Cover VS Concealment: Office Chair

Published on April 12, 2017
Duration: 14:32

This video tests the ballistic protection offered by a standard office chair against various common firearm calibers, using a half-inch pine board as a penetration standard. The experiment reveals that while an office chair offers minimal direct ballistic protection, its materials can significantly alter the trajectory of rounds passing through it, potentially deflecting them and offering indirect protection. The .308 Winchester showed the least deflection, while other calibers experienced notable shifts.

Quick Summary

An office chair offers minimal direct ballistic protection but can significantly alter the trajectory of rounds passing through it. This deflection can potentially offer indirect protection by changing a bullet's path away from a person, a phenomenon observed in tests using various calibers like 9mm, 5.56, 7.62x39, and .308.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Cover vs Concealment Series
  2. 00:39Testing Setup: Office Chair & Pine Boards
  3. 01:089mm Ballistics Test
  4. 02:465.56 Ballistics Test
  5. 04:217.62x39 Ballistics Test
  6. 05:22.308 Winchester Ballistics Test
  7. 06:20Initial Damage Assessment
  8. 06:47Second Round of Testing: 5.56 & 7.62x39
  9. 08:08Detailed Damage Analysis & Trajectory Shifts
  10. 09:53Final Test: Dump Mags & Reactive Targets
  11. 12:07Conclusion: Chair's Influence on Ballistics

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an office chair provide ballistic protection?

An office chair offers minimal direct ballistic protection. However, its materials can significantly alter the trajectory of rounds passing through it, potentially deflecting them and offering indirect protection by changing the bullet's path away from a person.

What is the FBI's standard for penetrative testing?

Historically, the FBI used a standard for penetrative testing that assessed whether a round could successfully penetrate a half-inch pine board. This method helps gauge a round's energy and potential for incapacitation.

How do different calibers perform against an office chair?

In tests, .308 Winchester showed the least deflection. 9mm rounds experienced significant shifts, while 5.56 and 7.62x39 rounds often showed vertical trajectory changes after passing through the chair's materials.

Can office furniture be used for cover in an active shooter situation?

While not designed as armor, office furniture like chairs can act as a rudimentary form of cover or concealment. More importantly, their composition can deflect or slow bullets, potentially altering their path and offering a degree of indirect protection.

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