Only if you're talking about a 5.56 out of something below say 11.5. Still going through that vest like a knife through butter and after doing so will fragment anyway. j5.56 is not the best choice but.300 blk and 7.62x39 are designed to work well from a short barrel. I still wouldn't want to get hit from a 5.56 out of an 11.5, a lot of pro operators use that setup just fine. What they are worried about is the concealability, some of these AKs with the folding braces can go into a faggy looking murse. lol