quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:
We had a bunch of old cars and we tried shooting into and out of the cars to see how things worked. The 357SIGs seemed to do the best through the windshields.

But anyways, a neighboring PD had a pursuit come through and crash and the guy came out and tried to shoot. the officer shot him through the windshield with no problems and ended it. I think they were issued Glock 22s at the time.

I’d imagine shooting into a vehicle the deflection would be very minimal. You shoot at the windshield from 25 yards and the bullet hits the windshield as it passes through into driver only a couple to maybe few feet behind it is easy shooting. Shooting a windshield that deflects the rounds right in front of you and hoping to make good hits on target 50 yards or whatever down range isn’t so easy…

I've shot a lot of glass. Probably 20-25 windshields, about as many side windows, maybe a dozen back windows. Lots of A/B/C/D pillars, door panels, etc.

My observations:

1) Deflection, even through laminated glass like a windshield is not significant, but projectile integrity is an issue. I guess you could say that a projectile that is destroyed and becomes a dozen small projectiles is still be deflected, but when they're that mangled by the glass they really don't end up with much of a trajectory.

2) Deflection will generally follow the path of least resistance given the rake and curve of the glass. This means that rounds going out tend to be deflected up and out and rounds going in tend to be deflected down and in. I'll repeat that the deflection is not really that significant provided that there is usable projectile after defeating the glass.

3) Once there is a big enough hole in the windshield (which tends to happen with firing out), there is obviously no deflection. This obviously applies to rounds coming in as well.

4) Bigger isn't always better. It took us three 1 oz slugs to hit a steel plate in front of a car shooting from the inside out. It wasn't that the slug was being deflected so badly, it was that it was being severely damaged and destroyed. This was somewhat contrary to our hypothesis.

5) Bonded projectiles do a better job of getting through the glass. This applies to rifle and pistol rounds.

6) Laminated class works both ways. I'm not saying to use it for cover or to expect it to do something, but the odds are that it's going to play hell on any incoming projectiles. The more energy and bullet technology you put behind them, the less true the statement is, but most handgun rounds are going to be pretty eaten up by the glass until its structure is pretty damaged.

7) Laminated glass is not just for windshields. Crash ratings and sound deadening is moving it into side glass on a lot of vehicles. The newer they are, the more likely the glass is laminate.

Overall, an engagement through a windshield is a low probability event. I generally think the police chase videos with the cop shooting through the windshield while pursuing a vehicle are an example of what not to do. The rounds are less likely to be effective until there's a hole, but once there's a hole, you're talking about hitting a moving target to end all moving targets. Every round that doesn't terminate in the suspect or their vehicle is out there looking for something to destroy. Even if the suspect is struck, the vehicle potentially becomes a missile. The suspect's rounds are also going to be inaccurate and cutting a hole in your own windshield (right in front of your face) by shooting through it removes the limited protection that is available. Proactive termination through vehicle contact is a far better option.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:

My observations:

1) Deflection, even through laminated glass like a windshield is not significant, but projectile integrity is an issue. I guess you could say that a projectile that is destroyed and becomes a dozen small projectiles is still be deflected, but when they're that mangled by the glass they really don't end up with much of a trajectory.

2) Deflection will generally follow the path of least resistance given the rake and curve of the glass. This means that rounds going out tend to be deflected up and out and rounds going in tend to be deflected down and in. I'll repeat that the deflection is not really that significant provided that there is usable projectile after defeating the glass.

3) Once there is a big enough hole in the windshield (which tends to happen with firing out), there is obviously no deflection. This obviously applies to rounds coming in as well.

5) Bonded projectiles do a better job of getting through the glass. This applies to rifle and pistol rounds.

These are My observations as well after several VCQB classes using ARs and 9mm pistols. To hit anything at distance from inside the car, you jammed the rifle barrel through the windshield when you shot it enough to make a hole. Really does a number on the bluing though.