M80A1 vs Steel: Most Extreme 308 Bullet Available

In today's video, we will testing the performance of the M80A1 on 4 different targets to see if it is really the most extreme 308 bullet available. We will be comparing it to 6 other AP rounds to see how it stacks up. Testing was setup at 50 yards using A529 gr 55 mild steel mounted to Steel Sled 4.1. Thanks for watching!
Testing - 1:04
*These tests are meant for entertainment and educational purposes only. Do not try any of these tests at home!

[@JustPeasant]

4 inch of concrete and still went trough mild steel! I thought that plate was safe... What you're doing is indeed dangerous, sir. You have my utmost respect💪

[@markbroad119]

But that's not actual concrete. That's more like concrete that was mixed with carbonated water. Nowhere near as dense.

[@ronv6637]

Cinderblock,not cement or concrete

[@Grooove_e]

Yes! Finally! Side note : the actual most extreme .308 bullet available is the M993 round, but it costs $60-$100 per round if you can even find it.

[@rustysausage69]

I was gonna say, my autistic brain is yelling pounding screaming at the screen wondering why it wasn't tested lol but even the M995 5.56 rounds are pretty close to that expensive as well. Wild

[@emacstac]

I found a bag of them at an estate sale in West Virginia years ago .... i have exactly 1 round left in my collection

[@michamichaowski8375]

7.62 SLAP is by far a better penetrator than M993. For a full caliber AP round the MEN DM151 is also superior to M993, which is a pretty old round from the 80s.

[@Grooove_e]

@@michamichaowski8375 Fair enough, but I did also say most extreme available. Good luck finding M993 and even greater luck finding the rounds you mentioned.

[@emacstac]

@@michamichaowski8375 Weren't those SLAP rounds gnarly on the barrel?

[@emacstac]

Wow .... I can't believe how clean the holes made by the M80a1 were on the AR500, especially on the concrete/cinder block and steel plate at the end. I'm glad we could help you out!

[@redfaux74]

Thank you for your generosity! ❤

[@emacstac]

@@redfaux74 you are quite welcome, but its nothing to thank me for, I wanted to see how this worked out just as much as the next person :)

[@redfaux74]

@@emacstac - You are being modest. Little guys like me have never seen this kind of thing. Now we can save up and get our own one day. 🎈🥳🎈

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

It was a concrete block, not a "cement block" (whatever that is).

[@emacstac]

@@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu Fixed to make you happy

[@EC-mc7vg]

Cut to me laughing at all the people that say .308 Winchester is an old, outdated, under powered, obsolete cartridge. Pretty impressive.

[@BaconSlayer69]

It’s really is not where’s the 5.56 will eventually be outdated and obsolete in the near future

[@EC-mc7vg]

@@BaconSlayer69 I'm trying to decipher your sentence. Are you saying the .308 really isn't outdated and obsolete, but the 5.56 will be outdated and obsolete in the near future? If so, what cartridge will place the 5.56 in the outdated and obsolete category? There are probably more guns chambered in 5.56 than any other cartridge and there are untold billions of rounds just in civilian hands, the 5.56 isn't going anywhere any time soon.

[@TTime685]

​@@EC-mc7vg He's pulling that out of his ass.. Probably an AK broski lol

[@HWG-wm8ld]

Bacon slayer is on them pills, WV maybe? Our ARs are it until we shoot lasers.

[@PTSF_Jaeger]

A lot of people are quick to forget the lethality of a thrown rock, too

[@markchapman2585]

Thats insane 308 going through AR500 plate. Such a awesome channel

[@rustysausage69]

What's important to note is the M80A1 is categorized as a "ball" round by the army, its not even specifically designated as an armor penetrator. The fact it keeps up with actual AP rounds is crazy

[@rdsii64]

It will only keep up with an actual AP round at close ranges. Out there at distance is where the AP round will shine. I would love to see him do this type of video at 300 yards on different types of armor.

