Need Some Education

[Sparkyprep]

I have been considering purchasing some body armor. However, I am completely uneducated on the subject. Can I have a soldier or LEO here give me some education? I know that there is a difference between pistol-caliber rated and rifle-caliber rated. There is soft armor for pistol caliber, and plates with carriers for rifle calibers. But, what is the difference between I, II, III, and III+? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[OSFG]

Armor Level Protection
Type I

.22 LR
.380 ACP

This armor would protect against

2.6 g (40 gr) .22 Long Rifle Lead Round Nose (LR LRN) bullets at a velocity of 329 m/s (1080 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
6.2 g (95 gr) .380 ACP Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets at a velocity of 322 m/s (1055 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

It is no longer part of the standard.
Type IIA

9×19mm
.40 S&W
.45 ACP

New armor protects against:

8 g (124 gr) 9×19mm Parabellum Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets at a velocity of 373 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
11.7 g (180 gr) .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets at a velocity of 352 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
14.9 g (230 gr) .45 ACP Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets at a velocity of 275 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (900 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

Conditioned(or 'used') armor protects against

8 g (124 gr) 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 355 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1165 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
11.7 g (180 gr) .40 S&W FMJ bullets at a velocity of 325 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1065 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
14.9 g (230 gr) .45 ACP Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets at a velocity of 259 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (850 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Type I].
Type II

9mm +P
.357 Magnum

New armor protects against

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)
10.2 g (158 gr) .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point bullets at a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

Conditioned armor protects against

8 g (124 gr) 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 379 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1245 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
10.2 g (158 gr) .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point bullets at a velocity of 408 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I and IIA].
Type IIIA

.357 SIG
.44 Magnum
10mm Auto
7H21

New armor protects against

8.1 g (125 gr) .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets at a velocity of 448 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1470 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
15.6 g (240 gr) .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets at a velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

Conditioned armor protects against

8.1 g (125 gr) .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets at a velocity of 430 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1410 ft/s ± 30 ft/s)
15.6 g (240 gr) .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets at a velocity of 408 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

It also provides protection against most handgun threats, as well as the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, and II].
Type III

Rifles
7H31
Lehigh .45-70

Conditioned armor protects against

8.0 g (123 gr) 7.62×39mm (the ubiquitous AK-47 round) FMJ at a velocity of 738 m/s (2,421 ft/s.
9.6 g (148 gr) 7.62×51mm NATO M80 ball bullets at a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
19.7 g (305 gr) .45-70 solid copper bullets at velocity of 610 m/s (2000 ft/s).[30][31]

It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, II, and IIIA].
Type IV

Armor Piercing Rifle

Conditioned armor protects against

10.8 g (166 gr) .30-06 Springfield M2 armor-piercing (AP) bullets at a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).

It also provides at least single hit protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, II, IIIA, and III].


Level is the plates and the IIIa soft armor around it...same with level 4,,,you shuld wear the A=rated a with the matching hard plate.... to het the full numeric coverage.

[juskom95]

I have been considering purchasing some body armor. However, I am completely uneducated on the subject. Can I have a soldier or LEO here give me some education? I know that there is a difference between pistol-caliber rated and rifle-caliber rated. There is soft armor for pistol caliber, and plates with carriers for rifle calibers. But, what is the difference between I, II, III, and III+? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

It really depends what kind of armor you are looking for.

For those who don't wear/use body armor often an easy guide is this:

Soft armor: pistol rounds

Hard armor: rifle rounds

That is a simplification but it can help you narrow down what you are really looking for. Are you looking for something to wear beneath clothing, something like an IBA/IOTV?


OSFG did a pretty good description, for modern armor here is a link to NIJ

https://www.safeguardarmor.com/support/body-armor-protection-levels/



As another note, body armor is good, if you have worn it before. It takes getting used to wearing it for you to still be effective; knowing how it limits you etc.

[Coastie dad]

3524


Crew served body armor.

[Kfilly]

I have been considering purchasing some body armor. However, I am completely uneducated on the subject. Can I have a soldier or LEO here give me some education? I know that there is a difference between pistol-caliber rated and rifle-caliber rated. There is soft armor for pistol caliber, and plates with carriers for rifle calibers. But, what is the difference between I, II, III, and III+? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Did you buy any plates yet? I have some AR-500 level 3+ advanced shooters cut plates (for the front and standard plate with extra coating on back) with an extra coating of Linex. Those are probably the most economical plates you can get, and they provide a decent level of protection. There is a YouTube channel I like called Demolition Ranch. This guy shoots about everything known to man, and he has obliterated AR-500 plates in videos. He tests them against just about every caliber including 50 caliber from his Barrett rifle. He plastered some plates with multiple rounds. He even did a video comparing their level 3 and level 3+ plates. The biggest issues with steel plates is spalling (the bullet breaking into fragments as they fit the plates which is why I would recommend the extra Linex coating) and the weight of the plates. I think the 3+ is the way to go for long-term storage and ability to take multiple hits from some pretty impressive calibers.

I would not even mess around with anything less than a class 3 plate or armor.

[Innkeeper]

Steel plates definitely last longer, the Ceramic Plates we used in the service are lighter, and are supposed to take 5 rounds before they crack and break apart (I was not planning to test that). I have seen them take multiple hits though , but they are supposed to be checked after 5 years to verify they still comply with standards. Which is why buying steel plates might be better. The same goes for the Kevlar (soft) armor it needs to be inspected because overtime exsposure to the sun will cause the fibers to break down. My IBA soft armor is still good, but my ceramic plates are over 7 years old and not quite sure where as a civilian to get them inspected. :thinking: I have been thinking about replacing them with coated steel but will probably not do it until after I graduate, can't really afford it until then.

[Sparkyprep]

I have not pulled the trigger on the body armor yet, but I want to thank everyone for the good information. With the storm and everything else I have going on, the body armor purchase had to be put on the back burner. I've bought a new rifle, and need to outfit it, and buy ammo for it, so that will eat up my "throw away money" for now.