Cellphone Stops Bullet Fired By Robber

[Aluisious]

Yep. If anything will stop it, the battery will. But a phone isn't going to stop much. This guy is insanely lucky. It could have missed the battery and gone straight thru the phone and injured or killed him. I also want to know what caliber and type of bullet this was. Nothing in the article about it. That couldn't have been a large caliber. Most likely 9mm or smaller. If that had been a .45, the bullet would have gone through the phone like a hot knife thru butter. The bullet may even have had enough energy to go completely thru the victim.

It wasn't a 9, a phone isn't going to do shit against a 9. And for the record, a 45 penetrates less hard material than a 9mm, because it has such a large surface area.

This was most likely a .22 LR.

 

[Deleted member 126051]

Think they will cover it under warranty?

If I was the vendor or manufacturer, I'd be offering the guy his choice of replacement.

"This phone here *indicates blasted phone in a glass case* saved a customer's life."

You can't BUY advertising that good!

 

[Old_Way]

Definitely a small caliber. Take a look at the attached chart link and you'll see that any 'decent' sized caliber would just laugh at that phone on it's way through.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_power_chart.htm

 

[amddragonpc]

Looks like .22 caliber. Maybe .380 auto. Anything larger would have got through.

 

[BakedA|aska]

Yep. If anything will stop it, the battery will. But a phone isn't going to stop much. This guy is insanely lucky. It could have missed the battery and gone straight thru the phone and injured or killed him. I also want to know what caliber and type of bullet this was. Nothing in the article about it. That couldn't have been a large caliber. Most likely 9mm or smaller. If that had been a .45, the bullet would have gone through the phone like a hot knife thru butter. The bullet may even have had enough energy to go completely thru the victim.

Not terribly familiar with firearms, are you?

Believe it or not, a 9mm actually has similar muzzle energy to the .45ACP, but a higher velocity, making it MORE likely to penetrate. The larger a bullet is, the larger the wound channel is, but less penetration occurs relative to a smaller bullet carrying the same amount of muzzle energy.

Most of the criticism of the 9mm Parabellum round comes from soldiers who are required by international law, to use full metal jacket ammunition. FMJ ammunition does not expand much on impact and as such can over penetrate, causing a large portion of the bullet's energy to go unspent as the bullet leaves an exit wound and continues on its course. Because of the tendency for 9mm Parabellum FMJ to over penetrate, our soldiers greatly preferred the .45ACP, which imparted all of its energy on the unwitting victim, killing or disabling them in the process.

 

[Ducman69]

The larger a bullet is, the larger the wound channel is, but less penetration occurs relative to a smaller bullet carrying the same amount of muzzle energy.

And that's why every self-respecting guy should also have a Keltec PLR16 pistol. 1500ftlbs on 5.56mm. Legal armor piercing!

 

[Phoenix333]

Examining the photo, the deepest penetration point has a diameter of approximately 5-6mm. A .22LR or .22 short is 5.6mm before it deforms, so I can almost guarantee that it was fired from a .22 or a .25ACP pistol. A .22 magnum would probably have had enough energy to penetrate further than that, possibly through the phone. The diameter of the hole looks too small for a .32ACP, which probably would have penetrated the phone completely, and far too small for a .380ACP, which would have penetrated the phone completely. If it had been a shallow angle glancing impact in loose clothing it could have maybe deflected a larger round, but that's a pretty straight-on impact. A larger caliber with more energy than a .22 or .25 and I'm sure he'd have remembered feeling some kind of impact, even if it failed to penetrate through the phone and into tissue. People may make fun of .38 Special saying it's underpowered, but it has more than enough energy to go right through a phone like that and punch a clean hole in someone behind it. Need proof? Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWkXNTuUVI

There's no way that phone was hit by a 9mm or larger. The phone would have been completely shattered with full penetration from a FMJ round, and a hollow point would have caused a lot more extensive damage to the surface and still penetrated fully into the individual. Either way that fellow would either be in the hospital or the morgue.

