A day at the range
Went to the range the other day to see how well our insert plates stand up against HK MP-7 PDW, or Personal Defense Weapon. The PDWs are intended, as name implies, to be a defensive sidearms for troops, vehicle crews and other military personnel who previously were issued pistols or in some cases submachine guns, but proliferation of body armour in recent years made the weapons ineffective. But of course, these beauties have many more potential applications besides that.
MP-7 is 4.6×30mm, rate of fire is 950 rounds per minute, and it has effective range of 200 meters.
The 4.6×30mm ammunition is loaded with spitzer-pointed, all-steel bullet with brass jacket. Bullet is 25 grains (1.6 gramm) and the muzzle velocity is about 2400 fps (ca. 725 m/s). Manufacturer claims 100% penetration of the CRISAT body armour (1.6mm of Titanium plus 20 layers of Kevlar) at the distance of 200 meters. Well, against soft body armor, yes, this baby will penetrate. But what about hard insert plate at NIJ-III level?
Lock and load, ready to rock ‘n roll. MP-7 is really nice weapon to work with. During my day MP-5 was the tool of the trade to have but if I got in active today, I think I’d choose MP-7.
The results were pretty nice. Actually, they were excellent because if I had been wearing that vest with insert plate, I would still be here to tell the story. Too bad, some of you may say, but hey…
No penetrations! That makes me feel so good, you know. I am selling these plates and vests to cops and operators who depend their lives on them. ‘Nuff said.