Level IIIA v Level III Armor: Finding The Best Option

When it comes to making armor choices, it is important to consider Level III armor is more powerful than Level IIIA armor because it is made to withstand rifle caliber rounds. A conditioned insert will always be used for testing Level III plates. Armor designed for Level III testing is designed to handle 147g FMJ 7.62mm (M80 military) bullets firing at 2,780fps and weighing 147 grains. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), some of the most common ammunition used in AK-47s or sniper rifles, such as the 7.62mm Flat Nose (FN) rifle, can destroy the Level IIIA body armor.

An AR-15 armed with a 5.56mm round would be unable to fire a bullet through Level III armor. If the bullet weight and the muzzle velocity of the semi-jacketed hollow point (SJHP) in .44 Magnum is less than 15.6 grams (240 gr) and 1,430 feet per second, this bullet will also be defeated by level III armor. With a reduced velocity of 1,410 feet per second, an FMJFN made to withstand the weight of 125 grains can be defeated by a .357 Sig cartridge made to withstand 125 grain.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the Level III armor must be evaluated in both new and pre-conditioned stages. No single piece of armor can make you impenetrable. As a result, law enforcement officers wear ballistic shields as an additional layer of defense. As an add-on to body armor, ballistic shields provide a larger area of protection. All-round rifle ammo and handgun Magnum rounds are not a problem for Level IIIA armor. In the event of numerous hits, the armor may weaken and allow the shots to pass through. For combat officers, both Level III and IIIA body armor might provide improved protection with a ballistic shield attached.

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