A lot of crooks use weaksauce pistols like this because they're small and easy to conceal, cheap, and your average street thug knows squat about terminal ballistics. That's a good thing. EMT's and law enforcement prefer crooks use less effective weapons as it increases the chances of a victim surviving and having fewer serious injuries.

Revolvers now come in limited calibers. .25 ACP or .32 ACP have little pentration power, but they aren't in revolvers.

There's 22LR and 22 Magnum in revolvers, and Taurus makes a .380ACP revolver. I don't remember ever seeing a revolver chambered for .25ACP or .32ACP though.

 

[Phoenix333]

And that's why every self-respecting guy should also have a Keltec PLR16 pistol. 1500ftlbs on 5.56mm. Legal armor piercing!

AKS-74U is another option if you want to go that route. Good luck concealing either on a hot day though.

 

[Ducman69]

AKS-74U is another option if you want to go that route. Good luck concealing either on a hot day though.

Fits just fine in a laptop bag, heh!

 

[Qinsp]

Examining the photo, the deepest penetration point has a diameter of approximately 5-6mm. A .22LR or .22 short is 5.6mm before it deforms, so I can almost guarantee that it was fired from a .22 or a .25ACP pistol. A .22 magnum would probably have had enough energy to penetrate further than that, possibly through the phone. The diameter of the hole looks too small for a .32ACP, which probably would have penetrated the phone completely, and far too small for a .380ACP, which would have penetrated the phone completely. If it had been a shallow angle glancing impact in loose clothing it could have maybe deflected a larger round, but that's a pretty straight-on impact. A larger caliber with more energy than a .22 or .25 and I'm sure he'd have remembered feeling some kind of impact, even if it failed to penetrate through the phone and into tissue. People may make fun of .38 Special saying it's underpowered, but it has more than enough energy to go right through a phone like that and punch a clean hole in someone behind it. Need proof? Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWkXNTuUVI

There's no way that phone was hit by a 9mm or larger. The phone would have been completely shattered with full penetration from a FMJ round, and a hollow point would have caused a lot more extensive damage to the surface and still penetrated fully into the individual. Either way that fellow would either be in the hospital or the morgue.

A lot of crooks use weaksauce pistols like this because they're small and easy to conceal, cheap, and your average street thug knows squat about terminal ballistics. That's a good thing. EMT's and law enforcement prefer crooks use less effective weapons as it increases the chances of a victim surviving and having fewer serious injuries.



There's 22LR and 22 Magnum in revolvers, and Taurus makes a .380ACP revolver. I don't remember ever seeing a revolver chambered for .25ACP or .32ACP though.

Yeah, the also make/made a revolver that would use 9mm, and one that did .45auto, using half-moon clips.

They are just very rare since they are a PITA. If you want a revolver, a .38 +P matches the 9mm ballistics, and a 45auto can match a .45 long Colt.

Best bet, is a .22LR pistol. Cheap, common, and the .22 kills more people than any other caliber. Not from firepower, but from availability.

 

[Phoenix333]

Yeah, the also make/made a revolver that would use 9mm, and one that did .45auto, using half-moon clips.

They also make full moon clips. They're like a no-brainer speed loader, and are a better option than half moon clips. If you prefer to keep a wheel gun that's the same caliber as your autoloader it's an option anyway.

If you want a revolver, a .38 +P matches the 9mm ballistics, and a 45auto can match a .45 long Colt.

For most loads, .38 +P isn't as good in a snubby as it is with a 4" or greater barrel. There's very little velocity increase out of a 1.5" or 2" barrel, just a lot of flash. Better off just using a defensive JHP like PDX or Hydra-shok in a snubby. A .357magnum will have more energy, but in a lightweight snubby that's going to have a brutal recoil impulse and very large muzzle blast. I know a fellow that's shot almost everything around, and he'd take a .44 magnum snubby over a .357 magnum snubby for which one hurts his hands less.

Best bet, is a .22LR pistol. Cheap, common, and the .22 kills more people than any other caliber. Not from firepower, but from availability.

