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Soft Body Armor Standards – What they Are, Where Ready2Protect Fits in
Filed Under (Ready2Protect, bulletproof vests, soft body armor) by Wayne on 08-02-2009
Thanks for taking the time to join us today.
Once before, I talked briefly about NIJ standards and what they are. I thought I might give you a more thorough run down — hopefully without boring you to tears. But this is important, since everyone dealing with soft body armor, bulleproof vests, and tactical vests constantly refer to these standards. So here is your refenence table…
Certification of Body Armor
The National Institute of Justice has created a rating system for soft body armor (NIJ Standard 0101.03, 0101.04 and the interim 0101.05). As you add layers of a ballistic fiber, such as DuPont Kevlar, or Ready2Protect soft body armor, you add protection.
Vests are tested not just for stopping penetration, but also for blunt trauma protection the blow suffered by the body from the bullet’s impact on the vest. Blunt trauma is measured by the dent suffered by a soft clay backstop to the vest a maximum of 1.7″ (44 mm) is allowed.
NOTE: The standard NIJ test rounds are listed below tested vests stop many other comparable rounds, and lesser threats.
|
Level
Thickness |
Tested for:
|
Comment
|
|
I
|
.38 Special at 850 fps (feet per second) .22 at 1,050 fps (320 mps) |
NOT RECOMMENDED
Early generation ballistic fibers, though bulkier, only stop fragmentation and low velocity pistol ammunition. Sometimes PASGT army surplus flak jackets are passed off as about Level II-A, but in our tests 9 mm penetrated. Excellent riot gear or paintball equipment, but not recommended for pistol ballistic protection. |
|
II-A |
9 mm FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) at ~1,090 fps .357 Magnum JSP (Jacketed Soft Point) at ~1,250 fps (~381 mps). |
Minimum Recommended… …for the vast majority of threats encountered on the street, though you would sustain more blunt trauma injury than Level II or III-A. The thinnest and best for concealability and comfort. |
|
II |
9 mm FMJ, at ~1,175 fps .357 JSP at ~ 1,395 fps (~425 mps). |
A great balance… …between blunt trauma protection, versus cost, and thickness / comfort / concealability. Handles the blunt trauma of higher velocity +P rounds better. What we recommend most often for concealable wear. |
|
III-A |
9 mm FMJ at ~1,400 fps .44 Magnum Lead Semi-Wadcutter at ~1,400 fps (~427 mps). |
The highest blunt trauma protection rating in soft body armor. The best for very high-risk situations to cover more of the uncommon or unusual threats.
Minimizes blunt trauma injury to allow more effective return fire. |
Detailed Test Review of Ready2Protect by clicking here …
Where does Ready2Protect soft body armor and bulletproof vests fit in this matrix. Technically – I mean technically by the standard, they are Level III-A.
Now why do I say “technically?” Simple — the Ready2Protect soft body armor and bulletproof vests actually exceed the Level III-A standard. First and foremost, it stops any of the above rounds when fired from 12 feet distance.
The soft body armor vest is 21 or 23 layers thick, and none of the NIJ listed rounds penetrates more than 2 layers.
The back force defamation is nearly eliminated. Other Level III-A vests will stop these rounds and save the users life. The wearer will be knocked down hard, probably injured, and definitely out of the fight.
Ready2Protect soft body armor leaves the wearer standing, or if the wearer falls, they can get up and stay in the fight.
Plus – like no other vest on the market – and without ANY extra weight added with plates, the Ready2Protect soft body armor achieves a Level II knife and spike protection. There is no other soft body armor, bulletproof vest or tactical vest that can make such a completely valid claim!
Check out these test results of Ready2Protect soft body armor by clicking here now
See you next time
- Daniel Gonzalez
- Wayne Sharer
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