I read an old thread here on stopping bullets going thru walls.
I thought I'd share my approach to ballistic protection, and ask for suggestions on how I can improve on my preps:
I don’t believe I'll really need ballistic protection generally, but I'd like to be ready if it's needed. (Hopefully, never. But be prepared.)
If trouble comes, I want to be able to put something in place quickly (a few days) to ride out any trouble.
First, let me note that I have purchase $16K of Pennies, in rolls/boxes from my bank. 640 boxes.
Also, $16K of Nickels, also in boxes. 160 boxes.
The copper in these is already worth more then I paid, but I could always use them for currency, if needed.
These are stacked in my basement, along the foundation.
I have also purchase 15 sheets of 12 gauge mild steel, 4’x10’. (a sheet of 12ga is .105 inches thick, fyi.)
I had them cut into strips 16” x 40”, weighing 20 lbs each. $1700 total investment (found a company that got stuck with some, so it was cheaper.)
I bought enough 2” memory foam mattresses, twin size, for my plan. $30 each at Walmart.
I Have a 2nd floor of 4 bedrooms that I want to defend. My plan is as follows:
I put the 12 ga steel stips along the front and back walls, 70 running feet, 40 inches tall all the way around.
Then I put my 2” memory foam, 39” tall, all along the walls behind the steel.
Then I stack my coin boxes like bricks, so that behind the foam I have 4+ inches of copper, nickel and zinc.
Then another row of the steel plates, then foam, then half inch plywood.
My front outside is brick, which also helps.
So what happens is, a round is fired at my siding (almost certainly at an angle – it’s a 2nd floor).
It hits siding and brick, then wood and plaster, then 12 ga steel, which flexes against the foam, then passes thru into the 4 inches of pennies/nickels, which also give as they are hit. Flex helps slow and deflect a round.
Nothing will get thru the coins, but the steel and plywood will prevent pennies from flying out of the boxes as a “ricochet”.
The weight is not insubstantial, but directly above the foundation where all the weight is down on the earth. Should be fine. Until it's needed, it’s all on basement floor.
I’ll also run a single row of steel along the floor, under the pennies, sticking out 16” into the room, so that low shots will deflect away from the people who may be shooting OUT the windows.
It took me a few years to pick up all the coins, but I think it’s a great place to stash my money. Try stealing $16K in pennies!
And since it stays money forever, My ballistic protection is mostly free.
Thoughts? Improvements?
I thought I'd share my approach to ballistic protection, and ask for suggestions on how I can improve on my preps:
I don’t believe I'll really need ballistic protection generally, but I'd like to be ready if it's needed. (Hopefully, never. But be prepared.)
If trouble comes, I want to be able to put something in place quickly (a few days) to ride out any trouble.
First, let me note that I have purchase $16K of Pennies, in rolls/boxes from my bank. 640 boxes.
Also, $16K of Nickels, also in boxes. 160 boxes.
The copper in these is already worth more then I paid, but I could always use them for currency, if needed.
These are stacked in my basement, along the foundation.
I have also purchase 15 sheets of 12 gauge mild steel, 4’x10’. (a sheet of 12ga is .105 inches thick, fyi.)
I had them cut into strips 16” x 40”, weighing 20 lbs each. $1700 total investment (found a company that got stuck with some, so it was cheaper.)
I bought enough 2” memory foam mattresses, twin size, for my plan. $30 each at Walmart.
I Have a 2nd floor of 4 bedrooms that I want to defend. My plan is as follows:
I put the 12 ga steel stips along the front and back walls, 70 running feet, 40 inches tall all the way around.
Then I put my 2” memory foam, 39” tall, all along the walls behind the steel.
Then I stack my coin boxes like bricks, so that behind the foam I have 4+ inches of copper, nickel and zinc.
Then another row of the steel plates, then foam, then half inch plywood.
My front outside is brick, which also helps.
So what happens is, a round is fired at my siding (almost certainly at an angle – it’s a 2nd floor).
It hits siding and brick, then wood and plaster, then 12 ga steel, which flexes against the foam, then passes thru into the 4 inches of pennies/nickels, which also give as they are hit. Flex helps slow and deflect a round.
Nothing will get thru the coins, but the steel and plywood will prevent pennies from flying out of the boxes as a “ricochet”.
The weight is not insubstantial, but directly above the foundation where all the weight is down on the earth. Should be fine. Until it's needed, it’s all on basement floor.
I’ll also run a single row of steel along the floor, under the pennies, sticking out 16” into the room, so that low shots will deflect away from the people who may be shooting OUT the windows.
It took me a few years to pick up all the coins, but I think it’s a great place to stash my money. Try stealing $16K in pennies!
And since it stays money forever, My ballistic protection is mostly free.
Thoughts? Improvements?
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