My friend Pighelmet sent me an IM on AR15.com saying, “Hey O_P, I’ve got some bullet resistant glass. Wonder if it will really stop bullets? Want to shoot it? I will send it to you.”

The only answer was, “Sure! Why not?”

The material is called Polycast, cast acrylic sheet. It is clear and 1 1/4 inches thick. The sheet was approximately 20″ X 14″

Of course, you give up something for this protection. In this case you accept the penalty of weight.

t’s not a laminated type of glass but a type of plastic.

I found the properties listed on this website.

Its uses include: “Aircraft manufacturers use Polycast sheet in jets and helicopters. Bullet-resisting Polycast sheet helps solve security problems for banks and stores.”

The challenging question for today is: “How “bullet-resistant” is bullet-resistant Polycast sheeting?”

I built a frame for it as this is required for the glass to work as directed.

We shot from approximately 50 feet.

First we shot it with a .22 LR rifle.

It just made a little crack-type mark on the glass.

Then with a 9mm 115 gr. Ball.

Shot it with my Beretta 92FS, as is in current use in the sandbox.

It dimpled the glass, but no effect on the back side.

Then with .45ACP Ball.

We were surprised that the .45ACP only slightly dimpled the glass.

Or, as Tman said, “Stop, or I’ll dent your car!”

Time for the rifles.

First the favorite of AR15.com, the AR15 (what else?)

It made a deep crater in the glass, but did not go through.

It blew shards off of the back side.

Then, the favorite weapon of the “other side”, the 7.62 X 39 AK.

Again, it blew shards off the front and back, but did not go through.

Now the big boys.

Shot it with a 7.62 X 51 Ball.

Once again, we were surprised that it did not go through, although it blew shards off front and back.

Wonder if a 12 gauge slug will bust it? Let’s see!

Tman caught me in full recoil and you can see the fragments of glass splashing into the water puddle behind the target.

It went through it like a dose of salt.

It was amazing!

This is where we found the biggest pieces of glass.

Before we went home, I needed to see if Quigley could bust through.

Shot it with my Shiloh Sharps .45-70, 510 grain hard cast, gas-checked round nose.

As Masterson says, “The legendary Sharps…”

It blew a hole about 4 inches by 6 inches through the glass.

To be honest, we felt that the glass had been compromised somewhat by this time due to cracks made by the 12 gauge slug.

But it wouldn’t have made any difference.

Lessons learned:

Shooting stuff is fun. Bullet resistant Polycast is bullet resistant. For some bullets. Not so for others. Handguns are handguns and rifles are rifles. Once again, enough said. Shotgun slugs are awesome. Tman and I discussed how we are continuing to gain respect for the 12 gauge slug.

We don’t want to over-learn any lessons. That doesn’t mean that it is the best defense load, but it sure seems to be a tough penetrator.

Thanks to Pighelmet for the material and thanks to Tman for the photo work.