Preview: Clear Ballistics Starter Kit

by
posted on November 8, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
clear.jpg

Measuring the performance of self-defense rounds isn't an easy task, and over the decades, both government and private enterprises have come up with differing methods to test the effectiveness of bullet designs built to stop a threat. One such method, the so-called "FBI Protocol" provides an objective method of measurement through the use of ballistic gel medium. One company, Clear Ballistics, is helping to revolutionize the use of ballistic gel among companies and individuals alike.

Traditionally, ballistic gelatin blocks have been difficult and time-consuming to create. A standard gel block, once mixed, has to be refrigerated and must be used within a certain time frame in order to get optimum results. Additionally, once used, they're done and must be disposed. Clear Ballistics uses a medium that eases the process, and a new starter kit makes it easy to begin your own testing.

The Clear Ballistics Starter Kit contains everything a newcomer to ballistic gelatin needs in order to not only start conducting his or her own penetration testing, but to also subsequently melt and reform gel blocks for repeat use.

Available calibrated at either 10 or 20 percent—in order to meet the FBI and NATO protocols, respectively—the kit includes two virgin blocks of ballistic gelatin (one 16"x6"x6" and one 9"x4"x4"), an 18-quart stainless steel roaster oven, a 16"x6"x7" mold, one calibration card and instructions for how to properly melt a used block.

Unlike organic ballistic gelatin, Clear Ballistics’ 100 percent synthetic blocks are temperature-stable, they will not rot and they require no specialized storage requirements. Suggested retail pricing on the kit starts at $210 for 10-percent gelatin, while a 20-percent gelatin kit costs $230. For more information, visit clearballistics.com.

Latest

AR on table with target
AR on table with target

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Lighter & Better: Savage’s Updated Ultralite Series of Rifles

Savage Arms kicked off 2026 by announcing a new generation of Model 110 bolt-action rifles, and now, the company has also introduced an updated series of Ultralite rifles.

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.