The HighCom Armor 4s17 is a Level IV stand-alone ceramic body armor plate NIJ Listed under NIJ 0101.06 and found on the NIJ Compliant Products List. Built with a ceramic strike face and composite backing wrapped in 1000D CORDURA, the 4s17 stops .30 caliber M2 AP rounds at 2,880 fps — the NIJ Level IV benchmark — and clears an extensive DEA Hard Armor Protocol threat suite that includes 5.56x45mm M855A1, 7.62x39mm BZ API, 7.62x51mm M61 AP, and 7.62x54R B-32 API. It ships in sizes from 5x7 up to 10x12, all in single curve, with Shooters, Swimmers, and Full Cut options in the 10x12 format. A 10-year ballistic warranty backs every plate.

Who this is for

• Law enforcement officers: DEA Hard Armor Protocol compliance makes this plate a direct fit for federal and local agency procurement requirements.
• Armed security professionals: NIJ 0101.06 Level IV CPL listing provides independently verified armor-piercing protection at a price point that makes full-coverage loadouts achievable.
• Civilian rifle-threat preparedness: Anyone who needs verified Level IV protection without stepping up to multi-curve or advanced composite pricing will find the 4s17 covers the full NIJ threat spectrum at a practical weight.

Ballistic performance

The 4s17 uses a ceramic strike face bonded to a composite backing. Ceramic strikes fracture an incoming projectile on contact, dissipating energy before it reaches the backing layer. This construction achieves the highest standard NIJ performance tier — Level IV — which requires defeating .30 caliber M2 AP at 2,880 fps (±30 fps).

Beyond the NIJ baseline, the 4s17 carries DEA 2017 Hard Armor Protocol compliance and Rifle Special Threats (RST) validation. The DEA protocol adds six additional rounds to the pass list, covering .223 Remington Tactical Bonded Soft Point, 5.56x45mm M855 Green Tip at 3,100 fps, 7.62x39mm Mild Steel Core, 7.62mm M80 FMJ at 2,750 fps, and .308 Winchester PSPB Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded. RST validation extends coverage further to 5.56x45mm M193 at 3,250 fps, 7.62x39mm BZ API, 7.62x51mm M61 AP, both 7.62x54R LPS and B-32 API variants, 7.62x63mm JSP, AK-47/M/SKS 7.62x39mm Ball, 12-gauge 1 oz. slug at 1,145 fps, 5.56x45mm M855A1 at 3,100 fps, and .223 SCS Brush Hog at 3,150 fps.

Ballistic test data

Plate geometry and cut options

All 4s17 plates ship in single curve. The 10x12 format — the most common plate carrier size — is available in Full Cut, Shooters Cut, and Swimmers Cut. Note that the nominal 10x12 Shooters Cut measures 9.5x11.5 inches actual dimensions. Smaller formats (5x7, 5x8, 6x6, 6x8, 8x10) ship in Full Cut only. The 8x10 is also available in Shooters Cut. At 0.95 inches thick across all sizes, the 4s17 fits standard plate pockets without the carrier clearance issues that thicker Level IV plates can cause.

Specifications

Fit and carrier compatibility

At 0.95 inches thick and available in the standard 10x12 format, the 4s17 fits the vast majority of plate carriers designed for full-size hard plates. The Shooters Cut reduces material at the shoulder corners for improved rifle stock clearance and arm mobility; the Swimmers Cut takes further material from the top corners for maximum shoulder range of motion. The Full Cut maximizes coverage area. If you need fit confirmation for a specific carrier, contact us before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Is this plate NIJ Certified or NIJ Listed?

It is NIJ Listed under NIJ 0101.06 Level IV and appears on the NIJ Compliant Products List. NIJ Listing means the specific product has passed third-party testing at an NIJ-accredited laboratory and is confirmed on the government's published Compliant Products List — the highest level of NIJ verification available under the 0101.06 standard.

What rounds does the 4s17 stop?

At the NIJ level, it stops .30 caliber M2 AP at 2,880 fps. DEA 2017 compliance adds M855 Green Tip, 7.62x39mm Mild Steel Core, 7.62mm M80, .308 Winchester PSPB, and .223 Rem Tactical Bonded SP. RST validation adds M193 at 3,250 fps, M855A1, 7.62x39mm BZ API, 7.62x51mm M61 AP, both 7.62x54R variants, 7.62x63mm JSP, and 12-gauge slugs. The full round-by-round table appears in the Ballistic test data section above.

What is the difference between Level III, Level III+, and Level IV?

NIJ Level III is tested against 7.62mm M80 FMJ at 2,780 fps and does not cover armor-piercing threats. Level III+ is a vendor-specific designation (not an official NIJ tier) typically covering M855 and sometimes M193, but definitions vary by manufacturer. Level IV is the highest standard NIJ tier and requires defeating .30 caliber M2 AP — the hardest-core armor-piercing round in the NIJ test suite — at 2,880 fps. The 4s17 meets Level IV.

What is the difference between Shooters Cut, Swimmers Cut, and Full Cut?

Full Cut maximizes front and back torso coverage. Shooters Cut angles the top corners to clear a rifle stock and improve arm mobility while retaining most of the coverage area. Swimmers Cut removes more material from the top corners for maximum shoulder range of motion, trading some upper-chest coverage for mobility. The nominal 10x12 Shooters Cut measures 9.5x11.5 inches actual dimensions.

Does this plate need a soft armor backer?

No. The 4s17 is rated as stand-alone, meaning it meets its certified threat levels without a soft armor backer panel behind it. A backer can still be added for additional behind-armor blunt trauma management, and most standard IIIA soft armor backers will fit behind a 10x12 plate in carriers with backer pockets.

Can this plate be shipped to my state?

This plate cannot be shipped to New York or Connecticut due to state body armor restrictions. Sales are limited to lawful U.S. persons; the plate is subject to EAR and ITAR export regulations and cannot be exported from the United States. Under 18 U.S.C. § 931, anyone with a federal felony conviction for a crime of violence is prohibited from purchasing or possessing body armor.