RTS Tactical Body Armor: How Tough Is It?!

Roy tests out RTS Tactical body armor, and sees what calibers it will stop.
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[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. Since making this video I have learned some things. It is called "back face deformation" regarding how much the plate deforms toward the wearer. They make shields and steel plates with a coating that catches the "spalding" or shrapnel of the bullet impacts. The tech told me the carrier should stop most of the spalding if you choose steel coated plates without the special coating. Steel is heavier than ceramic but a lot thinner. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@theminorityshack7071]

Great job on the video Roy! Thanks for the correction on it!

[@sapago4166]

*spalling

[@richardrogers8254]

Great video Roy. You know what is going to be skipped off of all kinds of things as well as shrapnel. I recently saw something where operators were saying not to be along the wall because you can shoot a bullet and skip it off of sheetrock. I'd say if you got hit with something like that on a metal plate though it's going to ring your bell.

[@michaelgoding1477]

Good vid and nice to see you both

[@DanTheWolfman]

@PaulHarrell Roy you're looking more fit & strong. You're obviously a big strong guy. I'm 5'11" just under 250 and I'd guess you're in that ballpark or taller. Timely video and I appreciate it though carrying extra weight wise I don't think my fitness is there to wear Any plates, & soft armor makes me way hot and sucks bad after 4 hours. New gel inside one's may be better. Someone commented on one of my 692 multi caliber same POI vid claiming to be Paul's son but wasn't sure if really was or not? Cheers, I thought my tributes and mentions were respectful & was hoping The Modern Meat Target vids would be appreciated as you got things going.

[@johnbeauvais3159]

Roy is getting comfortable in front of the camera, he’s doing a great job and the information is excellent!

[@trxtech3010]

We get it, literally every video there are 20 people who say this... just shut up already you guys sound like absolutly morons

[@dancooper6002]

Yep, as I said at the outset, anyone doing KZbin takes some time to warm up to the format. He is about 85% of the way there already. Better than the early Paul videos backlog I watched when I first subscribed (there were ~100k subscribers at that time)

[@derikschizwind6032]

My wife qualified with her firearm today so she could carry it into work. I’m not saying wearing a Paul Harrell shirt is going to “be enough of a difference to make a difference” but I can say 100% of the shooters wearing a Paul Harrel shirt on this day with this temperature and elevation agree that it did. She may not consider herself a “highly trained professional.” But she did shoot 97% accuracy. “So you be the judge.”

[@PaulHarrell]

Love the commemt. Only a true fan could come up so many comparisons. Outstanding.

[@CrashRacknShoot]

Hell yeah. Glad to hear the wife knows her life is worth saving. Everyone's is. And who better to save one's own life than themselves?

[@sweetsuccesstrading5097]

Great Job! Keep up the Training.

[@henryschmidt636]

Excellent

[@mfaracing]

and that was "for educational purpose only" :-)

[@feetoorourke]

I wish Paul had brought Roy on sooner, so he would have acclimated to the camera faster. Ya'll do great work together, and it would have been fun being introduced under better circumstances.

[@gregm6801]

It's working out beautifully!!

[@mbmurphy777]

He’s getting better every time.

[@jamesvatter5729]

Paul's enthusiastic, "Not just as powerful as a .30-'06!" Made my day. 😊

[@jedediahsibley3355]

Yup!

[@williamflowers9435]

I smell a “.30-06 vs .308” video 🧥

[@44SWAGNUM-MAGA5]

WE TRACKED YOU EASY!!!

[@thesanfordmethod1905]

Totally ! Lol ! Time to Grease The Garand ! :D

[@MajorT0m]

Yes that was the most dramatic and over-accentuated "just as powerful!" thus far 😂😂😂

[@speaktruth2590]

20:05 Paul can't resist hamming it up. Roy chuckles.and gets back to business. Excellent team!

[@Salieri47]

Any appearance by Paul is welcome. In fact I think Paul should "boogie to Hungry Like A Wolf" by Duran Duran for us 😊.

[@drakecarter1780]

Get well Paul!

[@VectorGaming4080]

I hope you feel welcomed here, Roy. It's great to see both you and Paul sharing your experiences and demonstrating things for us.

[@HarryTaints]

Roy is loosening up. 👍

[@mikehunt4947]

While no one can ever completely replace Paul, Roy is doing a very fine job and should be pleased. Well done 👍🇺🇲

[@ForrestM-ln9sf]

Great video Roy. Praying for Paul. Thanks for all you do.

[@Sitrucrellim12]

You're beginning to master the shatneresque pause.

