How Many Pillows Does it Take to Stop a Bullet?

Scientific concepts / phenomena presented

• Projectile penetration and ballistic stopping power Testing how different bullet calibers perforate layered soft materials.

• Energy dissipation in flexible layers Observing how successive “pillows” absorb and deform under impact, leading to:

  • Penetration through multiple layers
  • Bulging / failed containment at later layers
  • Eventual stopping in deeper layers
  • Occasional deflection / veer-off at very high energy

• Material deformation mechanisms

  • Entry / exit hole formation
  • Bulging at the back face of successive pillows, indicating progressive energy loss

Methodology / experiment outlined (as described)

• Sequentially shoot higher and higher caliber bullets into stacked pillows.
• For each caliber:
  • Record how many pillows the projectile passes through
  • Note whether it stops (and in which pillow)
  • Note whether it bulges out at the next layer(s)
  • For the highest caliber: note if it veers off instead of fully stopping straight through

Results by caliber (from the subtitles)

• .22

  • Penetrates 1 pillow
  • Bulges out the back of pillow 2

• .380

  • Penetrates 3 pillows
  • Bulges out the back of pillow 4

• 9 mm

  • Penetrates 6 pillows
  • Bulges out the back of pillow 7

• .44 Magnum (revolver)

  • Penetrates 6 pillows
  • Bulges out pillow 7

• .50 AE (Desert Eagle)

  • Penetrates 8 pillows
  • Stops in the back of pillow 9

• 12 gauge slug

  • Penetrates 11 pillows
  • Bulges out the back of pillow 12

• .223 (AR)

  • Penetrates 13 pillows
  • Stops in the back of pillow 14

• 7.62×39 (AK-47)

  • Penetrates 19 pillows
  • Stops in the back of pillow 20

• .308 (SCAR)

  • Penetrates 20 pillows
  • Stops in the back of pillow 21

• .30-06

  • Penetrates 31 pillows
  • Stops in the back of pillow 32

• .50 caliber (final)

  • Penetrates 36 pillows
  • Then veers off
  • “Fred survives”

Researchers / sources featured

• No external researchers or scientific sources are named.
• A person named “Fred” appears as the target/character affected by the tests (not identified as a researcher).