Saturday, August 9, 2014

In light of Congressman Honda's bill to ban body armor, here's a reminder about what K-pots stop (and what they don't).

The Helmets O’ Truth

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Be aware that over the past few years a new helmet, called the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH), has been developed. It CAN stop many rifle rounds, including non-AP 7.62x39 at muzzle velocity and non-AP .308 at somewhat lower velocity (if memory serves, 2100 fps for M80 FMJ). Because the ECH is made of polyethylene (like some rifle plates), it should still be vulnerable to 5.56 steel core (M855) and the much-scarcer .30-cal AP rounds. 7.62x39 with the MILD steel core probably will NOT penetrate. Blunt trauma to the head via heavy shotgun slug or .50 Beowulf, etc., would probably be another vulnerability.

The ECH and other emerging threats to the effectiveness of civilian weapons are likely to completely undermine the Second Amendment. For these developments we can thank the "War on Terror" and all who mindlessly supported it in word or deed.

Anonymous said...

As I commented on the other site, even if the rounds (pistol or rifle) don't penetrate the helmet, they will give the person wearing it a massive headache, maybe even a concussion. Which would render him/her/it "hors de combat".

Which is why we are hearing more and more about "hips and head. head and hips".

B Woodman
III-per

Crustyrusty said...

So which version is fed.gov handing out to civilian law enforcement...?

Robin said...

Your multiple shots at the same helmet pretty much invalidates any conclusions. I have personally seen a helmet hit by a 7.62x64R and it did not penetrate. The soldier had a severe case of whiplash and a massive headache, though. Once hit, the integrity of the shell is compromised, just like a motorcycle helmet. A lot depends on the velocity at impact, i.e. distance.

Anonymous said...

Rusty: Not sure. Last I heard, big orders for the ECH were being sent to the Marines and the Army. At the very least, civilian LE will be able to purchase the new helmets.

Any technology developed for Big Brother's overseas enforcers inevitably finds its way into the hands of Big Brother's domestic enforcers. Meanwhile, the weaponry available to us peasants evolves much more slowly.

No wonder the Founders feared a standing army. The ironic thing is that we don't even need standing ground forces anymore. Seriously, who's gonna try to invade the US? We have nukes, massive territory, a well-armed population, etc. Today's Army and Marines serve no purpose other than to occupy foreign lands and serve as back-up forces to domestic LE (think of the Bonus Army, Kent State, Hurricane Katrina).

Anyway, I hope Americans make AP rifle ammo a cottage industry...

Anonymous said...

Rusty: Not sure. Last I heard, big orders for the ECH were being sent to the Marines and the Army. At the very least, civilian LE will be able to purchase the new helmets.

Any technology developed for Big Brother's overseas enforcers inevitably finds its way into the hands of Big Brother's domestic enforcers as well. Meanwhile, the weaponry available to us peasants evolves much more slowly. No wonder the Founders feared a standing army.

The ironic thing is that we don't even need standing ground forces anymore. Seriously, who's gonna try to invade the US? We have nukes, massive territory, a well-armed population, etc. Today's Army and Marines serve no purpose other than to occupy foreign lands and serve as back-up forces to domestic LE (think of the Bonus Army, Kent State, Hurricane Katrina).

Anyway, I hope Americans make AP rifle ammo a cottage industry...

pxr13 said...

Copper sleeve over pointy-boat-tail tungsten rod is a fun hobby craft. Dimensional stability of tungsten (much much harder than lead) should lead to very accurate prize-winning target punching. Quality/repeatability improves as we master the process and automate.

Delivery as-needed by autonomous drone from an earth-sheltered factory in the former USA. (fUSA).

At your service.