I'm interested in the distance you were shooting from and the types of projectiles used.
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Will a Gun Safe Door Stop a Pistol?
- Thread starter SubieGuy4
- Start date
I'm interested in the distance you were shooting from and the types of projectiles used.
AF83
NES Member
This. Also was the plate hanging or stationary when you shot at it.
Either way I wouldn't put my life on it.
.115" cold rolled steel. (12ga)
38special, 9mm, 40S&W did not penetrate. 44magnum blew right through, .223 blew right through.
Thanks VERY much for that. That was exactly what I was hoping would turn up when I started this thread. I'd also be interested in knowing the distance and loads, but this is encouraging regardless. I positioned the safe in such a way that the only place an aggressor could be attacking that location from, the bullets would be striking the steel at a 45 degree angle. Given this picture I think it would stop a pistol round at that angle, or at least slow it to the point of not likely being lethal.
On another unrelated note. For anyone moving a safe 600lbs or under. Get Forearm Forklift straps. I moved my 400lb safe through the house and up a flight of stairs with just me and a friend. I weigh 155lbs... No rollers dollies, etc.
That's true of composite doors or bodies, which are thicker, but weaker than plate steel doors and bodies. My safe is not sandwiched materials. It's 12ga steel on 6 sides with fireproofing materials inside that, just for heat insulation. I did my research before buying and I made sure to get a safe with plate steel, not "composites."
about 25yd. leaning against cinder blocks.
the 38's were reloads.
The 9mm 115gr WWB. .223 were 64gr. winchester power points.
40's were Remington, not sure what grain.
I would think an additional layer on the inside, like 1/2" plywood, might make a big difference. The bullet will tend to break up going thru the steel door, and the plywood would probably stop the slowed and deformed bullet
Can you be more specific? Are we talking about a 22 lr handgun or a 500 S&W magnum? Kind of makes a difference..
![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
Hmm. 25 yards is a little far. A 9mm loses about 10% of its energy in that distance, and WWB isn't exactly hot to start with. Was it flat against the blocks or just leaning against them. If the former, I'm sure they helped prevent penetration. If the latter, that seems like a decent safe analog.
You are overthinking one particular scenario. You have all the info you really need here. 12ga is better than nothing, but rifle is rifle and pistol is pistol...
Does you no good to have cover from one narrow direction when a determined bad-guy(s) that are going to even stick around after shots are fired could just go or send a friend around the side or back of you and blast through drywall...
dcmdon
NES Member
A hard drive will absolutely stop a 9mm. I know that for a fact.
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and a cast iron tub. Mine is 3/8" thick and weighs 600 lbs.
