Can a polyethylene plate stop M855?

Does the bullet or the armor win?

  • Armor wins.

    Votes: 5 22.7%

  • Bullet wins.

    Votes: 17 77.3%
  • Total voters
    22
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chopinbloc

chopinbloc

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Just as steel plates are known for their vulnerability to M193, UHMWPE plates are known for their vulnerability to M855. I wanted to find out if that was true for shorter barrels or longer distances so I fired M855 at this surplus UHMWPE plate from a 14.5" carbine. The velocity was approximately 3,000 fps. So what do you predict? Please note this is regular M855, not the new magical unicorn EPR.
 
PE plates tend to be pretty expensive. The one featured in this test is police surplus from Europe. The man who provided it sells surplus used armor.
 
I wander if a 7.62×39mm shooting that cheap Russian bi-metal ammo would pierce it. And I suppose green tip goes through. That's not cheap the last plates I bought were level 3 and if I'm remembering right they were on sale front and back $125.00 . But 2lbs . Makes me think of wearing that 40lb flak jacket.
 
If I were still a U.S Marshal and it had to be worn everyday I would be looking at these more closely because of the light weight but I do not think the USMS would approve of them . I may be wrong but when I worked everyone had a SKS with a crate of Chinese steel core ammo . We were all scared of anybody when we saw an AK or SKS , we didn't wait to see what kind of ammo they were shooting either.
 
If you have enough of it air and gravity will stop bullets.

Plastics will stop any bullet, as long as you have enough of it.
 
Going to war out of high school then Law Enforcement carrier when I came home. Being shot 3 times in my life, Are you saying you would put this plastic between yourself and a 7.62×54R silver tip bullet that the enemy has become quite familiar with? ?
 
Actually, that's a darn good question: would TWO plates of polyethylene stop M855?

Polyethylene is *really* light (but expensive) although I *think* two plates of polyethylene would approach a standard SAPI ceramic plate in weight. De facto, two polyethylene plates would be more expensive, bulkier, and sensitive to high temps, but not sensitive to being dropped (and cracked) and could absorb multiple hits much better than ceramic.
 
If you want to shoot it again with 762-39 would certainly enjoy the video. My vote is for a stop.:)

I think what has been proven is that speed is the major factor in armor penetration. Rounds impacting above 3000 fps are difficult to stop. Lower speed rounds like pistols under 1200 require much less durable materials even though the bullets tend to be heavier.

My opinion the fears of the Chinese steel core were way overblown. It did stink and was corrosive, but was very mild soft steel and didn't seem to penetrate steels plates any better than lead core. Both of them dented and cratered 3/8" cold rolled plates but neither went through that I recall from 25 years ago. It was banned mostly because pistols were brought to market subjecting the rounds to a stricter standard for civilian sporting purposes making it a politically convenient target. Too bad cause it was super duper cheapo (like $69 for 1200 rounds).
 
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