By "best bet" I'm assuming you're referring to the picture as opposed what to use. Indeed, the .22 does kill more often. A shot to the heart with a .22 is going to kill someone just the same as with a .45, and brain penetration with a .22 is still going to ruin your day if you live from it. Problem with a .22 is sometimes people don't even know they've been shot. It's a small wound and depending on where someone is hit internal bleeding can be going on and the body has already pinched off the outside hole. A ruptured artery is bad news anywhere in the body, and if someone thinks they weren't hit and don't recognize "that dull ache" as a gunshot wound and seek medical help they can die in their sleep overnight from acute hypotension. Not getting shot at all is preferable to anything, but it's usually better to get hit in the arm by a 9mm than hit in the chest with a .22. You can live without an arm, but heart and lungs are a bit more important.

 

[atp1916]

When i did security in the day, the last thing i'd want shot at me was a .22.

Forced me to wear ballistic plates cause cops told me the 22 would penetrate right through unreinforced L3a stuff.

 

[Qinsp]

They also make full moon clips. They're like a no-brainer speed loader, and are a better option than half moon clips. If you prefer to keep a wheel gun that's the same caliber as your autoloader it's an option anyway.



For most loads, .38 +P isn't as good in a snubby as it is with a 4" or greater barrel. There's very little velocity increase out of a 1.5" or 2" barrel, just a lot of flash. Better off just using a defensive JHP like PDX or Hydra-shok in a snubby. A .357magnum will have more energy, but in a lightweight snubby that's going to have a brutal recoil impulse and very large muzzle blast. I know a fellow that's shot almost everything around, and he'd take a .44 magnum snubby over a .357 magnum snubby for which one hurts his hands less.



By "best bet" I'm assuming you're referring to the picture as opposed what to use. Indeed, the .22 does kill more often. A shot to the heart with a .22 is going to kill someone just the same as with a .45, and brain penetration with a .22 is still going to ruin your day if you live from it. Problem with a .22 is sometimes people don't even know they've been shot. It's a small wound and depending on where someone is hit internal bleeding can be going on and the body has already pinched off the outside hole. A ruptured artery is bad news anywhere in the body, and if someone thinks they weren't hit and don't recognize "that dull ache" as a gunshot wound and seek medical help they can die in their sleep overnight from acute hypotension. Not getting shot at all is preferable to anything, but it's usually better to get hit in the arm by a 9mm than hit in the chest with a .22. You can live without an arm, but heart and lungs are a bit more important.

My personal carry choice is a 5 shot hammerless S&W with .38 +P. Small, light, never jams, you can barely tell it's in my hand. Blows a foot of flame out of it's snubnose in low light conditions. Sounds like a 44 with 8 3/8" barrel. Your ears ring for a while.

But... I also have a 15rnd .40 S&W. Easy to shoot, lots of punch, goes through windshields, and lots-o-lead. When loaded, even though it's a Plastic Fantastic, it weighs a bunch. Not something for daily use.

 

[Aluisious]

Cheap, common, and the .22 kills more people than any other caliber. Not from firepower, but from availability.

Urban legend. I guarantee .30 caliber rifle bullets have killed more people than any other. It's common sense, between the AK47, 7.62x51mm NATO, and nearly everything during and before WW2.

 

[Aluisious]

My personal carry choice is a 5 shot hammerless S&W with .38 +P. Small, light, never jams, you can barely tell it's in my hand. Blows a foot of flame out of it's snubnose in low light conditions. Sounds like a 44 with 8 3/8" barrel. Your ears ring for a while.

But... I also have a 15rnd .40 S&W. Easy to shoot, lots of punch, goes through windshields, and lots-o-lead. When loaded, even though it's a Plastic Fantastic, it weighs a bunch. Not something for daily use.

Personally I have a .45 Kimber that exists mostly to buy time until I retrieve my 12 gauge full of 00 buck.

I have an AR15 and two AK47s, but inside a house, you can't argue with 9 pellets at a time.