[@Throatwobbler_Mangrove]

Even the delayed pump after the dummy fell over from the 12 gauge slugs 😂

[@johniejoyce8876]

I guess that since they are brothers, they talk similarly! I noticed, too.

[@mikemar42]

Glad to see you again Roy

[@Moshbearpig]

Roy you are really coming into your own. Love to see it

[@milkmanchoppers]

You're doing great, Roy!

[@Jandyg]

As a Big Guy, 52 years old. With the same body style as Roy’s. My days of charging up the hill or kicking in doors, are Long Gone. That doesn’t mean I may not need it to protect my property or community someday. Soft armor is what I’ve got, I train with it and it’s comfortable.

[@xxxlonewolf49]

I have soft armor to stay warm in winter. I jog & hate life in my plates...when I'm not hurt.

[@djjaysky9071]

check the safe life defense FRAS Flexible Rifle Armor, it is soft body armor with small ceramic plates

[@xxxlonewolf49]

@djjaysky9071 a newer version basically of Dragon Skin, just with out over lapping sections.

[@another3997]

Protect your community from whom? And how exactly is having a variety of armed and armoured, trigger happy civilians running round, with varying amounts of experience, little to no organisation and a gung ho attitude, going to help? Unless the "bad guys" happen to be wearing a sign saying "I'm the bad guy", you end up with lots of innocent people being shot. "Well, it was dark, he looked suspicious and walked towards me and I thought that can of cola in his hand was a gun so I shot him" 🙄 And like the Capitol riots, there's the small problem of lots of people thinking they're doing the right thing, whilst actually fighting against legitimate government and law enforcement. One man's patriotism is another man's insurrection. Americans are a confused and conflicted bunch. 😂

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

At 64, and now with a new pacemaker (3rd Degree Heart Block), yeah, my charging and doorkicking days are long since passed Yeah, Soft Armor was all I could afford.

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

love to see Roy getting comfortable in front of the camera. cutting that joke about wearing the carrier was gold.

[@disturbedmaynard3873]

30-06 vs .308 debate is not over. Paul has declared the winner.

[@usonumabeach300]

Depends on the cartridge loading, but remember the .30-06's when it was designed and the first 4 decades of its use used inferior powder, and with the newer powder, .308 was generally equal to OLD .30-06. Using the newer powder, .30-06, or 7.62x63, became superior, as it should, considering it's got over 20% more casing length to add more powder. A .300 win mag blows the doors off the newer .30-06 via the same mechanism

[@iowatimberfreaks7102]

Did a great job showing the different outcomes possible. Keep it up guys.

[@PaulHarrell]

We will!

[@roryhertzog5282]

I finally gotaroundtoit. I put together my 3 day pack. I took it with me on vacation. 4 hour drive from my residence. I actually used it for things I didn't think I would need. (Fixing a light fixture and first aid) What you guys do is important. Thank you!

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. Thank you for the information.

[@Cat-j5e]

Me too. I’m surprised how much I use it. Always gotta remember to restock though.

[@msgtpauldfreed]

Roy, very good video. You did a good job explaining everything. Loved Paul's commentary towards the end. You guys are a very good team!

[@pavegray]

Fragmentation of a projectile that strikes an object or surface is spall or spalling. If a spall lining material does not capture the fragmentation from a projectile, injury or death is possible if said fragmentation hits critical areas (e.g. neck, etc.).

[@the_dudeguy]

love the Harrel Bros, keep up the great work!

[@leokimvideo]

Paul, great to see you in this. Wow we really needed a 'meat target' in this video for the body armour

[@alancranford3398]

I have owned a "rifle-proof" Second Chance Hardcorps II K-47 plate since 1978. I replaced the Kevlar panels but otherwise wore the vest for two decades while on military service and working as a commercial security guard. Sometimes I left the 7-pound plate behind due to circumstances. Body armor is for optimists. First, I was unlucky enough to get hit--and get hit in my armor. Second, I had faith that my armor would work as advertised. Third, I counted on my enemy shooting only ammunition that my vest was rated to stop. That's a lot of ifs--the armor was for when I fouled up finding cover. Thank you for this demonstration. It is valuable in that live testing was done. True, the test samples are statistically not significant, but perhaps other people will repeat your testing and either validate or refute your results.

[@williamflowers9435]

I think Paul & Roy need to make “Is 7.62x51 NATO (.308) ‘JUST AS GOOD AS’ .30-06” video 🧥

[@tjsolf]

I wore a plate of unknown composition while on medivac flights into Iraq. Nice to see that it offered some protection. Manufacturer included a response card to fill out an evaluation of the effectiveness.

