Blast Off Mondays: Level III Plate Vs. Frangible Ammo

This video from Warrior Poet Society tests budget body armor, specifically a Tactical Scorpion Gear poly plate, to assess its effectiveness against common threats. The presenter discusses the trade-offs between cost, weight, and NIJ certification, ultimately concluding that budget options can offer value and protection for certain mission profiles, provided their limitations are understood. The testing involves live-fire evaluation with 9mm and M193 rounds.

This video details a long-range ballistic test conducted by Edwin Sarkissian, an experienced firearms instructor. He tests a Level 3A body armor vest against a 6.5 PRC sniper round fired from a Christensen Arms rifle at a distance of one mile. The test demonstrates the armor's ability to stop the round, with the bullet lodging within the vest without penetration.

This guide analyzes the performance of the Adept NovaSteel helmet through live-fire ballistic testing. The presenter, demonstrating high authority with empirical evidence, compares the 2mm steel construction to Kevlar and assesses its effectiveness against 9mm rounds using a professional ballistic dummy. The testing reveals significant impact resistance with minimal backface deformation, suggesting practical protection.

This video from Tática Civil demonstrates a unique ballistic test using 12 Gauge shotgun shells loaded with Jawbreaker candies. The instructor, showing experienced firearm handling, tests their impact on a water jug and a Clear Ballistics gel head, comparing the spread to standard birdshot. The results indicate these candy rounds deliver significant energy and wider spread than conventional shotgun shells, posing a greater threat than their composition might suggest.

This video demonstrates a unique ballistic test using custom shotgun rounds loaded with drill bits, as suggested by AI. The testing, conducted by an experienced individual from Civilian Tactical, involves firing these rounds at various targets including a soda bottle, a paper silhouette, and a ballistic gel head. The results provide insights into the projectile's spread, penetration, and overall effectiveness, offering a practical, albeit unconventional, look at terminal ballistics.

This guide details a practical test of expired soft body armor, demonstrating its performance against handgun caliber rounds. Chief Instructor Ernie Medina of Tap Rack Bang, LLC, explains that while materials degrade, expired armor may still offer some protection, though it shouldn't be relied upon for primary duty use. The test highlights the importance of understanding ballistic warranties and material limitations.

This guide details the automated progressive reloading process for 9mm Luger cartridges, as demonstrated on a Mark 7 Reloading Evolution Autodrive. It covers brass preparation, component loading (primers, powder, bullets), and the operation of a fully automated press that performs multiple steps simultaneously for high-volume production. The process emphasizes efficiency and speed, achieving a rate of 1,902 rounds per hour.

This video demonstrates a sniper stalk training exercise led by a former Navy SEAL sniper instructor. The drill focuses on stealth, camouflage using natural vegetation, and moving to a firing position undetected. The exercise highlights the importance of observation and the challenges of locating a well-camouflaged stalker.

This guide, presented by Myles from Tactical Hyve, details essential pistol aiming techniques for beginners. It covers the critical concepts of sight alignment ('equal height, equal light') and sight picture, explaining different aiming holds like Center Hold and Combat Hold, particularly relevant for Sig Sauer firearms. The guide also differentiates aiming with iron sights versus red dot optics, emphasizing the importance of proper firearm zeroing for accurate shooting.

This guide, based on instruction from Myles at Tactical Hyve, details five common pistol shooting errors and their corrections. It emphasizes the importance of a forward-leaning stance for recoil control, a high grip to reduce muzzle rise, proper thumb placement for a secure grip, smooth trigger manipulation, and precise sight alignment for accuracy. By addressing these common mistakes, shooters can significantly improve their speed and precision on the range.