I Created A Military Bullet On Steroids

Published on June 6, 2025
Duration: 12:39

This video details the creation and testing of a custom 'M80A1 Short Mag' load by chambering a military M80A1 bullet in a .300 WSM cartridge. The custom load achieved significantly higher velocities (3587 FPS vs 3043 FPS) and energy compared to the standard 7.62x51 M80A1. Testing against various steel plates demonstrated the projectile's penetration capabilities, with the Short Mag load outperforming the standard in some scenarios but failing to penetrate 1-inch mild steel.

Quick Summary

The M80A1 Short Mag load, created by chambering an M80A1 bullet in a .300 WSM case, achieved 3587 FPS and 3715 ft-lbs of energy, significantly outperforming the standard 7.62x51 M80A1's 3043 FPS and 2673 ft-lbs. It penetrated various steel targets but failed to fully penetrate 1-inch mild steel.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: M80A1 in .300 WSM
  2. 00:38Baseline M80A1 Velocity Test
  3. 00:49Custom M80A1 Short Mag Velocity Test
  4. 01:21Sandbox Penetration Test
  5. 03:22Concrete & Steel Backer Test
  6. 06:045/8" Mild Steel Test
  7. 07:353/8" AR500 Steel Test
  8. 08:383/4" Mild Steel Test
  9. 10:561" Mild Steel Test & Limits

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the M80A1 Short Mag load?

The M80A1 Short Mag is a custom ammunition load created by chambering a military M80A1 bullet in a .300 Winchester Short Magnum (.300 WSM) case. This modification significantly increases velocity and energy compared to standard 7.62x51 NATO loads.

How does the M80A1 Short Mag compare to the standard M80A1 in velocity?

The custom M80A1 Short Mag load achieved an average velocity of 3587.3 FPS, which is 544 FPS faster than the standard 7.62x51 M80A1 load tested at 3043.4 FPS through a 24-inch barrel.

What was the energy difference between the two M80A1 loads?

The M80A1 Short Mag load generated approximately 3715 ft-lbs of energy, a substantial increase of over 1,000 ft-lbs compared to the standard 7.62x51 M80A1 load, which produced 2673 ft-lbs.

How did the M80A1 Short Mag perform against steel targets?

The M80A1 Short Mag demonstrated impressive penetration, creating significant gouges in concrete-backed steel and easily penetrating 5/8-inch mild steel and 3/8-inch AR500 steel. It failed to fully penetrate 1-inch mild steel.

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