[@ReverentCudgel]

This is the type of videos we need Roy, practical demonstrations, testing things people assume are or are not true. This video shows the danger of steel armor, the fragmentation is obviously better than being shot, but other types of armor are much better. Thank you for carrying on his work, we are here for you.

[@youngbloodbear9662]

Thanks guys!

[@Sepultra012]

Roy, Another great video! I think the term you're looking for is "backface deformation".

[@PaulHarrell]

Yes! Thank you!

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. See my pinned comment and thank you for the help.

[@Sepultra012]

@@PaulHarrell No problem, glad I could help!

[@mikeautry2271]

Paul...thanks for your help with Roy...get well Paul..

[@billortloff4215]

Love the Paul "just as powerful," swing arm😂

[@Tomwatt193]

Nice to see ya Roy 😁

[@KrisTomich]

I've seen reputable articles saying spalling can be minimized effectivity with quality coatings and accessories, and former soldiers attest to the reliability of steel if it's quality. The big question is supply lines. If you have them, use ceramic. If you don't, those plates may need to last a while. In that case, use steel.

[@arcblooper2699]

No military uses steel. The articles you read were all paid advertisements.

[@superhitpix5955]

Paul''s channel has been 'Roy-enforced' and is going strong!! Much Love, folks!

[@mikewithers299]

Good demonstration on different kinds of armor. I heard about spalling on steel plates, but you actually did an excellent job showing it. Love your channel no matter who is in front of the camera! ❤️

[@stevenalston7627]

Thanks Roy! Very interesting video! Splash of the bullet.......never thought of that!

[@markhatfield5621]

Great video, especially includes observations not usually seen elsewhere. Note: 'shrapnel' is generally considered to the fragments of an exploding shell.

[@PaulHarrell]

See the pinned comment, you are correct, and thank you.

[@maxscott3349]

I remember the technical definition of shrapnel as projectiles added to a shell, not pieces of the casing Not that anyone cares but still

[@RealityOrganized]

"Case" ammunition -- a type of artillery round -- was invented in 1784 by an Englishman, Henry Shrapnel.... if anyone cares.

[@richardgallagher4880]

Not if your trying to discredit a president😬😊😊

[@chubbyjohnson5480]

Thank you Roy

[@ActualHumanPerson]

Tougher than a frozen poptart

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

Nice job showing the capacity of these products Roy ! Thanks

[@terryschiller2625]

Hi Paul and Roy, yes a rethink on that shield for sure. That bullet shrapnel will definitely room somebody's day! Is there something called a trauma shield for those ceramic plates or steel plates? Very good video. Thanks for all your hard work and time!

[@swedeson6188]

Thank you Roy for the educational video! And thank you Paul for showing up in the video, it makes me happy every time!

[@lafamiliahernandez3015]

Great video and fun to watch! I'm hopeful that you'll make a video on something you mentioned during the intro. The effects of being shot wearing both body armor and a chest rig with rifle and/or pistol magazines. Thanks guys!

[@davidlee8551]

Thank you Roy, Paul & staff. Demonstrations are very useful!

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Thanks Roy... you're doing great, Buddy! I've been in broadcasting for about 1000 years, and I can tell you that just being yourself is one of the hardest things to learn - but you're getting it down, Brother!

[@JustinCredible_Edibles]

Roy is the MAN! Big shoes to fill and he's doing a fine job. Kudos to the big guy!

[@HarrIock]

It seems like the shield should have a lip around the edge to catch the bullet fragments.

[@Robnord1]

Oooooo...a new Roy video ! I do hope Paul is doing well today. I would like some extreme full coverage armor complete with helmet and face shield, not just some small plates in a carrier. A 'last stand' outfit of sorts for defending my fortress.

[@johndilday1846]

Glad to see you , Paul! You look better. God bless you, and thanks for the humorous input.

[@vermonter8696]

Roy you've come a long way from your first videos, it's great that you seem a lot more confident in front of the camera. We appreciate you.

[@scottmansfield1734]

I’ve seen many videos on plates mostly and some shields. None of those videos touched on the splatter or shrapnel that could have catastrophic effects! Yet another reason why I think this channel is simply the best!! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@influentialgurning]

A raised rim curving the edge might catch the dispersed bits and direct them back as if returning from the surface, so that they don't splay parallel to it. If the edge were rolled into a cupped rim, it may catch most of it.

[@sombra6153]

Great video, Roy! And Paul drove the nail home! Body armor and shields are nice ideas, but personal tactics, communication, mobility/movement, cover/concealment, and accuracy are going to continue to be the standards for surviving.

