What is Level IIIA Armor?

Level IIIA Body Armor is a soft body armor option that is optimal for concealment and discreet protection. NIJ Standards state that Level IIIA armor must stop a .44 Mag; however, Level IIIA armor is known to stop all common pistol calibers. There are exceptions to this as there are uncommon pistol calibers, as well as rifle calibers shot from weapons that are classified as a pistol, that will shoot with the velocity to penetrate Level IIIA armor. For anyone new to the world of body armor, a good way to think of Level IIIA armor is that the "A" represents a half. Therefore, Level IIIA is not quite rated to Level III standards, but is greater than Level II armor.

Why Level IIIA Armor?

One of the most commonly asked questions in regards to any type of body armor would be, "why ever settle for lesser rated armor?" The answer is that you have to prepare against your most probable threat. In the United States if you are involved in a shooting, you are 100x more likely to be shot by a pistol vs rifle. This is why many law enforcement agencies and security personal opt to go with Level IIIA soft armor, as it is far more comfortable to wear for long periods of time and it protects against the most probable threats they are likely to encounter. The same is true for citizens, especially in Urban environments, that pistol threats are much higher than that of a rifle threat. And with the ever infringing gun restrictions and regulations that prohibit the law-abiding and embolden the criminal, concealable body armor that stops the most used handgun calibers becomes extremely valuable.

Why Level III Armor? 

With so many body armor options available, why is Level III Armor so prevalent? In large part, Level III Body Armor owes its popularity to being an official NIJ rating. The standard for any company to market their armor as 'Level III' is very cut and dry: it must stop up to 6-rounds of 7.62x51 M80 Ball at a minimum of 2780 fps. If the armor does not meet those requirements, it is not a Level III plate. 

The NIJ chose this standard largely due to the popularity, accesses, & common use of firearms that shot M80 rounds. After all, NIJ Standards strive to categorize armor ratings by the most common threats that military, law enforcement, & citizens may encounter.   

This transparency helps consumers make educated purchasing decisions when it comes to choosing the armor that best fits their needs. Now, vetting companies to ensure their products are reliable and hold up to what the marketing material advertises is still 'best practice'; especially when it comes to life-preserving gear. There really isn't an excuse with how easily accessible independent product review videos are online. This being said, there are many reputable companies leading the charge in manufacturing and producing dependable Level III armor plates.  

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Steel Body Armor vs Polyethylene Body Armor

It is an exciting time in the world of Body Armor; there are many quality companies producing varying types of armor options. Two of our favorites types of ballistic body armor are UHMWPE (A.K.A. Polyethylene Armor) & Steel. While the subject of "best" armor is highly debated, the truth is each type of armor has its pros & cons. 

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We like Polyethylene Body Armor because it is lightweight & has excellent ballistic stopping capabilities. Polyethylene plates are made from multiple layers of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). These layers of UHMWPE are stacked together and pressed under heat and pressure to bond them together. Once bonded you have a hard piece of UHMWPE Body Armor. Due to the process and materials used, Polyethylene Plates are quite a bit thicker than other types of armor plates, not uncommonly exceeding 1" in thickness. While the plate itself is lighter weight, thickness can often offset that weight advantage making it difficult to maintain mobility and properly performing some tasks, such shouldering a rifle. However, Predator Armor's Lightweight Polyethylene Plate achieves a thickness of only .8" and weighs 3.5 lbs.

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Steel Body Armor is highly debated as an acceptable armor option, mostly due to frag & spalling concerns. However, nearly every reputable company that manufactures and sells steel armor also provides a frag mitigation solution as well. Couple that with the fact that there has never been a reported case where frag or spall resulted in fatality, and the histeria for those concerns begin to dissipate rather quickly.

The upside to steel armor, especially in a world where resupply is not available and traditional means of distribution have been disrupted, is that it holds up to a lot higher round counts. It is also of the most economically friendly options for first time buyers of body armor. Predator Armor's Level III Plates are .25" thick and weigh only 7.5 lbs. 

Kevlar Wrap Vs Base Plate 

Predator Armor offers base plate & a proprietary kevlar wrap option for steel armor. The base plate comes with a powder-coated finish to protect against the elements & rigorous use. The kevlar wrap is a solution for frag & spall mitigation that is a concern when running steel body armor.