Body Armor

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Body Armor – General Thoughts:

Due to the various types of projectile, it is often inaccurate to refer to a particular product as “bulletproof” because this implies that it will protect against any and all threats. Instead, the term bullet resistant is generally preferred.

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Types of Body Armor:

Soft:

Made from many layers of woven or laminated fibers and can be capable of protecting the wearer from small-caliber handgun and shotgun projectiles, and small fragments from explosives such as hand grenades. use layers of very strong fiber to “catch” and deform a bullet, mushrooming it into a dish shape, and spreading its force over a larger portion of the vest fiber. The vest absorbs the energy from the deforming bullet, bringing it to a stop before it can completely penetrate the textile matrix. Some layers may be penetrated but as the bullet deforms, the energy is absorbed by a larger and larger fiber area. While a vest can prevent bullet penetration, the vest and wearer still absorb the bullet’s energy. Even without penetration, modern pistol bullets contain enough energy to cause blunt force trauma under the impact point.

Ceramic Plate:

Coming soon.

Steel Plate:

Coming soon.

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National Institute of Justice Armor Protective Levels:

Type I:

Protection against .22 LR; .380 ACP.
40 grain .22 Long Rifle Lead Round Nose (LR LRN) bullets at a velocity of 1080 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
95 grain .380 ACP Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets at a velocity of 1055 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
It is no longer part of the standard.

Type IIA:

Protects against 9mm parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP.
New armor protects against 124 grain 9×19mm Parabellum Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets at a velocity of 1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
180 grain .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets at a velocity of 1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
230 grain .45 ACP Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets at a velocity of 900 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
Conditioned armor protects against 124 grain 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 1165 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
180 grain .40 S&W FMJ bullets at a velocity of 1065 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
230 grain .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:

Protects against 9mm, .357 magnum.
124 grain 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
158 grain .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point bullets at a velocity of 1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
Conditioned armor protects against 124 grain 9 mm FMJ RN bullets at a velocity of 1245 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
158 grain .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point bullets at a velocity of 1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in Types I and IIA.

Type IIIA:

Protects against .357 Sig, .44 magnum.
125 grain .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets at a velocity of 1470 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
240 grain .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets at a velocity of 1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
Conditioned armor protects against 125 grain .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets at a velocity of 1410 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
240 gr) .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets at a velocity of 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:

Protects against non armor piercing rifle rounds.
148 grain 7.62×51mm NATO M80 ball bullets at a velocity of 2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s.
It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in Types I, IIA, II, and IIIA.

Type IV:

Protects against armor piercing rifle rounds.
166 grain .30-06 Springfield M2 armor-piercing (AP) bullets at a velocity of 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.