Body armor or bulletproof’ and ‘bullet-resistant vest’ are all used regularly and interchangeably. But what do these terms mean? Body armor means any bulletproof vest but may also include additional protection in the form of ballistic helmets, leg or groin protection, or even the specific ballistic plates used to protect military personnel.
Bullet resistant vests’ is another term for bulletproof vests that some prefer to use. It is because bulletproof vests cannot offer complete protection from a bullet- of course, a bulletproof vest will provide much more protection than no vest, and body armor is responsible for saving thousands of lives during war operations.
What are the NIJ levels of Body Armor?
Body armor is divided into different tiers by the NIJ standard 0101.06. Each class provides enhanced bulletproofing, stopping stronger and faster projectiles before penetrating more than 44 mm.
Across various testing standards for bulletproof vests, the NIJ standard is one of the widely accepted standards for a ballistic vest, which means that ballistic vests should be tested through rigorous testing methods in a professional, dedicated laboratory according to the NIJ measures. In addition, it will ensure that the vests are bulletproof and can defend against the threats imposed by the NIJ level of protection.
The various NIJ levels for ballistic vests in use are as follows.
LEVEL IIA
It is the NIJ’s lowest available category of protection. It is generally made of soft body armor and is the lightest and most flexible body armor. These soft body armor can be readily concealed beneath the body clothing and are utilized in low-risk scenarios.
LEVEL II
Level II vests also are lightweight, flexible, and concealable, but they can withstand a wider variety of bullets than Level IIA ballistic vests. In addition, they provide greater blunt force protection than level IIA ballistic vests.
LEVEL IIIA
The highest Level of soft body armor is Level IIIA. Level IIIA is the best protection level for soft body armor. It’s a great choice for lightweight and concealable protection. The Level IIIA ballistic vests are much heavier than the Level IIA or II bulletproof vests, but they are still quite concealable.
LEVEL III
Level III bulletproof vest, popularly known as Rifle-defeating Armor, is the first Level protection against rifle rounds. Since this body armor is generally made of hard rather than soft plates, it is not concealable. Hard Armor is also heavier than soft Armor but provides better protection due to this additional weight.
What Needs to Look Out For When Buying a Bulletproof Vest?
One has to make a good choice when they buy a bulletproof vest for sale because it is a matter of life in critical situations. However, there is always time to look into Bulletproof Vests from ballistic plate manufacturers who deliver the best qualities.
How to Choose the Ballistic Helmet?
A ballistic helmet is one of the most vital equipment you’ll undoubtedly want to purchase. While some tactical helmets (such as ballistic helmets) are specifically designed to protect against gunfire, other tactical helmets (such as bump helmets) protect against other impacts and falling debris.
Today, ballistic helmets are commonly promoted as NIJ level III-A helmets, protecting against specific handgun threats.
Ballistics: NIJ III-A
Level III-A protective ballistic materials for a ballistic helmet, as per NIJ 0108.01, are rated to stop 124 grain 9mm FMJ rounds and 240 grain 44 Magnum, each at a nominal velocity of 1,400 feet per second.
There are usually two vital measurements when it comes to bulletproof helmet testing. The first is back face deformation of the helmet, where a helmet is placed on a clay head form and fired upon. Second, testers measure the indentation left by the bullet’s impact on the helmet; beyond a certain limit, the helmet fails.
The second ballistic helmet standard measures performance against fragments from explosions or detonations.