[@trussmonkey5910]

Please note body armor protects from bullets really well, but lacks fire protection and it very hard to take off in the event of fire, just saying for those who might find this information interesting.

[@TheOldHaneyPlace.]

Great video Roy

[@dmann1209]

Excellent presentation! Just imagine the internal trauma from the energy of the impacts. Organs like the lungs, heart, liver, spleen or kidneys do not hold up well to such energy transfer. Amazing cartridge comparison!

[@ncoatney331]

I agree with the rest of the comments, Roy. Great video and you really seem to be coming into your own more with each presentation. Thank you!

[@dannyhanny1191]

Roy, well done - you kept the conversation and demonstrations moving.

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

Good point about rethinking shield use Roy.

[@notsure2101]

Looking forward to more. Keep up the good work Roy. Would be cool to see a meat target behind some body armor to see if it breaks ribs. Also, ive always wondered if you could get a pierced throat from the shrapnel.

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. Had that thought. The back face deformation was not enough to break ribs on anything the armor was rated for. The .30-06 was a different story altogether.

[@josephhatcher9903]

I agree. I think that testing actual ribs against back face deformation is something that hasn't been done yet. And y'all are the home of the meat target... That's good content.

[@notsure2101]

@@PaulHarrell I got the impression that it would be true, the deformation would not break ribs. It might be interesting to see how many rounds would break the meat target ribs. Also If hit center mass with a round unable penetrate, how much of the shrapnel would cause what kind of wound.

[@zcurtiss2899]

Good video and topic! You touched on some important considerations well beyond what is usually discussed in this area. Knowing what all to take into account and how to employ these tools is critical.

[@danielmacdonald8358]

Good video and its good to see you paul

[@brandona6711]

Thank you for mic'ing up. Much better audio, excellent video!

[@nevermindme8922]

Doing a great job Roy. Thank you for carrying the torch

[@xXs3renityXx]

Here we go🎉 starting to relax, good video. Keep it up

[@theshotgunscientists]

Thanks for the video guys. Doing a great job Roy.

[@sensationalfailure]

Super good review

[@Salieri47]

The individual weight of the two vests would've been nice to know. Yes, I caught the part where we viewers were asked to look up additional info on our own.

[@sammychicken4290]

Thank you for this episode. I've been keen to learn about these jackets & their differences. Kind regards from Adelaide, South Australia 🇦🇺

[@Coltbreath]

Well done Roy! Thanks for the awesome quip on 308 😂

[@BGuitar415]

You're knocking it out of the park Roy. Keep up the good work!

[@imthatguy1878]

Thank you Roy for another great video on body armor and glad to see Paul's brief appearance and humor

[@adkennedy0352]

Always nice seeing Paul make an appearance and great work Roy. To me it was a little strange seeing soft point .30-06 rounds make it through the shield when m80 ball stopped. I know .30-06 is more powerful but typically a 180 grain is a little slower than m80 ball and given that m80 is an fmj vs a soft point makes it even stranger.

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. Surprised Paul as well. You see the results though. I will say I was a little surprised, pleasently, since I am a die hard .30-06 Springfield fan. For the record, the '06 had a 6 inch shorter barrel from the same distance.

[@craigbenz4835]

@@PaulHarrell The shorter barrel is surprising. I assumed 24".

[@Struggle-Snuggle]

Do not buy steel armor. Not only is spall/fragmentation a major concern, it is very heavy for the mediocre protection it gives. Cheap ceramic plates exist, steel is obsolete for body armor.

[@klejnotnilu560]

Good to know, keep it up big fella. Cheers

[@winnerscreed6767]

Good grief, this video, deserves so many more views and likes! Awesome content! Thank you Paul, Roy and crew. I don't know when these videos are made, But if they are at all recent. Paul is looking a lot healthier and I am going to take that as a most positive sign of his improvement. God bless all of you and continued prayers.

[@SuspiciousGanymede]

People hating on Roy, I'm enjoying the information. You're getting less camera-shy brother

[@josephhatcher9903]

It's not Roy. It's the outdated content.

[@kynoble]

@@josephhatcher9903 Outdated?

[@josephhatcher9903]

@@kynoble Steel armor has been a joke for ten years. I'm guessing you're under 30?

[@lardomcfarty9866]

​@@josephhatcher9903he is providing info. If you don't like it, move on

[@kynoble]

@@josephhatcher9903 No, just ignorant. You see, I used to watch Mr. Revolver a lot.

