Good cover

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Okay, so I have heard people use the term cover, and I am familiar with the term. My question however, is what are the different types of cover, and how does one utilize each type.
For example, I have heard of, and seen vehicles being utilized as cover, especially for LEO. However, I know for a fact that a car isn't going to stop a bullet from an Ak. Even with hollow points, my AK made mincemeat of a Ford Explorer. Maybe hiding behind the engine could work, but the rest? Will a vehicle stop a .45? Are they utilizing the vehicle merely because it provides a hiding spot, and it's the closest thing available? I think this is soft cover?
 
You're speaking about cover vs concealment. Something which hides you is not necessarily going to stop a bullet (concealment) - and something which will stop one caliber or bullet type (cover) will not stop a bullet of another caliber or type, hence the terms soft cover and hard cover.

Depends what exactly people are using to shoot at you with, really. Also, behind the engine-block provides the most cover, followed by the wheels/suspension area - but you should realise that vehicles are in themselves bullet-magnets, assuming you're wandering around some bad areas of the planet.
 
Correct cover using a vehicle places the block of the engine between you and the threat. This leaves you with the problem of bouncing bullets comming from below the car. Anything other than that is concealment, not cover. Use that to get the heck out of the line of fire.
 
Cover is a very touchy subject... as we know cover protects you (or it should at least)

as for using vehicles it is better than nothing, in general in my training program i try to use the rear most portions of the car(creating distance and adding more metal and material between incomming fire and myself).and vice versa to the front of the car depending on threat. there is no real correct way yes in a perfect world 4-6 feet back from the engin using the wheel wells as for of cover as well as the engine would be great.... to bad all gun fights dont happen from the front or rear of the car.

vehicles can act as cover and or concealment depending on type of weapon used and what your postion is to the vehicle.... as always alternate postions of fighting from around, in and under teh car or truck are better than standing in the open. make use of what you have and create distance move to a better source of cover if possible.... as for handgun/rifle rounds Well there are no absolutes in this world i have seen 45 and other rounds defelct off hat brims and handgun rounds stopped by badges. rifle rounds have done the same. the best advise is to move shoot use cover when you can create distance.

as for use of cover..... again very differeto bent schools here.. sometimes you need to be close to cover fo rit to be effective...(say multiply bad guys) an other times you have to be back from it single or multiply again but at further distance and less of an angle on you and your postion....... the only real thing is to practice alot from each postion make use of all cover present and learn what tools to use and when. the only way is through training. in all postions

if your to close to the car you can get secondary missles from glass and metal and bullet fragments from impacts..... off the hood and windows frames etc.. good luck .
 
dasmi, thanks for the link, that is what I was talking about. I see now, however, that a car is concealment, not cover. I was just confused because I always see LEO hiding behind their car, during high danger situations, and with my experience, a car sucks for cover. So what is the point? Why hide behind a car when a bullet can go right through? Is it pretty much "Better than nothing?". I'm also curious as to just how much energy a bullet has after penetrating both doors, ie: would the car slow the bullet enough for body armor to do the rest? I know this depends on the bullet.

Also, I wasn't shooting a buick, but I'll be damned if a single 7.62x39mm bullet did not penetrate both doors of the explorer. And the holes on the backside were a whole heck of a lot bigger than in those pictures. Of course, I was shooting HP's. I know one specific shot went through the driver side door, through the driver's seat, passenger's seat, and out the passenger door, no problem.

So, we have determined that a vehicle is not necessarily suitable for cover, (or at least I have). So what is good cover? I'm assuming it is situation dependant?
 
So what if anything of the engine was actually hit by the rounds fired and how far did they penetrate. and so on....... dont base tactics off one test..... every gunfight has variables that no test can control..... calibers impact angles, height of shot angle defelction etc..... are all factors.
 
Vehicles make better cover than thin air. Knowing how to use your vehicle as cover effectively takes a little practice. One glaring error I often see from Hollyweird is people shooting over the hoods and roofs of vehicles. I don't know about you, but one range session of skipping bullets off hoods and into targets will teach you all you need to know about flat surfaces and bullets. If you place a target as if it were someone peeking over the hood and shoot the hood in front of it, the bullet strikes the target almost every time. Ditto for bullets skipped off the pavement under the car.

We train to use the vehicle as cover long enough to get to a position of advantage or, if it's the only available cover, to use the wheels and engine block and shoot around the side of the car. Not the best solution but, again, it beats thin air.
 
Exactly, your best source of cover is a partner that can cover you to get to better postion, and then you covering them.... Engins, wheels tires axles etc.. are not bullet proof to all calibers but it is better than nothing......
 
A foot or two of sand will soak up just about anything likely to be shot at you in the civilian scenarios, so the best cover has got to be planet earth. Not being a smart aleck, just emphasizing that ground is the best widely available cover.

Reinforced concrete walls are probably a second place for both rifle and handgun. Not much else except lots of steel, concrete or sand/earth will be good cover against rifle rounds.

A couple feet of wood, such as a tree becomes cover from handgun rounds and maybe the 5.56, but certainly not for the .308. Brick walls can be cover against handgun and limited cover for rifle (can be broken down with multiple shots).

You can't go to wrong seeking cover in a ditch, behind a hillock, large rock (2 ft or more diameter), etc. Be careful about any man made "cover" as it may not be as solidly constructed as it may appear.
 
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