Welcome to the Rook Armor Blog! This weekly blog will delve into the various aspects of body armor, discussing issues and answering your questions. For any inquiries or topic suggestions, please reach out to us at info@rookarmor.com.
HARD VS. SOFT ARMOR: CLEARING THE MISCONCEPTIONS
The main difference between hard and soft body armor lies in the types of rounds they can stop. Soft body armor is generally rated for pistol calibers, whereas hard body armor can handle both pistol and rifle calibers.
**Soft Body Armor**: Usually made from flexible textiles like Kevlar, though there are stronger materials available. It is primarily rated for pistol calibers. The new NIJ 0101.07 certification by the National Institute of Justice will update these ratings, including Handgun 1 (HG1) and Handgun 2 (HG2) standards. HG1 is rated for a 9mm 124 grain round at 1305 fps and a .357 Magnum 158 grain round at 1430 fps. HG2 covers the same 9mm round at 1470 fps and a .44 Magnum hollow point at 1430 fps.
**Hard Body Armor**: Designed to stop both pistol and rifle rounds. It is categorized into RF1, RF2, and R3 ratings. RF1 stops rounds like the M193 at 3250 fps, 7.62x51mm M80 at 2780 fps, and 7.62x39mm mild steel core at 2400 fps. RF2 handles those plus the M855 at 3115 fps, and R3 is rated for the M2 armor-piercing round. Hard armor can be made from materials like ceramics, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and steel.
MATERIAL COMPARISONS
1. **Ceramic Plates**: Often used with a UHMWPE backing to catch the fragments resulting from bullet degradation when it hits the very hard ceramic. They are lighter and stronger than steel plates but thinner than UHMWPE plates.
2. **UHMWPE Plates**: Lightweight and effective against certain rounds but not as strong as ceramic plates. They are thicker than ceramic but lighter than steel.
3. **Steel Plates**: The thinnest but heaviest option, prone to causing ricochets unless coated. Not recommended for body armor due to the weight. Additionally, there is deceptive advertising with some steel plates regarding their ability to stop the M193 round. These advertisements often state that the plates can stop the round but fail to mention that this is only at less than muzzle velocity. At muzzle velocity, the M193 round easily penetrates most steel plates on the market.
SPECIFIC ARMOR EXAMPLES
**Rook Armor Executive Plate**: RF1 rated, weighs less than 2 lbs in medium size.
**Bass Reeves Plate**: RF2 rated ceramic plate, about 3.5 lbs in medium size.
**Ultra Light Level 4 Plate**: Weighs around 4 lbs in medium size.
Steel plates can weigh between 8-12 lbs for RF2 ratings, and there are very few level 4 steel plates available. The heavy weight makes steel plates impractical for body armor compared to ceramic or UHMWPE alternatives.
CONCLUSION
Selecting the right body armor depends on understanding the threat level you face. With the evolving landscape of ballistic threats, it is crucial to consider advanced materials like ceramics and UHMWPE over traditional steel plates for optimal protection and comfort.
Feel free to reach out to us with your questions or topics you’d like us to cover in future posts. Stay safe and informed with Rook Armor!
ANIRE OKPAKU MD
ROOK ARMOR CEO