How Many Pumpkins To STOP a 50 Cal Rifle?

Published on October 31, 2025
Duration: 23:41

This video conducts a series of ballistic tests using various firearms, from .22LR to .50 BMG, against rows of pumpkins to determine penetration capabilities. The experiment highlights how different calibers and bullet types interact with organic matter, demonstrating significant differences in energy transfer and penetration between handgun and rifle rounds. Notably, it shows that some rifle rounds can penetrate less than handguns due to rapid energy dumping.

Quick Summary

In a ballistic test, a 9mm Hornady Critical Defense round penetrated three pumpkins and stopped in the fourth. Rifle rounds like 5.56 and 7.62x39 penetrated fewer pumpkins than handguns due to efficient energy dumping, contrary to common assumptions about rifle power.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Pumpkin Setup
  2. 01:21.22 Long Rifle Test
  3. 02:349mm Hornady Critical Defense Test
  4. 05:26.44 Magnum Test
  5. 09:095.56 Mark 262 Mod 1 Test
  6. 11:39AK-74 5.45x39 Test
  7. 13:23AK-47 7.62x39 Soft Point Test
  8. 15:49.50 Cal M17 Military Surplus Test
  9. 18:27.50 Cal Hornady A-MAX Test
  10. 22:42Conclusion & Bullet Recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pumpkins did it take to stop a 9mm round?

In the test conducted, a 9mm Hornady Critical Defense hollow point round penetrated three pumpkins and was stopped within the fourth pumpkin. This demonstrated a surprising level of penetration for a handgun round against organic material.

Do rifle rounds penetrate more than handgun rounds?

Contrary to popular belief, rifle rounds often penetrate less than handgun rounds because they are designed to dump more energy into the target, causing expansion and fragmentation, rather than over-penetrating. This was observed in the test where 5.56 and 7.62x39 rounds penetrated fewer pumpkins than the 9mm and .44 Magnum.

What was the penetration of a .50 BMG round through pumpkins?

The .50 BMG M17 military surplus round penetrated three pumpkins before exiting. A .50 BMG 750 grain Hornady A-MAX round penetrated six pumpkins, with parts of the bullet jacket and lead fragments recovered, indicating significant energy transfer and bullet breakdown.

Are pumpkins effective at stopping bullets?

Pumpkins are not very effective at stopping bullets due to their low density and high air content. While they can slow down or stop some smaller caliber rounds, larger rifle and magnum rounds tend to pass through multiple pumpkins with significant damage.

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