Abstract: Aluminum alloy armor weld joints are ballistic shock tested by first sepaely determining the ballistic impact capability of the components to be joined by the weldment by firing a plate proofing projectile at 0.degree. obliquity at each of said components at different striking velocities. The welded joint designs and welding procedures are then tested by firing the same projectile at the same angle at each of the components of the weldment so that the projectile impacts each component in the vicinity of the weld at a velocity comparable to the critical velocity of the component being impacted.