Tag: hard body armor

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Caliber Armor Launches New AV2 Stand-Alone Body Armor Plate

Introducing the Caliber Armor AV2 Ballistic Insert

Caliber Armor, who was the first company to bring an advanced steel body armor plate with a true multi-curve achieved with one press announces a new alloy plate that achieves the coveted NIJ-RF2 stopping power rating.

The Future NIJ 0101.07 RF2 Testing Requirements Met

For years, the industry has been anticipating the new NIJ 0101.07 standard that finally attempts to bridge the gap between 0101.06 Level 3 and Level 4. In the current standard level 3 rating the test is six shots of 7.62 x 51mm M80 FMJ at 2,780 ft/s. From there the next level is 4, which is 30-06 M2 AP at 2880 ft/s. What about everything in-between? The body armor industry has largely adopted the term Level 3+ or Level 3++, which is up to the manufacturers interpretation but generally means that it will stop higher velocity 5.56mm rounds and AK 7.62x39mm steel core projectiles.

Multi-Curve Body Armor with Advanced Spall Coating

The AV2 body armor plate comes standard with advanced PolyShield Anti-Spall coating. With a competitive price point, only half inch thin and weighing in at just 7.2 lbs, the AV2 armor plate is a superior option for your bulletproof vest that will last a lifetime. No more replacing your team’s armor set ups every five years or spending extra funds on x-ray requirements during turnover. The AV2 plate will stop everything that you throw at it. See full multi hit body armor product specs HERE.

How do we keep up?

Different compositions of body armor stop projectiles in diverse ways. For example, ceramic strike face body armor works by breaking the projectile down as it passes through the ceramic which absorbs a great deal of the kinetic energy by breaking apart with the remainder being captured by the backer. This has long been successful but has limitations with multiple hits. Ballistic plastic, UHMWPE, works by slowing bullets as they travel into the plate. Energy from the projectile is transferred through millions of individual high tensile, high modulus fibers that have been compressed into a solid plate. These lightweight plates, like our are amazingly effective at stopping lead core ammunition but fall short when facing hardened tip or core projectiles. The price can make it unattainable for most departments and security firms while leaving users vulnerable to threats like M855, green tip, a common AR15 round. Last year we launched our level 3 Maritime, it is a neutrally buoyant armor plate that passes all RF1 threats. Our Maritime UHMWPE plate is a fantastic option if you want protection with a reduction in weight. The limitations are price and that the plate does not pass the RF2 M855 at 3,115 fps test.

Why did we choose steel alloy for our AV2 body armor plate? 

High hardness steel has been used in body armor since the 14th century. It protects our military in barricade and armored vehicle applications as well as being a successful stand-alone body armor plate option. Used with an advanced anti-spall and fragmentation coating our AR550 steel plate has long been the material that hits the sweet spot for stopping high velocity rounds while having pressing capabilities. This military grade, high hardness abrasive resistant (AR) steel has been our highest selling product. Its limitations have been one threat on the draft NIJ 0101.07 threat testing.

We knew we still wanted to use steel alloy. Contrary to what is all over the internet about steel being an inferior option for body armor vs ceramic armor, we see calls for this thin, strong, ergonomic body armor plate consistently raising over our ceramic and UHMWPE options. For example the Federal Bureau of Investigation just secured $7,000,000 of body armor that specified that they wanted a STEEL Plate with Spall Protection.

NIJ RF1 and RF2 Specs

The speed of the 5.56mm M193 BT in the proposed RF1 is giving the steel body armor industry some headaches. Most steel options have no problems with the higher level RF2 spec of M855 BT at 3115 ft/s. Frankly, we have not been able to make that round move fast enough to defeat our AR550 steel. The new RF1 spec is that a plate must stop the M193 BT at 3250 ft/s. This is the military spec for muzzle velocity when fired from a 20-inch standard issue barrel. This is an extremely fast speed for this projectile and most commonly available ammo will not even achieve this speed.

Research Three Years in the Making

We have tried several different thicknesses, varied materials, and heat-treating processes to evaluate if we can make an alloy product that can achieve this speed so that we can certify to the new spec. After three years of testing, we have found our solution, Caliber Armor AV2. Our objectives were to exceed the ballistic requirements of the draft RF1 and RF2 and to reduce weight. We have pushed the speed on all the requirements. We have also tested other special threats like the M855 A1, and 7.62x54mmR. We shaved off a pound from our AR550 and kept the thinness that creates an extremely ergonomic option for our customers.

American Made Quality

The Caliber Armor AV2 ballistic body armor plate is changing the way we think of steel armor. American made in Louisville Kentucky, Caliber Armor is the trusted name in quality, affordability, and reliable customer service. Let us help you find the best armor system for your application. We are here to help, before, during and after your purchase.

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Best Steel for Body Armor

All Steel is Not Created Equally

Steel Armor is typically hot rolled into sheets from a steel billet. The rolling allows for a homogenizing and aligning of the crystalline structure of the steel. The plates are heated and rapidly cooled by oil or water quenching. This process is called Austenitizing and results in a through hardened product. The armor is then tempered to decrease brittleness and increase the steel’s ability to be formed, or ductility.

