Ever Considered Shooting Through Your Vehicle Windshield?

[Abraham]

Or side window?

I watched this being done on "Best Defense" - sadly the balance of the recording wasn't there as the power went out while it was being recorded.

So, I'm left with the question, at what point or situation would you shoot through your windshield or side windows?

(know doubt the muzzle blast would be deafening, not to mention the possibility of glass shrapnel coming back at you, so I imagine things would have to be pretty desperate to do this, but if it saved your or your loved ones lives...)

What say you?

Thanks!

[WildBill]

Or side window?

I watched this being done on "Best Defense" - sadly the balance of the recording wasn't there as the power went out while it was being recorded.

So, I'm left with the question, at what point or situation would you shoot through your windshield or side windows?

(know doubt the muzzle blast would be deafening, not to mention the possibility of glass shrapnel coming back at you, so I imagine things would have to be pretty desperate to do this, but if it saved your or your loved ones lives...)

What say you?

Thanks!

Good question. I have not given it too much thought, but if I couldn't escape, I would probably roll down a side window if I had to shoot.
If not, I would think the blast would burst an eardrum or two.

It seems that there would be a good chance of the windshield deflecting the bullet path so if the person were in front, I would probably use the gas pedal first.

[Pawpaw]

It is a viable last-ditch option.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMGMnXVWlQ[/video]

[C-dub]

If your windows are up and you need to shoot, you won't have time to put a window down. Gas pedal is a great option if your vehicle is on and not disabled or obstructed. If shooting through a side window, the distance is unlikely to affect any deflection due to the proximity of the BG. The slanted front and rear windows do cause a downward deflection of the first round or two until there is enough of a hole that it doesn't matter any longer. So, the tactic for the first shot through the windshield is to aim the first 1-2 shots a little higher. Same goes for shooting from the outside through a windshield. I don't know exactly how much the deflection is, but from a view of the videos I've seen on the subject, a few inches should be enough.

[C-dub]

It is a viable last-ditch option.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMGMnXVWlQ[/video]

This is one of the videos I've seen on the subject.

[WildBill]

AndyC - It's always nice to hear from someone with first hand experience.

[mojo84]

Looks like that spare tire could have been put to good use.

[Cedar Park Dad]

I'll be honest. I've never been so mad at my car that I wanted to shoot it through the windshield. Through the engine...yes, but not the windshield.

[VMI77]

Did it in training a number of times, did it for real once with an AK to get close-range beaucoup bad guys off of us:

[ Image ]

[ Image ]

In training it hurt but in the above scene I barely heard a thing. I couldn't shoot through the window itself (bullet-resistant), so I shot through the bodywork underneath it which broke the glass of the commander-side window. This doesn't make me an expert in any way in terms of the accuracy of a bullet after it hits glass, mind you - I wasn't even able to use the sights in that position but the fire was effective.

Seems like the bullet resistant glass isn't a lot of protection if the doors are unarmored? Is that a tradeoff between coverage, cost, and weight, or is there some other reason for just doing the glass? If you took any hits on the glass I bet the BGs got a big surprise when those bullets came through the door?

[mojo84]

The doors are armored, but there's a sliding slot to get to the door-handle - that's where I stuck the muzzle.

Looks like that spare tire could have been put to good use.

Gotta have a sense of priorities, mate ;)

Probably the least of your worries at the moment.

[thatguy]

Very good question and I have not done this yet. I have practiced drawing my gun while seated in the car and pushing the gun close to the W.S. and found some distortion in my sight picture (also banged the WS with my muzzle). I've also looked out other windows as well anticipating that I may not be able to drive away or exit the vehicle quickly. I have also found that it is very difficult to maneuver around inside my car while the B.G. just has to aim in my general direction.

P.S. I don't like drive thru's...

[cb1000rider]

Our CHL instructor indicated that he carried at 6 o'clock, and was completely prepared to reach back and shoot through the door... Assuming the target is on the other side of the door.

If your target is already on the windshield, the job is probably already done.

[AlaskanInTexas]

The slanted front and rear windows do cause a downward deflection of the first round or two until there is enough of a hole that it doesn't matter any longer. So, the tactic for the first shot through the windshield is to aim the first 1-2 shots a little higher. Same goes for shooting from the outside through a windshield. I don't know exactly how much the deflection is, but from a view of the videos I've seen on the subject, a few inches should be enough.

Not an expert, but it is my understanding that the angle of the windshield from outside would turn the bullet down (somewhat counterintuitivly) and from the inside would turn it up. So from inside you would need to aim low.