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

@@rdsii64 he'd need a lot more rounds to account for the zero shift.

[@rdsii64]

@@sinisterthoughts2896 I wasn't referring to shot placement but rather penetration at distance.

[@armedpreacher]

@@rdsii64I think what sinister means is that he would need a lot more rounds in order to zero the rifle to each round in order to make consistent solid hits at 300 yards

[@rdsii64]

@@armedpreacher That does make more sense. Thank you.

[@BcFuTw9jt]

Well I can tell you M80A1 at 50 meters goes through a windshield, 2 loaded AK mags, a Omar and the seat he was sitting in from a M14 platform

[@scottmansfield1734]

A crazy cool ass war story all packed in a few sentences! I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he got his 72 virgins?! 😅👍🏼Good ol M14…….

[@mattpatterson9128]

I love the M 14, great weapon.

[@drywallman1986]

Lol

[@Petooize]

Nice. Spotted another racist American. People overseas are just people like you and I. ​@@scottmansfield1734

[@bradleydysinger6906]

She aint called "3'oh Hate" for no reason

[@KenBlackRifleAmerica]

Many wonder why the US military keeps the .308 round in the arsenal....NUFF SAID!!!

[@BaconSlayer69]

Exactly 😮

[@HWG-wm8ld]

With the current diversity hires running the mil, we will probably switch to .177 air guns soon.

[@WaterZer0]

Nothing wrong with the classics! Also the army is very resistant to change because it requires them to throw out old ammo they couldn't use anymore.

[@jaycee30865]

Air guns like air guitars. Microaggression and sleight aiming devices. Waterguns with blue hair dye remover in them.

[@ghostwriter1415]

Ken, I agree. The USA should have .308 Kalash for EVERY troop, and the DM (designated marksman) needs a bolt-action w/ 26-28" barrel. There's a lot of pressure behind that bolt, and even when the velocity is a little less than an semi-auto, the pressure is better, and it hit a lot harder. Pressure is a hard concept to explain, but it's there!

[@andrew86fl]

Qoute- "These are some of the best looking holes I've ever seen" 🤣

[@dwaneanderson8039]

The bullet at 8:30 may have penetrated a little more than it normally would because the hit was too close to the edge. The edge of the plate can stretch outward more easily than the middle.

[@TTime685]

Nice. I'm liking the new Banana Ballistics yellow spray paint 👍😅🍌

[@cbr600rrturbo]

The old school m2 ap is awesome, back in the 80s you could get a 1,000 for $100

[@mrshort2379]

.308 is one of my two favorite calibers, and the other is 5.56. so any content you do of those two caliber, you get my thumbs up!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Well done. Impressive & very interesting. Excellent results. Thank you to Buffman also. I appreciate his data & demos as well.

[@TheHorta]

I have hundreds of rounds each of all A1 variants as well as black tip, etc. All factory loaded. Also, the Magneto chronos have trouble reading both A1 projectiles (80A1 and 855A1). You need a radar-based chronograph, like the new Garmin C1, if you want to read the A1 rounds.

[@liggerstuxin1]

How much is the hundreds of A1 ammo approximately worth?

[@TheHorta]

@@liggerstuxin1They’re not bad. I think I paid/traded at a value of around $5-6/round for the 80A1 and about $1.50/round for the 855A1. I also have a bunch of M993, MK211, SLAP, MK263, etc.

[@Grooove_e]

​@@liggerstuxin1M80A1 isn't top crazy expensive just hard to find, same with M855A1. M2AP isn't bad either but it will be .30-06 if factory loaded. M993 is the expensive one - $60-$100 per round for that stuff as it has a tungsten carbide penetrator.

[@HWG-wm8ld]

I have hundreds of .22 stingers.

