M948 7.62x51 "SLAP" - Armor Piercing Ammunition Testing

Published on March 25, 2020
Duration: 14:10

This video tests the M948 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) 7.62x51mm ammunition using a custom Arisaka rifle. Despite its design for high velocity (4000-4300 FPS) with a tungsten penetrator, aged 1985 and 1990 production rounds failed to penetrate AR450 steel plates. The likely cause is degradation of the polymer sabot over time, leading to instability and loss of armor-piercing effectiveness.

Quick Summary

The M948 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) is a 7.62x51mm round using a tungsten penetrator in a sabot for high velocity (4000-4300 FPS). Aged production rounds tested failed to penetrate AR450 steel, likely due to polymer sabot degradation causing instability.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: M948 SLAP & Test Rifle
  2. 01:04SLAP Ammunition Design Explained
  3. 02:43Historical Adoption Challenges of SLAP
  4. 04:49Baseline Test: .308 Ball vs AR450 Steel
  5. 05:41First SLAP Test (1985 Production) Failure
  6. 08:26Second SLAP Test (1990 Production) Results
  7. 10:22Conclusion: Sabot Degradation Impact

Frequently Asked Questions

What is M948 SLAP ammunition?

The M948 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) is a 7.62x51mm ammunition type featuring a sub-caliber tungsten alloy penetrator encased in a plastic sabot. It's designed for extremely high velocities, around 4000-4300 FPS, using standard pressure.

Why did the M948 SLAP rounds fail to penetrate the steel plates?

The aged M948 SLAP rounds, produced in 1985 and 1990, likely failed due to degradation of the polymer sabot over 30+ years. This aging causes the sabot to destabilize or disintegrate during firing, preventing the tungsten penetrator from hitting its target effectively.

What were the historical issues with SLAP ammunition?

Historically, SLAP ammunition faced challenges with sabot fragmentation damaging muzzle devices like flash hiders. Additionally, if the sabot disintegrated within the barrel, the hard tungsten penetrator could severely damage the rifling.

How does SLAP ammunition differ from standard .308 ball rounds?

SLAP ammunition uses a much lighter, sub-caliber tungsten penetrator within a sabot to achieve very high velocities (4000-4300 FPS). Standard .308 ball rounds are heavier and slower, designed for general purpose use rather than specialized armor penetration.

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