Protection classes
Br1 or Br2: What Each Protection Class Protects Against
· updated · 7 min read · Andrey Sokolov
Br1 and Br2 are protection classes against handgun bullets under GOST 34286-2017, the Russian standard. Br2 is tested with a heavier, faster bullet carrying almost twice the energy. The extra margin costs vest thickness and weight: Br1 is more comfortable under a shirt all day, while Br2 is the choice when protection matters more than weight.
Br1 or Br2: a quick choice by threat
| Threat | Class |
|---|---|
| Pistol chambered in 9×18: PM, APS | Br1 |
| More powerful 9×21 pistol cartridge | Br2 |
| Armor-piercing 9×19 pistol bullet with a heat-hardened core | Br3 |
| Knife, shiv | S and higher: Br1 and Br2 stop it too |
| Fragments | S2 |
| Assault rifle, rifle | Br4-Br6, hard armor plate only |
What Br1 and Br2 protect against under GOST
A class in the standard describes a test, not a list of weapons. The pack is fired at with a specified cartridge from a specified pistol at 5 meters, and the bullet velocity is controlled. If there is no penetration, the pack receives the class. The standard has been in force since March 1, 2019, and replaced GOST R 50744-95 with its numbered classes.
| Class | Weapon | Cartridge | Bullet | Velocity | Energy, approx. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Br1 | Stechkin pistol (APS) | 9×18 Pst | 5.9 g, steel core | 335±10 m/s | 330 J |
| Br2 | Serdyukov pistol (SR-1) | 9×21 P (7N28) | 7.93 g, lead core | 390±10 m/s | 600 J |
| Br3 | Yarygin pistol (PYa) | 9×19 Pst (7N21) | 7.0 g, heat-hardened steel core | 410±10 m/s | 590 J |
We calculated the energy from the bullet mass and velocity: the standard does not list it.
Next to Br, product pages often show S2, the anti-fragmentation class. It is tested with a 1.05 g steel ball that simulates a fragment. GOST does not set the ball velocity the pack must withstand: the manufacturer states it in the product documentation. Protection against knives is confirmed by class S: a bayonet strike with an energy of 49 J.
How Br2 differs from Br1
To stop the Br2 bullet, more layers of the same material go into the pack. A Br2 vest comes out thicker, heavier and more visible under a thin shirt.
Energy alone does not describe a class. Br3 has slightly less energy than Br2, but its core is steel and heat-hardened: such a bullet deforms less and passes through fabric layers more easily. Classes are compared by the test cartridge.
There is a price difference too. We make DARK ARMOR M-3 in both classes: in sizes 44-58 a Br1 set costs $400 and a Br2 set $456. For the Big Size version in sizes 60-62 it is $478 and $567. Prices are valid as of October 2, 2026.
What Br1 and Br2 stop in practice
Makarov pistol. The PM fires the same 9×18 Pst cartridge as the APS in the Br1 test, but from its short barrel the bullet travels more slowly. A shot from a PM falls within the Br1 conditions. This is a conclusion from the test method: GOST has no separate line about the PM.
9×19 and Glock. In the standard, the 9×19 cartridge appears in class Br3, but with the 7N21 armor-piercing bullet. GOST does not describe the ordinary lead-core 9×19 bullet; only test-firing a specific pack can answer that question. In an open test-firing in Astrakhan, our Br1 pack stopped 9×18 and 9×19 bullets from three pistols and a carbine, the video is on our home page. That test-firing does not replace a GOST test.
Less-lethal guns. Less-lethal ("traumatic") weapons are not tested under GOST. For comparison: the Federal Law No. 150-FZ "On Weapons" limits the muzzle energy of civilian less-lethal guns to 91 J, while the bullet in the Br1 test carries about 330 J.
Hunting shotgun. A 12-gauge slug is tested under a separate class, S1; Br1 and Br2 do not replace it.
"What about 7.62?" It depends on the cartridge. The 7.62×39 assault rifle round belongs to class Br4, and only a hard plate stops it. The TT pistol in 7.62×25 is not in the current GOST; in the old standard it was part of the second class. For the TT, ask for a test report with that weapon.
"Br2+". There is no such class in GOST 34286-2017: a class is assigned based on a test, and a plus adds nothing. If you see this label, ask for a supporting document.
A class only protects where there is a pack
The class refers to the ballistic pack. Where there is no pack, there is no protection: the cover does not stop a bullet. Vests of the same class cover different areas, so check where the packs are: on the chest and back, or on the sides as well.
COYOTE has two packs, on the chest and on the back, and weighs 1.4 kg. DARK ARMOR M-3 has packs around the entire perimeter, including the sides, and weighs 2.6 kg according to the catalog.
Which class to choose for concealable body armor
Concealable vests are usually made in classes from S to Br2, so the choice is between Br1 and Br2.
- Br1 - for everyday wear under a shirt or sweater. An example is COYOTE with classes S2 and Br1.
- Br2 - if a protection margin matters more than weight. DARK ARMOR M-3 offers this class; you select it on the model page.
- Knife. All our models from class S upward stop a knife: Br1 and Br2 panels have even more layers. COYOTE, DARK ARMOR M-3 and M-5 list class S in their certificate.
- Non-standard build. We will make any model to measure, men's or women's, at no extra charge. We explained how to take measurements and check the fit in the article "How to choose your body armor size".
An uncomfortable vest stays in the closet, and there the class does nothing. If in doubt, call our toll-free number 8 800 101-76-37: tell us where and for how many hours you will wear the vest, and we will suggest a class and a model.
How to verify a vest's class from the documents
A class on a product page guarantees nothing without a document. Before buying, ask the seller for:
- A certificate of conformity stating the class under GOST 34286-2017 and its validity period.
- A test report: the laboratory, the date, which weapons were fired, the bullet velocities and the result of each shot.
Our certificate is РОСС RU.32623.ОС10.04969; it is valid until March 10, 2027, and lists classes S, S1, S2, Br1 and Br2 under GOST 34286-2017. A scan is in the "Documents" section, and we send copies before purchase. We explained how a certificate differs from a test report in the article about IRON TACTICA concealable body armor.
Frequently asked questions
Which protection class is better, Br1 or Br2? Br2 stops a more powerful handgun bullet, while Br1 is easier to wear all day. Choose by threat and by how long you spend in the vest.
What does Br2 stop? Under GOST 34286-2017, the 9×21 P (7N28) bullet from the SR-1 pistol at 390 m/s, at a distance of 5 meters. Resistance to other cartridges can only be confirmed by a test report.
What does "Br1 S2" mean? The vest has two confirmed classes: Br1 against handgun bullets and S2 against fragments. Each is verified by its own test.
Which is better, Br1 or Br5? They serve different purposes. Br5 is tested with a rifle bullet, only a hard plate stops it, and that kind of protection cannot be hidden under a shirt. Vests with plate pockets can be upgraded to Br5; the plates are bought separately. Which plate class to choose and how much a plate weighs is covered in our article on body armor plates.
What is class 2 body armor? That was how a class was designated under the old GOST R 50744-95: the second class was tested with PSM and TT pistols. Today classes Br1-Br6 apply, and the old numbers do not translate directly into the new ones: the tests use different cartridges.
