A local gun shop sells level IIIa vests. I tried one on and they are very light weight. Heavy metal or composite plates can be inserted into front at back pockets to give a higher level of protection. The sales person said this vest with the basic ballistic material would stop most NATO rifle and hand gun rounds including a 44. Based on the flexibility of the ballistic material I’d say the projectile would likely break ribs. Cost is $600.
I’m comparing this weight to what cops wore about 15 years ago with steel plates in them. A cop showed me his and it was heavy. He said it was very uncomfortable.
The one at the gun shop was comparatively quite soft.
“The sales person said this vest with the basic ballistic material would stop most NATO rifle and hand gun rounds including a 44.”
^
One of the first LEO fatalities who wore a vest was shot in the (protected) shoulder area with a 45-70.
Just sayin’...
A 62 grain 5.56 M855 NATO round from a 14" barrel AR15/M4 will penetrate a 1/4" AR500 armor plate at 100 yards. Guarranteed. If the government is coming at you, this is most likely the round they will be shooting. And, if the US military is coming at you, this is also the round they will likely be shooting. This round has been the battlefield standard 5.56 for about 50 years. It was adopted because of its ability to penetrate light body armor and helmets at 600 yards out of a 20" barrel M16.