Interesting test on $25 surplus body armor.

[buffalowinter]

First, these are sold out. I saw this Italian Military surplus body armor for sale on Sportsman's Guide for $25. For $25, I bought two sets and thought I'd see what happens, especially since this is surplus and Kevlar is supposed to degrade over time.

This stuff is a little less than 1/4" thick and weighs 3 pounds...really light weight. So I set one up 10yds away and shot it with a Beretta 92 with 115g FMJ ammo. I was pretty impressed, especially for old discolored surplus. I shot 2 rounds, fairly close to each other. Neither round came close to penetrating. It put a small dimple in the face, and bulged the back. I'm going to go back out and shoot it with some .45 acp.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Interesting indeed.......

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Very interesting and will follow this!

Thanks BW!

I still have my PD armor and plates. But these ain't bad!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[hermosabeach]

Armor does not go bad

no one wants to be liable for someone being killed.
so you have an arbitrary expiration date
(And reoccurring sales to .gov)

Good stuff to add into backpacks and such

 

[Seed tick]

Very cool

 

[buffalowinter]

More tests
.40 S&W 180g FMJ, 10yds, Para-Ordnance P16. No Penetration

.45acp, 230g FMJ, 10 yds, Springfield TRP Operator, No Penetration.

5.56, 77g SMK, 550yds, 20" bbl Ar-15 built by myself, Through like knife through butter.

Back side of plate showing 5.56 penetration

 

[Redmanss]

Armor does not go bad

no one wants to be liable for someone being killed.
so you have an arbitrary expiration date
(And reoccurring sales to .gov)

Good stuff to add into backpacks and such

Agreed, it isn't time that kills Kevlar. Soft inserts, exposed to years of daily wear when it's soaked in sweat and moving against itself, that does deteriorate it as the weave loosens and frays from itself. But Kevlar itself is pretty damn impervious. Solid Kevlar sheets, provided it's only been exposed to normal environmental exposures, will last until its attacked. There's a reason it's used in the exterior walls for sensitive site construction.

 

[clcustom1911]

77gr at *550* yards? Not 55 yards?

 

[SupressYourself]

Lesson: don't bring handgun armor to a rifle fight.

 

[Downtown]

77gr at *550* yards? Not 55 yards?

Well, he wrote "550 yards" twice on the armor.

 

[buffalowinter]

Yes, 550 yds.

 

[ForgeValley]