SVI Engineering, a leading specialist manufacturer of armoured products, has released the inaugural episode in its new “Shoot Through” series of videos (watch Episode 1 here).
Conceived to both inform and entertain, the full video series – one episode will be published on SVI’s YouTube channel approximately every two weeks – sets out to answer whether various (mostly standard) automotive components are capable of stopping a round discharged by a firearm.
In order to investigate the exact effect a 7.62×39 mm conventional steel-core round fired from an AK47 has on each sample, SVI secured the use of a Photron Fastcam SA4 high-speed camera, courtesy of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The resultant slow-motion footage makes for fascinating viewing.
“The use of a high-speed camera gives viewers the opportunity to see the sort of energy carried by an AK47 round at the very moment it impacts – and, in many cases, penetrates – an object. This obviously provides markedly more information to the viewer than they are able to extract purely with the naked eye,” explained Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI.
With the high-speed imaging equipment in position and set at 30 000 frames per second, each component is secured in a vice at the far end of the Bashewa-based company’s dedicated underground shooting range, before taking fire from an AK47 mounted in the test rig.
“At SVI Engineering, we’re always on the lookout for fresh ways to educate and inform our existing and future customers. This fascinating new video series does just that, providing valuable information to civilians considering investing in vehicle armour,” added Benny Jiyane, Chairman of SVI.
“Shoot Through” Series, Episode 1
The subject of the first of 14 episodes is a ventilated steel brake disc from a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 bakkie. The slow-motion footage shows the AK47 round pierce the outer portion of the rotor, becoming flattened in the process. As a result, the round loses the energy required to penetrate the second surface.
Nicol Louw, SVI Business Development Director, says the company frequently carries out in-house testing of various armouring materials at its special ballistic laboratory, though for this series decided to focus mostly on standard automotive components.
“We’re sometimes asked whether certain everyday automotive components are capable of resisting a bullet. The only way to find out for sure is to test, which is exactly what we’re doing in this new series. But how do armouring components stand up to AK47 fire in comparison? Stay tuned because we’ll bring you the answer to that question in upcoming episodes,” concluded Louw.
The Company
SVI is an original equipment manufacturer that has specialised in armoured vehicles since 2004. The company is a market leader in Africa, serving the private, corporate, security, mining and governmental segments. SVI holds a Level 2 B-BBEE certification and its quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015 by TÜV Rheinland.
