Warning

 

Close

Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Confirm Cancel
BCM
User Panel

Arrow Left Previous Page
Page / 3
Posted: 2/19/2013 6:20:12 PM EDT
Inspired by this thread I decided to test whether it was possible to make homemade "body armor" that would actually work. I'm pleasantly surprised by the results.

I used three PEI grade V porcelain floor tiles with a coat of Herculiner on the front and between tiles and a thick coat (about a quarter inch) on the back to capture fragments. I placed a paper grocery bag behind (to see if anything came through) and shot it at about twenty feet with .223, 7.62x39mm, and .40 S&W. Unfortunately, I didn't know the close range POI on my AK as well as on my AR so I had to shoot it three times with the AK to get a hit where I wanted. The reason is that the first shot was too close to both edges and caused the whole corner to bend back into the paper. I don't *think* the bullet made it through but I couldn't be sure until the third shot.

Afterward, I shot it with an additional ten rounds of .40 and not a single round made it through.

This stuff did quite a bit better than I expected.

ETA: To clarify, I don't think that the first two 7.62 shots penetrated but I couldn't be sure. The third definitely did not penetrate. I did not weigh this "plate" because this is just a proof of concept. On page 46 of the thread I linked to above, AKengineer got positive results for one round of 5.56mm at 20 yards with just two plates and duct tape. My next test will be with two plates held together by a light coat of Herculiner and backed with an HDPE cutting board. Then I'll give the whole thing a light coat of Herculiner. I'll also cut it down to 10"x12" and cut the corners for a sort of shooter's cut. For reference, though, my wildly inaccurate bathroom scale says that three tiles without bed liner weighs about 12 pounds.

Also, I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or even present an alternative to NIJ rated protective plates. The thread linked to above was started to provide a cheap/easy way to reduce frag on an AR 500 plate. The idea was to find something that a person could make from common materials even in a SHTF situation. AKengineer pointed out that the tiles can do a decent job of stopping bullets and I wanted to test how well they would work in conjunction with bed liner. I already have proper Level III steel plates but if further testing works out well, I might make up a plate carrier with these for the truck and a couple more for handouts to friends and family for the inevitable economic collapse. Even if they didn't stop rifle rounds at all, they obviously do an awesome job stopping pistol projectiles. A $6 "plate" that provides protection from even some cartridges is pretty cool, I think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmyCfB_k5I






"Mk II" test:

http://youtu.be/BORLLkLpG6U


Cliff's notes: two tiles with cutting board and bed liner defeated by 7.62x39mm. Stops one round of .45 ACP and defeated by the second.


"Mk III" test:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk_fxBi-a5Y&feature=youtu.be


Cliff's notes: three tiles with layers of fiberglass and thin layers of bed liner are defeated by 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:23:29 PM EDT
[#1]
Cool test.....
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:25:54 PM EDT
[#2]
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:27:33 PM EDT
[#3]
Hold my beer and watch this material!
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:27:47 PM EDT
[#4]
Good job.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:28:00 PM EDT
[#5]
You won the internet tonight, man
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:30:12 PM EDT
[#6]
holy crap



you win....

Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:31:32 PM EDT
[#7]
That was quite educational. Nice vid thanks.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:32:20 PM EDT
[#8]
This could be a cheap, easy solution to catching spall with steel plates, esp. at less than $1 per tile.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:32:48 PM EDT
[#9]
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:33:05 PM EDT
[#10]
Now for stage 2.

Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:33:34 PM EDT
[#11]
Ghetto fabulous
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:38:08 PM EDT
[#12]
Now you've done it...

Now everyone's preps need to include floor tiles and Herculiner, so that we can make IAFV*'s out of our vehicles if TEOTWAWKI occurs.



*-Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:42:40 PM EDT
[#13]
How much does that piece you were shooting at weigh?
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:44:20 PM EDT
[#14]
What I get out of this thread is that you don't know your POA/POI on your rifle at 20 feet.  You should spend less time making condoms out of floor tiles and more time on proficiency training.





















I'm just fuckin' with ya man.  Very cool test!
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:46:43 PM EDT
[#15]
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:50:27 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
You won the internet tonight, man


Hell yes ,this.

Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:51:16 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
How much does that piece you were shooting at weigh?


