A reaction bonded ceramic body that has 50% to 60%, by weight, boron carbide, and 20% to 30%, by weight, silicon carbide. The reaction bonded ceramic body has least a portion of the boron carbide reacted with silicon to become siliconized boron carbide. Also, a method of making a reaction bonded ceramic material. The method may include the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder, and contacting the green body with a liquid infiltrant comprising silicon. The infiltrant has a temperature of about 1625° C. to about 1700° C. Furthermore, a method of making a reaction bonded boron carbide ceramic body. The method includes the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder. The weight ratio of boron carbide to carbon in the green body may be about 5:5 to 1 or more. The method also includes siliconizing a first portion of the boron carbide to siliconized boron carbide by contacting the green body with a molten silicon infiltrant, where the infiltrant has a temperature of about 1625° C. to about 1700° C. The method may further include dissolving a second portion of the boron carbide in the silicon infiltrant, where at least some of the dissolved boron carbide is reprecipated as smooth particulates.