7.62x51 vs 5.56 penetration - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62x51 vs 5.56 penetration

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:09:46 PM EDT

I have been reading a lot about the penetration against cover with these 2 calibers.

I am somewhat confused. I have read that at long range versus a steel helmet the 5.56 is better. What gives?

Is it really an issue? If a bad guy is hidden behind a brick wall is it worth expendiing the ammo to punch thru or wait until he moves?

Hypothetically.

Sorry for grammar. I have been into the Amarula tohingt.

Posted: 12/24/2011 5:20:23 PM EDT

[#1]

Yes?

ETA: Serious response: Caliber choice is always a compromise. There's a reason why most pros and experts are OK with the 5.56. What's more important to you? That big punch of a .308 or the high volume and shoot-ability of the 5.56? What do you expect to be using this for?

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:26:57 PM EDT

[#2]

I don't think there is any question that .308 FMJ will penetrate far more than 5.56 FMJ.

5.56 ap 'might' penetrate more than 7.62 FMJ, but I highly doubt it.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:31:30 PM EDT

[#3]

So 308 will not penetrate a helment?

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:32:14 PM EDT

[#4]

In some circumstances, yes 5.56 will penetrate better than 7.62 NATO

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:33:20 PM EDT

[#5]

Penetration is such a touchy feely word.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:33:21 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I have been reading a lot about the penetration against cover with these 2 calibers.

I am somewhat confused. I have read that at long range versus a steel helmet the 5.56 is better. What gives?

Is it really an issue? If a bad guy is hidden behind a brick wall is it worth expendiing the ammo to punch thru or wait until he moves?

Hypothetically.

Sorry for grammar. I have been into the Amarula tohingt.

I have both calibres.

Scenario is key. So is the ability to aim and hit the target with confidence.

Any fucking retard can pull a trigger 30 times and almost drop the target........It's the guy who cantake aim and drop the target first shot that wins the day.

If you want to be effective, learn to shoot and I don't mean plinking at 100 yds..get out to 1000yds+. When you have leaned to shoot and have become an accomplished competitive shooter you will be able to make the right calibre choices through educated and well informed judgement.

If you have to ask the question you need more range time. Range time is fun....it's a win win situation

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:33:36 PM EDT

[#7]

Penetration is such a touchy feely word.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:39:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Bigger is better.
When BG ferrets out, let him have it.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:39:30 PM EDT

[#9]

Should you bother shooting through the wall? Well..yeah.

Might not get the kill...but I can guarantee they will move...

Had an instance of that one of my trucks took fire from a couple guys on a rooftop. The .50 was loaded with SLAP....which punched through the wall on the top of the roof. No kill...but bad guys left in a hurry when chucks of wall and tungsten started flowing their "cover"

All of a sudden it wasn't so cool to be shooting at the Americans on the bridge...

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:41:05 PM EDT

[#10]

I would much rather be hit by 5.56 than .308. I don't care how deep either one goes.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:41:36 PM EDT

[#11]

watching the new magpul precision rifle video , they mention testing tissue penatration on pigs (no body armor) with 308 at 1 mile and it was going through the pig.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:43:18 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

I have both calibres.

Scenario is key. So is the ability to aim and hit the target with confidence.

Any fucking retard can pull a trigger 30 times and almost drop the target........It's the guy who cantake aim and drop the target first shot that wins the day.

If you want to be effective, learn to shoot and I don't mean plinking at 100 yds..get out to 1000yds+. When you have leaned to shoot and have become an accomplished competitive shooter you will be able to make the right calibre choices through educated and well informed judgement.

If you have to ask the question you need more range time. Range time is fun....it's a win win situation

So much win in this post!

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:45:14 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I would much rather be hit by 5.56 than .308. I don't care how deep either one goes.

I'd rather take no rounds, thank you very much.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:47:49 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Penetration is such a touchy feely word.

Yes, it warms the cockles of my heart.

Posted: 12/24/2011 6:51:50 PM EDT

[#15]

5.56 55gr fmj has the ability to shoot through more steel than 7.62x51 fmj. When buying 3/8 armor plate if it stops the 55grn it will stop the 308. Now as far as busting up cover I.e. Concrete blocks filled with cement or other ballistic resistant. Materials the 308 energy has the ability to break things more easily thus getting through it with less rounds but for ferrous armor the 5.56 is better .

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Posted: 12/24/2011 7:03:46 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
I don't think there is any question that .308 FMJ will penetrate far more than 5.56 FMJ.

5.56 ap 'might' penetrate more than 7.62 FMJ, but I highly doubt it.

and........you would be wrong....

PERFORMANCE OF TYPICAL MILITARY RIFLES AGAINST
NATO 3.5mm STEEL TEST PLATE

AKM 7.62x39mm PS: 300 CP, 400 50% CP/50% PP
AK-74 5.45x39mm PS: 600 CP, 800 FP
M16A1 5.56 M193: 400 CP, 500 50% CP/50% PP, 600 FP
M16A2 5.56 M855: 600 CP, 700 CP, 800 50% CP/50% PP, 1000 FP
Rifle M1, Ball M2: 500 CP, 600 FP
Rifle M14, Ball M80: 700 CP, 800 FP
Rifle M21, M118 Special Ball: 800 CP, 900 50% CP/50% PP, 1000 FP
Carbine M1, Ball M1: 100 CP, 200 FP

CP= Complete Perforation in which a major portion of the projectile exits
the armor. PP= Partial Penetration in which a hole is generated but the
major portion of the projectile does not exit the armor. FP= Failure to
to Penetrate, the plate may be dented but it is intact.
This data is from testing conducted by the USMC Firepower Division
at Quantico, VA during the Modified Operation Test in the early 1980's.

