.50AE - Body Armour Penetration??

NIJ IIIA armor is rated to stop .44mag which can be loaded up to similar muzzle energies and has a higher sectional density, meaning it will likely penetrate more effectively. If .44mag won't get through it, .50AE probably won't either.

You'll probably want a trauma plate though, a round like that is liable to break bones even if it doesn't make it through the armor.
 
Paladin308 said:
NIJ IIIA armor is rated to stop .44mag which can be loaded up to similar muzzle energies and has a higher sectional density, meaning it will likely penetrate more effectively. If .44mag won't get through it, .50AE probably won't either.

You'll probably want a trauma plate though, a round like that is liable to break bones even if it doesn't make it through the armor.
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Thanks to you and the other serious responses :D

I am thinking .50AE can penetrate up to and including Type II, and *possibly* Type IIIA. Interesting that you fellows picked up on the ballistic trauma of a cartridge this size, I had not considered that factor, I was only considering penetration!

Cordially,

TDM
 
Suputin said:
I have a level IIA vest if anyone has a .50 they want to try against it. Personally I'd bet on the vest stopping a big slow slug like that. Of course I won't be wearing it at the time. ;)
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Are you located anywhere near edmonton? I'd give it a go with mine if you are.

FYI the 50 AE has more energy at 100 yards than the 44 mag at the muzzle. Apparently effective range of 200 yards for personell
 
A guy here said he tied it with a JSP 50 AE round and the IIIA vests stopped it in the last 2 layers (but still a stop).

He speculated a FMJ would penetrate.

ht tp://thedeserteagle.yuku.com/topic/1800/Level-IIIA-Body-Armor-Defeats-50AE-Sorta#.UxO3a9wvtlI
 
who told you that?

you can get all kinds of hot loads for the .44.

BigBraz15 said:
Are you located anywhere near edmonton? I'd give it a go with mine if you are.

FYI the 50 AE has more energy at 100 yards than the 44 mag at the muzzle. Apparently effective range of 200 yards for personell
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BigBraz15 said:
FYI the 50 AE has more energy at 100 yards than the 44 mag at the muzzle. Apparently effective range of 200 yards for personell
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That is highly dependent on the loading used. Both cartridges have common loadings in the 1200ft/lbs range with hot loadings up to 15-1600ft/lbs.

Defeating body armor is less dependent on the projectiles energy than it is on the degree to which that energy is concentrated. For example, NIJ IIIA armor will stop a .44mag but will not stop a .223, despite the fact that the two have near identical muzzle energies. The .223 concentrates that energy into a smaller area than the .44mag does. By the same token, the .44mag concentrates its energy into a smaller area than a .50AE does.
 
From my experience, armour penetration is a combination of velocity and shape. A round needs enough velocity to punch through the Kevlar weave but the shape of the projectile is highly important as well.

For example, most 357 and 9mm rounds will be stopped by Kevlar but change the shape of the projectile to a more pointed configuration and 9mm / 357 will easily penetrate level 2A vest. I had a very round nosed 9mm actually bounce off a vest and almost hit me when we were testing penetration. Yet IVI 124gr 9mm zipped right through the Kevlar.
 
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