I Loaded The World's Fastest Bullet

Published on December 12, 2025
Duration: 13:37

This video showcases an experimental 17-5.56 KAK wildcat cartridge, achieving a record-breaking 5326 fps with a 12.5-grain solid brass projectile. The testing demonstrates impressive steel penetration and significant temporary cavity effects in ballistic gel, outperforming established cartridges like the .17 HMR and even .30-06 AP rounds in specific scenarios. The content highlights advanced reloading techniques and extreme ballistic performance.

Quick Summary

The 17-5.56 KAK is a wildcat cartridge achieving record velocities over 5300 fps on the AR platform. Testing showed it penetrates mild steel and creates significant temporary cavities in ballistic gel, outperforming cartridges like the .17 HMR due to its extreme speed.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: World's Fastest Bullet Mission
  2. 00:31Initial Velocity Testing & Chronograph Failures
  3. 01:3017-5.56 KAK Cartridge Origins & Specs
  4. 02:14Steel Penetration Tests vs .17 HMR
  5. 06:36AR500 Armor Plate Performance Test
  6. 08:41Ballistic Gel Testing: KAK vs .17 HMR
  7. 11:55Record Velocity Attempt & Final Gel Results

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 17-5.56 KAK cartridge?

The 17-5.56 KAK is a wildcat cartridge based on a 5.56 NATO case necked down to .17 caliber. It's designed for extreme velocity, utilizing specialized barrels, dies, and projectiles, often custom-made.

What is the maximum recorded velocity for the 17-5.56 KAK?

In the video, the 17-5.56 KAK cartridge, loaded with a 12.5-grain solid brass projectile, achieved a record-breaking velocity of 5326 feet per second (fps).

How does the 17-5.56 KAK perform against steel?

The 17-5.56 KAK round easily penetrated thinner mild steel plates (3/16" and 1/4") and created a significant gouge on 3/8" AR500 steel, demonstrating its high-energy impact.

What makes the 17-5.56 KAK cartridge unique?

Its uniqueness lies in achieving extremely high velocities (over Mach 4) with a small .17 caliber projectile from an AR platform, pushing the boundaries of conventional ballistic performance and reloading.

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