Not all high hardness steel should be armor. You can often find high hardness steel at your local metal supply outlet, AR450 or AR500, but this is not the same as the armor steel that is used for our body armor. The AR stands for abrasion resistant, and the numerical portion of the name indicates how hard the steel is on the Brinell hardness scale. 500 Brinell equals 51-52 on the Rockwell C hardness scale. We use AR550 steel that is 10% harder and is produced at very tight tolerances. Our AR550 steel is used in several U.S. military projects and requires guaranteed physical properties.  While the steel sold at your local supplier may have some of the hardness of our steel armor, it will not have the same characteristics necessary to be good armor and hardness only paints part of the picture. The cheaper steel while being relatively hard does not have the same ability to be formed or the toughness required to consistently stop higher velocity threats. That steel is designed for service use on heavy equipment, such as loaders or mining equipment and is not manufactured with the tolerances and characteristics required to make high performance armor. 

The AR550 steel that we use for our body armor is the best steel that we can currently find. It forms well without cracking and retains required hardness without being brittle. We have tested samples of armor steel from all the major domestic and European manufacturers and have found that we are currently using the best steel available. Our AR550 steel at Oregon Ballistics, an independent NIJ certified lab, tested better than all other AR550 armor steel we tested and even outperformed an AR600 armor offered by another steel supplier. In fact, our AR550 had 5% better ballistic capability on hard to stop projectiles like the M193 than the supposedly better AR600.

There are many options for body armor out there, but you can rest assured that when you purchase steel armor from Caliber Armor you are receiving the best steel that we can possibly use. It may cost us more, but our customers lives are worth it. 

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The Best Steel Armor for your Bulletproof Vest

The Best Steel Armor for your Bulletproof Vest

If you have been looking for the best option for a bulletproof vest, you probably have come across the affordable option of AR500 or AR550 Steel Core Armor plates.  

Some of the nice things about steel core body armor is that it can withstand multiple hits in the same area of the plate. It is not as bulky being anywhere from .25” to .5” as traditional ceramic body armor, which typically is 1” thick. It also is in a price point that enables the modern prepared citizen, security firm or police department to outfit themselves or their employees at a fraction of the cost of other armor options. Types of Steel Armor Plates 

If you are new to the game, let’s decode some of the types of steel armor. The AR stands for Abrasion Resistant and the 500 or 550 refers to Brinell hardness of the steel. These steel products are through hardened, meaning that this plate is as hard in the center as it is on the surface. This is important as a surface hardened product would not provide the needed ballistic protection. 

AR500 steel core armor plates are readily available from many manufacturers and they provide Level III protection. We have chosen not to carry this option because for just a very small increase in price AR550 Steel Armor provides you with Level III+ protection and will protect the user from numerous .556 projectiles that the AR500 fails to stop. There are AR600 and AR650 steel options, but the additional hardness makes it prone to cracking due to the inherent stress levels found in these steels after forming. The AR550 is at the perfect hardness level to provide exceptional ballistic coverage while allowing us to apply an ergonomic single press multi curve bend to the steel.

What are the differences between the levels of protection?  

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) classifies body armor into 5 different threat levels: Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, Level III and Level IV based on their ability to stop specified rounds at specified velocities. The NIJ’s current standard is 0101.06 with a pending update to 0101.07 slated to be finalized in 2020. 

Caliber Armor Offers Level IIIA Armor Protection & Above  

NIJ Level IIIA is designed to stop .357 Sig FMG FN bullets traveling at a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and .44 Magnum SJHP rounds at a velocity of ~1430 ft/s. The updates for 0101.07 HG2 include testing requirements for 9mm FMJ with a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and changed the .44 MAG test to a JHP (jacketed hollow point) with the same velocity requirements. Our CaliberX Soft Armor panels have been tested to meet both the .06 IIIA and .07 HG2 requirements. 

NIJ Level III rifle plates are designed to stop six spaced hits of 7.62x51mm NATO FMJ M80 at a velocity of ~2780 ft/s. Level III+ is a designation that the industry has adopted to show the capabilities of armor beyond the NIJ Level III testing. This indicates that the plate can withstand higher velocity rounds plus additional threats such as M855 and M193. The NIJ intends to address this in establishing the RF2 category of the 0101.07 standard.  

NIJ Level IV are the highest rated armor plates under the NIJ standards. They are designed to take one hit from an Armor Piercing 30.06 traveling at a velocity of 2880 ft/s. This test will remain the same for the 01010.07 standard.  

Backface Deformation of Steel Body Armor 

Steel body armor provides almost no backface deformation. Backface deformation is the protuberance on the backside of the armor plate that happens from a bullet striking the armor. Even if the bullet does not penetrate the plate it still causes some protrusion, and this is what is measured and is important to pay attention to. The NIJ allows a maximum of 44 mm to pass the Level III hard armor testing requirements. The most that happens with the steel armor is half of that amount. Still, it is always recommended to pair your AR550 steel core body armor with either a soft body armor backer or a trauma pad. This allows you to also be protected from any kinetic energy that is transferred to the plate/vest and then into the user’s body.  

