Metal Doors As Cover

nuparadigm · #1

I stumbled upon an interesting test of metal doors and their stopping ability. Please note the performance of the Kel-Tec P32 with JHP's. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot17.htm

HighVelocity · #2

Very interesting test. I look at that site frequently but hadn't seen the door page. Thanks for posting the link.

I especially like this part:

As a matter of interest, some of us have discussed that we carry a Keltec P-32 in our pockets sometimes.

I tried two rounds of JHPs on the door from the P-32 and they went through the door, through the wall, and were singing along last I saw of them.

The mighty metal door slayer, the P-32

longtooth · #3

Thanks from me too. That has got to translate into a good report for the .32 in going through a car door in a carjacking. The .32 is the carry of choice for my wife. I am more confident in it through cover now than I was.

Syntax360 · #4

longtooth wrote:Thanks from me too. That has got to translate into a good report for the .32 in going through a car door in a carjacking. The .32 is the carry of choice for my wife. I am more confident in it through cover now than I was.

In fairness, pretty much anything will go through a car door. Have you seen The Buick 'O Truth?

Auto glass, on the other hand, will prove to be a serious challenge for the .32.

The Box 'O Truth is definitely one of the best firearm resources on the net! That guy does all kinds of cool/informative tests.

longtooth · #5

That is what I told the ladies. Through the door. The glass is tough & will blow back also. Through the door & up if you can.

GrannyGlock · #6

That's what DH also tells me! Thru the door.

flintknapper · #7

One potential problem with "through the door" lies in what is inside the door. Virtually all doors have a window regulator of some type, some have steel "impact" bars for passenger safety, there are assorted actuators, rods, electric motors, speakers, etc...that could impede or influence bullet travel.

Only the windshield glass on vehicles is laminated (tough). Others are tempered glass which shatters into small beads upon impact. While it is true that some glass may come back at you, it will be on the first shot only.

My first choice would be through the window glass, but I will happily try the door if the situation calls for it.

Just my .02

Have a great day all.

KD5NRH · #8

Syntax360 wrote: Have you seen The Buick 'O Truth?

Hmm...$1200 per door for Kevlar door liners? Is it just me, or is it kinda dumb to use Kevlar in a situation where the armor needn't be particularly lightweight or at all flexible?

kw5kw · #9

KD5NRH wrote:
Syntax360 wrote: Have you seen The Buick 'O Truth?
Hmm...$1200 per door for Kevlar door liners? Is it just me, or is it kinda dumb to use Kevlar in a situation where the armor needn't be particularly lightweight or at all flexible?

Wouldn't 1/4" steel plate in the middle of a door be sufficient and much less expensive?

It might weigh a tad bit more, but heck, get bigger hinges.

Russ

AV8R · #10

For those interested in car armor or trauma plates, my son has a website that lists some of the armor products he makes from composite materials. The products not lighter than ceramics or aramids, but they are significantly less expensive, are certified to class III-a, and can be fabricated in custom shapes.

http://www.composite-armor.com

Witness P · #11

I spend a lot of time plinking and shooting assorted crap and several of them are old cars, ovens, refrigerators, windshields, bascially a lot of junk but none the less many of them are metal. I can tell you birdshot sometimes has trouble killing birds and bullets go through almost everything passing through a windsheild or a door is easy and if the bullet doesn't go strait in, it bounces around until it runs out of juice makes weird dents/pits in the metal parts it doesn't penetrate I've always had bullets go through the 1st windsheild but sometimes they get caught in the rear windshiled, When shooting tires the bullet will some times blow through and then some times bounce all over the place and not come out and you can recover it later . what I'm saying is many many things can be used for concealment but there are very few that can be used as cover, trees I've found are probably the most effective bullet stoppers, reviewing stuff in this manner really brings to light the use of frangible ammo in the home were over penetration could kill a loved one just like the bad guy you aimed at and hit first. Armoring your house and car is expensive!!! You can't just steel plate it all up, the incredible weight added means other stuff need to be changed, I'm not opposed to it at all it's just some serious cash, Suburban $40 grand an Armored Suburban $140 grand

jbirds1210 · #12

Post some video of your experiments! I am sure there are many here that would enjoy seeing the different scenarios you use. Take care.
Jason

Witness P · #13

I don't have any video or anything like that, It's more a collection of experiences from shooting stuff and then looking at it and seeing what it did, I can take some pics You guys will like what happens to car hoods when shot they dont go through but warp this divit in it and bounces off the metal stretchs it's really crazy looking