[@sherlockholmes5087]

Nice, Did you have the new 7,62x51 advanced armour piercing round M1158? It is with 147 grain(like M80) heavier than the M993 (126 grain) and the time to produce is improoved from 15 minutes to around 3 minutes😮! Than the round with an tungsten carbid core might be cheaper and has an better penetration i gues😮.

[@natejackson4791]

My friend, I've said this before on your channel. I am amazed at the level of safety and your fabrication skills. This segment is pretty good too.

[@LtJackboot]

The lead goes through and leaves the jacket inside the steel! That was awesome! I hope you keep these.

[@matthewisaacs3097]

THANK YOU FOR THE YELLOW PAINT You CAN SEE IMPACT MUCH BETTER THAN WHITE PAINT

[@dburnside2554]

You work so hard to bring great content thank you

[@eugeneallshouse5884]

Great video..I was surprised with what those rounds can do..awesome

[@williambell9466]

That was crazy. Incredible performance, especially on the AR500. Insane power and penetrating ability. Loved the brick at the end. 🍌🍌🍌

[@samiam5836]

Glad I subscribed. Looking forward to you hitting 100,000

[@Boomer8404]

I’m interested to see the performance of the .30-06 M2 AP 165gr black tip on that 1” mild steel plate!

[@TheTGRproductions]

.308 is just an absolute beast! The fact the one round almost made it through a solid inch of steel is nuts!

[@donwyoming1936]

That M80A1 is no joke! Loved the test. Amazing 🤠

[@randyhughes5160]

I think this has been your best video

[@johnsanko4136]

Man, this might be your best video yet. Those three oh hate rounds were not playing around at all. RIP Steel Sled 4.1 you were a good boy

[@Adam-nv9zo]

Awesome video. One of my favorite Nanner uploads to date.

[@kimness7796]

The older black tips have been available at gun shows in recent years. May have to purchase .30-06 ammo holding it also. But the core is so hard steel doesn't deform it.

[@chillmonkey6782]

You gotta stick with that Banana Yellow spray paint from now on.

[@EternalRecursion]

So now you know why an electric gattling gun fire 50 rounds per second of 7.62 AP is such a devastating weapon: even the armor of a tank will fatigue and fracture under a sustained barrage.

[@PK-pp3lu]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂

[@resurgam_b7]

I'm always amazed by the change to steel's mechanical properties that a slightly different chemical make up and some careful temperature treatment can produce. Adding just ~1% carbon makes a material that deformed like playdough under an standard M80 ball round basically invulnerable to the same hit even at less than half the thickness. I've worked with both tool steel and mild steel and I know the physics and chemistry of what goes on to make the one so much more durable than the other, but it is still striking to see the difference play out in such dramatic demonstrations.

[@jasyamaha]

Great demonstration. I'm pretty sure we can't get AP rounds here in Australia. I wonder how AP bullets in a 22-250 at 3500+ fps would do?

[@adamcroteau8711]

Same with a 204 ruger. Even without AP bullets the velocity makes those cartridges act like a hot knife

[@dontbetreadin4777]

I run 50-60gr Vmax and a few other projectiles in my 220 Swift. I consistently average over 3600fps on all of those grain weights. the 50grainers will touch 4,000fps with correct powder and slight crimp. It doesn't flinch going through stuff my other rifles dont even dent.........

[@jasyamaha]

Nice work. I popped a few holes in a 1/4 inch mild steel and put a hell of a crator in my AR500 plate last weekend with a 55 gr V-max at 3600. I really didn't expect that from a V-max. Your definitely right about the hot knife.

[@bananaballistics]

That would definitely be an interesting one

[@qwe304]

Usually with that small projectile the core is simply eroded too quickly, there's not enough actual mass. On some steel targets that you can get an effect called adiabatic sheer plugging, but I'm not sure the science behind that

[@mikejohnson9118]

DJ voice....Nerdy Look...Cool testing: Banana Ballistics

[@VIKING-SON]

I am amazed at the performance of those 308 AP rounds. I went through Army basic in 1972. I can remember how M60 machine gun was penetrating the M113 APC we were shooting at. Now I know why Lol. Great videos and demonstration really enjoy Banana Ballistics and your satirical style. Sincerely CWO SHOOK U.S. Army Retired

[@Bob-b7x6v]

That is some .30-06 voodoo in a .308 package, indeed...

