[yy]

So as not to hi-jack twoblink's thread:

remember RoboCop? Remember that scene where the BG was shooting some large caliber round thru a car? The BG shot one round after another from the front to the back of the car and took out the LEO behind the car?

OK, so with the thinner and lighter car bodies of today, the car offers little to no cover except perhaps for the engine block.

So the question is, just how much protection can today's cars provide? What about SUVs? The higher clearance in SUV's seem to offer less cover to hide behind.

Let's talk handgun rounds. I'm thinking of the Burbank CA robbers that used AK's and body armor against LEO's with handguns.

[Mark Tyson]

Cars today are generally paper thin. You can shoot right through the doors and roof. I've seen 7.62x39 go through doors and hoods. Don't know about handguns, but I'd imagine the smaller faster bullets can penetrate. Bigger ones like the 45 acp will probably not though. The engine however, is a massive hunk of metal, and I don't think any bullet is going through it. Disabling a vehicle with gunfire is another matter, that can be done.

[LeonCarr]

The best way to stop a vehicle is to stop the driver. The engine block will stop most any small arm short of a .50 BMG. I have shot them with everything up to .338 Winchester Magnum, with no complete penetration. For cover, stick to the front tires, watch for rounds coming in under the vehicle, and shoot back under the vehicle. The bad guys will not want to shoot at you if you blow off their feet :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[makarov]

When I was 16 I replaced the car door on my 67 Fairlane. What to do with a complete car door with a dent? Well shoot it of course. Needless to say that a mid 60's car has much thicker steel than any of today's cars, yet failed to stop even .22's. 12 gauge target loads went right through it at close range too.