EGI Tactical Level III Rifle Plate Test - 5.56x45 M855

[lazer1million]

What you people seem to forget is that these plates don't cover everything, and also, when you get shot it's going to knock you on your ass or stun you; especially with these steel plates because they will crack your ribs.

So forget about whether your rounds are going through, keep shooting the guy when he is on the ground. I guarantee that if you put a bullet through his neck or somewhere under the arm (Collapse a lung, pierce their heart, or hit an artery) that is GAME OVER.

[GundamReviver]

@MushroomPictures by tipping them over, the weight will kill them when they fall ;)

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@GundamReviver Yeah, these plates are not for the light weight wearer. Weighing in at around 9lbs each they are a serious chunk of metal to tote around.

[16matthewb16]

Are these still on the market? A google search didn't result any finding any place that sells these plates.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@16matthewb16 As far as I know they went out of business. There are other plates that are almost identical sold by BodyProofMe if I recall correctly.

[nunvikingsofthesea]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK are these standalones or do you need kevlar for level III?

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@nunvikingsofthesea They are a standalone plate. We only did one test using a backer trauma pad with 7.62x39, the rest of the tests are all without it.

[nunvikingsofthesea]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK how many rounds can it survive being hit by a 7.62x39?

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@nunvikingsofthesea It would likely take more than you could carry on you. We dumped 300 rounds of 5.45x39 into it from about 40 feet and all we managed to do is bend the plate into a U shape. We flipped it over and bent it back flat using 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 and it still was able to stop another few 7.62x51's placed randomly on the front.

[nunvikingsofthesea]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK would a ceramic Level III plate perform worse than steel in respect to the amount of rounds it can take?

[nunvikingsofthesea]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK and is there a difference in penetration between steel core boat-tail vs jacketed lead core?

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@nunvikingsofthesea Actually, yes. Just not on the 5.56 though. The two rounds that actually were different when comparing the lead core vs steel core were 7.62x54. The lead core went through in 4 rounds, the steel core took 5.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@mjmai2457 That has been a gray area for the BATFE for years. Until there is case law to back up the criminal prosecution for use of rifle specific ammunition in a pistol built platform it will be hard to justify removing the video. The law was specifically targeted from a knee jerk reaction to 'cop killer' bullets (which don't exist) and has been targeted for ammunition that is specifically designed for pistol usage.

[FlamingPope]

Try a 50 cal slug or an ak-47.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@FlamingPope With the hype about the AK-47's 7.62x39 it is actually an overrated cartridge. We hit the same plate with 30-06 M2 Ball ammo which is much more powerful than the 7.62x39 and it was able to sustain multiple hits. Same with 7.62x51 NATO 147gr rounds.

[curseofa5r5a]

@FlamingPope slug? ak 47? it funny how every one thinks they know something aobut weapons, the 7.62x39 used by the ak 47 (m43 with ball ammo) its not even one of the most powerfull rounds out there, its an intermetiate cartridge, smaller than the 7,62x51, 54, 63 and all the other powerfull rifle ammunion out there, adn about penetration, well that round hasserious problems to deal with soft stell at 150 mts.

[RayAir1]

Shoot it with 300 magnum

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@RayAir1 We actually shot the plate later with a 30-06 M2 ball round (2 shots in the same spot to penetrate) and with a 7.62x54R soft point (3 shots in the same place to penetrate) and 7.62x54R Steel core (5 shots to penetrate)

[HecklerandKochdude]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK were they able to stop the first round of these calibers?

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@HecklerandKochdude The plate was able to stop the first round of every caliber we put it against (even the 30-06 M2). It took multiple shots to get penetration with the 30-06 and 7.62x54R and those rounds had to be stacked on top of other hits in order to get that.

[leyva322]

so, is this plate better than ceramic plates?????

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@leyva322 The advantage comes in that it can take more strikes in the exact same spot before failure. It does impart greater energy to the body though just due to the fact that it doesn't absorb the energy of the round but instead just flat out stops it. You also end up with the round 'spalling' upon impact meaning those pieces of the bullet break apart and go flying elsewhere whereas a ceramic will normally have the round buried in layers of kevlar after stopping it.

[rod3067]

well, nato weapons are design to do this kind of stuff, russian weapons and rounds are designed to be endurable and easy to produce and use, but both of them will make you shit your pants when fired at you!!!!

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@rod3067 Absolutely right! 

