January 2025 – GC announces that the GC Patrol Shield has become the first rifle-rated ballistic shield to pass the rigorous new ASTM E3347-25 standard for law enforcement ballistic shields—a groundbreaking achievement that sets a new benchmark for officer protection and ballistic shield performance.
What is ASTM E3347-25 and Why Does It Matter for Law Enforcement?
Unlike the 40-year-old NIJ 0108.01 standard that relied on manufacturer self-certification and contained significant testing limitations whereby a shield had to withstand five widely spaced shots, viewports were not tested, and no third-party verification was available, the new ASTM E3347-25 standard (Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement Officers) requires third-party verification by ISO-qualified laboratories, to address these critical gaps. This standard tests ballistic shields under real-world conditions that officers actually face in the field, including:
- Edge shots within two inches of the shield perimeter
- Cluster shots with three rounds within a 4-inch diameter circle
- Angled shots at 30-degree angles
- Viewport testing to ensure no vulnerable points
- Environmental conditioning including hot, cold, and water submersion cycles
- Operational testing with the shield suspended by its handles throughout
GC Patrol Shield: ASTM-Shield-RF1 Certified Performance
What makes this achievement even more significant: GC Shield met these demanding ASTM E3347-25 requirements with our existing commercial product, without any modifications. The GC Patrol Shield is verified to stop:
- 7.62x51mm M80 (NATO/.308 Winchester)
- 7.62x39mm MSC (AK-47 ammunition)
- 5.56x45mm M193 (AR-15 ammunition)
- 12-gauge shotgun 1oz slug (ASTM-Shield-SG)
Raising the Bar for Ballistic Shield Testing
“Being the first and only company to achieve ASTM verification of rifle and shotgun protection with our GC Patrol Shield, is significant validation of our superior ballistic protection technology” said Mox Weber, President, GC USA. “The ability of our ultralight shield to absorb higher-caliber rounds in adverse conditions while retaining integrity, provides law enforcement agencies with independently verified assurance that GC Patrol Shield will perform when officers need it most. We are incredibly proud of this achievement.”
Superior Protection Without the Weight Penalty
GC Patrol Shield achieves ASTM E3347 verification while weighing significantly less than traditional ballistic shields, making it far less taxing for officers to carry and deploy during extended operations or rapid response situations.
About GC Shield®: Bringing tomorrow’s shield to you today, GC Shield represents a quantum leap forward in lightweight, high-performance ballistic shields and offers users a level of protection and mobility that was previously unattainable. Technical specifications and testing documentation available upon request. GC Shield and GC Patrol Shield are registered trademarks.
About ASTM E3347/E3347M-25: This is the Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement Officers. The purpose of this specification is to provide performance requirements and test methods for the evaluation of ballistic-resistant shields used by law enforcement officers.
About Safety Equipment Institute (SEI): SEI is an affiliate of ASTM International and has served as one of the world’s leading independent third-party certification program providers. SEI works with government agencies, standards development organizations, governing bodies, and manufacturers to accomplish one common goal to provide industrial workers, firefighters, first responders, law enforcement, athletes, and the general public with certified, trusted safety equipment.
For more information contact Mox Weber, GC USA President on +1 (617) 784-7087.