Ballistic Shields and Firearm

Ballistic shields are designed to stop firearm rounds. However, not all types of ballistic shields can stop all types of firearms. There are ballistic shields that can only stop handguns, while there are others that can stop shot guns, pistol, rifle, and other large caliber bullet rounds. To know what kind of firearm your ballistic shield can stop, you need to understand the NIJ ballistic shield rating.

The National Institute of Justice, known as the NIJ, has divided ballistic into Levels, according to the level of ballistic rated protection that they offer. Level II will stop most common handgun rounds, including 45 ACP, 9mm, .40 s&w, .357, etc. These can be made of soft armor. Level II body armor is light, comfortable, and easy to conceal. However, it provides significantly more protection against blunt force trauma.

Level IIIA will protect against nearly all handgun rounds up to .44 magnum, 9mm submachine gun rounds, and even 12-gauge shotgun slugs. Level IIIA is most commonly soft armor. However, you can sometimes find rigid armor plates and ballistic shields with a rating of level IIIA.  These can be made of soft armor or hard armor.  Level III ballistic shields are made of hard armor and rated for rifle protection. Level III armor is designed to withstand 7.62 mm FMJ (US military M80) rounds with a mass of 147 grains and a velocity of 2780 ft/s. Ballistic body armor plates are also referred to as rifle plates or hard armor plates. Level III rifle plates are designed to stop six spaced hits of 7.62x51mm NATO FMJ (U.S. Military designation M80) at a velocity of ~2780 ft/s.

Level IV ballistic plates are the highest-rated hard armor plates under NIJ 101.06 standards. These hard armor plates were designed to take one hit from an armor-piercing rifle. Level IV will stop armor-piercing rifle threats. These rifle plates are tested to defeat 7.62MM armor-piercing (AP) bullets.

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