[evilsnuffalupagus]

@rod3067

well put.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@Thedarkcountry Once we got done with the full range of rounds I got to dump over 300 rounds of 7N6 into it and all that it did was bend the plate into a U shape.

[theunsuspecting]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK I doubt that out of 300 rds of 7N6 none penetrated. Ive seen a set of issued SAPIs where one side was shot with M855 and took 17 hits before rounds started penetrating, then the other plate was shot with 7N6 and it took 4 rds and after that they started zipping through.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@theunsuspecting I had 10 magazines of 7N6 that I poured into the plate (not on top of each other like this test) and it bent the plate but no penetrations whatsoever.

Were the issued SAPI plates ceramic? If so then they will degrade with each subsequent shot and contribute to the quick demise. To be honest the 7N6 seems to have pretty poor armor penetration by comparison to M855. I will find some pics of the plate after the mass of rounds was dumped on it and post a link. if possible.

[theunsuspecting]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK They were ceramic. I would argue that 7N6 has superior penetration and performs better out of shorter barrels than m855. That would be impressive to see thanks.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@theunsuspecting The only 'penetration' tests we did were involving light armor pieces of Hardox of varying thickness and it seemed that the old school M855 did a better job. I would be interested to see if the ceramic reacts differently than the steel armor as far as penetration of the rounds are concerned Now to be fair we also did the M855 from a 20" AR15 and the 7N6 was from a 16" AR15. That may have had a direct effect but from what we observed the M855 was more likely to penetrate.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@theunsuspecting Added a link to the gallery with pics of the plate after beating it up. I forgot one detail of the 300 rounds into it, half were on the front where it was bent into an almost U shape, the other half were on the back to sort of flatten it back out.

[mugsucks]

You require a tripod.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@mugsucks Yes, we do. Recently we built a nice bullet proof camera box for more testing of other armors. Hopefully it will work out well.

[CBAsystems]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK what' areal denisity and how is the back face when hit with Level III and IV? Use clay backing my plates with the Tactical vest is 22mm back face and Level IV is 32mm. My weight is 3.8 lbs same as standard Dyneema but my profile is like.75 Level III thick and Level IV is 1.25 thick-4.2 lbs

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@CBAsystems When directly in contact with the clay we had around 40mm of deformation with a 30-06. When laid against a IIIA vest there is no direct deformation, only a 1mm full plate recession into the clay. We have another video of 7.62x51 NATO M80, 4 shots in a 2" zone. If you have a test plate we could purchase to try out let us know. Recently we got a 1000fps camera to assist in testing.

[TheCrazyFinn]

@mugsucks Your assessment is correct, Mr. Spock.

[TheMechAlchemist]

im so glad you guys tested these

[famasdan]

looks like a good plate what brand?

try shooting a few tracers at it?

[labartic]

just google EGI level III plate

Good buy. Good weight, good protection. I am buying a set today. I suggest you do the same.

Also they sell to civilians and recognize we have the right to defend ourselves too, not just law enforcement or military.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@labartic They have been excellent to us, even providing a plate to test for ourselves for a discount. The videos we have posted are just a fraction of what we threw at this plate. It counted to over 300 rounds when we were done with only 4 penetrations (they were 30-06 AP and 7.62x54R steel core).

[labartic]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK Good to hear. My set should be arriving any day now. I respect this company for recognizing the individual right to self defense includes arms and armor

[CBAsystems]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK Level IV my plates you can hold in your one hand and stop them but must be used with Standard OTV ...we even have cushioning pads behind plates to absorb shock wave..they just started making them last year fro PASGT helmets.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@CBAsystems Do you manufacture plates? Are they multi-strike? We hammered this plate with over 300 rounds total with great results, also these are available to civilians, whereas most plates are not.

[CBAsystems]

@CaptainMurphyDUCK Yes I do but wanted my plates for Helicopter and vital aircraft systems like the F-35-JSF. I did make new IOTV and even know Dale T.. down in First Choice and met with The Guru of all Body Armor guess who...hey they didn't want him in the CLUB,,, check out my site and click photobucket link...see pics of my OTV Level IV super multi hit plates attached to real IOTV.

[CaptainMurphyDUCK]

@CBAsystems Seriously looks like a Halo armor set with those. Interesting design but what is the penetration when hit on the thinner segments? Does that section have the same properties for resistance as the center or is there a difference? The next experiment is a similar plate to the EGI with a kevlar wrapping to stop spalling. Right now that is our biggest concern with the steel plates being used by ops.

[TheDeeSpence]

wow! what brand of plate is that?