In the scope of improving shooting range security, we tried several bullet baffles of different composition and structure in real shooting conditions. We think that the results of these tests could be of some interest to our members.
The baffles were set at 8 meters (26 feet) from the muzzle of the firearms used and perpendicularly to the bore's axis, except when an angle is mentioned.
Test series number
1:
Composition of the baffle (one layer): one pine board 65 mm (2½") thick.
22LR calibre:
CCI Mini Mag copper plated lead bullet MV 375 m/s (1230 fps): the bullet was stopped, but the board was almost perforated. The nose of the bullet was visible behind the board.
Stinger copper plated lead bullet hollow point MV 464 m/s (1522 fps): stopped.
Blazer lead bullet MV 271 m/s (889 fps): stopped.
In these sample of tests, we got the maximum velocity it is possible to obtain with the 22LR calibre. It is a bullet that is most easily stopped.
Test series number
2:
Composition of the baffle (two layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
One railroad tie (oak) 145 mm (53/5") thick located 30 mm (11/5") behind the board.
22 Hornet calibre:
Soft nose bullet 45grs MV 707 m/s (2320 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
Full metal jacket bullet 55grs MV 628 m/s (2060 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
6.5x39 (6.5 Kalashnikov) calibre:
Soft nose bullet 129gr MV 587 m/s (1926 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
7BR calibre:
Match bullet 150gr MV 556 m/s (1824 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
45-70 GVT calibres:
Hollow-point soft nose bullet 300gr MV 534 m/s (1752 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
243 Winchester calibre:
Soft point bullet 80gr MV 932 m/s (3058 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
7x64 Brenneke calibre:
Soft point bullet 154gr MV 835 m/s (2740 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
300 Winchester Magnum calibre:
Silvertip bullet 220gr MV 782 m/s (2566 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
6.5x57 calibre:
Full metal jacket bullet 92gr MV 900 m/s (2953 fps): the bullet went through the board, but was stopped by the railroad tie.
Railroad ties are really bullet proof.
Test series number
3:
Composition of the baffle (five layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½") thick.
Four ordinary steel plates 3mm (12/100") thick set with a 30 mm (11/5") space between them, the first plate being 60 mm (22/5") behind the board.
22 Hornet calibre:
Soft nose bullet 45grs MV 709 m/s (2326 fps): the bullet was stopped by the first plate which was bulged
Full metal jacket bullet 55gr MV 619 m/s (2031 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was badly bulged.
7BR calibre:
Match bullet 150gr MV 556 m/s (1824 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was perforated. The third plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the second plate).
357 Maximum calibre:
Soft point bullet 200gr MV 386 m/s (1266 fps): stopped by the first plate, which was perforated. The second plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the first plate).
30-20 Calibre:
Soft point bullet 150gr MV 530 m/s (1739 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was perforated. The third plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the second plate).
44 Magnum calibre:
Soft point bullet 240gr MV 400 m/s (1312 fps): stopped by the first plate, which was perforated. The second plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the first plate).
7x64 Brenneke calibre:
Soft point bullet 154gr MV 835 m/s (2740 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was perforated. The third plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the second plate).
243 Winchester calibre:
Soft point bullet 80gr MV 932 m/s (3058 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was bulged.
Ordinary steel plates are effective when set in separate layers.
Test series number
4:
Composition of the baffle (four layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
One ordinary steel plate 6 mm (24/100") thick-set 90 mm (33/5") behind the board.
Two ordinary steel plates 3 mm (12/100") thick set with a 30 mm (11/5") space between them, the first being 30 mm (22/5") behind the first plate.
7x64 Brenneke calibre:
Soft point bullet 154gr MV 835 m/s (2740 fps): the bullet went through the first plate but was stopped by the second plate, which was perforated. The third plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the second plate).
Replacing the first two 3 mm plates by a single plate of 6 mm lessens the effectiveness of the baffle: two plates of 3 mm (total 6 mm) are as effective as one plate of 6 mm plus one plate of 3 mm (total 9 mm).
Test series number
5:
Composition of the baffle (four layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
One ordinary steel plate 8 mm (3/10") thick-set 90 mm (33/5") behind the board.
Two ordinary steel plates 3 mm (12/100") thick set with a 30 mm (11/5") space between them, the first being 30 mm (22/5") behind the first plate.
7x64 Brenneke calibre:
Soft point bullet 154gr MV 835 m/s (2740 fps): the first plate, which was slightly bulged, stopped the bullet.
A single plate of 8 mm is slightly better than two 3 mm plates.
Test series number
6:
Composition of the baffle (five layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
Four ordinary steel plates 3 mm (12/100") thick set with a 30 mm (11/5”) space between them. They were canted toward the firing point with an angle of about 55 degrees. The top edge of the first plate was at 40 mm (1½”) from the board and the bottom edge at 420 mm (16½”).
7x64 Brenneke calibre:
Soft point bullet 154gr MV 835 m/s (2740 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was bulged.
17 Remington calibre:
Hollow-point soft point bullet 25gr MV 1050 m/s (3445 fps): the first plate, which was dented, stopped the bullet.
222 Remington calibre:
Match bullet 52gr MV 860 m/s (2822 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second plate, which was dented
300 Winchester Magnum calibre:
Silvertip bullet 220gr MV 782 m/s (2566 fps): the bullet went through the two first plates, but was stopped by the third, which was bulged.
6.5x57 calibre:
Full metal jacket bullet 92gr MV 900 m/s (2953 fps): the bullet went through the two first plates, but was stopped by the third, which was perforated. The fourth plate was intact (the bullet disintegrated on the third plate).
Canted plates are more effective than perpendicular ones.
Test series number
7:
Composition of the baffle (two layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
One armoured steel plate (444 BHN) 6 mm (24/100") thick. It was canted toward the firing point at an angle of about 55 degrees. The top edge of the first plate was at 40 mm (1½”) from the board and the bottom edge at 420 mm (16½”).
270 Winchester calibre:
Soft point bullet 150gr MV 874 m/s (2867 fps): the plate, which was dented, stopped the bullet.
300 Winchester Magnum calibre:
Silvertip bullet 220gr MV 782 m/s (2566 fps): the plate, which was dented, stopped the bullet.
Test series number
8:
Composition of the baffle (three layers):
One pine board 65 mm (2½”) thick.
One armoured steel plate (444 BHN) 6 mm (24/100") thick. It was canted toward the firing point at an angle of about 55 degrees. The top edge of the first plate was at 40 mm (1½”) from the board and the bottom edge at 420 mm (16½”).
One ordinary steel plate 3 mm (12/100") thick-set 30 mm (11/5") behind the first plate with the same angle.
6.5x57 calibre:
Full metal jacket bullet 92gr MV 900 m/s (2953 fps): the bullet went through the first plate, but was stopped by the second, which was bulged.
Soft point bullet 92gr MV 900 m/s (2953 fps): the first plate, which was dented, stopped the bullet.
Conclusion:
Ordinary thin steel plates are effective if set in separate layers.
Steel plates are more effective if the bullets hit them with an angle.
Full metal jacket bullets are a little more difficult to stop than soft points, hollow-point or match type bullets.
There are many other possibilities like the use of the armoured rubber belts used in quarries to transport stones or sand. These bands are particularly effective when they are used in suspended layers left to the action of gravity.
It appeared during subsequent tests, that the distance between the layers of material used is very important. Too small a distance lessens the efficiency a lot. Maybe this is due to the fact that after going through some material, the bullet needs some distance to become unstable and hit the next layer with some angle.
JPB
Last Modified:01 August, 2005 02:44 PM