Level IIIA soft armor stops handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum; Level III hard plates stop common rifle rounds but leave a 5.56 M855 green-tip gap. Here is exactly which threats each level covers under NIJ 0101.06 and 0101.07, plus how to choose the right one for your threat model.
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NY Penal Law § 270.21 restricts body armor to ~30 eligible professions; civilian purchase is a Class A misdemeanor. Heeter v. James briefing through June 2026.
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NIJ 0123.00 rates helmets HG1, HG2, and RF1 — not Level IV. Learn which ballistic helmet rating matches your threat, material, and weight budget in 2026.
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These 7 body armor buying mistakes can be fatal: wrong NIJ certification, expired soft armor, mismatched threat levels, steel spall risk, and more. Full 2026 guide.
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Standalone plates work alone. ICW plates require a IIIA backer — skip it and backface deformation exceeds 44mm. 2026 guide: 7 FAQs, weight tables, expert picks.
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6x6 vs 6x8, ceramic vs poly, cummerbund fit: everything you need to choose side plates that actually protect the lateral cardiac gap. Updated May 2026.
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