Thickness of Steal or Iron to stop a Bullet?

Question

Hi. I am working on something big. but i need some math done. I am making something new and I have it all figured out and can build it. but I first need to know How Thick Steal or Iron needs to be to stop a bullet. put it in sections.

First section let's say Ak-47 type weapons. How thick? and at Average distance.

Second Section let's say 50 cal type weapons. How thick? and at Average Distance.

Third Section let's say a 50 cal Sniper.

Fourth Section would be Tanks. Just be able to withstand one shot? I can do the rest of the math. but to be able to survive one blast? how thick?

Then finally a 50 cal Machine gun turrent. just to withstand for 15 seconds?


Thank you all for the help. What am I making. well that's not anyones concern for now. I'll tell everyone when I'm finished. lol. It's Awesome.

Answer 1

It depends on the grade of the steel. Mild steel will not stop a larger rifle caliber unless it is a couple inches thick.



Get a 1/2" thick AR500. The grade is expensive but worth it. It can easily survive everything you listed including .50BMG. I have 3/8" AR500 plates and doesn't even dent when hitting it with 7.62x39 or magnums. It pits with 5.56 but that's more because of the higher velocity. Never tried .50BMG on it but nothing I have or my friend have has ever defeated it.

Answer 2

1. an inch of steel should help.

2. a single shot from a a .50? I'd want three inches of good steel. have you seen the size of that round? It's almost artillery.

3. a bmg .50 cal one shot? three inches of steel would withstand it.

4. A tanks main gun in today's world full frontal blast? Um, the Bismarks belt ie 13inches might have a chance. Depends on which charge they decide to throw at you, but unlikely anything could survive that.

5. 15 seconds. You'd need some type of specially hardened armor unless you had a foot of steel between you and the bullets. 15 seconds is a hell of long time under fire. Five inches of normal steel would not stand up to this.



NB. The front section of a tank nodays is a foot think (12 inches) of hardened steel with explosive armor. A .50 in military conditions is used only as a sighting round usually as a tracer round to gauge distance for much bigger artillery which only a bunker can withstand. The likihood you would be hit with a .50 snipe or machine gun is remote.



They try to kill you with normal snipe bullets such as the .400 or the lauper, which are incredibly accurate at very long ranges, 2km. Or they they will take you out with air power, probably an apache. The only thing that could withstand that is a very deep bunker.

Answer 3

What grade of steel? You need to use hardened steel and not just mild steel. There are many different types of 50 cal bullets. What distance will the shots come from? So it depends on a lot of factors. I would say at a minimum 3/4" hardened steel. It would be extremely heavy. You would need a crane to install it and you would probably need to reinforce the structure around your window in order to handle the weight. Not very practical. You also need to consider what are the walls made of. There is no need to armor plate the windows if a 50 cal bullet will sail right through the wall.

Answer 4

If you didn't know there are different grades of steel, you can't spell it and you want us to determine the "average" distance. Then whatever math you have already done needs to be thrown out.



At mentioned, AR500 is one of the best options for protection from gunfire. However it is difficult to work with. It is also difficult to weld without reducing its hardness.



Finally, there are a lot of tanks genius. Are we talking an Abrahms? Even if you picked a tank, there are a lot of different tank rounds. What works well for one round can be easily defeated by another. To be safe, you need to "do the math" for 6+ feet of reinforced concrete. A depleted uranium round can defeat 21" of armor. Just one round.

Answer 5

Sorry I’m not a gun person, just reading to learn more, but just common sense tells me that even if you had an armor that can stop the penetration of a tank round the shock of the impact alone should kill a person. It’s like the an insect. Have an excellent exoskeleton that survives your swat, but the bug inside is still dead.

Answer 6

1) 7.62mm FMJ at 100 yards,probably 3/4" plate.

2,3,5) All shoot the 50 BMG. 2" of steel for the FMJ But you'll need 2" of MIL - A 12560 Steel Plate to defeat 50 bmg API ( armor piercing incendiary) Thoae things will take out an armored personnel carrier at a mile.



Average for the machine turret 1,000 yards, sniper 10,000-15,000 yards.



4) 12- 16" MIL - A 12560 Steel Plate Range? take your pick the Abrahms main gun has a range of 5 miles and is radar assisted.

Answer 7

too many video games brother. none of that information is reliable.



take it from someone who interprets mechanical and structural engineers on a daily basis......

you are waaaay over your head. unless your dad owns an industrial metal fabrication company, you dont have the resources.



and steal is taking something that isnt yours.

steel is an iron alloy.

Answer 8

Look up ar500 body armor on youtube, then google.



Whoever you choose best answer, want to say what you are working on?

Answer 9

"working on something big"?...need help with Math ? ( stay in school...fool ) Who are you going to get when testing this "magic armor"?...lmao.

Answer 10

Mikey. What the !$&@ is a "turrent?"