I Created A Military Bullet On Steroids

Published on June 6, 2025
Duration: 12:39

This video from Banana Ballistics explores the performance of a modified M80A1 military bullet, dubbed the 'Short Mag,' by loading it into a .300 WSM case. The host, demonstrating high expertise in ballistics, conducts extensive testing against various materials including concrete, mild steel, and AR500 steel. The results highlight significant velocity and energy gains for the Short Mag version, along with its penetration capabilities and limitations against thicker steel plates.

Quick Summary

Banana Ballistics conducted an expert-level test on a custom M80A1 'Short Mag' load using a .300 WSM case. This modification yielded significantly higher velocities (3587 FPS) and energy (3715 ft-lbs) compared to the standard 7.62x51 NATO M80A1 (3043 FPS, 2673 ft-lbs). The projectile demonstrated impressive penetration against various steel plates, including AR500, but showed limitations against 1-inch mild steel.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Concept
  2. 00:38Baseline Velocity Testing
  3. 00:49Custom Load Velocity Testing
  4. 01:21Sandbox Penetration Test
  5. 03:22Concrete and 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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the performance difference between a standard M80A1 and a custom 'Short Mag' load?

The custom 'M80A1 Short Mag,' utilizing the M80A1 bullet in a .300 WSM case, achieved 3587 FPS and 3715 ft-lbs of energy. This is a significant increase over the standard 7.62x51 NATO M80A1 load, which recorded 3043 FPS and 2673 ft-lbs of energy from the same barrel length.

How does the M80A1 Short Mag perform against different types of steel?

The M80A1 Short Mag successfully penetrated 5/8-inch mild steel, 3/8-inch AR500 hardened steel, and 3/4-inch mild steel. However, it failed to fully penetrate a 1-inch thick mild steel plate, indicating its penetration limits.

What equipment was used for ballistic testing in the Banana Ballistics video?

The video prominently features the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, which was used to accurately measure the muzzle velocity of both the standard 7.62x51 M80A1 and the custom .300 WSM 'Short Mag' loads during testing.

What factors influence the penetration capabilities of the M80A1 projectile?

The M80A1 projectile's sectional density and hardness contribute to its ability to penetrate mild steel. However, its effectiveness is ultimately limited by the thickness and hardness of the target material, as demonstrated by its failure against 1-inch mild steel.

More Tactical & Gear Videos You Might Like

More from Banana Ballistics

View all →