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How to Break Bulletproof Glass Download ArticleExplore this Article methods 1 Firing Multiple Handgun Rounds to Shatter Bulletproof Glass 2 Using Rifles and High-Power Ammo 3 Shattering Bulletproof Glass without Firearms Other Sections Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: April 1, 2021 References
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 118,474 times. Learn more...
Bulletproof glass (known more accurately as ballistic glass) is designed to absorb the force of a bullet rather than breaking apart.[1]XResearch source If you’re determined to break through the glass, you can do so by shooting the glass multiple times in the same location or by shooting the glass with a high-powered rifle. If you’re breaking through multiple layers of bulletproof glass, try using a high-powered rifle round.
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Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Firing Multiple Handgun Rounds to Shatter Bulletproof Glass
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1 Keep at least 30 yards (27 m) from the glass when firing a handgun at it. Bullets that ricochet off of the bulletproof glass can bounce back in the direction from which they’re fired. Maintain a safe distance from the target to avoid being hit by a ricocheting bullet. Make sure to also wear eye and ear protection when firing a handgun.[2]XResearch source
If you’re firing a high-powered handgun, increase this distance to 40–50 yards (37–46 m).
2 Shoot 3–5 rounds of handgun ammunition at the glass. Some types of relatively thin bulletproof glass are designed to only withstand a single round of gunfire from a firearm.[3]XResearch source So, keep shooting, since multiple bullets impacting in the same location may be enough to break through a thin sheet of bulletproof glass.
If you’re shooting a mid-power handgun like a 9 mm, you may need to fire 3-5 rounds to break through thin bulletproof glass. However, a high-power handgun like a 44 magnum may penetrate with 2 shots.
Be sure to wear noise-blocking earplugs and eye protection to avoid damaging your hearing or vision when firing a handgun.
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3 Keep your aim steady and hit the same location on the glass. Aiming well is relatively straightforward whether you’re shooting a handgun or a rifle. Line up the firearm’s sights on the target and exhale slowly when you aim to keep the sights steady. Gently squeeze the trigger while shooting. Never jerk the trigger, or you’ll ruin the shot.
If you fire 8 rounds (a full magazine for most handguns), but they all hit different spots on the bulletproof glass, it’s unlikely that the glass will break. Aiming accurately will prevent this from happening.
4 Fire 2–3 magazines of ammo at the glass if it doesn’t shatter after 1 magazine. If you empty a full magazine into the glass and it’s still holding together, keep on firing.[4]XResearch source Thicker bulletproof glass can withstand quite a few rounds fired into it, so try emptying multiple magazines into the glass.
The number of rounds needed to penetrate bulletproof glass can vary widely with the thickness and type of glass.
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Using Rifles and High-Power Ammo
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1 Keep at least 50 yards (46 m) away from the target to avoid ricochets. Many of the rounds you fire at the bulletproof glass will not pass through it, and some may ricochet. To avoid these bullets, keep a safe distance from the target. Also wear eye and ear protection whenever you’re firing a gun, no matter the caliber.[5]XResearch source
If you’re shooting a rifle with a scope, you may be able to fire at the glass from as far as 100–200 yards (91–183 m) away. This will increase your safety.
2 Fire .308 or .30-06 rifle rounds to break most bulletproof glass panes. While high-powered handguns, like a .44 magnum or a .45, are more powerful than smaller handgun calibers, even these can’t match the power of a rifle. Try using a standard rifle round like a .308 to break the glass. You’ll certainly need a rifle to break tough polycarbonate or glass-clad polycarbonate glass.[6]XResearch source
These rounds can be purchased at most gun or sporting goods stores.[7]XResearch source You could also shoot rounds of comparable power including the .270 Winchester and the .30-06.
When you purchase polycarbonate or glass-clad polycarbonate bulletproof glass, look to see what caliber of ammunition it’s rated to deflect. For example, if your glass will repel a .44 magnum round, rifle rounds more powerful than a .44 handgun should break the glass.
