Global Ballistic Standards

Ballistic and Stab
Ballistic testing standards vary from country to country, from product type and other environmental factors. For eg, helmets are tested differently vis-a-vis bullet resistant jackets. Stab tests are different compared to ballistic tests.

We will summarise the different ballistic and stab standards that are commonly used worldwide.

Ballistic testing standards

For Vests, jackets, plates & helmets
  • NIJ Test summary for Helmets

    Helmet
    Type    		 Test
    Ammunition    		 Bullet
    mass    		 Barrel
    Length    		 Velocity Req fair hits
    per helmet
    		 Permitted
    Penetrations
    I 22 LRHV
    Lead    		 2.6g
    50 GR    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 320+-12 m/s
    1050+-40 f/s    		 4 0
    38 Special RN
    Lead    		 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 259 +-15 m/s
    850+-50 f/s    		 4 0
    IIA 357 Mag JSP 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 381+-15 m/s
    1250+-50 f/s    		 4 0
    9mm FMJ 8g
    124 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 332 +-15 m/s
    1090+-50 f/s    		 4 0
    II 357 Mag JSP 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6-6.5 in    		 425 +-15 m/s
    850+-50 f/s    		 4 0
    9mm FMJ 8g
    124 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 358 +-15 m/s
    1175+-50 f/s    		 4 0
  • Helmet
    Type    		 Test
    Ammunition    		 Bullet
    mass    		 Barrel
    Length    		 Velocity Req fair hits
    per helmet
    		 Permitted
    Penetrations
    I 22 LRHV
    Lead    		 2.6g
    50 GR    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 320+-12 m/s
    1050+-40 f/s    		 5 0
    38 Special RN
    Lead    		 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 259 +-15 m/s
    850+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    IIA 357 Mag JSP 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 381+-15 m/s
    1250+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    9mm FMJ 8g
    124 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 332 +-15 m/s
    1090+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    II 357 Mag JSP 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6-6.5 in    		 425 +-15 m/s
    850+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    9mm FMJ 8g
    124 Gr    		 10 - 12 cm
    4 - 4.75 in    		 358 +-15 m/s
    1175+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    IIIA 22 LRHV
    Lead    		 2.6g
    50 GR    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 320+-12 m/s
    1050+-40 f/s    		 5 0
    38 Special RN
    Lead    		 10.2 g
    158 Gr    		 15 - 16.5 cm
    6 - 6.5 in    		 259 +-15 m/s
    850+-50 f/s    		 5 0
    III 7.62mm 308
    Winchester
    FMJ    		 9.7g
    150 GR    		 56 cm
    22 in    		 838+-15 m/s
    2750+-50 f/s    		 5 0





    IV 30-06 AP 10.8g
    166 GR    		 56 cm
    22 in    		 868+-15 m/s
    2850+-50 f/s    		 1 0




    		0
    Special * * * * * *
  • Armor
    Type    		 Test
    Round    		 Test
    Bullet    		 Bullet
    Weight    		 Reference
    Velociity
    (± 30 ft/s)    		 Hits Per Armor
    Part at 0° Angle
    of Incidence    		 BFS Depth
    Maximum    		 Hits Per Armor
    Part at 30° Angle
    of Incidence    		 Shots Per
    Panel    		 Shots Per
    Sample    		 Shots Per
    Threat    		 Total Shots
    Req'd
    I 1 .22 caliber LR
    LRN    		 2.6g
    40 gr.    		 329 m/s
    (1080 ft/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24 48
    2 .380 ACP
    FMJ RN    		 6.2 g
    95 gr.    		 322 m/s
    (1055 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24
    IIA 1 9 mm
    FMJ RN    		 8.0 g
    124 gr.    		 341 m/s
    (1120 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24 48
    2 40 S&W
    FMJ    		 11.7g
    180 gr.    		 322 m/s
    (1055 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24
    II 1 9 mm
    FMJ RN    		 8.0 g
    124 gr.    		 367 m/s
    (1205 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24 48
    2 357 Mag
    JSP    		 10.2 g.
    158 gr.    		 436 m/s
    (1430 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24
    IIIA 1 9 mm
    FMJ RN    		 8.2 g
    124 gr.    		 436 m/s
    (1430 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24 48
    2 44 Mag
    JHP    		 15.6 g
    240 gr.    		 436 m/s
    (1430 f/s)    		 4 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 2 6 12 24
    III 1 7.62 mm NATO
    FMJ    		 9.6 g
    148 gr.    		 838 m/s
    (2780 f/s)    		 6 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 0 6 12 12 12
    IV 1 .30 caliber
    M2 AP    		 10.8 g
    166 gr.    		 869 m/s
    (2880 f/s)    		 1 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 0 1 2 2 2
    Special * * * * * 44 mm
    (1.73 in)    		 * * * * *

    Panel = Front or back component of typical armor temple.
    Sample = Full armor garment, including all component panels (F&B).
    Threat = Test ammunition round by caliber.
  • Protection
    Level    		 Energy Level E1 Energy Level E2
    Energy (J) Maximum
    Penetration
    at E1 (mm)    		 SPL at E1
    (mm)    		 Energy (J) Maximum
    Penetration
    at E2 (mm)    		 SPL at E2
    (mm)
    KR1 24.0 8.0 9.0 36.0 20.0 30.0
    KR1 +
    SP1    		 24.0 KR1 = 8.0,
    SP1 = 0    		 KR1 = 9.0,
    SP1 = 0    		 36.0 KR1 = 20.0,
    SP1 = N/A    		 KR1 = 20.0,
    SP1 = N/A
    KR2 33.0 8.0 9.0 50 .0 20.0 30.0
    KR2 +
    SP2    		 33.0 KR2 = 8.0,
    SP2 = 0    		 KR1 = 9.0,
    SP2 = 0    		 50.0 KR2 = 20.0,
    SP2 = N/A    		 KR2 = 30.0,
    SP2 = N/A

  • Protection
    Level    		 Classification
    and Calibre    		 Test Round
    Designation    		 Bullet
    Mass    		 Range (min)
    (m)    		 Max. mean BFS
    (mm)    		 Single shot BFS
    Limit (mm)    		 Velocity
    (m/s)
    HO1 9 mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
    DM11A1B2    		 8.0 g
    (124 grain)    		 5 - 44.0 365 ± 10
    9 mm JHP Federal Premium
    9mm JHP
    P9HST1    		 8.0 g
    (124 grain)    		 5 - 44.0 365 ± 10
    HO2 9 mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
    DM11A1B2    		 8.0 g
    (124 grain)    		 5 - 44.0 430 ± 10
    9 mm JHP Federal Premium
    9mm JHP
    P9HST1    		 8.0 g
    (124 grain)    		 5 - 44.0 430 ± 10
    HO3 Rifle 7.62
    calibre    		 Radway Green 7.62 mm
    NATO Ball
    L44A1 or L2A2    		 9.3 g
    (144 grain)    		 10 25.0 33.0 830 ± 15
    Rifle 7.62
    calibre    		 7.62 × 39 mm
    surrogate19    		 7.9 g
    (122 grain)    		 10 25.0 30.0 705 ± 15
    HO420 Rifle 7.62
    calibre    		 SAKO .308 Win 480A
    Powerhead or Barnes
    .308 TSX BT    		 10.7 g
    (165 grain)    		 10 25.0 33.0 820 ± 15
    SG1 Shotgun 12 gauge
    True Cylinder    		 Winchester 1 oz.
    Rifled 12RSE    		 28.4 g 10 25.0 30.0 435 ± 25
    Special Based on threat and risk assessment