Defensible Ballistics

02/06/2026

🛡️ Energy Dissipation & Body Armour Testing 💥

Modern body armour is designed to do more than simply stop a projectile — its primary purpose is to absorb, spread and dissipate energy before it reaches the body.

When a projectile impacts armour:
• The vest deforms and spreads the force across a wider area
• Energy is transferred into the backing material
• Remaining force is absorbed by soft tissue and skeletal structures
• Reduced energy transfer helps minimise catastrophic trauma

This is where ballistic gel becomes an essential testing medium.

Calibrated ballistic gel allows researchers and engineers to visualise:
✔️ Energy transfer through armour systems
✔️ Backface deformation and blunt force trauma
✔️ Temporary cavity formation behind armour
✔️ Interaction between force, tissue simulants and skeletal structures
✔️ The effectiveness of different armour materials and configurations

By combining ballistic gel with synthetic bone structures and high-speed analysis, it becomes possible to better understand how protective equipment performs in real-world conditions.

At Defensible Ballistics, our ballistic gel solutions support defence, forensic and research applications where understanding energy dissipation is critical.

01/06/2026

🛡️ Ballistic Gel & Blast Protection Research 💥

Ballistic gel is not just used for ammunition testing — it also plays a critical role in improving protection against explosive threats such as land mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

By simulating the density and behaviour of human tissue, calibrated ballistic gel allows researchers and engineers to study:
• Blast wave effects
• Fragment pe*******on
• Lower limb trauma from anti-personnel mines
• Energy transfer through protective materials
• The effectiveness of military boots and armour systems

Using high-speed imaging and controlled testing, ballistic gel helps designers refine:
✔️ Blast-resistant footwear
✔️ Vehicle floor protection
✔️ Body armour systems
✔️ Medical response training
✔️ Protective materials for military and humanitarian demining operations

The ability to visualise internal damage and temporary cavity formation provides valuable insight into how explosive forces interact with the human body — ultimately helping to reduce catastrophic injuries in real-world environments.

At Defensible Ballistics, our calibrated ballistic gel solutions support research, testing, training and product development across defence, forensic and medical sectors.

Defensible Ballistics is the leading manufacturer of ballistic gel for the purpose of fi****ms testing, forensic analysis, medical research, engineering & film.

30/05/2026

Reminder: Lead Ammunition Ban

The UK has introduced new restrictions on the use of lead ammunition at outdoor shooting ranges, with the changes officially taking effect from 1 April 2026.

To help ranges, clubs and shooters adapt, the legislation includes transition periods:

🔴 Lead Shot Ban (from 1 April 2029)
Shot containing 1% or more lead by weight will no longer be permitted at outdoor shooting ranges.
(Exemptions apply for elite and Olympic-level athletes.)

🔴 Lead Bullets & Projectiles (from 1 April 2028)
Bullets and other projectiles containing 3% or more lead cannot be used at outdoor ranges unless strict environmental risk-reduction measures are in place.

Ranges wishing to continue using lead ammunition after 2028 must demonstrate measures to protect:
✔️ Grazing wildlife
✔️ Soil quality
✔️ Water systems

They will also need to maintain records and submit compliance information every three years to the relevant environmental authorities.

Certain exemptions remain in place, including:
• Military
• Police
• Airguns

The regulations also do not apply in Northern Ireland due to EU REACH legislation.

This marks a significant shift for the shooting industry and reinforces the growing importance of testing and evaluating alternative ammunition performance.

Defensible Ballistics is the leading manufacturer of ballistic gel for the purpose of fi****ms testing, forensic analysis, medical research, engineering & film.

28/05/2026

See what conventional gel can’t show.

Our calibrated Ballistic Soap provides a ready-to-use solution for analysing projectile pe*******on and wound cavity formation from pistol and rifle ammunition.

Unlike traditional ballistic gel, Ballistic Soap preserves the temporary cavity after impact, allowing for detailed post-shot examination and direct comparison between ammunition types, velocities, and engagement distances.

Ideal for:
• Ammunition comparison
• Terminal performance analysis
• Research & development
• Training and demonstration
• Forensic and defence applications

Reliable. Analytical. Calibrated.
Designed to help you visualise projectile performance with clarity.

https://www.defensible.co.uk/products?tag=Soap

27/05/2026

10% vs 20% Ballistic Gel

Not all ballistic gel is the same.
The density you choose can significantly affect pe*******on depth, cavity formation, and overall test realism.

10% Forensic / FBI Calibration

Designed to simulate an average balance of muscle and soft tissue.
Widely used for:
• Forensic testing
• Law enforcement evaluation
• Ammunition comparison
• Research & development

Shore Hardness: 00-30

20% NATO Calibration

A denser formulation developed for military-style testing and the simulation of leaner, more muscular tissue.

Commonly used for:
• Defence applications
• Military projectile testing
• Higher resistance terminal analysis
• Comparative pe*******on studies

Shore Hardness: 00-55

At Defensible Ballistics, both formulations are carefully calibrated to provide repeatable and reliable results for professional testing environments.

Which density best suits your application?

16/05/2026

As lead-free ammunition becomes increasingly important across the UK and Europe, understanding real-world projectile performance has never been more valuable.

Ballistic gel provides a controlled and repeatable method of comparing:
• Pe*******on depth
• Expansion and fragmentation
• Temporary and permanent cavities
• Retained mass
• Overall terminal performance

Research has shown that some lead-free ammunition can perform similarly to traditional lead-based rounds — but projectile design makes all the difference.

At Defensible Ballistics, our calibrated ballistic media helps shooters, researchers, manufacturers and professionals visualise what really happens on impact.

Test. Compare. Understand.

Defensible Ballistics is the leading manufacturer of ballistic gel for the purpose of fi****ms testing, forensic analysis, medical research, engineering & film.

08/05/2026

Did you know that ballistic gel can show wear and damage to barrels? Looking at the wound path you can see the exaggerated effect of instability and precession.

02/05/2026

Our small synthetic ballistic gel block is designed for air guns under 12ft/lb and is perfect for comparing pellets

https://www.defensible.co.uk/products/p/syntheticballisticgelsmall

Our small synthetic ballistic gel block is suitable for air guns under 12ft/lb. Synthetic ballistic gel is a new gel that is transparent, ready to use and can be reused multiple times retaining its calibration. It is calibrated to a 10% forensic/FBI or 20% NATO density out of the box

25/04/2026

Our Synthetic Ballistic Gel delivers consistent, reliable results for forensic analysis, product testing, and research applications.
No refrigeration. Reusable. Proven performance.

✔ Consistent density
✔ Clear wound track visualisation
✔ Designed for repeat testing