Based on the trends in society, there are only two levels of body armor that can meet the requirements and demands of law enforcement officers; Level III and Level IV armor plates. 

Our goal with this blog is to provide every LEO around the world with the best tools to do their job.

We know how inherently dangerous the life of a police officer is, but we also know that they deserve the best gear to bring them home to their families. 

Looking at modern ballistics and the platforms (frames) gun manufacturers can build around rifle-caliber bullets is sometimes a scary realization.

What’s the Problem for Police?

The problem for police officers is that some of these compact pistols are chambered in 300 Blackout, 5.56mm NATO, and 7.62x39mm. 

Many police officers wear Level 3A body armor, designed to stop pistol caliber bullets, not a 7.62x63mm M2AP (30-06 Springfield) or a 7.62x51mm M80 (.308 Winchester) bullet. 

Concealment

AR-style pistols use a brace system instead of a stock to stabilize the heavier recoil and power from a rifle caliber round.

Many of these braces can be collapsed and concealed much in the same way people are able to use a full-size pistol as a CCW.

Rifle-Caliber Bullets

Since most police officers wear only Level 3A body armor, there is no way our officers can expect to be protected by an assailant using an AR pistol or AR-15 rifle. 

The most common AR-pistols are chambered in 5.56mm NATO (M193), 7.62x39mm (MSC), 7.62x63mm M2AP, and 7.62x51mm 149 grain M80 FMJ.

The biggest commonality of these bullets is that they will treat any Level 3A body armor made today like swiss cheese.

Protection From Semi-Auto Rifle-Calibers

When we talk about the rate of fire for a pistol vs that of an AR-15, nobody is going to confuse the 2 weapon systems. 

One of the most important characteristics of body armor is its ability to stop multiple hits without being compromised.

Which Level of Body Armor is Best for Modern Ballistics and Technology?

Police must have the best body armor that can take multiple hits without breaking. 

The armor needs to be able to match the advanced ballistics and weaponry of the gun industry.

Many gun manufacturers are able to produce a gun platform that is small enough to conceal and legally be considered a handgun, and still has the power of a rifle.

Walking around with Level 3A body armor works great for pistol calibers, but will have similar effects as a T-shirt against a 5.56mm NATO M855 or 7.62x39mm. 

There are only two Levels of Body armor that can meet the requirements of a modern police officer; Level III and Level IV plates.

ShotStop Level 3 Body Armor and Level 4 Body Armor

The Duritium® Level III+PA Plate is the lightest, thinnest, and most durable Level III plate available today. 

For starters, the Duritium® Level III+PA Plate comes in both SAPI and Shooters Cut plates with 5 sizes for each cut. The ability to customize your body armor for your own personal body type is a very underrated feature.

We offer 8x10”, 8.75” x 11.75”, 9.5” x 12.5”, 10" x 12", 11" x 14" to fit every officer and soldier from small to large, male to female, skinny to robust. 

All of our Duritium® Level III+PA Plates are no more than 0.7” thick and are multi-curve plates to accommodate female officers and men with a larger upper bodies. This added feature makes a huge difference in the level of comfort and we build it standard with our Level III plates.

Once you pick up our Level III+PA plate, you’re never going to want to go back to pistol-caliber armor. When you consider the number of bullets officers are facing per incident (11.1 in 2020), the higher calibers from smaller platform guns, and the advancement in ballistics, it makes a lot of sense to make the switch to Level III+ armor.

We also offer a free 15-year warranty with the purchase of any of our Level III plates. This warranty is at least 3x longer than any of our competitors. 

Choosing our Duritium® Level III+PA plate gives you the added protection of stand-alone hard plate armor and the durability to stop multiple strikes from rifle-caliber bullets. 

ShotStop Level IV Body Armor

There are a few questions that you can ask yourself to come to your own conclusions about whether or not Level IV body armor is right for you. 

1. Will a 5.56 NATO penetrate my body armor?
2. Will 30-06 penetrate my body armor?
3. Will my body armor stop multiple hits from AR-15 or AR pistol?
4. Does my body armor absorb the force of a bullet?

The only body armor that can answer yes to the 4 questions above is NIJ-Listed Level 4 armor.

If you think that you’ll ever come across an assailant with rifle-caliber ammo, it’s time to start thinking about finding a lightweight level 4 body armor plate set. 

The biggest complaints about level IV armor have remained the same since the NIJ created the standard of protection. 

The reality is that nobody wants to wear Level IV armor because it’s too heavy, and bulky, and limits your ability to bend, crouch, and reach across your body for a taser or backup pistol. 

As valid as those complaints are about AR500 steel armor and full-ceramic plates, Shotstop® has the remedy for every one of those complaints. 

Our Duritium Level IV+HS body armor plates exceed the NIJ requirement by 6x.

Our patented Duritium® technology combines the hardness of composite alloy with the strength of Duritium® polyethylene to defeat the most powerful ammunition out there. Plus, with a 10-year warranty, you’ll have protection that lasts!

Conclusion

There is no excuse to wear subpar armor that’s going to beat your body into submission after a few years. 

If you’re interested in learning more about what we offer, our sales team would be happy to help. Contact us at sales@shotstop.com.