Everything You Need to Know about Level III Body Armor

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Everything You Need to Know about Level III Body Armor

Level III Body armor is a de facto standard for police and military. It combines superior protection against most common pistol and rifles bullets with bearable weight and dimensions that do not hinder your mobility too much. 

Apparently, you should know a bit more about Level III body armor. What does make it so good? Is it worth to pay for Level III over Level IIIa? What are the best Level 3 body armor models available? Let’s see.

What are armor levels after all?

According to standards developed by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), all body armor including vests, armor plates, helmets and bulletproof shields is categorized onto several levels depending on the stopping capabilities of each particular armor piece.

The NIJ Standard 0101.06 for bullet-resistant armor lists the following levels of protection:

• Level IIA. This protection level means the armor was tested and successfully withstood shots from short barrel handguns such as pistols. Typical bullets such armor stops are 9 mm or .40 S&W. 
• Level II. This armor stops everything Level IIA can stop plus it is certified against 9 mm and .357 Magnum ammunition fired from pistols and other handgunds. Just like Level IIA, it does not provide any rifle shot protection.
• Level IIIA. Stops .357 SIG and .44 Magnum. No rifle ammunition protection yet.
• Level III. And here comes our hero. Level III armor is the first armor that can stop rifle shots including 7.62 FMJ ammunition.
• Level IV. This heavy armor can stop armor piercing ammunition and high velocity bullets shot from sniper rifles.

As you can see from the table, every armor class has its field of application. Some armors are lightweight and can protect from common pistol rounds, so they are ideal for patrol officers or security guards. Others are designed for special ops and military.

What about NIJ Level III armor? 

While there is nothing special about this particular armor class, Level III armors are nevertheless among the most purchased armor types in the U.S. Here is why.

1. First of all, armor of Level III class is a bare minimum to stop rifle shots. This includes very common 7.62×51 rounds.
2. At the same time, due to advances in technology and new materials contemporary Level III armors are less weighty than older armor of that protection level once were. Literally: there is little to no practical value in buying Level IIIA if you can purchase Level III that is certified against more powerful ammunition. 
3. Also, NIJ Level III has become very cost-effective in recent years due to the same reasons. 

Of course, there are hundreds of armor models on the market. There are Level III armor made of steel, polyethylene, Kevlar or other synthetic fibers, ceramic or polycarbonate armors. You can also find all kinds of composite Level III armors as long as your budget allows purchasing them.

What is the difference between Level IIIA, Level III and Level III+

Let’s begin with Level IIIa/Level III comparison.

As we said above, Level 3a body armor is designed and certified against ammunition shot from short barrel guns like pistols or revolvers. Examples of successfully stopped rounds are: .22, 9mm, .45 ACP, .357 Magnum, .357 Sig, and a .44 Magnum. 

The armor itself weights less thanks to lightweight materials, Kevlar etc. Thanks to that it is also more flexible. Sometimes, you may prefer to remain agile and feel comfortable over excessive protection you may not need in particular circumstances. Level IIIA is ok then.

Level III on the other hand is tougher. It offers better protection and can reliably defend you from several shots from a rifle.

What about Level III+? What is it? Ok, NIJ does not have such a standard. But that isn’t a bad thing after all. The Level III+ body armor is a self-certification some manufacturers perform to prove that their armors exceed NIJ standard’s requirements for Level III certification. 

There are two things you should remember when considering to buy Level III+ body armor. 

1. Every manufacturer has each own way to formulate what Level III+ protection is about. You cannot and shouldn’t directly compare two or more Level III+ pieces of armor.
2. Level III+ armor usually indeed provides better protection that Level III body armor does. But you still make sure the armor has NIJ Level III certification. 

What bullets can Level III armor reliably stop?

According to the NIJ Standard 0101.06, Level III body armor will stop the following bullets:

• .38 Special
• 9mm Luger
• .40 S&W
• .45 ACP
• .357 Sig
• .357 Magnum
• .44 Magnum
• 7.62x51mm (M80)

What about 5.56 (NATO)? Here is what NIJ standard says about that:

5.56 ammunition (.223) comes in a wide variety of types. For instance, 5.56 ammo for hunting has a soft lead core, so Level III armor can easily stop it. However, 5.56 ammo with a steel core or 5.56 FMJ (green tip) can penetrate Level III armor plates. They are simply not hard enough to stop such 5.56 bullets. You will need either Level IV armor plates, or Level III armor with some ceramic component.

Is Level III body armor stab-proof?

Unfortunately, no. National Institute of Justice has separate standards for bullet threats and stab threats. So if the body armor is certified as Level III this certification guarantees that the armor can resist bullet threats only.

However, if you are looking for both bullet and stab resistance, you may want to test some Level III+ models. There are a number of body armors in that protection class that offer protection from stab piercing damage as well as from edged blades.

What is the best Level III body armor?

Here are some proven Level III armor plates that you can choose. 

Battle Steel Level III ballistic armor

This model is made of polyurethane and comes in variety of cuts and sizes to fit any specific need. Excellent NIJ certified ballistic capabilities are accompanied with extremely low weight (as low as 3.5 lbs) and thin profile. The armor was extensively tested by Battle Steel specialists and is guaranteed to withstand multiple shots of M193 5.56mm, MSC AK47 7.62×39 & M80 7.62x51mm. 

As for the budget, get ready to surprise. This Level III plates cost as low as $129 for a 10×12 shooter cut plate, which is an extremely good deal for a certified Level 3 armor made in the U.S. 

Battle Steel Level III armor plates

Very similar to the above item, this Level III armor offer excellent ballistic protection against pistol and rifles shots including M193 5.56mm and M80 7.62x51mm. The armor comes in two sizes: 10×12 inches and 11×14 inches. This low profile armor is also lightweight, yet it delivers serious protection for its price.

The best thing about this piece of armor is NIJ 0101.06 Level 3 certification.

Battle Steel Armor Plates M855 Level 3 Green Tip & M80

Remember we said that not all Level III armor is capable of stopping 5.56 green tip rounds? Well, this one can. Certified as Level III armor, this model offer additional protection against M855 5.56 FMJ as well against M80 7.62 ball rounds.

The body armor plate comes in several cuts and sizes. The weight are average for the kind of protection it offers, and the relatively low weight does not hinder your performance during action. In addition, this polyurethane armor is waterproof and can float on the water. Finally, you can enjoy 10 years warranty from the manufacturer.

Battle Steel Armor Plates M855 AP Special Threats

Finally, here is one Level III+ body armor piece for you to consider. Tested and certified as NIJ Level III, these armor plates offer additional protection against special threats: M855 armor piercing rounds and M80 7.62. Multi-hit capabilities are confirmed too.

You have a choice of MultiCurve SAPI and ESAPI cuts and one size of 11×14 inches. The armor may seem a bit bulkier than its Level III counterparts, but that’s a tiny price for enhanced safety.