How Many Pieces of Plywood to Stop a Bullet?

This video from Yee Yee Life tests the ballistic penetration of various firearm calibers through stacks of playing cards. It demonstrates how many decks of standard Bicycle cards are needed to stop rounds from .22 LR up to .50 BMG. The experiment highlights the surprising stopping power of dense paper against different bullet types and velocities, with the .50 BMG requiring 18 decks for complete stoppage.

This video from Yee Yee Life tests the stopping power of various firearm calibers against a bowling ball. The experiment progresses from smaller rounds like .22 LR and 9mm, which cause superficial damage, up to powerful rifle and handgun rounds. While many calibers significantly damage the bowling ball, only the .50 BMG is shown to completely obliterate it and penetrate through. The host demonstrates safe firearm handling throughout the test.

This video from Yee Yee Life conducts a practical, albeit informal, ballistics test to determine how many bamboo cutting boards are needed to stop various common bullet calibers. The experiment progresses from a .22 LR, which is stopped by the first board, up to a .50 BMG, which penetrates all eight boards. The host demonstrates safe handling and showcases a variety of firearms used in the tests, providing a visual comparison of bullet energy versus material resistance.

This video tests the ballistic resistance of a large crystal ball against various firearm calibers, from .22 LR to a .50 BMG sniper rifle. While smaller calibers cause minor damage, larger rounds like the .308 and 12 gauge slug create significant internal fracturing and shattering. The .50 BMG completely obliterates the crystal ball, but remarkably, the bullet still doesn't penetrate the mannequin behind it.

This experiment tests the bullet-stopping capabilities of 250 pounds of Play-Doh against various calibers. Penetration depths ranged from 4 inches for a .22 LR to 24 inches for a .50 BMG, with 9mm penetrating 10 inches and .45 ACP/ .50 AE reaching 22 inches. High-velocity rounds like the .223 AR-15 and 12 gauge slug penetrated 9.5 inches, demonstrating that while Play-Doh offers some resistance, it is not a reliable bullet stop for most common firearm calibers.

This video tests the projectile resistance of a giant jawbreaker candy against various firearm calibers. While birdshot and .22 LR cause superficial damage, .380 Auto and 9mm rounds significantly fracture the candy. High-powered rifle rounds like 7.62x39 and 6.5 Creedmoor completely obliterate the jawbreaker, demonstrating the vast difference in destructive power between handgun and rifle cartridges.

This video tests the ballistic resistance of an excavator bucket against various calibers, from .22 LR to .50 BMG API. While smaller calibers and even .450 Bushmaster and .308 were stopped, the .50 caliber Armor Piercing Incendiary round successfully penetrated the bucket, destroying a dummy target behind it. The test highlights the significant difference in terminal effects between standard rifle rounds and specialized armor-piercing ammunition.

This video tests the penetration capabilities of various calibers against a large pine tree, culminating with a .50 BMG API round. Surprisingly, even powerful rifle rounds like 5.56mm and 7.62mm, as well as handgun rounds like 10mm and .44 Magnum, failed to fully penetrate the tree. The .50 BMG API round, while charring the entry point, also did not exit the back of the tree, demonstrating the significant stopping power of a substantial tree trunk.

This video tests the penetration capabilities of various firearms rounds in a swimming pool, from .22 LR to .50 BMG. Surprisingly, higher velocity rifle rounds like the .223 and .308 fragmented quickly, while the .50 AE Desert Eagle traveled the furthest at 190 inches. The .50 BMG sniper rifle, despite its power, only penetrated 61 inches, likely due to massive energy displacement.

This video tests the ballistic resistance of a Secret Service Suburban window against various calibers, from .22 LR to .50 BMG. While smaller calibers and even a 10mm and .44 Magnum were stopped with varying degrees of damage, the window was eventually penetrated by a .50 BMG sniper rifle round. The testing provides a clear demonstration of the limits of armored vehicle glass against high-powered rifle threats.