Homemade Body Armor!

Published on June 12, 2021
Duration: 22:45

This video details a challenge where Lena Miculek and guests attempt to build homemade body armor with a limited budget and time. The DIY creations are then tested against various calibers, highlighting the significant differences in performance and design compared to professional body armor like Premier Body Armor's Level III plate. The experiment demonstrates the complexities of ballistic protection and the effectiveness of engineered solutions.

Quick Summary

Homemade body armor, constructed from common hardware store materials, was tested against various calibers and found to be largely ineffective against rifle rounds, unlike professional solutions such as the Premier Body Armor Level 3 plate, which successfully stopped all tested threats.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Challenge Introduction
  2. 01:12Material Procurement at Lowe's
  3. 04:45Armor Assembly and Range Setup
  4. 09:23Ballistic Testing: Handgun Calibers
  5. 14:21Ballistic Testing: Rifle Calibers
  6. 16:45Professional Armor Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

How effective is homemade body armor compared to professional solutions?

Homemade body armor, while potentially stopping some handgun rounds, generally fails against rifle calibers. Professional armor like the Premier Body Armor Level 3 plate is engineered to reliably stop high-velocity rifle threats, demonstrating a critical difference in safety and effectiveness.

What materials were used in the DIY body armor challenge?

In the DIY body armor challenge, teams utilized materials found at hardware stores such as pipe insulation, cement board, duct tape, rugs, roofing paper, and ratchet straps, aiming to create layers that could potentially stop projectiles.

What calibers were used to test the body armor?

The body armor, both homemade and professional, was tested against a range of calibers starting from .22 LR, progressing through 9mm and .45 ACP, and culminating with rifle calibers including .223 Rem, 5.7x28mm, .300 Blackout, and .308 Win.

What is the difference between DIY and professional body armor?

Professional body armor undergoes rigorous testing and engineering to meet specific ballistic protection standards (like NIJ Level III). DIY armor lacks this certification and often proves ineffective against significant threats, being bulky and unreliable compared to purpose-built solutions.

Related News

All News →

More Tactical & Gear Videos You Might Like

More from Lena Miculek - Trigger Tribe

View all →