Medieval Projectiles vs Modern Armor (How Lethal Was The Medieval Handgonne ???)

Published on March 27, 2026
Duration: 18:44

This video tests the effectiveness of a medieval handgonne and its projectiles against modern body armor. The handgonne, a crude firearm from the 1400s-1500s, fired wooden bolts with iron tips. Tests included shooting ballistics gel and both soft (Level 3A) and hard (Level 4 ceramic) body armor. The medieval projectiles proved surprisingly effective against soft armor, penetrating both sides, while the lead ball did not penetrate. Against hard armor, the projectiles caused surface damage but did not penetrate.

Quick Summary

A medieval handgonne firing wooden bolts with iron tips surprisingly penetrated both sides of modern Level 3A soft body armor. However, these projectiles did not penetrate a Level 4 ceramic plate, only causing surface damage. An 8 bore lead ball also failed to penetrate the soft armor.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro & Handgonne Overview
  2. 00:31Medieval Handgonne Description
  3. 01:09Medieval Projectiles: Wood Bolts
  4. 03:09Ballistics Gel Test
  5. 05:44Soft Body Armor Test (Level 3A)
  6. 10:14Fire Projectile Test
  7. 12:21Hard Body Armor Test (Level 4 Ceramic)
  8. 13:298 Bore Lead Ball vs Soft Armor
  9. 14:57Long Range Bolt Test
  10. 17:25Conclusion & Outro

Frequently Asked Questions

How effective was a medieval handgonne against modern soft body armor?

A medieval handgonne, firing wooden bolts with iron tips, proved surprisingly effective against Level 3A soft body armor, penetrating both the front and back layers. The bolts embedded deeply and were difficult to remove.

Did medieval projectiles penetrate modern hard body armor?

No, medieval projectiles fired from a handgonne did not penetrate a Level 4 ceramic plate. They caused surface damage and the projectile broke, but the plate remained intact.

What was the performance of an 8 bore lead ball against body armor?

An 8 bore 900 grain lead ball, fired with a double powder load, did not penetrate Level 3A soft body armor. It deformed upon impact and was found on the ground, with fibers from the armor embedded in it.

What are the key differences between Level 3A and Level 4 body armor?

Level 3A body armor is rated for handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum, while Level 4 ceramic plates are designed to stop rifle rounds and are significantly more robust and rigid.

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