I am bulletproofing a backpack. I have a ballistic panel measuring 10 X 13 which slides into the laptop pouch at the rear of the pack. It is rated NIJ-III and will stop any common hollow point fired from a handgun. I want to add a steel plate to protect the cardiac region against direct hits from .223 Remington/5.56 mm NATO rounds. I have found several YouTube videos which clearly demonstrate that a .223 will easily pass through a quarter inch of mild steel. I have not been able to find any pre-cut plates the right size in three-eighths inch or thicker steel. And since it’s a daily-use backpack, for obvious reasons I don’t want to have to resort to a half-inch plate. The only thing I could find that is precut to the size I need and at a reasonable price is this plate that is specifically designed for ballistic protection and is hardened to 500 Brinell. However, the vendor is a little ambiguous in its description. It states that will offer protection against ‘high-velocity rifle fire,’ but doesn’t specify particular rounds. Will this stop a typical AR-15 round?
Oh, I didn’t know that there are two different subcategories of Level III. Thanks.
I’d like to know why in the world you are bullet-proofing a backpack? You anticipate being shot while fleeing? oddly enough, or not, it is generally illegal to wear bullet-proofing during the commision of a crime.
‘Need answer fast’?
Very possibly. Turn it around though, and it partially protects against frontal assault (barring head shots, of course). If the need ever arises, it’s far more likely that I will use it in the latter manner. Last time I checked, it was not illegal to be a kindergarten teacher. If it were, the fact that I’m applying to the State of Washington to be specifically issued a license to do so would be quite the puzzling state of affairs.
A truly sad state of affairs for this country…
It is a minor point of semantics but I think that you will find that most vendors prefer that you use the term ‘bullet resistant’ rather than '‘bullet proof’. You will not typically see the words bullet proof on their web sites or literature.
I had the task of ordering a bullet proof drive up window for a bank at a previous job. The vendor really was firm that I refer to my purchase as ‘bullet resistant glass.’
It was explained to me that anything I bought could fail if shot enough times or with the right weapons. So they didn’t have any bullet proof windows but would be happy to sell me the finest quality bullet resistant window.
I know, especially if they make it illegal! That’s five years of college down the drain…
Won’t stop a rifle round.
If it is rated Level III, it will stop 5.56. IIIA will not.
If it is constructed as described, yes it will provide the protection you’re looking for and will stop a typical AR-15 round.
Good luck, OP.
Are you thinking of the children you teach, or yourself? Even in the gun issue charged climate right now, how would you address parent’s concerns when one of your students says their teacher wears body armor?
Perhaps this might be a GD topic?
NM
While your desire for protective gear is entirely understandable, I wouldn’t put much faith in it being of practical use. Backpacks often don’t hang well when worn backwards and tend to slip off.
How quickly could you expect to cross the room to the bag and don it backwards? Should the worst occur, could an aggressive lawyer claim that the time taken to don your protective gear delayed your taking action to round up your students and move them to safety or whatever your school’s plan is?
Again, a perfectly understandable precaution, but it’s possible that it has significant limitations that you may not have condsidered.
OMG - bookmarked for my reading pleasure! Hahahahah 
Washoe your response is not exactly clear. Are you saying that you must apply to your state in order to wear bulletproof armor? You also say it is “far more likely” that you will wear this over your chest. If you are that concerned about being shot why not get a vest?
If I read you correctly you are a kindergarten teacher. It seems to me now your plan is to inculcate in your students the state of unreasonable fear that currently is adding to the count of this nation’s gun crimes.
Jebus, my eyes glazed over about a quarter of the way down the page …
In many jurisdictions, crime itself is illegal.