BASICS: Protection class?

Protecting oneself from bullets is a perfectly understandable need. If you want to protect yourself effectively, you need the right ballistic protection class. These classes are based on the expected threat, meaning the ammunition with which you might be shot.

Three major standards have emerged on the western market for testing bulletproof plates and inserts. The American NIJ system, the German TR from the Bundeswehr, and the European VPAM standard. They are all similar but differ in detail.

It should be noted that these standards are not directly comparable and should not be used synonymously. Mehler has a very nice overview that we would like to present to you today.

American NIJ Standard

The image shows the types of ammunitions that can be withstood according to the protection class. It should be noted here that NIJ III protection class only needs to stop soft-core ammunition. NIJ IV must stop (only) a single shot of an armor-piercing .30 M2 caliber round (.30-06 Springfield) with a velocity of 2,880 feet per second (878 meters per second) and a weight of 166 grains (10.8 grams). Backface deformation is limited to 45mm.

The NIJ standard has been updated and new protection classes introduced,HERE is the article. This is a good development in our opinion, as the tested calibers now better match current threat profiles.

Technical Guideline of the Bundeswehr

Protection class 3 (SK3) must already withstand small arms ammunition with a steel core. Protection class 4 (SK4) must withstand three shots of caliber .308 Winchester, bullet type: FMJ/PB/HC (steel core), impact velocity: 820 m/s ± 10 m/s from 10 m. This is less than NIJ IV, but requires stopping more than one shot.

European VPAM Standard

VPAM offers the most distinctions in protection classes. These range from VPAM 1 to VPAM12, with VPAM 11 and VPAM 12 only used in vehicles due to weight. VPAM 12 can, by the way, withstand .50 BMG. The most applicable protection class is VPAM 7. It provides protection against multiple hits from .233 Rem (5.56x45) SS109 (impact velocity: 950 ±10 m/s; nominal mass: 4 g) and .308 Win. (7.62x51) DM111 (impact velocity: 830 ±10; nominal mass: 9.55 g). So, steel-core ammunition, not quite armor-piercing yet, similar to SK3 and more than NIJ III.

Only protection class VPAM 9 corresponds to SK4, using the same armor-piercing ammunition. Additionally, there must be a backface deformation of less than 25 mm.

What is right for me?

Quite complex, isn't it? Ultimately, the choice of protection class depends on the expected threat. If you only go to the shooting range and are worried about being shot in the back, then NIJ III would be suitable, as only soft-core ammunition is expected.

If you want to protect yourself from SS109 and similar cartridges, SK3 or VPAM 7 would be better. A higher protection class can always be chosen, but these plates are generally significantly heavier and, above all, more expensive.

MEHLER PROTECTION online