To find a complete list of protection specifications online, take a look at the NIJ standards website. Most producers of body armor will also give you the basics of protections specifications as applicable to their products on their website. To take a decision on what level of protection you need in body armor it's a good idea to discuss your circumstances with an expert.

The NIJ has set guidelines for the kind of protection that can be expected from each level of body armor protection for the guidance of the public and professionals. The lowest level is a I and this will usually be used for people who are at risk from an air gun. These will usually be the young, hunters and farmers. The threat is generally not serious.

A level II or III is designed to give protection from most makes of hand guns and will give limited protection from anything of higher velocity. To get a detailed list of hand gun velocities that are included see the list of protection specifications online on the NIJ website. The highest level of personal protection available to date is a level IV.

This is achieved with the use of armor inserts added to level IIIA combat jackets. They can not only protect from high velocity rifles and automatic rifle fire, but according to protection specifications online can also provide a level of protection from shrapnel and projectiles resulting from a hand grenade or shell explosion. There is no completely reliable level of personal protection from a ballistic threat, but any level will provide some degree of protection.