Differences between RF2 and RF2+ ceramic armor plates
Ceramic armor is the most effective thing you can wear to protect yourself against high-powered rifle threats. But shopping for it can feel like reading an eye chart made of letters and numbers: RF1, RF2, RF3, M855, M855A1. And then somebody adds a plus sign. At Gilliam Arms we get asked about that plus sign a lot, so let's clear it up.
The official menu: RF1, RF2 and RF3
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) sorts rifle armor into protection levels in its standard NIJ 0123.00. Here's the short version:
- RF1 resists 7.62x51mm M80, 5.56mm M193 and 7.62x39mm MSC (mild steel core).
- RF2 resists all RF1 threats, plus 5.56mm M855.
- RF3 resists all RF1 and RF2 threats, plus M2 AP (armor-piercing).
Three levels. Nice and tidy. Now go looking for RF2+ in there. We'll wait.
So where is RF2+?
It isn't there. You can read NIJ 0123.00 front to back and you won't find RF2+ anywhere. Yes, that makes the title of this post a little misleading. That's on purpose.
The plus sign is not a gold star from the NIJ. It's the manufacturer saying "and also this." The meaning is assigned by whoever makes the plate, and it can mean almost anything. An RF2+ plate is really still an RF2 plate with a special threat named on top. Sometimes that threat is M855A1, and sometimes it's something else entirely.
That's why the first question to ask about any "plus" plate is simple: plus what? For us, the answer is M855A1, and we'll show you the lab report.
Meet Model 6001, our everyday RF2
Our standard RF2 plate is the Model 6001: a popular, lightweight, multi-curve plate weighing in at just over four pounds. People choose it because it's made from high-quality, edge-to-edge ceramic, and because it's comfortable and affordable. It stops almost everything out there, especially street-level threats.
So why would anyone need more?
Why RF2 might not be enough: a short history of M855A1
In 2010 the U.S. Army began fielding the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round to replace the M855, which troops had carried since the early 1980s. It's lead-free, which earned it the nickname "green bullet." Don't let the eco-friendly label fool you. This round is not interested in saving anything.
The old M855 hides a small steel penetrator under its copper jacket. The M855A1 puts a hardened steel tip, almost twice as heavy, right out front, riding on a copper slug. The Army's own write-ups credit it with better hard-target penetration than the round it replaced.
Here's why that matters to you. RF2 is built around M855. A plate that passes every RF2 test has not been promised anything about M855A1, and some RF2 setups don't reliably stop it. The M855A1 is more powerful than the M855, and that's exactly the gap our plus sign is there to close.
Enter Model 6002: RF2 plus a special guest
The Model 6002 takes the same multi-curve, edge-to-edge idea as the 6001 and adds a slightly thicker ceramic strike face. The result stops everything on the RF2 list, plus M855A1.
- RF2 standalone protection, plus M855A1
- 5.1 lb per plate
- Multi-curve ergonomic design with edge-to-edge coverage
- Crown shot tested and drop tested
- Made in the USA with the world's strongest materials
The M855A1 capability isn't a marketing claim. It was tested by an independent ballistic lab, ETL, in May 2026, against RF1, RF2 and M855A1 threats. That report is posted on our testing page for anyone to read.
Side by side
| Model 6001 | Model 6002 | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | RF2 standalone | RF2 standalone, plus M855A1 |
| Weight | 4.1 lb | 5.1 lb |
| Profile | Multi-curve, edge-to-edge | Multi-curve, edge-to-edge |
| Best for | The lightest everyday RF2 | Extra margin against M855A1 |
Which one should you pick?
If M855 and common street threats are your concern and you want the lightest plate you can wear all day, the Model 6001 is the one. If you want the extra margin against M855A1, the Model 6002 costs you about a pound more on your chest. That's roughly a can of beans. Your shoulders will notice. Your peace of mind will too.
The bottom line
RF2+ isn't an official level. It's a promise, and a promise is only as good as the lab report behind it. Ours are posted. Whoever you buy from, ask them one question: plus what, and where's the report?