50 BMG through 1 1/2" steel plate... Will it penetrate?

[338sniper]

So I have a piece of 1 1/2" thick steel plate to shoot with a 50bmg. I am going to use API and APIT rounds. What's everyone's thought on penetration?

pics coming soon!!!

 

[DragonGunner]

I don't really know but my guess would be yes it will. I shot the Browning 50 and its got some power, I would think up to 2". In WWII the fighter pilots would shoot at Tiger tanks if they were on a road right under them and try and get their rounds to bounce up into the belly part where the the thinnest steel protection was.

 

[Double T]

What's the hardness of the steel? Thickness doesn't matter.

 

[M67]

I will have to lean on the.....hell yes...it'll penetrate side

 

[bingley]

Taking bets?

 

[PriestEG]

What's the hardness of the steel? Thickness doesn't matter.

THIS.. you could have a mild, thick steel and it would penetrate similar to a thin, harder steel. another thing to consider when discussing penetration is the angle.. the general stuff aside, i got out my USMC Machine Gun Leaders Course book and referenced some date which is where the following info comes from. i tried to copy and paste the tables but didnt work so i retyped it up. enjoy

Figure 4-84. Maximum Penetration for Armor-
Piercing Cartridge, M2 .50 Cal.
MATERIAL INCHES AT:200M 600M 1500M
Armor plate (homogeneous) 1.0 0.7 0.3
Armor plate (face-hardened) 0.9 0.5 0.2
Sand (100 lb dry w/cu ft) 14 12 16
Clay (100 lb dry w/cu ft) 28 27 21

Figure 4-85. Maximum Penetration for Ball
Cartridge, M2 .50 Cal.
MATERIAL INCHES AT: 200M 600M 1500M
Sand (100 lb dry w/cu ft) 14 12 6
Clay (100 lb dry w/cu ft) 28 26 21
Concrete 2 1 1



My references for this information is Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery MCWP 3-15.1 pg 4-60, so that you know im not talking out my rear.. this also list similar information for 5.56 and 7.62.

 

[PriestEG]

so depending on the type of steel you have, which im assuming is just a heavy plate steel not armor plate or face hardened, then i believe it will penetrate. i have fired thousand of rounds of 50bmg while in the USMC as a machine gunner and never ceased to amaze me at would that big round would do!!!

 

[U.S. Patriot]

It's most likely hot rolled mild steel, so yes.

 

[338sniper]

It is just standard structural steel

 

[42769vette]

Id shoot from behind cover.

 

[indyjohn]

Id shoot from behind cover.

Smart man, right there. Probably speaks from 1st hand experience.

 

[42769vette]

Smart man, right there. Probably speaks from 1st hand experience.

Believe it or not, I watched a couple you tube videos like this

Guy hit in head with .50 caliber ricochet - YouTube

and took their word for it. Most things I do have a tenancy to have to learn for myself. If that hadn't hit the ground it would have been nasty.

 

[lonehoosier]

I'll leave this right here.

Guy hit in head with .50 caliber ricochet - YouTube

 

[338sniper]

 

[indyjohn]

Wow. Just wow. Its like the last thing you hear is that projectile whistling through the air...

 

[338sniper]

 

[wsenefeld]

I don't doubt that it would penetrate. I shot a plate over 1" thick, 80 grade steel with .223 at 100 yards and it went through. That was standard ammo, not LAP.

 

[TheDoaner]

I'm sure it will go through.

 

[Small's]

My vote is "yes"

 

[djones]

Drive it on through, reload it and shoot again!

Impressive thanks for sharing. What was the range?