NOTE: It is imperative that competent research be conducted, concerning ones threat, prior to the choosing of an armor solution whether in the form of soft or hard armor. While we cannot list them all here, below is a basic yet practical list of relevant threats found on the streets or battlefields today.

SOFT ARMOR THREATS








Caliber Type Description Weapon Velocity
.22 LRHV 40gr FMJ Round Nose Lead Suitably Chambered Pistol or Revolver 1,255 fps
9mm 124gr FMJ Ball, Full Metal Jacket Suitably Chambered Pistol 1,235 fps
9mm 124gr FMJ Ball, Full Metal Jacket Sub-machine gun (Uzi, MP5, Ingram, etc.) 1,460 fps
.357 Magnum 158gr SJHP Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point Suitably Chambered Revolver 1,460 fps
.357 SIG 125gr JHP Jacketed Hollow Point Suitably Chambered Pistol 1,380 fps
.380 ACP 95gr RNL Round Nose Lead Suitably Chambered Pistol 1,100 fps
.40 S&W 155gr JHP Jacketed Hollow Point Suitably Chambered Pistol 1,250 fps
.44 Magnum 240gr SJHP Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point Suitably Chambered Revolver 1,460 fps
.45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ball, Full Metal Jacket Suitably Chambered Pistol 890 fps


HARD ARMOR THREATS:


Caliber Type Description Weapon Velocity
5.45 x 39 54gr Ball Lead core, copper jacket AK-74, AN-94, AK-101/103/105 2,950 fps
5.56 x 45 55gr M193 Ball, lead core, copper jacket M4, M16 3,250 fps
5.56 x 45 62gr M855 / SS109 Steel penetrator M4, M16 3,100 fps
7.62 x 39 124gr PS Ball, Type 56 Mild steel core AK-47, SKS, Type 56 Rifles 2,450 fps
7.62 x 39 121gr API BZ Armor piercing incendiary AK-47, SKS, Type 56 Rifles 2,380 fps
7.62 x 51 147gr M80 Ball Lead core, copper jacket M14, G3, L4, MG3, M60 2,780 fps
7.62 x 54 148gr Type R Lead core, copper jacket SVD-Dragunov, PKM/PKMS 2,885 fps
7.62 x 63 165gr M2 AP Armor piercing Springfield 1903, M1 Garand, Enfield 2,880 fps
.50 Caliber 710gr M2 Ball Lead core, copper jacket Browning M2, M85, Barrett 2,815 fps
.50 Caliber 708gr M2 AP Armor piercing Browning M2, M85, Barrett 2,900 fps

N.I.J. Standard 0101.06
N.I.J. Standard 0101.04 / 2005 Interim Compliance