Can This Experimental Armor Defeat 50 BMG?

Today we’re testing something a little ridiculous. Working with Crashmaker Space, we developed armor plates specifically designed to withstand .50 BMG impacts—something most armor simply isn’t built to survive. To see what happens when theory meets reality, we put these plates in front of a variety of .50 caliber projectiles and let the M107A1 do the talking.

The .50 BMG isn’t just powerful because of its size—it’s carrying massive amounts of energy, often exceeding 12,000 foot-pounds at the muzzle, delivering enough force to destroy engines, penetrate barriers, and engage targets at extreme distances. But can a wearable armor plate actually stop it? Today we find out, examining penetration, backface deformation, spall, and what it really takes to survive one of the most powerful cartridges commonly available to civilians.