Will Steel Armor Get You Killed?

Published on April 21, 2022
Duration: 23:02

This video rigorously tests AR500 steel body armor against various rifle and pistol calibers, focusing on the dangers of spalling and fragmentation. While steel plates effectively stop direct impacts, the resulting bullet fragments can cause severe secondary injuries to the head and neck, potentially proving fatal. The analysis strongly recommends ceramic plates over steel for life-saving applications due to their superior performance in mitigating fragmentation.

Quick Summary

AR500 steel body armor stops direct bullet impacts but poses a significant risk of spalling and fragmentation. These dangerous metal fragments can travel upwards, causing potentially fatal secondary injuries to the wearer's head and neck. Ceramic plates are strongly recommended over steel for life-saving applications due to their superior fragmentation mitigation.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Testing Steel Armor Dangers
  2. 01:20Soft Armor Baseline Test
  3. 02:38AR500 Steel Plate Introduction
  4. 03:42The Spalling Experiment Explained
  5. 06:175.56mm Testing (10.5" Barrel)
  6. 09:395.56mm Testing (16" Barrel)
  7. 11:19Eastern Bloc Calibers Test
  8. 13:31Full Power Rifle Rounds Test
  9. 17:55Dissection & Analysis of Fragments
  10. 19:49Conclusion: Steel vs. Ceramic Armor

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main dangers of using AR500 steel body armor?

The primary danger of AR500 steel body armor is spalling and fragmentation. While the steel plate stops the direct impact of a bullet, it can cause the bullet to shatter or ricochet, sending dangerous metal fragments towards the wearer's head, neck, and other vital areas, potentially causing fatal secondary injuries.

Does steel body armor stop rifle rounds effectively?

Yes, AR500 steel body armor, particularly Level III or higher, is effective at stopping direct impacts from many rifle rounds like 5.56mm and 7.62x39mm. However, the video demonstrates that the energy transfer causes significant fragmentation, which poses a severe risk to the wearer.

Why are ceramic plates considered safer than steel plates for body armor?

Ceramic plates are generally considered safer because they absorb and shatter bullets upon impact, significantly reducing or eliminating dangerous fragmentation and spalling. Steel plates, while durable, tend to break bullets into hazardous pieces that can still injure the wearer.

What calibers were tested against the AR500 steel armor?

The video tested various calibers including 9mm hollow points, 5.56x45mm (from 10.5" and 16" barrels), 5.45x39mm, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x51mm (.308), and 7.62x54R, all of which demonstrated fragmentation issues.

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