Cell Phone v. Bullet

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

Post Reply
User avatar
AlaskanInTexas
Senior Member
Posts: 541
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:27 pm
Location: DFW

Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by AlaskanInTexas »

Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
TrackinPat
Senior Member
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:46 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by TrackinPat »

AlaskanInTexas wrote:Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
Very lucky indeed, judging by the size of the hole (obviously a picture doesn't mean much nor does my opinion) I would have to agree and say this had to have been a .22LR... A .380 and above would've gone right through that bad boy. That one only stopped after bulging the plastic on the other side. He is a lucky man! :tiphat:
User avatar
VMI77
Senior Member
Posts: 6096
Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:49 pm
Location: Victoria, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by VMI77 »

AlaskanInTexas wrote:Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
"Journalism, n. A job for people who flunked out of STEM courses, enjoy making up stories, and have no detectable integrity or morals."

From the WeaponsMan blog, weaponsman.com
TrackinPat
Senior Member
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:46 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by TrackinPat »

VMI77 wrote:
AlaskanInTexas wrote:Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
Wow. A .17 and .22 and 50 yards penetrated??? That's an eye opener. :eek6
User avatar
AlaskanInTexas
Senior Member
Posts: 541
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:27 pm
Location: DFW

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by AlaskanInTexas »

VMI77 wrote: Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
Interesting. My initial reaction was "surely a .22lr would have busted through that phone no problem." Then I saw some youtube clips of cell phones stopping .22lr. Probably a lot of variables when it comes to cell phone resistance, as shown by your personal results. New item on to do list: "Round up all old cell phones and take to the range."
User avatar
VMI77
Senior Member
Posts: 6096
Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:49 pm
Location: Victoria, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by VMI77 »

TrackinPat wrote:
VMI77 wrote:
AlaskanInTexas wrote:Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
Wow. A .17 and .22 and 50 yards penetrated??? That's an eye opener. :eek6
17 HMR is a pretty good penetrator. It craters some of my steel gongs that are barely affected by 9mm or 45 acp.
"Journalism, n. A job for people who flunked out of STEM courses, enjoy making up stories, and have no detectable integrity or morals."

From the WeaponsMan blog, weaponsman.com
User avatar
VMI77
Senior Member
Posts: 6096
Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:49 pm
Location: Victoria, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by VMI77 »

AlaskanInTexas wrote:
VMI77 wrote: Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
Interesting. My initial reaction was "surely a .22lr would have busted through that phone no problem." Then I saw some youtube clips of cell phones stopping .22lr. Probably a lot of variables when it comes to cell phone resistance, as shown by your personal results. New item on to do list: "Round up all old cell phones and take to the range."
Probably depends on several things....the round (subsonic, short, stinger, etc), the phone, the angle of impact, distance, barrel length....I didn't conduct a scientific test, I just had an old phone, set it up, and shot it with a 22 LR and 17 HMR. I didn't try different rounds or other variables.
"Journalism, n. A job for people who flunked out of STEM courses, enjoy making up stories, and have no detectable integrity or morals."

From the WeaponsMan blog, weaponsman.com
TrackinPat
Senior Member
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:46 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by TrackinPat »

VMI77 wrote:
TrackinPat wrote:
VMI77 wrote:
AlaskanInTexas wrote:Here is an interesting story regarding a gas station cashier whose cell phone apparently stopped a bullet. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow ... z2j9RmtKoj. I suspect that this was a ricochet, or perhaps a .22LR (the article says it was a revolver). I doubt a cell phone could come close to stopping anything else. Discuss.
Maybe a 22 short. Otherwise, it was either a spent round or a ricochet. I've shot a cell phone with a 22 LR round and it penetrates just fine, even out beyond 50 yards, as does a 17 HMR. They also go through laptop computers easily. I like to test penetration in various devices on my home range.
Wow. A .17 and .22 and 50 yards penetrated??? That's an eye opener. :eek6
17 HMR is a pretty good penetrator. It craters some of my steel gongs that are barely affected by 9mm or 45 acp.
I knew it was a fast round but hell.. That's impressive!
User avatar
mojo84
Senior Member
Posts: 9045
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:07 pm
Location: Boerne, TX (Kendall County)

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by mojo84 »

Another reason to go Android instead of Apple.
Note: Me sharing a link and information published by others does not constitute my endorsement, agreement, disagreement, my opinion or publishing by me. If you do not like what is contained at a link I share, take it up with the author or publisher of the content.
User avatar
LAYGO
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:18 pm
Location: Cross Roads, TX (Denton Co)

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by LAYGO »

Didn't they cover this on Mythbusters?
S&W M&P 40 Mid (EDC) - S&W Shields (his/hers) - S&W M&P .45C - S&W 4513TSW .45 (1st Gen, retired to nightstand)
CMMG AR15 w/ACOG
Anderson AR15 pistol w/Aimpoint H1

08/04/2013 CHL class taken - plastic rec'd 08/26! Renewed 2018
TrackinPat
Senior Member
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:46 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet

Post by TrackinPat »

LAYGO wrote:Didn't they cover this on Mythbusters?
They did, a bunch of phone books stopped almost everything so if you want protection..... :mrgreen:
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”