Level 3 Body Armor
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NIJ Level III designation is the lighter type of hard plate available today, and with the inventions of modern lightweight materials like UHMWPE they are quickly becoming widespread for a variety of missions.
Unlike metallic alloy plates like Alumina, these plates are relatively light and can be worn longer. And, as they can stop rounds from military-grade antipersonnel rifles, they can be seen as an ideal choice for any type of police force, military group, or other company working in the security sector that may encounter threats of this level.
But, not all NIJ Level III plates are created equal, and this designation alone doesn’t guarantee the low weight and versatility. That is why you should always look for several features when looking to buy Level III body armor:
- Low weight – Below 3.5lbs even for the biggest models
- Easy handling – The outer layer should not be slippery or glossy
- The new standard – Always under NIJ 0101.06
- Standardized design – Should fir regular plate carriers
What Does Level 3 Body Armor Protect Against?
Under the standard designated by the National Institute of Justice, all types of body armor under the NIJ Level III standard should stop at least six rounds from an anti-personnel rifle with 7.62mm or 5.56 NATO rounds. This standard includes a wide range of rifles that are usually standard issue weapons for militaries around the world. Also, this includes all types of weaker rounds, such as from a sidearm. While there are some novelty handgun models that may affect this armor, these models are so exceptionally rare that the chance of such a thing happening is negligible.What Is the Difference between Level 3 and Level 3a Body Armor?
While NIJ Level IIIa can come in the form of plates, it is a transitional level between soft armor and hard armor. But, the distinction between the two is very important. Level IIIa can not stop most types of rifle fire as it doesn’t have the required compression as the harder plates. Even with the same materials used, the density of softer plates is lower and will get ripped by high-velocity rounds from a military-grade rifle. But, Level IIIa will stop all kinds of handgun ammo and is much more flexible than Level III. This trade-off makes it ideal for domestic situations and patrols. When it comes to offensive or overt combat missions, having a hard plate to protect your vital organs will be necessary and in these cases, NIJ Level IIIa armor is only used for protection against explosives and debris.What Will a Level 3 Plate Stop?
First of all, a plate will stop any round that would be stopped by soft body armor, meaning that it is impervious to multiple consecutive shots from virtually any handgun. Even large-caliber handgun rounds will not even make a bump on the backside of the plate. But, the more important protection is from rifle rounds, focusing mostly on anti-personnel rifles such as the M16 using the 7.62mm NATO Full Metal Jacket. Some of the calibers an NIJ Level III plate will defend from are:- 7.62x39mm Soviet
- 7.62x51mm NATO
- 7.62x54mmR Russian
- 5.56×45mm NATO
- .308 Winchester
- .223 Remington