Will Thick Clothing Stop A Bullet? Or Clog A Hollow Point?

Published on February 2, 2025
Duration: 20:03

This video from Garand Thumb, featuring Mike, methodically tests the myth that thick clothing can stop bullets or clog hollow points. Using high-speed cameras and ballistics gel, the expert instructor demonstrates that standard clothing offers minimal protection and can indeed cause hollow points to fail to expand. Specialized ammunition is tested as a solution for reliable performance through barriers.

Quick Summary

Thick clothing can significantly slow bullets but rarely stops them entirely. Heavy fabric often clogs hollow point ammunition, preventing expansion and causing it to act like FMJ. Specialized 'barrier blind' rounds like Hornady Critical Duty are designed to expand reliably through such clothing layers.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Myth Discussion
  2. 01:31.22 LR vs. T-Shirt
  3. 03:29.22 LR vs. Sweatshirt Layers
  4. 05:20Extreme Layer Testing
  5. 07:07Hollow Point Clogging Test
  6. 11:15Ballistic Solutions for Clogging

Frequently Asked Questions

Can thick clothing stop a bullet?

While thick clothing can significantly slow down and reduce the penetration depth of a bullet, it is unlikely to stop most common handgun or rifle rounds entirely. Testing shows bullets can still penetrate multiple layers of heavy fabric and reach their target.

Will clothing clog a hollow point bullet?

Yes, standard clothing layers, especially heavy ones like multiple coats or denim, can clog the hollow point cavity of ammunition. This prevents the bullet from expanding, causing it to act like a Full Metal Jacket round with deeper penetration.

What ammunition reliably expands through clothing?

Specialized 'barrier blind' ammunition, such as Hornady Critical Duty with its polymer tip or certain solid copper designs like G9, are engineered to resist clogging and expand effectively even after passing through common clothing barriers.

How does Garand Thumb test bullet performance through clothing?

Garand Thumb uses a methodical approach involving high-speed cameras to capture bullet impacts and penetration through various layers of clothing placed in front of calibrated ballistic gel blocks. This allows for detailed analysis of bullet expansion and wound cavity formation.

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