HG2 is the NIJ rating for handgun threats, the level most people mean when they say Level IIIA. It stops common pistol rounds up to .44 Magnum and it does not stop rifle rounds. Everything here is rated to that standard, starting at $199.99.
Shop by threat level
HG2 armor is rated to defeat handgun ammunition, up to and including .44 Magnum. It is the highest handgun rating the NIJ writes a standard for, and the ceiling of what soft, flexible armor can do.
It will not stop a rifle round. If rifle threats are what you are preparing for, you need RF1 or above, and those are rigid plates rather than flexible panels.
On this page HG2 covers the pieces where handgun-rated protection is the right answer: the Vigil High Cut helmet and the Bulwark ballistic shield in its handgun-rated configuration.
Helmets are handgun-rated across the industry — a rifle-rated helmet light enough to wear does not exist. A shield at this level stays light enough to move with, which is the point of carrying one.
If you need rifle protection, start at RF1. If you want the whole setup at once, the kits pair plates with a carrier.
Questions
Yes. IIIA is the older naming and HG2 is the current NIJ one. Both describe armor rated to stop handgun threats up to .44 Magnum. You will see both used across the industry, which is why we carry both on our pages.
No. HG2 / Level IIIA is handgun-rated only. Rifle rounds require RF1 or higher, which means rigid plates rather than soft panels. Anyone telling you a soft vest stops rifle fire is wrong.
Not in any form you would want to wear. Ballistic helmets across the industry are handgun-rated, because the weight needed to defeat rifle rounds over a curved surface that size is impractical. A IIIA / HG2 helmet is the realistic standard.
They solve different problems. Plates protect what the plate covers while your hands stay free. A shield gives you movable cover you can put between yourself and a threat, which matters most for home defence and close-quarters response. Neither replaces the other.
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