[@nicholas389]

I've put all my faith into 7.62x51 after ditching 5.56 for a real battle rifle cartridge. Now, after watching this, I regret not purchasing the "Noreen" AR 30-06" Damn rifle is super expensive & much heavier than my Armalite AR10. The "Noreen" magazines are like $200+, which is crazy! But, damn that 30-06 really smacked that steel. It's amazing that the ceramic plate withstood so many rounds of various calibers, even stopped that 30-06, which surprised me, after being so compromised and basically already shattered, it still did what it was designed to do, defeat rifle bullets! I'm not an expert, just thinking out loud. Thanks, Roy and cameraman. Love You Paul Harrell❤

[@JSound713]

Get It Roy! You're doing a great job! Your brother would be proud!

[@Cat-j5e]

Really enjoying your last couple solo videos, Roy! You’re a lot more comfortable and doing your own thing now, it’s cool to see your style and unique interests coming out. Looking forward to the future! ETA: For the next 100,000 more subs FAQ, I want to see Roy do an FAQ!

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

It's really rewarding seeing how Roy is getting progressively more comfortable on camera, even occasionally inserting some of Paul's Shatneresque pauses. Your channel is in good hands, Paul.

[@gregm6801]

Thanks Paul and brother!!

[@jonathanfreeman4575]

This answered a bunch of questions I had. Thanks.

[@pierre-alexandre90]

Great video Roy! Thanks for the video.

[@alanmurdock4319]

I spent a long time in recon and scout. If you had to use your weapon, that meant you "f" up your mission and you better run. Your 3 or 4 man patrol is no match for a company size.

[@KathrynLiz1]

Well done Roy... Hope Paul is doing OK..... keep us posted... we DO care about him... a lot... 🙂

[@MichaelJenkins910]

This is the kind of practical, real world content that we need out there. Thank you both for making it happen!

[@ssearl3231]

Good video Roy keep up the good work and remember we are learning together

[@johnhighway7399]

Steel has unparalleled durability but it needs some real thick spall coating to make it safe

[@kennithmorella2693]

HELL OF A PRESENTATION ROY Keep em Coming. Thanks to video crew. Best to Paul 🙏

[@memelord1337]

I realize armor is a new/niche topic for you guys and I have some nitpicks, but overall this was a pretty good debut video despite the high bar set by the rest of the Harrell channel. I look forward for more. Some comments of mine, if you are interested: A good habit for terminal ballistics testing is to use a chronograph (like you guys do with everything else). Note that BFD (as a standard of measurement) isn't the permanent deformation visible on the rear of the plate, but the maximum deformation on the wearer's chest (simulated by fancy clay). Replicating NIJ06 plate tests has been done to death (still good to do, of course, especially for lesser known manufacturers). Personally I'd like to see stuff like SAPI, foreign imports, NIJ07, ICWs, non-test/abnormal threats, and the meat target. For example, what does bfd failure do to pork ribs? How much damage will the shear band plugs from that steel shield do to a bag of oranges? Speaking of NIJ06, remember that level 4 is M2AP, not just 30-06, and does not always provide level 3 or "3+" protection. Many cheap level 4's can be defeated by 223 ball or 308 multihits. Might be a good thing to showcase if you get the chance. I'm just some guy on the internet, but this topic happens to be somewhat of a hobby of mine, so if you want clarifications on some other armor things I'd be happy to point you in the right direction (e.g. why this round defeats that but not this, what protection can you infer, etc)

[@garymessina1609]

Awesome Roy great job great video thanks Roy and Paul

[@wbrennan2253]

Rolled with plate carrier falling. Good poise👌

[@timd729]

Roy, ya look great. Always look forward to the tests. Waiting on a test where you make a meat target and test old black powder revolvers... 44 vs 36 something like that.

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. I will see if I can get a 36 cal and do that, just for fun.

[@MajorT0m]

Extremely interesting video. I've always thought flying bullet fragments, glass.. all the debris of a serious firefight, would take a lot of folk out of the fight before serious damage was done. Most citizen involved shootings must be like using an angle grinder without ear and eye protection.

[@schlueterfirearmsinstructi1763]

Good video, back face deformation is something to be aware of, as it can kill and injure the wearer.

[@mikehumphrey8618]

Maybe I should get some for when my band is playing in some of the "less affluent" areas of Baltimore...

[@josephhatcher9903]

If you're half serious, look at the Chase SOCC.

[@1978garfield]

Great vid as always. Love the cameo from Paul! Would love to see you test some "affordable" (cheap) soft body armor with handgun rounds. Thanks for the credible info.

[@PaulHarrell]

Roy here. The cheapest soft bosy armor, new, that you will find is old fashioned Kevlar. It is still not cheap and is heavy.

[@dannyvision730]

Good job..