Is a Ream of Paper Really Bulletproof? Ex-CIA Officer Puts It to the Test

Published on September 5, 2025
Duration: 12:28

This video tests the bullet resistance of reams of paper using .22 LR, 9mm, and .223 Remington rounds. The experiment demonstrates that a single ream of paper offers minimal protection against any of the tested calibers, with .223 rounds penetrating easily. While multiple reams stacked and oriented correctly can offer some resistance, the video concludes that paper is not a reliable bulletproofing material for serious defense applications.

Quick Summary

A single ream of standard copy paper offers minimal protection against common firearm calibers. While .22 LR rounds showed little effect, 9mm rounds penetrated, and .223 Remington rounds easily passed through. For any defensive application, stacking five reams on their sides is suggested, but paper is not a reliable bulletproofing solution against rifle rounds.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Bulletproof Paper?
  2. 00:10Calibers Tested: AR-15, 9mm, .22 LR
  3. 00:23Can Copy Paper Create a Bulletproof Room?
  4. 00:50Setup: Ream of Paper and Bob Dummy
  5. 01:21Testing the .22 LR (Ruger 10/22)
  6. 02:02Safety Gear for 9mm and AR-15
  7. 03:11Testing the 9mm (Remington RP9)
  8. 04:04Shot Placement Strategy
  9. 05:02Testing the .223 Remington (AR-15)
  10. 05:28AR-15 Shot Placement Error
  11. 05:50Examining the Results: Single Ream
  12. 06:45Continuing the Test: More Paper
  13. 08:05Testing Two Reams of Paper
  14. 09:09Testing Five Reams of Paper
  15. 10:10Creative Setup for Five Reams
  16. 11:11Final Results: Five Reams
  17. 11:42Recommendation: Five Reams on Side
  18. 12:12Conclusion: Be Prepared

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a ream of paper stop bullets?

In this test, a single ream of standard copy paper offered minimal resistance to .22 LR, 9mm, and .223 Remington rounds. While .22 LR rounds did not penetrate, 9mm rounds passed through and .223 rounds easily penetrated, creating significant damage. Multiple reams stacked and oriented correctly showed more resistance, but paper is not considered a reliable bulletproofing material.

What is the best way to use paper for bulletproofing?

If attempting to use paper for bulletproofing, the recommended method involves stacking at least five reams and orienting them on their sides, rather than in a single vertical stack. This configuration provides more material depth and surface area to potentially slow or stop projectiles, though its effectiveness against high-powered rifle rounds remains limited.

Which firearms were used to test the paper's bullet resistance?

The firearms used in the test were a .22 LR Ruger 10/22 rifle, a 9mm Luger Remington RP9 pistol, and a .223 Remington AR-15 rifle. These were chosen to represent a range of common handgun and rifle calibers.

Does paper offer any protection against rifle rounds like .223?

No, a single ream of paper offers virtually no protection against .223 Remington rifle rounds. The test clearly showed that these rounds easily penetrated and passed through a single ream, creating large holes and demonstrating the inadequacy of paper as a barrier against rifle fire.

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