Bulletproof vests are no longer the bulky pieces of armor that you may have associated them with. These sorts of personal protection devices can be lightweight and practical to wear. Of course, that would depend entirely on what type of bulletproof clothing you get. There is actually more than one type of bulletproof clothing. Bulletproof clothes are rated and classified using a particular system, which can denote just how much force they are able to take. For example, some bulletproof vests can stop a projectile from a pistol, while others can withstand the force from bigger guns, such as a shotgun.

Knowing the ballistic levels:
Bulletproof clothes are rated according to a ballistic level. This sort of ballistic level rating is called the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) rating. Based on that rating, the kinds of bullets that it can trap and stop will vary. The thickness of the bulletproof material will determine the kind of rating it has got, for example, a NIJ II-A rating means that the bulletproof vest has got a 4mm thickness. Most of the ballistic level ratings in this article are the more practical ones. These kinds of bulletproof vests are designed more for protection against small arms, pistols and light caliber weapons. Obviously, these sorts of bulletproof clothing cannot protect you against high-ordinance weapons or armor-piercing bullets. These sorts of bulletproof clothing are meant for civilian and everyday use.

Why learn about bulletproof vest ratings anyway?
It is crucial that you know about bulletproof vest ratings so that you know exactly which one would suit your needs. After all, gun crimes are on the rise. And mass shootings are all over the news. It may be high time that you get a sturdy bulletproof vest that you can wear concealed underneath your clothing. If you actually want to choose the right kind of bulletproof clothing, based on how heavy, comfortable, and how much protection it can provide. Using the rating system for bulletproof clothing, you should be able to pick out which one would suit your needs the most.

II-A Rating

This is the thinnest bulletproof clothing that you can get. Since it is the thinnest it is the easiest to conceal underneath your clothing. And it is also the most comfortable to wear as well. Wearing this kind of bulletproof clothing, you should be protected against most blunt trauma injury, such as getting sliced by a knife. However, since it is the thinnest kind of bulletproof clothing, it also provides the least amount of protection. You are protected against bullets fired from a 9mm pistol, as long as it is from a distance away.

If you are looking for a bulletproof material that is easy to wear and also not noticeable underneath your clothing, then you should look for one with this sort of rating. It is much more appropriate for certain scenarios, such as in the case of getting shot at by a robber with a pistol on the street. A bulletproof vest with this ballistic level rating should stop a 9mm full metal jacket bullet fired from a pistol. But you will get injured, though the bullet is unlikely to pass through the material of the vest itself.

II Rating

Bulletproof vests with this ballistic level rating provide more protection than those that are rated II-A. Wearers of these kinds of bulletproof vests are adequately protected against blunt force trauma, from both bullets, and other weapons. Even higher velocity rounds are handled much better by this sort of bulletproof vest. You should still be able to get up and get to a safer place or cover if you take a bullet to the chest when you are wearing this bulletproof vest.

At 5mm thick, this sort of bulletproof vest has got a noticeable thickness to it. Though it is thicker, it is still rather easy to conceal under a few layers of clothing. You will notice the extra bulk of this bulletproof vest though, as depending on the size of the vest that you are wearing, it can add a considerable amount of bulk. But when you compare the cost to protection ratio, this sort of bulletproof vest will have the most value. It is recommended that you get this sort of bulletproof vest if you want the right balance between protection and wearability. This sort of bulletproof vest is certainly going to be fit for almost any kind of situation.

III-A Rating

A bulletproof vest that is rated III-A will provide the highest amount of blunt force protection. Even a .44 round shot from a Magnum will get stopped by this kind of bulletproof vest. And you will also not get any sort of injury, as most of the force from even a high-velocity round will be dissipated by the vest. You can still get back up, and fire back at your attacker, even after you have been shot.

The thickness of this sort of bulletproof vest is around 6mm, so you will definitely notice the extra bulk when you are wearing it. It is recommended that this kind of bulletproof vest be used by those working in security. As it is going to provide some much-needed protection against attackers, but still allow the wearer to have some mobility as well. Since the blunt force trauma will be lessened by the vest, the chances of bodily injury will be minimised. Thus, the wearer of this bulletproof vest can still provide some return fire to their attacker.

It is important that you know what sort of NIJ rating a bulletproof vest is before you buy it. The kind of bulletproof vest and the specific ballistic level rating that it has got, will suit different people. So try and choose a piece of bulletproof clothing that has got the right NIJ rating to suit your needs. The comfort level, amount of mobility and the stopping power of the bulletproof vest should all be taken into consideration before you buy one. With the help of the NIJ rating system, you can choose a bulletproof vest that is both practical for you to wear, and also provides the right level of protection for you as well.