My first thought. I'm thinking 25ish pounds for that finished piece.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 6:56:17 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
This could be a cheap, easy heavy solution to catching spall with steel plates, esp. at less than $1 per tile.


FIFY
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:00:43 PM EDT
[#19]
I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:12:16 PM EDT
[#20]
cool
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:18:48 PM EDT
[#21]
This may come in handy down the road.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:19:53 PM EDT
[#22]



Quoted:


I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.


Two bare pieces of tile duct taped together will stop one 5.56 hit with no spall.



 
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:21:38 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:

Quoted:
I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.

Two bare pieces of tile duct taped together will stop one 5.56 hit with no spall.
 


Yeah. One. Also, ceramic tile is way dense.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:26:23 PM EDT
[#24]


Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:26:53 PM EDT
[#25]
Also curious about the weight.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:27:28 PM EDT
[#26]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:

I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.


Two bare pieces of tile duct taped together will stop one 5.56 hit with no spall.

 




Yeah. One. Also, ceramic tile is way dense.
That is at 20 yards. It is probably multihit capable at 100 yard+ distances.





 
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:33:50 PM EDT
[#27]
Improvise, adapt, overcome. That's some fucking MacGyver shit right there.

 
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:41:04 PM EDT
[#28]
Very cool OP. Thanks!
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 7:49:28 PM EDT
[#29]
It worked
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 8:01:09 PM EDT
[#30]
Outstanding!




Link Posted: 2/19/2013 8:11:40 PM EDT
[#31]
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 8:22:17 PM EDT
[#32]
Nice



What's the weight on it?
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 8:22:33 PM EDT
[#33]
Cool.. it looks more like armor you could use for your car or home - a little big for body armor.  Cool stuff
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 8:28:39 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
What I get out of this thread is that you don't know your POA/POI on your rifle at 20 feet.  You should spend less time making condoms out of floor tiles and more time on proficiency training.



I'm just fuckin' with ya man.  Very cool test!


Hell; that's MOA shooting for an AK or SKS!!

Yes, impressive test. The key would now be to find ways to bring down the weight, so one could actually utilize it as protection. Thanks for the video!

Link Posted: 2/19/2013 10:40:18 PM EDT
[#35]
Very cool.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 11:01:21 PM EDT
[#36]
Hmmm....I wonder if I could make this my senior design project.  
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 11:21:14 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.

Two bare pieces of tile duct taped together will stop one 5.56 hit with no spall.
 


Yeah. One. Also, ceramic tile is way dense.


one is better than none
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 11:24:10 PM EDT
[#38]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I do wonder what we could do with layers of common materials, though...perhaps thin layers of hardened steel laid up with epoxy polymers/aluminum to accept some deformation energy. Betting we could make a plate that's lighter and acts as its own anti-spalling guard.


A simple 4 ply laminate of with two ceramic tiles and two rubber tiles taped together would be a worthwhile experiment.



I think trying to make one thick tile with fiberglass embedded in it might be worth while. The fiberglass might not survive firing the clay but if it did it would help stop cracks from propagating and would really strengthen the plate.
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 11:31:04 PM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:
This could be a cheap, easy heavy solution to catching spall with steel plates, esp. at less than $1 per tile.


FIFY


Whats 1 tile weigh?
Link Posted: 2/19/2013 11:54:42 PM EDT
[#40]
Cost of materials?

Link Posted: 2/20/2013 12:42:21 AM EDT
[#41]


Wow.
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 1:39:34 AM EDT
[#42]
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:01:20 AM EDT
[#43]
Gigitty
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:09:46 AM EDT
[#44]
Damn!
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:11:26 AM EDT
[#45]
Very curious about weight.
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:12:50 AM EDT
[#46]


Holy shit, I would never have the balls to do that.
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:15:42 AM EDT
[#47]
Just sayin'...




Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:16:20 AM EDT
[#48]
Quoted:


Holy shit, I would never have the balls to do that.


you call that balls?
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:18:05 AM EDT
[#49]
cool now somebody needs to make like 100 of them and attach them to their BOV and take it to the range.
Link Posted: 2/20/2013 4:20:39 AM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:


Holy shit, I would never have the balls sheer stupidity to do that.


Arrow Left Previous Page
Page / 3
Close Join Our Mail List to Stay Up To Date! Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.


By signing up you agree to our User Agreement. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win.
Top Top