how many hard hats does it take to stop a bullet?

Published on March 29, 2020
Duration: 13:31

Edwin Sarkissian conducts an experiment to determine how many Amstone construction hard hats are needed to stop various bullet calibers. The tests range from .22 LR to 8mm Mauser, demonstrating that even lower-powered rounds can penetrate multiple helmets, while rifle rounds pass through a significant number. The conclusion reinforces that hard hats offer minimal ballistic protection.

Quick Summary

Standard construction hard hats offer minimal ballistic protection. In tests by Edwin Sarkissian, .22 LR rounds penetrated two helmets, while 9mm FMJ rounds went through 6-7. Rifle rounds like 7.62x39mm penetrated 11-12 helmets, and 8mm Mauser rounds went through approximately 13, proving they are not bulletproof.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Hard Hat Overview
  2. 00:56.22 LR Ballistic Test
  3. 01:55.32 ACP Ballistic Test
  4. 02:489mm Ballistic Test
  5. 04:575.7x28mm Ballistic Test
  6. 05:57.357 Magnum Ballistic Test
  7. 07:14.44 Magnum Ballistic Test
  8. 08:517.62x39mm Rifle Test
  9. 11:068mm Mauser Rifle Test and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a standard construction hard hat stop a bullet?

No, standard construction hard hats like the Amstone brand tested are not designed for ballistic protection. Even lower-caliber rounds like .22 LR can penetrate multiple helmets, and rifle rounds can pass through a dozen or more.

Which caliber penetrated the most hard hats in the test?

The 8mm Mauser round fired from a Kar98k rifle penetrated approximately 13 hard hats, demonstrating the highest penetration among the tested calibers. The AK-47's 7.62x39mm round penetrated around 11-12 helmets.

What was the purpose of Edwin Sarkissian's hard hat experiment?

The experiment aimed to demonstrate the ballistic limitations of common construction hard hats by testing their ability to stop bullets from various handgun and rifle calibers, concluding they offer minimal protection against firearms.

What types of firearms were used in the hard hat bullet test?

The test utilized a variety of firearms including a Glock 44 (.22 LR), Beretta (.32 ACP), Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ (9mm), FN Five-seveN (5.7x28mm), Magnum Research BFR (.357 Magnum), Taurus Raging Hunter (.44 Magnum), AK-47 (7.62x39mm), and Kar98k (8mm Mauser).

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