By using capacitive sensors the velocity profiles of free specimen surfaces are recorded in this paper, and normal fracture stresses are determined for aluminum AD-1, duraluminum D16, copper M2, nickel NP2 and stainless steel Kh19N10T under similar loading conditions. The magnitudes found for the spalling strength are compared with data in the literature on the strength of metals in a discontinuity under static conditions and under spall conditions, and possible sources of error characteristic for the different methods of determining the spalling strength are discussed. The investigated specimens, with transverse dimension 120 and thickness 9-15 mm, were fabricated from sheet (nickel) or circular rod in the delivered state. Finds that the maximal fracture stress is determined from spall experiments sufficiently confidently. Suggests that further investigations are needed to resolve the question of how to characterize the possibility of total separation of the specimen during spall.