Page 1 of 1
Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:18 pm
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.
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:00 pm
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!

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:05 am
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.
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:01 am
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.

Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:11 am
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."
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:16 am
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.

17 HMR is a pretty good penetrator. It craters some of my steel gongs that are barely affected by 9mm or 45 acp.
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:20 am
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.
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 12:32 pm
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.

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!
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 2:33 pm
by mojo84
Another reason to go Android instead of Apple.
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:50 pm
by LAYGO
Didn't they cover this on Mythbusters?
Re: Cell Phone v. Bullet
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:00 pm
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.....
