U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
 Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, NIJ Standard 0123.00
        

                
                                        Download the standard November 30, 2023
Download the standard
The NIJ publication *Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, NIJ Standard 0123.00* specifies the NIJ ballistic protection levels and associated test threats identified by U.S. law enforcement as representative of current prevalent threats in the United States. The standard should be used in conjunction with other standards to test and evaluate specific ballistic-resistant equipment, such as ballistic-resistant body armor, against contemporary ballistic threats that pose a life-threating safety hazard to U.S. law enforcement officers. The standard itself does not include any performance requirements or specify any test methods to evaluate ballistic-resistant equipment.The standard is the first of its kind published by NIJ. Prior versions of NIJ standards for ballistic-resistant body armor, helmets, and materials all included ballistic protection levels within the respective documents. These standards were published at different times — and the threats associated with the different ballistic protection levels often differed as the threats evolved over time. This document seeks to unify ballistic protection levels across a range of ballistic-resistant products used by U.S. law enforcement.Separating the ballistic protection levels and test threats specified here in NIJ Standard 0123.00 from particular ballistic equipment performance requirements and test methodology (e.g., as described in *Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07*) allows for greater interoperability among standards that are applicable to ballistic-resistant equipment. This modularity gives NIJ the ability to be responsive to new developments regarding threats while simultaneously reducing the administrative burden to update several performance standards that would use identical protection levels and test threat information. Likewise, NIJ can update an individual equipment performance standard or a laboratory test method or practice in response to new research without changing the ballistic protection levels and test threats.*Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor*, *NIJ Standard 0101.07,*is the first NIJ standard to reference NIJ Standard 0123.00. NIJ anticipates that future revisions of its performance standards for ballistic-resistant helmets and shields will also reference this document. The NIJ Compliance Testing Program will use this standard for testing, evaluation, and certification of ballistic-resistant body armor using NIJ Standard 0101.07 and other types of ballistic-resistant equipment that may be added to the scope of the NIJ Conformity Testing Program conformity assessment activities. It will be used by ballistics laboratories that test body armor and by body armor manufacturers participating in the NIJ Conformity Testing Program.The ballistic protection levels and test threats listed in NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, were the points of departure for NIJ Standard 0123.00. NIJ ballistic protection level-nomenclature has been revised, see table 1, from NIJ Standard 0101.06 to be more descriptive of ballistic threats and to reduce confusion among law enforcement who wear body armor and use ballistic-resistant equipment.Table 1: New Threat LevelsFormer Threat LevelNew Threat LevelNotesNIJ Level IINIJ HG1HG = handgunNIJ Level IIIANIJ HG2NIJ Level IIINIJ RF1RF = rifleNANIJ RF2NIJ RF2 is a new intermediate rifle protection level that includes all the threats at the NIJ RF1 protection level plus an additional threatNIJ Level IVNIJ RF3Table 2 specifies the test threats, the specific ammunition to be used, and the reference velocities to be used for HG1 and HG2. Table 3 specifies the test threats, the specific ammunition to be used, and the reference velocities to be used for RF1, RF2, and RF3.Table 2. NIJ HG1 and NIJ HG2 Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats and Reference VelocitiesProtection LevelTest ThreatAmmunition IdentifierReference Velocity**NIJ HG1**9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grainRemington #235581305 ft/s(398 m/s).357 Mag JSP 158 grainRemington #228471430 ft/s(436 m/s)**NIJ HG2**9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grainRemington #235581470 ft/s(448 m/s).44 Mag JHP 240 grainSpeer OEM #744531;  #44532 or #473621*This ammunition may be special ordered from Speer.*2*This ammunition may be purchased from surplus.*1430 ft/s(436 m/s)*Note that table 2 on this page corresponds do table 1 in the standard document.*Table 3. NIJ RF1, NIJ RF2, and NIJ RF3 Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats and Reference VelocitiesProtection LevelTest ThreatAmmunition IdentifierReference Velocity**NIJ RF1**7.62x51mm M80 Ball NATO FMJ Steel Jacket 147 +0/-3 grainU.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications2780 ft/s(847 m/s)7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31Factory 31Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard2400 ft/s(732 m/s)5.56mm M19356 +0/-2 grainU.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications3250 ft/s (990 m/s)**NIJ RF2**7.62x51mm M80 BallNATO FMJ Steel Jacket147 +0/-3 grainU.S. military supply orrounds meeting NATOspecifications2780 ft/s(847 m/s)7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31Factory 31Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard2400 ft/s(732 m/s)5.56mm M19356 +0/-2 grainU.S. military supply orrounds meeting NATOspecifications3250 ft/s(990 m/s)5.56mm M85561.8 ± 1.5 grainU.S. military supply orrounds meeting NATOspecifications3115 ft/s(950 m/s)**NIJ RF3**30.06 M2 AP165.7 +0/-7 grainU.S. military supply orrounds meeting NATOspecifications2880 ft/s(878 m/s)*Note that table 3 on this page corresponds do table 2 in the standard document.*The test projectiles and reference velocities in this standard have been updated from section 2 of NIJ Standard 0101.06 to reflect the evolving threats faced by U.S. law enforcement, including a wider range of rifle threats in addition to the 7.62x51mm M80. These include 5.56mm M193, 5.56mm M855, and 7.62x39mm mild steel core (MSC). Variability in the MSC round has driven the development of surrogate test round designs to ensure consistency in testing; however, NIJ Standard 0123.00 specifies a factory round until surrogate test round development activities are completed and validated, and a surrogate is commercially available.NIJ Standard 0123.00 specifies a range of acceptable bullet dimensions, bullet mass, core dimensions, core mass, and core hardness for the factory 7.62x39mm MSC projectiles as well as audit procedures found in Appendix A of the standard -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- to assess ammunition lots to determine suitability for use in testing. Physical characteristics of the ammunition as well as other factors, such as availability of supply, were considered in the assessment of the various factory rounds available to determine which one would be the best choice for the test threat.
  
Date Published: November 30, 2023
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Article Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Corrections
    
      
            
            
            
      Courts
    
      
            
            
            
      Crime Prevention
    
      
            
            
            
      Crimes
    
      
            
            
            
      Drugs and Crime
    
      
            
            
            
      Equipment and Technology

                                        
  
              Artificial Intelligence
    
      
            
            
            
      Criminal Justice Testing and Evaluation Consortium
    
      
            
            
            
      Body Armor

                                        
  
              Overview of Body Armor
    
      
            
            
            
      Ballistic Protection Levels, NIJ Standard 0123.00
    
      
            
            
            
      Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07
    
      
            
            
            
      Body Armor Performance Standards and Compliance Testing
    
      
            
            
            
      Compliant Products List
    
      
            
            
            
      The NIJ Mark
    
      
            
            
            
      Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor, NIJ Standard-0115.00
    
      
            
            
            
      Equipment Standards and Conformity Assessment
    
      
            
            
            
      Forensic Sciences
    
      
            
            
            
      Youth Justice
    
      
            
            
            
      Justice System Reform
    
      
            
            
            
      Law Enforcement
    
      
            
            
            
      Tribal Crime and Justice
    
      
            
            
            
      Victims of Crime
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov