Test composition : timber door + 3 mm steel plate at 1 meter distance of the door.
In the framework of the VBR-FBI-CRISAT test program we conducted a simple test. This test composition is almost straight from the FBI Ballistic test protocol. Only a 3 mm steel plate is the target and not a simple cardboard. At the front there is a 25 mm thick timber door. Behind the door there is a distance of 1 meter and then we place the target of a 3 mm thick steel plate. In this composition the steel plate represents the body armor.
The VBR-Belgium AP bullets can be composed at very much different ways. Each change of the construction of the bullet provides the bullet with other identities. We shoot a very lightweight AP bullet with a low separation strength through the 25 mm thick timber door.
By impact at the timber door the penetrator separates form the sabot and causes two imprints in the steel plate. One from the penetrator and an other from the sabot.
The 3 mm thick steel plate is a high resistance which can not be penetrated by a FMJ pistol bullet. The separation of the AP bullet cases two imprints. The imprint by the sabot is deep but not through the plate. The separated sabot is able the cause a lethal wound also the imprint of the penetrator is deep but not through the 3 mm steel plate. The penetrator smashes in a slant position against the steel plate also the penetrator is able to cause a lethal wound. On an unprotected target these two impacts should have a high incapacitating effect. Much more then a single 5.7 bullet. Only if the target caries a bullet prove jacket this bullet is not able to incapacitate a target with a body armor behind a timber door!
The importance of the VBR-FBI-CRISAT test program is demonstrated in the next test. We take a bullet with a higher separation strength and shoot it at the 25 mm thick timber door. This AP bullet penetrates the timber door without a separation of the penetrator/sabot. The bullet travels 1 meter in open air and penetrates the 3 mm thick steel plate. Only one impact hole. This bullet is able to penetrate a CRISAT body armor behind a 25 mm timber door!
This is an example of the differences in identities of the VBR-B bullets. The two left imprints are form the bullet with a low separation strength (high lethality at an unprotected target) The other imprint is from the penetrators which have drilled through the 3 mm steel plate. Less lethality at un unprotected target but through the 3 mm steel plate. High drill performance able to penetrate a CRISAT body armor behind a timber door.
Calibration of our ordinance gelatin blocks.