearer from the majority of pistol rounds, and can provide a significantly improved level of safety. Next up is ceramic, which is lighter but costs a bit more due to its chemical complexity. Unlike steel armor, ceramic prevents spalling, instead absorbing the bullet into the armor, relying on the back face to stop the projectile. Knowing the protection your body armor offers is a critical component to understand when making your purchase. Therefore, it is important to know the armor types and what each one can do to keep you safe. While there are many different standards for ballistics protection levels, the two most commonly recognized standards for body armor come from the US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the UK Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST, formerly HOSDB). See the incredible performance of our level 3 body armor in the video below: Buy L3 body armor and backpack armor from Body Armor Megastore and get the protection you need, today! There are different types of body armor available depending on the threats they can protect against, and it is important to understand each in … But, the Level II vest would fail on blunt trauma impact (the NIJ deems any dent greater than ~1.7" (~44 mm.) GOST R 50744-95 is the Russian Federation standard for body armor. Body Armor Megastore has you covered! Level IV body armor is designed to be worn by soldiers, SWAT Team members, and Federal officers in the field. Next up, we’re looking at the highest level rated armor, which … For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. **FREE SHIPPING ** ALL ORDERS 3 DAY HANDLING TIME THEN SHIPS USPS 2/3 DAY PRIORITY MAIL, Levels 2, 3A, and 3: Know Your Body Armor Levels, Things to Remember When There is An Active Shooter, 4 Things to Consider About Backpack Armor, 4 Things You Might Not Have Know About Bulletproof Vests, Body Armor Basics: What You Need to Know About Expiration Dates. Propper currently provides Level 1 and Level 2 “spike” certified packages and is working on a Level 3 option. In other words, how hard is the ice pick or shank striking the armor? And, Yes, the higher the NIJ classification, the more protection it offers against more powerful rounds. Common types of these fibers are aramid fibers such as Kevlar, Twaron, and Goldflex or Polyethylene fibers such as Spectra and Dyneema. The one you choose will have unique specifications for the caliber bullet it can withstand. Level 1 and Level 2 protection are typically found on concealable bests while Level 3 is more commonly found in external vests. Curved plates are contoured to the natural shape of your body, so they often have the best fit. For spike protection, that means the amount of energy exerted by a pointed weapon on the outside of armor. These ratings are used to this day and have not been changed over the decades. Certain body armor is an excellent barrier for knife attacks. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Not only do they sound very similar, but it is also confusing that IIIa refers to a significantly lower level of ballistic protection than Level III. Copyright © 2013-2016 Body Armor Megastore. options before adding the product to the cart. Thinking of getting yourself a set of body armor to prepare for trouble of the worst kind? up to .44 Magnum, 5.56 / .223, 7.62 NATO, .30 armor piercing rounds Price:$150 – $850 / Body plate Weight:~8.3 lbs / body plate Like the Level III armor, this offers even further protection against some of the most devastating rounds like the 30-06 and similar rounds. In this post, we’ll highlight the primary differences between our most common body armor pieces: Level 2, Level 3A, and Level 3, so you can understand what each protects against and make the smartest purchase for your personal needs. So when you see both the 340 and 1621 on a piece of armor, the 340 is really pointless because the 1621 already covers all the requirements for the 340. Whatever your mission, be sure to select the right armor to stop the most likely threats. 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