[@colemiller2149]

Fun fact, if you got a top down view and pumped a magazine of any of the api rounds shown into the top engine deck of a tank then it would be kaput, and maybe catch fire (depending on fire suppression systems)

[@AlaskanBallistics]

Buffman R.A.N.G.E is an awesome person.... these m80A1 fly fast out of my .300 win. What's your load for it in .308!

[@JoeyOutlaw]

Bravo 👏 your videos keep getting better and better. Really enjoyed this one. Im curious to see what would happen if you loaded an M80A1 into a .300WinMag and gave it a lil more speed. Might explode or might penetrate everything in its path. 🤔

[@BuffRANGE]

You can get them going 3,500 fps from a 24" barrel with non optimized powders.. I'd be curious what they do to steel, as I normally use them on body armor testing.

[@aaronschocke2147]

You should have put a 1/2" sheet of plywood behind those steel plates to simulate the Army's old lethality tests 😉

[@williamthe3361]

I really enjoyed the video. Was very informative and easy to follow wich round you were on. Great job!!

[@teamja1088]

Reach out to This Old Tony. I am certain he would love to overbuild you a custom vise that would withstand the punishment better than the Harbor Freight vises you use. An added bonus is we get to watch him build it then watch you use it. Win, win.

[@shawnbruce6934]

I didn't know Ray Romano was such a Great Shot. Kidding Bro. Great Channel. Subbed.

[@alistairfletcher6187]

Geez .308 AP is terrifying! Love the content man

[@armedpreacher]

The last test was super impressive!

[@psibraden7093]

You done it again ! Informative and entertaining. Thanks.

[@arminiuschatti2287]

Awesome! Can you do it again with a .308 Remington Accelerator with an M855A1 penetrator as a comparison?

[@halfcirclehranch6877]

Forget white paint, Banana Ballistics needs banana colored paint!

[@charlesmullins3238]

Big .308 fan and tester and been lookin for these awhile….buffmans wjere I saw em and online prices are of the rich & famous….

[@timclarke5156]

That is not a concrete block. it is a cinder block. concrete has aggregate in it which is actual stone pebbles. cinder blocks are made without aggregate.

[@shanelevy8833]

In the best way possible, you sound like Ray Romano has a gun show. Great stuff.

[@paolosasso2189]

Amazing performance from those AP rounds

[@ch3no2killz]

We had some 30-0b black tips, 2" square mild steel stock, went 1.625 ish, with a caliper, ran into trouble with a 5/8" leaf spring, put the point out the back. You gotta hide, and lead will spray ya!

[@crapthisisalongusern]

Love the video, I would love to see a similar test with a fifty caliber. Armor piercing and FMJ.

[@Kevin.odonnell]

You’re the Hoovie’s Garage of guntube and I love it!

[@bezimienny_andzej6425]

Not a long time viewer and I'm plenty surprised how much of a difference supportt the plate made with that AP-I bullet.

[@crxtodd16]

Would love to see you test some 5.7 ammo, specifically some of the boutique rounds. Thanks for the content!

[@redfaux74]

16.25 "Sorry I lost my composure." 😢 Me too. I had to take a cold shower after this one. 😅 Be careful. Don't get hurt for the sake of professional science. 😂😂😂 Can you engineer a simple sand test that shows us a conclusive winner? 2 inches, cardboard. 2 inches, cardboard? Maybe 6 to 8 layers. Whatever you think. You're the engineer.

[@bananaballistics]

I’m trying, even at 6” (upcoming videos) we have some problems lol

[@redfaux74]

@@bananaballistics - I'm excited to see what you come up with.