 

[Phoenix333]

Urban legend. I guarantee .30 caliber rifle bullets have killed more people than any other. It's common sense, between the AK47, 7.62x51mm NATO, and nearly everything during and before WW2.

I don't think warfare casualties are included with that statistic...

 

[Phoenix333]

When i did security in the day, the last thing i'd want shot at me was a .22.

Forced me to wear ballistic plates cause cops told me the 22 would penetrate right through unreinforced L3a stuff.

http://www.njlawman.com/Feature Pieces/Body Armor.htm

Feel a bit better about your armor. That idea that a .22Lr will penetrate armor is an urban legend. A .22Lr won't even go through Level I armor. If it did they would have tried decades ago to ban the .22 as a "cop killer" bullet. It may be small, but it lacks energy. The cops in question might have gotten mixed up. A .22-250 is a .22 caliber round that WILL penetrate vests, but you won't see THIS coming out of a pocket pistol. I imagine that might be where the urban legend started. Someone said a .22 caliber rifle would shoot through a vest, and people assumed .22Lr was meant. That's like talking about 7.62mm ammo. 7.62 what? 7.62x39? 7.62 NATO? 7.62x54r? Details matter.

 

[Qinsp]

Urban legend. I guarantee .30 caliber rifle bullets have killed more people than any other. It's common sense, between the AK47, 7.62x51mm NATO, and nearly everything during and before WW2.

Well, I was talking crime, but both NATO and Russia have been using .22's for 50 years now.

M-16 and AK-74 ...

 

[Qinsp]

DOH!! 40 years

 

[Aluisious]

Well, I was talking crime, but both NATO and Russia have been using .22's for 50 years now.

M-16 and AK-74 ...

The Russians don't shoot all that many people themselves. The exported and foreign made AK47s are cleaning out Africa and Asia.

Americans still use 30 caliber for heavy weapons support, vehicles, sniper rifles...etc. Most people we kill aren't shot by a rifleman.

 

[atp1916]

http://www.njlawman.com/Feature Pieces/Body Armor.htm

Feel a bit better about your armor. That idea that a .22Lr will penetrate armor is an urban legend. A .22Lr won't even go through Level I armor. If it did they would have tried decades ago to ban the .22 as a "cop killer" bullet. It may be small, but it lacks energy. The cops in question might have gotten mixed up. A .22-250 is a .22 caliber round that WILL penetrate vests, but you won't see THIS coming out of a pocket pistol. I imagine that might be where the urban legend started. Someone said a .22 caliber rifle would shoot through a vest, and people assumed .22Lr was meant. That's like talking about 7.62mm ammo. 7.62 what? 7.62x39? 7.62 NATO? 7.62x54r? Details matter.

Very interesting link. Thanks!

I still head out there (part-time) and i would dare say i feel a bit nekkid without that vest on.

 

[Nanan]

That was an HTC EVO 3D or LTE. If that had been an HTC One, he'd have been a dead man. EVO's are built like friggin' tanks. I own one and keep it in my shirt pocket all the time.

It is an Evo3D, was a good phone just wish HTC would have used some more open standard hardware so 3rd party stuff was easier to get running.

 

[Admiral Equinox]

Who cares what the gun was, had the phone not been there at all, he would've been fucked. Glad the guy is okay, this is an amazing story.

 

[Ducman69]

Who cares what the gun was, had the phone not been there at all, he would've been fucked. Glad the guy is okay, this is an amazing story.

Not likely, it likely wouldn't have imparted much energy, and produced a wound similar to poking someone with an icepick. In the right place, fatal, but in the gut probably not.

 

[Admiral Equinox]

Not likely, it likely wouldn't have imparted much energy, and produced a wound similar to poking someone with an icepick. In the right place, fatal, but in the gut probably not.

Would you enjoy getting poked with an icepick, ever? I sure as hell wouldn't.

 

[Aluisious]

Getting poked in the gut with an icepick, no less, which has excellent chances of being fatal due to sepsis.

 

[Snowdog]

I figure it must have been a .22 or .25 and he was incredibly lucky.