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Threat Levels
IIIA
Threat Level Rating
Generally, if you want to defeat most common handgun and shotgun threats, you want Level IIIA (or 3A) Armor.
III
Threat Level Rating
Generally, if you want to defeat basic rifle threats you want NIJ Standard 0101.06 Certified Level III (Level 3) Armor.
III+
Threat Level Rating
Generally, if you want to defeat most common rifle threats, you want Level III+ (or 3+) Armor.
Basic Information
So, you decided you need body armor, now what? First, it is important for us to clear a few things up:
1. What is the NIJ?
The NIJ is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. This stands for National Institute of Justice. This organization determines the standards for Body Armor Performance. There is a classification of body armor by levels of ballistic performance. One of those standards for example is NIJ Standard 0101.06. Some of those levels you will find here at Max Body Armor such as Level IIIA, Level III, and Level III+.
This includes not only protecting you from bullet penetration but capturing the greatest amount of bullet fragments as possible with a specialized coating.
Our armor has been NIJ0101.06 CERTIFIED and has gone through rigorous 3rd party testing, including several special-threat rounds.
2. What is a projectile?
For our purposes, a projectile is a bullet fired from a handgun, rifle, or shotgun.
3. What is velocity?
The speed of something in a given direction, and in our case, speed of projectiles.
4. What is a threat?
For our purposes, a threat is a projectile(s) and its velocity (speed).
5. What is ballistics?
Ballistics is the science of projectiles (threats) and firearms or the study of the effects of being fired on a bullet, cartridge, or gun essentially.
6. What is a “+” or “Special Threat”?
7. What is Multi-hit?
Multi-hit is a term meaning the body armor can be hit multiple times without failing or allowing penetrations of the projectiles into the body.
So, if shot 3-4 times in the plate, you do not have any extra holes in your body.
8. What is Bullet Fragmentation?
This is the characteristic of breaking into tiny pieces (fragments).
When a bullet hits something it can fragment. These fragments are still carrying velocity and can cause serious bodily harm or death.
9. What is a Long Gun?
This is a reference to a carbine, rifle, or shotgun with a stock you typically shoulder mount to fire.
10. What is a Carbine?
This is a long-barreled firearm with a shorter barrel than a standard rifle of that type. Meaning that in most cases a carbine is a shortened version of full-length rifles designed to shoot the same ammunition.
11. What is ammunition?
In the case of modern small arms (portable firearms especially rifles, pistols, shotguns, and light machine guns) generally ammunition is made up of four component parts:
1.) a bullet, 2.) a cartridge case, 3.) gunpowder and 4.) a primer.
SIZE
One of the most important parts to get right when protecting yourself with armor is making sure sizing is correct. If you have armor that is too small, it can effect the ability for the armor to TRULY protect.
Starting with sizing plates first, in general terms, if you are an average height (a nominal 5’-8” [1.32m] tall) or just slightly above average height you will likely need a 10x12” Plate front and back.
Larger than that we have 11x14” plates. Though this will vary from person to person as not everyone is the same and it is more about your torso size and length, anyway, please see image to aid with sizing.
The front plate should be snug to the body (no significant side, up, or down shift while bending, moving your body) with the top of the plate inside a carrier right at the points of your collar bones at the top of your sternum and the buttom of the plate just slightly above the navel.
10x12
11X14
Orientation (CUT)
When purchasing protective armor, one should take into consideration the functions you will or may be performing, along with what freedom of movement you will require when wearing it.
Mobility Cut (MOB)
The MOB or our Mobility Cut plates allow for more range of motion whether it is to shoulder
long guns from either side, use of arms above one’s head, and more dynamic situations where
the body is moving up and down from the ground, over walls, barricades, obstacles, fences, etc.
Right Hand/ Left Hand
RH (Right Hand Cut) for righties and LH (Left Hand Cut) for lefties for the use of the dominant
arm when holding a long gun so not to negatively affect the use of the firearm with regards to its
sighting system and position on the shooter’s body. Basically, the cut is to get out of the way of a shouldered rifle or shotgun and your shoulder.
Configuration: Flat or Curved Hard Plates?
It is about comfort mostly. Both are just as effective, but the human body is not a Lego. So, through use, your job, mission, or purpose if it requires you wear it for extended periods of time curved may be the way to go. Curved plates are going to fit the contours of your body more comfortably.
Flat Armor
Curved Armor
Coatings
Standard Coating
Our Standard coating (base coat) is very effective at helping capture the projectiles after impact. It is a cost-effective method of protecting yourself.
Max Coat
The absolute best coat we offer is our Max Coat. The Max Coat is built up thicker to handle most fragments from escaping the coating once the plate is hit with a bullet or bullets.
It will help prevent fragments of bullets from entering other parts of your body when the plate is struck.