Understanding NIJ Armor Ratings
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the federal government’s leading authority that sets standards for body armor in the United States. The NIJ rating system helps law enforcement, military personnel, and civilians choose the right level of protection for their specific needs. The rating system is based on the amount of ballistic protection provided against specific ammunition types and is rigorously tested to ensure reliability and performance.
Each NIJ level is tested with specific rounds at particular distances and velocities. The bullet cannot pass through the armor to pass the test, and it also cannot exceed a specified amount of back force deformation (how far the back of the armor is pushed out).
NIJ Level 3A Protection
PACC Armor products featuring NIJ Level 3A soft armor provide advanced handgun protection.
NIJ Level 3A armor is designed to stop .357 SIG FMJ FN bullets traveling at a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and .44 Magnum SJHP rounds at a velocity of ~1430 ft/s. This level of protection also stops all lower-level threats, including:
- 9mm FMJ rounds
- .40 Smith & Wesson FMJ bullets
- .357 Magnum rounds
- Most standard handgun ammunition
Level 3A is the most purchased level of armor and provides excellent protection against handgun threats while remaining lightweight and flexible. This makes it ideal for concealed carry applications where mobility and discretion are essential.
NIJ RF2 Protection (The New Standard)
PACC Armor products featuring NIJ RF2 armor represent the latest advancement in ballistic protection.
The NIJ Standard RF2 is a rating that signifies a high level of protection against rifle fire under the new NIJ Standards 0101.07. The RF in RF2 stands for “rifle,” and the 2 indicates that this is the second level of rifle-fire protection.
What NIJ RF2 Stops:
Primary Threat: The NIJ standard RF2 is specifically designed to protect against the M855/SS109 BT bullet, which is also known as the “green tip” bullet. The M855 features a 62 grain bullet with a steel core and full metal jacket (FMJ), designed for enhanced penetration through intermediate barriers like auto glass, sheet metal, and plywood.
Complete Protection includes:
- 5.56mm M855 “Green Tip” rounds (steel core penetrator)
- 7.62x51mm NATO M80 Steel Jacketed rounds
- 7.62x39mm MSC rounds (AK-47 ammunition)
- 5.56mm M193 rounds
- All NIJ Level 3A handgun threats
Why RF2 Matters:
The RF2 level armor bridges the gap between traditional Level III and Level IV protection. Fast-moving, steel-core 5.56 bullets may penetrate certain level III body armor, so the RF2 level was created to stop these specific threats. This bullet is not necessarily an “armor-piercing” round, but instead is a common penetrator round that is used in many types of rifles, including the popular AR-15.
Why Choose PACC Armor’s NIJ-Rated Protection?
Our low-posture armor carriers integrate both NIJ Level 3A and NIJ RF2 protection options, providing you with certified, tested defense against the most common ballistic threats. Whether you need discreet handgun protection or comprehensive rifle-rated defense, PACC Armor delivers reliable, field-proven protection in a compact, concealable format.
Trust the science. Trust the testing. Trust PACC Armor.
