How bullet proof is bullet proof? (UK issue helmet)

[Blackstuff]

I acquired a UK service issue helmet but as it didn't have the internal support system it wasn't much good for its intended use, so i thought i'd see how it well it would protect a melon against a variety of shotgun ammo - Helmet stuff starts at 3:35 after PSG practice;

[meles meles]

UK helmets are intended to be resistant to fragmenting munitions, not bullets. To stop a bullet would require a helmet so heavy and large it would have a tendency to break the wearer's neck as he / she moved his / her head. However, they do occasionally stop bullets, usually those that were fired at long range and have spent most of their energy, or were ricochets, or which strike them at odd angles. The general construction was (Mk 6) a multi-layer laminate of nylon 66 with a skin of para-aramid ("Kevlar"), though the latest helmets now contain more para-aramid. In general warfare, fragmenting munitions cause over 80% of casualties, bullets less than 5%. Those statistics are slightly changed in Gannyland but the bias is still against bullets.

[Blackstuff]

Most Western forces helmets are touted as being equivalent to NIJ Level IIIA i.e. rated to stop 9mm and .44mag at 1400fps and everything below. Like you say i wouldn't want to attempt to wear a helmet that could stop a full-bore rifle round without taking steriods for several years to get a Mike Tyson style neck! I didn't expect it to stop the slug, hence my surprise when i thought it had. I'd like to try one against a variety of pistol rounds but the quarry isn't passed for it. Yet . . .

[Chuck]

That looked like FUN!

[Blu]

Blackstuff, looked like good fun mate.

Mark would I be correct in saying it was your Dad who is ex II Para and went down South with the Task Force? If I am right did he ever tell you the story of the Tom who took a 7.62 round to the front of the helmet at Goose Green. The round entered the front of the helmet and travelled inside between the outer part of the helmet and the polystyrene type padding inside, not sure of how much of a gap there was as I never measured one. The round then made it's exit at the side of the helmet about three quarters of the way back.

The Tom survived okay, but he had some concussion and a mighty sore head for a day or so.

Blu

[Blackstuff]

Sounds an interesting story and a lucky escape but no one on my dads side has ever served (Irish heritage :shifty: )

Shooting the 'mut was fun, thinking back all of us should have loaded up ad gave it what for together!

[Blu]

Blackstuff, sorry I thought it was your dad that was ex Para, don't know what made me think that. Yeah it was a lucky escape, I actually saw the helmet when we got back to Aldershot.

Blu