Sure the impact would still probably kill you, but just the fact that the vest stopped the round is damned impressive. And the vest only weighs 4 lbs and floats.
July 12, 2018, 10:28 AM
Voshterkoff
Surprising, M855 goes through it like butter.
July 12, 2018, 10:30 AM
RogueJSK
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan: Sure the impact would still probably kill you
That's the rub.
There are two factors that are measured when determining whether body armor is truly able to safely stop a round: penetration and "back face deformation". (Put simply, back face deformation measures how much of the impact force is transmitted into the wearer on the back side of the armor.)
A projectile can fail to penetrate, but still transmit sufficient blunt force from the impact to be fatal.
That's one of the main reasons why simply hanging a vest from a target stand or propping a vest up against a tree isn't a very effective means of testing armor. It only determines penetration. Actual testing of armor is done on blocks of calibrated ballistic clay, to record and measure back face deformation.
That's also the reason why rifle armor consists of hard plates. Some soft armors may be able to stop some rifle projectiles from penetrating, but the full blunt force of that rifle cartridge is centered on a small area of the soft armor, likely causing larger amounts of back face deformation from the increased power of the rifle round. With hard plates, the blunt force of an impact is spread out over the entire rigid plate, so it can not only prevent a rifle round from penetrating, but also help mitigate the blunt force impact by spreading it out across a wider area.
July 12, 2018, 10:34 AM
MikeGLI
I still don't wanna get shot with a .50.
Or anything for that matter.
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July 12, 2018, 10:46 AM
ChicagoSigMan
quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan: Sure the impact would still probably kill you
That's the rub.
There are two factors that are measured when determining whether body armor is truly able to safely stop a round: penetration and "back face deformation". (Put simply, back face deformation measures how much of the impact force is transmitted into the wearer on the back side of the armor.)
A projectile can fail to penetrate, but still transmit sufficient blunt force from the impact to be fatal.
That's one of the main reasons why simply hanging a vest from a target stand or propping a vest up against a tree isn't a very effective means of testing armor. It only determines penetration. Actual testing of armor is done on blocks of calibrated ballistic clay, to record and measure back face deformation.
That's also the reason why rifle armor consists of hard plates. Some soft armors may be able to stop some rifle projectiles from penetrating, but the full blunt force of that rifle cartridge is centered on a small area of the soft armor, likely causing larger amounts of back face deformation from the increased power of the rifle round. With hard plates, the blunt force of an impact is spread out over the entire rigid plate, so it can not only prevent a rifle round from penetrating, but also help mitigate the blunt force impact by spreading it out across a wider area.
I don't think this was intended to be an actual test or that they are selling the vest as protection against a .50 cal. If you take the video for what it is, it is pretty damn impressive if you ask me.
July 12, 2018, 10:47 AM
P220 Smudge
The label on the back of it is interesting. It's rated to stop a .338 Lapua 300 grain but immediately after that follows "(LARGE BACKFACE DEFORMATION)"
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July 12, 2018, 10:55 AM
tatortodd
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan: Sure the impact would still probably kill you
That's the rub.
There are two factors that are measured when determining whether body armor is truly able to safely stop a round: penetration and "back face deformation". (Put simply, back face deformation measures how much of the impact force is transmitted into the wearer on the back side of the armor.)
A projectile can fail to penetrate, but still transmit sufficient blunt force from the impact to be fatal.
That's one of the main reasons why simply hanging a vest from a target stand or propping a vest up against a tree isn't a very effective means of testing armor. It only determines penetration. Actual testing of armor is done on blocks of calibrated ballistic clay, to record and measure back face deformation.
That's also the reason why rifle armor consists of hard plates. Some soft armors may be able to stop some rifle projectiles from penetrating, but the full blunt force of that rifle cartridge is centered on a small area of the soft armor, likely causing larger amounts of back face deformation from the increased power of the rifle round. With hard plates, the blunt force of an impact is spread out over the entire rigid plate, so it can not only prevent a rifle round from penetrating, but also help mitigate the blunt force impact by spreading it out across a wider area.
I don't think this was intended to be an actual test or that they are selling the vest as protection against a .50 cal. If you take the video for what it is, it is pretty damn impressive if you ask me.