Keep in mind bullet construction has a lot to do with penetration. The 7.62mm M80 ball
load is an old design from the 1950s with a simple lead core. The M855 has a mild steel
core and is smaller in diameter and does better against steel. However, change the
barrier type and the M80 ball load might do better.

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:23:33 PM EDT

[#17]

5.56>7.62x51

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:37:49 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
5.56>7.62x51

Are you shitting me?

Give each credit due.

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:44:25 PM EDT

[#19]

Does 7.62mm have a steel penetrator like M855?

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:54:19 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Does 7.62mm have a steel penetrator like M855?

I just know that big lead flying fast will fuck shit up. The bigger the flying faster, the more fucked up the impact will be. There is always a trade-off between carryability and ammo capacity vs. devastation per limited ammo.

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:55:59 PM EDT

[#21]

Keep this in mind, you ask this question on ar.15.com you will more 5.56 is better then 7.62.
If you were to ask this on falfiles or the M14 firing line the opposite. This question is like asking if the chicken or the egg came first.

Me, I did what arfcom always says..i got both.

Mike

Posted: 12/24/2011 7:59:33 PM EDT

[#22]

Not just that, but a lot of you lady wristed faggots would probably flinch too bad to shoot a man's caliber accurately anyway.

Posted: 12/24/2011 8:51:04 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Keep this in mind, you ask this question on ar.15.com you will more 5.56 is better then 7.62.
If you were to ask this on falfiles or the M14 firing line the opposite. This question is like asking if the chicken or the egg came first.

Me, I did what arfcom always says..i got both.
Mike

The egg came first. By definition, a chicken is a domestic born animal. The first chickens were the offspring of jungle fowl which were hatched in captivity.

Posted: 12/24/2011 8:57:33 PM EDT

[#24]

10mm

Posted: 12/24/2011 8:59:53 PM EDT

[#25]

I don't even care any more. The info is out there.

Posted: 12/25/2011 10:39:38 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Does 7.62mm have a steel penetrator like M855?

Why do I even bother posting......

Posted: 12/25/2011 10:46:20 PM EDT

[#27]

look up the Army FM on urban warfare. it has charts with penetration values for both rounds vs urban structure materials...

edit: found it...http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-06-11/ch7.htm

Posted: 12/25/2011 11:11:39 PM EDT

[#28]

With comparable bullets the 7.62 kicks the 5.56's ass, no question. Put some AP in a 7.62 and in 5.56 and there is no contest. The 7.62 is a steel eater!

Posted: 12/25/2011 11:11:44 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I don't think there is any question that .308 FMJ will penetrate far more than 5.56 FMJ.

5.56 ap 'might' penetrate more than 7.62 FMJ, but I highly doubt it.

and........you would be wrong....

PERFORMANCE OF TYPICAL MILITARY RIFLES AGAINST
NATO 3.5mm STEEL TEST PLATE

AKM 7.62x39mm PS: 300 CP, 400 50% CP/50% PP
AK-74 5.45x39mm PS: 600 CP, 800 FP
M16A1 5.56 M193: 400 CP, 500 50% CP/50% PP, 600 FP
M16A2 5.56 M855: 600 CP, 700 CP, 800 50% CP/50% PP, 1000 FP
Rifle M1, Ball M2: 500 CP, 600 FP
Rifle M14, Ball M80: 700 CP, 800 FP
Rifle M21, M118 Special Ball: 800 CP, 900 50% CP/50% PP, 1000 FP
Carbine M1, Ball M1: 100 CP, 200 FP

CP= Complete Perforation in which a major portion of the projectile exits
the armor. PP= Partial Penetration in which a hole is generated but the
major portion of the projectile does not exit the armor. FP= Failure to
to Penetrate, the plate may be dented but it is intact.
This data is from testing conducted by the USMC Firepower Division
at Quantico, VA during the Modified Operation Test in the early 1980's.

Keep in mind bullet construction has a lot to do with penetration. The 7.62mm M80 ball
load is an old design from the 1950s with a simple lead core. The M855 has a mild steel
core and is smaller in diameter and does better against steel. However, change the
barrier type and the M80 ball load might do better.

When I was in the Marine Corps they showed us why taking good care of your sand bags was important. They filled 50 cal ammo cans with sand and shot them with an m16 and an m14, it only took one can to stop the 5.56 while it took two to stop the 7.62, add water and it took four cans to stop the 7.62. This was at close range though, about 25 yds.

Posted: 12/26/2011 1:25:56 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
So 308 will not penetrate a helment?

My buddy got hit in the head while in the guard tower. It hit the rhino mount first though. I would have shit my pants.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62x51 vs 5.56 penetration

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