Choosing a ballistic armor is not a matter of likes and personal preferences. It is a matter of protection and resistance provided by the body armor. Two types of body armor that offer a great deal of ballistic protection are the Level III and the Level 3++ body armor. Here are a few points to note about both armors.

• The resistance of Level III armor against rifle-caliber bullets makes it superior to Level 3++ protection. When testing Level III plates, a conditioned insert must always be used. For Level III testing, armor must be capable of stopping 147g FMJ 7.62mm (M80 military) rounds traveling at 2,780fps. Level 3++ body armor is vulnerable to typical AK-47 and sniper rifle ammunition such as the 7.62mm Flat Nose (FN) rifle, according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

• If you have an AR-15 loaded with 5.56mm ammunition, good luck trying to shoot through Level III protection. This also applies to the.44 Magnum semi-jacketed hollow point (SJHP) if its weight and muzzle velocity are lower than 15.6 grams (240 gr) and 1,430 feet per second, respectively. An FMJFN designed to withstand 125 grains of weight can be overcome by a.357 Sig cartridge designed to handle the same weight, but at a decreased velocity of 1,410 feet per second.

• However, it is important to note that both unworn and conditioned Level III armor must be examined. You can’t become invincible by wearing only one piece of body armor. Because of this, police officers often equip themselves with ballistic shields. When used in conjunction with body armor, a ballistic shield provides superior coverage and coverage over the armor alone. The Level 3++ protection shields the wearer from handgun and rifle gunfire up to and including Magnum rounds. But in some circumstances, especially those involving several hits, the armor might get weakened and the shells begin to penetrate. 

We should add that the protection offered by both the Level III and Level 3++ body armor can be enhanced by the addition of a ballistic shield.

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