Car vs Bullets … What Parts Of A Car Can Protect You From Incoming Fire?

Published on May 9, 2024
Duration: 13:28

This video from USCCA demonstrates the ballistic performance of various calibers against different parts of a vehicle. Instructors Micha da and Angel Cortez test 9mm, .45 ACP, 5.56x45mm, 12 gauge (slug, buckshot, birdshot), and 6.5 Creedmoor rounds. They highlight that doors and windows offer minimal protection, while structural pillars can sometimes stop or redirect rounds. The testing emphasizes that vehicle composition varies, and this data should inform defensive strategies.

Quick Summary

Vehicle pillars can offer some protection by lodging or redirecting bullets, and the wheel well area is also suggested as a safer position. Doors and windows provide minimal ballistic protection and are easily penetrated by common calibers like 9mm, .45 ACP, 5.56, and shotgun rounds.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Vehicle Ballistics Testing
  2. 00:29Testing 9mm Rounds
  3. 01:059mm Through the Doorway
  4. 01:209mm Through the Pillars
  5. 02:58Testing .45 ACP Rounds
  6. 03:32.45 ACP Ranger Ammo vs. Hornady Critical Defense
  7. 04:47Testing 5.56x45mm Rounds
  8. 05:165.56 Through the Trunk and Roof
  9. 06:535.56 Through the Center Column
  10. 07:24Testing 12 Gauge Shotgun Rounds
  11. 07:4112 Gauge Slug Test
  12. 08:3312 Gauge Buckshot Test
  13. 09:4212 Gauge Birdshot Test (Distance vs. Close Range)
  14. 10:58Testing 6.5 Creedmoor Rounds
  15. 12:28Key Takeaways: Car Protection Myths vs. Reality
  16. 13:01Conclusion and Further Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What parts of a car offer the most protection from bullets?

Based on testing, the structural pillars of a car can sometimes lodge or redirect bullets, offering more protection than doors or windows. The wheel well area is also suggested as a potentially safer position. Doors and windows provide minimal ballistic protection.

Can car doors protect you from gunfire?

Car doors generally offer very little ballistic protection. While they might redirect smaller caliber rounds or slow them down, they are not designed to stop bullets and can be penetrated by most common firearms, including 9mm and larger calibers.

Which calibers were tested against vehicles in the USCCA video?

The USCCA video tested 9mm (from pistol and rifle), .45 ACP (both law enforcement and home defense loads), 5.56x45mm rifle rounds, 12 gauge shotgun rounds (slug, buckshot, and birdshot), and 6.5 Creedmoor rifle rounds.

What is the safest place to be in a car during a shooting?

The safest areas to position yourself in a car during a shooting are typically behind the structural pillars or near the wheel well. Doors, windows, the trunk, and the hood offer very limited protection and should not be relied upon.

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