How Many Basketballs Does it Take to Stop a Bullet?

Published on February 26, 2026
Duration: 1:17

This video from Yee Yee Life explores the bullet-stopping capabilities of basketballs by testing various calibers against them. While entertaining, the experiment is conducted by a hobbyist and lacks rigorous scientific methodology or safety protocols typically expected from professional instruction.

Quick Summary

In a ballistic test by Yee Yee Life, a .50 Cal round and a 12-gauge slug each penetrated 14 basketballs. A 9mm hollow point went through 12, while 12-gauge birdshot stopped in the third basketball. The .22LR penetrated 5 basketballs.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Intro: Basketballs vs Bullets
  2. 00:08.22LR vs Basketballs
  3. 00:1612 Gauge Birdshot vs Basketballs
  4. 00:26Crossbow vs Basketballs
  5. 00:339mm Hollow Point vs Basketballs
  6. 00:4412 Gauge Slug vs Basketballs
  7. 00:55.50 Cal vs Basketballs

Frequently Asked Questions

What caliber of bullet went through the most basketballs?

In this experiment, both the .50 Cal round and the 12-gauge slug penetrated 14 basketballs. The 9mm hollow point penetrated 12 basketballs, while the .22LR penetrated 5.

How many basketballs did 12-gauge birdshot penetrate?

The 12-gauge birdshot penetrated two basketballs and stopped inside the third. This indicates significantly less penetration power compared to slugs or rifle rounds.

Can basketballs effectively stop a .50 Cal bullet?

According to this video, a .50 Cal bullet penetrated 14 basketballs. While it took many, basketballs are not a reliable or safe method for stopping such powerful rounds.

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