[@redfaux74]

​@bananaballistics - I'm sure you've heard of Paul Herell, the gun legend. He's dying of cancer. There's an effort to get him to 1m subs before he passes. I thought you should know. Time is VERY short.

[@416Mordo]

1:57 Favorite type of edit🤣🤣

[@abrb1223]

Excellent, I was only able to get a hold of 10 of the M80A1 but I managed to get 50 of the M855A1 rounds. I have been warned to keep the exposed tips lubricated to avoid rusting, but I have only done that to 5 out of 10 of the rounds so we will see if that's true or not. Seems like they have some sort of protectant on them already, as mine are a bit yellowed.

[@Bwillis7390]

If you are having issues with your chrono readings check out the garmin xero c1 PRO. Wicked, and does not need to be attached to the barrel. Lab radars dropping like flies lol. Love the channel. Keep it up.

[@oif3vetk9]

Great vid as usual. Invest in a Garmin chrono. I had a magnetospeed and loved it other than it wouldn't pick up certain bullets. Bought the Garmin and it hasn't dropped a single shot.

[@stay_based]

why do I love this guy's videos so much?

[@surfstarcc1]

Starting with a 3/4" plate steel, I LOVE IT!!!

[@getoffmylawn8986]

Time to call Midway for a new chronograph!

[@mikstas89]

You need a Garmin Xero C1 chrono. 100% a game changer in chrono technology.

[@meanman6992]

Thank you for this test

[@meanman6992]

Yes! Awesome glad to finally see this…. Hope you have a M855A1 to compare when you fine the M80A1’s limit?

[@enigma9789]

Uhhhhh. The M855a1 is a 5.56 round and doesnt stand a chance against the M80A1

[@meanman6992]

@@enigma9789I’m well aware, note I hoped to see them compared side by side to see just how short the M855A1 came of the M80A1’s performance.

[@HWG-wm8ld]

What are you trying to stop with a rifle? This is for body armor at distance. Could it work on a lightly armored vehicle, yes, but why? Give away your pos for a pop shot.

[@bananaballistics]

I was only able to get the m855a1 to go through a half inch, but still pretty impressive

[@Lee-vk1xy]

Edge effect may have allowed the near penetration. There's a chunk of battleship armor at NSWC Dahlgren's front gate that looks similar to the one shot with a 14" bullet part way through it.

[@liability69]

Excellent video thanks. Eye covers give you the appearance of the Human Fly!!

[@wb5mgr]

M80A1 it’s actually specified to go through 8 inches of concrete if I remember correctly and like a 12 inch tree may be a bigger tree than that I can’t remember, but I saw that in the army informational video about it. If you’re gonna shoot this anywhere, you better have a bad ass backstop something like what you have with that wall of cross ties but then with like a pile of gravel on the back or some thing because it was zipped right through those cross ties

[@UltimateEnd0]

Amazing video, your best yet. Now try 30-06 HEI and other AP rounds.

[@ThulrVOdinsson]

Great video! I'd love to see a distance test on these rounds at 1,000 meters.

[@troylovell2134]

What an amazing video! Thank you for sharing

[@jeffreybean5363]

All those rounds are very impressive!🇺🇸👊

[@fishinmagician3960]

I’m a new subscriber been watching a lot of your content lately. Good stuff!

[@Truckinup266]

Glad to finally see a great comparison of the 308s best!! Just get you a Fireball vise it's probably 50bmg proof $$$ love your content and keep up the great work 👍

[@indigomer]

It’s a good day to watch this show while drinking from my “It’s time to grind” mug.

[@TheDeadmandillon]

That Swiss P round was an unexpected monster against that solid one inch block of steel. That's a sleeper round in comparison to M80A1.

[@melissalydon3681]

As an old jarhead I'm glad to see this with these M80 RDs and others.My question is why if from my point of view did they need to build a new rd 6.8mm? Couldn't they use an m4-type rifle with chambered like my AR 10?