How Much Does Steel Armor Weigh? 

You may be thinking that the AR550 steel armor plates are heavier than some other level III+ armor that is available, but it weighs only slightly more than the cheapest, but more expensive composite counterparts. It’s surprising to most that the thinness of this plate gives the wearer more freedom to move during high stress situations. These plates can easily be kept in the trunk of a car, without fear of temperature related ballistic degradation, for a quick response to an active shooter, or high-risk calls. Unlike ceramic/composite plates, AR550 steel cannot be damaged as easily. They have a much longer shelf life. 

The Best Steel Armor with Spall Fragmentation Coating 

Now onto another very important factor when thinking about purchasing steel body armor. Our AR550 steel armor is strong and when the bullet does not penetrate the armor the projectile fragments generated can ricochet off the face of the armor at a zero to 20-degree angle. You will want to make sure that the armor plates have a spall/fragmentation solution to protect you against this possibility.  

 What is spall? It is the fragmentation that occurs from a bullet on impact. It can cause life-threating injuries to your body. Not all steel plates are created equally. Caliber Armor offers an Anti-Spall coating for steel body armor that encapsulates the fragments. They become trapped between the steel plate and the coating. You can purchase the plates with a standard coating that will keep the plate from rust and corrosion, but it is HIGHLY recommended that you upgrade to a coating that mitigates fragmentation and spall. This is an important feature when choosing steel body armor from us or from any other armor manufacturer.  

Lastly, no body armor plate is bulletproof, only bullet resistant. It’s important to narrow your search and think about what threats you are likely to encounter. You do not want to under prepare and not have the set up that fits your situation. 

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Top 5 Ways to Show Support on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

What is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was founded in 2015 by multiple organizations that joined together to show appreciation for officers in the United States. Celebrated on January 9th each year, this holiday encourages that citizens thank their police officers on this day in support of their services. It is important to show law enforcement officers that we recognize the difficult careers that they have chosen as a public service to protect lives and uphold the law.

This holiday was sparked by the events of 2014 after an officer was involved in a shooting in Ferguson Missouri. The violence and negativity that brewed over that event let to the organization Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S) hoping to change that. They discourage the negative attention that police officers have been getting in recent news and hope to turn the image of police officers into a positive one. There are over 900,000 law enforcement officers in the United States. It is vital to show them support during times of difficulty. This holiday helps bring awareness to the difficult decisions police officers have to make each day in the best interest of the law and the people of our county.

  1. Wear blue clothing in support
  2. Send a card or letter of support to your local police department (having kids do this is great too)
  3. Share a story about a positive law enforcement experience on social media use the hashtag: #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay
  4. Change social media profile photo to help show your support
  5. Ask an officer to tell you a story about what their experience is on the job

You can always show support throughout the year. Another good way to support your local law enforcement is by donating and volunteering with your local Police Foundation.

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NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Levels

NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Levels

NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Levels 

The National Institute of Justice NIJ body armor ballistic levels currently classify body armor into five different threat levels: Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, Level III and Level IV based on their ability to stop specified rounds at specified velocities. The NIJ’s current standard is 0101.06 with a pending update to 0101.07 slated to be finalized in sometime in the next year or two. 

Level IIA & II Body Armor vs Levels IIIA, III, III+ and Level IV 

Caliber Armor offers body armor at NIJ body armor ballistic levels of IIIA and above. We will go into detail on the specifics of Level IIIA, Level III, Level III+ and Level IV. Level IIA and Level II could be considered outdated soft armor ballistic levels that are sometimes still used to achieve a lighter thinner armor panel. We can achieve this level of weight and thinness with our CaliberX™ soft armor and still provide the higher level IIIA/HG2 protection.  

NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IIIA 

NIJ Level IIIA is designed to stop .357 Sig FMG FN bullets traveling at a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and .44 Magnum SJHP rounds at a velocity of ~1430 ft/s. The updates for 0101.07 HG2 include testing requirements for 9mm FMJ with a velocity of ~1470 ft/s and changed the .44 MAG test to a JHP (jacketed hollow point) with the same velocity requirements. Our CaliberX™ Soft Armor panels have been tested to meet both the .06 IIIA and .07 RF2 NIJ ballistic level requirements. 

NIJ Ballistic Level III & Level III+ Protection 

NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level III rifle plates are designed to stop six spaced hits of 7.62x51mm NATO FMJ M80 at a velocity of ~2780 ft/s. Level III+ is a designation that the body armor industry has adopted to show the capabilities of armor beyond the NIJ Level III testing. This indicates that the plate can withstand higher velocity rifle rounds plus additional threats such as M855 and M193. The NIJ intends to address this gap between Ballistic Level III and Level IV in establishing the RF2 category of the 0101.07 standard.  

 

The Highest Rated Ballistic Level of Protection 

NIJ Body Armor Ballistic Level IV are the highest rated hard armor plates under the NIJ standards. They are designed to take one hit from an Armor Piercing 30.06 traveling at a velocity of 2880 ft/s. This test will remain the same for the 01010.07 standard. We offer one level IV body armor plate.