Years ago, a Sigforumite had a sig line that said something close to, "penetration doesn't matter if the front of your vest is touching the back of your vest". He was referring to shotgun slugs vs body armor, but it seems apropos in this thread as well.
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July 12, 2018, 12:03 PM
wcb6092
750 grain Amax bullet. The results would probably be different with a military bullet.
_________________________
July 12, 2018, 03:21 PM
nhtagmember
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge: The label on the back of it is interesting. It's rated to stop a .338 Lapua 300 grain but immediately after that follows "(LARGE BACKFACE DEFORMATION)"
Hey Gecko45! The internet has heard your cry and answered it!
yes, it will stop the bullet, but we're bettin' yer still gonna die from blunt force trauma
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July 12, 2018, 03:46 PM
sigfreund
quote:
Originally posted by wcb6092: 750 grain Amax bullet. The results would probably be different with a military bullet.
Based on a quick Internet search, the velocity of the 661 grain M33 round is 2750 fps; the claimed velocity of the 750 grain A-MAX is 2820 fps. That means their respective energies are ~11100 and ~13240 foot-pounds. I would imagine that a 50 BMG armor piercing bullet would penetrate, but do not know that the M33 would perform any better than the Hornady.
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July 12, 2018, 03:54 PM
wrightd
quote:
Originally posted by tatortodd:
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
quote:
Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan: Sure the impact would still probably kill you
That's the rub.
There are two factors that are measured when determining whether body armor is truly able to safely stop a round: penetration and "back face deformation". (Put simply, back face deformation measures how much of the impact force is transmitted into the wearer on the back side of the armor.)
A projectile can fail to penetrate, but still transmit sufficient blunt force from the impact to be fatal.
That's one of the main reasons why simply hanging a vest from a target stand or propping a vest up against a tree isn't a very effective means of testing armor. It only determines penetration. Actual testing of armor is done on blocks of calibrated ballistic clay, to record and measure back face deformation.
That's also the reason why rifle armor consists of hard plates. Some soft armors may be able to stop some rifle projectiles from penetrating, but the full blunt force of that rifle cartridge is centered on a small area of the soft armor, likely causing larger amounts of back face deformation from the increased power of the rifle round. With hard plates, the blunt force of an impact is spread out over the entire rigid plate, so it can not only prevent a rifle round from penetrating, but also help mitigate the blunt force impact by spreading it out across a wider area.
I don't think this was intended to be an actual test or that they are selling the vest as protection against a .50 cal. If you take the video for what it is, it is pretty damn impressive if you ask me.
Years ago, a Sigforumite had a sig line that said something close to, "penetration doesn't matter if the front of your vest is touching the back of your vest". He was referring to shotgun slugs vs body armor, but it seems apropos in this thread as well.
I remember that exactly, that was pretty good.
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July 12, 2018, 03:59 PM
Rightwire
You know damn well some idiot is going to try it live
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July 12, 2018, 04:27 PM
wrightd
I would pay money to see that. Best case, multiple broken ribs with organ damage, worst case might be DRT.
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July 12, 2018, 07:52 PM
Phelen_Kell
I recall pictures of a IIIA vest stopping a .44 Magnum, then they showed pictures of the clay behind it. The BFD pretty much said, hey, this vest will make sure you have an open casket funeral.
July 12, 2018, 08:52 PM
comet24
Really impressive for the weight and thickness of that plate.
Sure the deflection may still kill you or at least make for a very bad day but it stopped a .50 from penetrating.
_____________________________________
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July 12, 2018, 09:27 PM
LtJL
once saw a guy take a .40 right on the trauma plate. He wasn't "hurt' but he couldn't breathe very well for about ten minutes, and had a helluva rectangular bruise the next day. FROM A PISTOL CALIBER
July 13, 2018, 05:44 AM
RichardC
Yes, well, if you line up enough Peeps, they'll turn a .50 before it gets to the chocolate bunny.
____________________
July 13, 2018, 09:40 PM
Echtermetzger
It would make a lousy vest, but it might make some nice light armor panels for an ultra-light vehicle. Attach them on the frame so these guys would have something a little more protection than the open air.
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