[@johnanderson3405]

M80A1 must use a stealth technology coating so they can’t be picked up with a chronograph. 😂

[@marklouthan2465]

Wow...impressive and interesting thanks a bunch !!!

[@Superb_Legend]

Likely the one poked through on the 1 inch cause how high it was the metal had room to move, hence the deformation at the top.

[@EphemeralThought]

Crazy to think a modern tank has nearly 30 inches of armor plating, as well as reactive armor, etc.

[@tomboese367]

Great info, I don't shoot anything like this material, but I still loved it. It seems like I get a little distracted in portions of your presentations, I keep hearing Homer Simpson. Mmmmm hallow point donuts! God bless you well!

[@rustyshakleford5230]

You ever thought about getting some of those 30 caliber sabots from e. Arthur Brown and loading up your own AP rounds? You can get tungsten rod in 0.225 in and I'm betting the sabot would have a thousandth play in it. Then you could just grind the tip in a drill and a bench grinder. I actually have a bag of them and I probably spin you up some tool steel bullets if you want and I can send them to you?

[@BasedBelkan8492]

i have no idea what is with my brain and armor piercing but your videos really tickle that part of the brain good

[@BulletSpoung]

And because of ammo like this is why you need a 308. Just look at all the ammo in this test then think about tracer and slap to boot, a 6.5 can't do this.

[@Iceman259]

I always wondered what it would sound like if Ray Romano did ballistic testing videos

[@Ontheregz]

Need to try with a 24” barrel bolt gun, would probably see a good increase of velocity.

[@joquin4618]

Gotta love the 3 0h H8 😅❤

[@modulo3664]

M80a1 isn't even meant to be a special ammo in any way...like its supposed to be linked up and shot out of machineguns

[@tahertz8544]

If you paint it between each round all the other rounds will be yellow in the hole and you'll know where you hit.

[@TheBeefSlayer]

“It puts the lotion on its skin…. Don’t you hurt my dog!!!”

[@actionjksn]

That first one is about 8 bucks a round. I saw a place selling 10 rounds for $80.

[@keithnoneya]

Did this Guy voice Manny in Ice Age or what! On a side note that is a nice almost stock DPMS LR308 W the 24" SS Bull Barrel! Super Nice video, except the velocity. Thanks for sharing, "Manny". 🤣

[@regsparkes6507]

What surprises me is that I actually learn something here :)

[@nozrep]

k awesome and now I want to see a comparison of the new 6.8x51 versus all of these various .308 rounds. On AR500 steel. BUT BUT BUT the actual 80,000 psi round that “they” keep on talking about but apparently no youtuber has been able to test publicly yet. Again, NOT brass 6.8 nor .277 fury. I want the actual 80,000 psi round against all these .308 AP rounds! On 1 inch AR500! Come on Banana use your connections to be the first youtuber to do it!

[@theimmortal4718]

Thr 135 grain hybrid 6.8x51 is obtainable, but only in FMJ. Same velocity as the military round in a 13" barrel at 2900 tps, but no EPR yet

[@apersonontheinternet8006]

@theimmortal4718 those are not going to be commercially available.

[@theimmortal4718]

@@apersonontheinternet8006 No, they sell hybrid cased ammo, and they sell 135 grain fmj ammo in 6.8, but they won't be selling the military ammo with EPR bullet

[@apersonontheinternet8006]

@@theimmortal4718 I'm sorry I didn't clarify but that is what I meant.

[@theimmortal4718]

@@apersonontheinternet8006 I'd imagine it would be even more rare than getting loaded M855A1 and M80A1, as it won't even be available to training soldiers. Combat zones only. If I'm correct, the US military plans on using the 135 grain fmj all brass most of the time

[@bobbreit5244]

🎶Tra la la, concrete block, tra la la 308 all day long. Fleegle would be proud.