Bulletproof glass is manufactured in 3 different types: acrylic, polycarbonate, and glass-clad polycarbonate. To make glass-clad polycarbonate, manufacturers laminate sheets of glass on either side of a sheet of polycarbonate to produce a heavy, effective material. You can identify this material by looking for the thin, laminated layers of plastic and glass that make up the composite polycarbonate.[8]XResearch source
3 Try using a high-powered .50 caliber rifle to break bulletproof glass. If a moderately powerful caliber rifle bullet like the .308 doesn’t break bulletproof glass, try something a little more powerful. For example, a powerful .50 caliber rifle could penetrate thin bulletproof glass with 1 round, and could break thicker glass with several rounds. This should penetrate any type of polycarbonate glass.[9]XResearch source
Other high-powered rifle calibers include the .460 Weatherby Magnum, the .700 Nitro Express, the .475 A&M Magnum, and the .338 Winchester Magnum.
Polycarbonate glass is a type of plastic. You can identify polycarbonate by its transparency and weight. It’s clear and weighs only about half as much as both acrylic and glass-clad polycarbonate.[10]XResearch source
4 Use armor-piercing rounds to maximize your rifle’s power. Armor-piercing rounds are commonly used by military and police personnel and are designed to blast through thick, protective armor. While bulletproof glass isn’t the same as armor, the armor-piercing rounds will still be more likely to break it than ordinary bullets.[11]XResearch source
You can purchase armor-piercing rounds at a local gun or sporting goods store.
5 Shoot an explosive round to break multiple layers of thick bulletproof glass. As their name suggests, military-grade explosive rounds detonate on impact and will shatter the object they’re fired into. This type of super high-power ammunition will break through even the thickest 5-pane bulletproof glass.[12]XResearch source
Other types of armor-piercing or explosive rounds will also be more effective in shattering bulletproof glass than ordinary rounds. Experiment with various types of high-powered rounds to see what’s most effective.
Explosive rounds are harder to acquire than armor-piercing rounds. A gun or sporting-goods store may be able to special order a box.
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Shattering Bulletproof Glass without Firearms
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1 Hit acrylic bulletproof glass for 5 minutes with a sledgehammer. Due to differences in their construction, some types of bulletproof glass are vulnerable to blunt objects, while others aren’t. Blunt objects like sledgehammers will not be able to break through polycarbonate or glass-clad polycarbonate bulletproof glass, but can break through acrylic material.[13]XResearch source
If you’re purchasing your own piece of bulletproof glass to break, you should be able to choose the type and thickness of the glass.
Otherwise, you can identify acrylic glass by its location and appearance. Acrylic glass is actually made of very hard plastic. It’s most commonly used indoors (e.g., to shield bank tellers) and has a dark, almost tinted, color.[14]XResearch source
2 Fire a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at bulletproof glass to blow it apart. While bulletproof glass is great at stopping handgun rounds, it’s ineffective against explosive grenades. So, if you hit the glass with an RPG or any other type of hand-launched explosive device, it’s sure to be utterly destroyed. The RPG can blast through as many as 16 separate layers of bulletproof glass.[15]XResearch source
Unless you’re in the military, there is most likely no safe, legal way to acquire an RPG.
3 Break bulletproof glass with explosives like dynamite or C4. Most varieties of detonating materials will almost certainly break through many layers of bulletproof glass. Set these explosives within about 3 feet (0.91 m) of the glass to maximize their effectiveness. While some types of bulletproof glass are rated “Blast resistant,” they’re likely not strong enough to withstand C4 or dynamite exploding only a few feet away.[16]XResearch source
These types of explosives are also difficult—and often illegal—to come by. Unless you’re in a position to legally and safely use dynamite or C4, stick to breaking glass with firearms.
Use extreme caution when detonating explosives. After lighting the fuse (or before detonating C4), make sure you’re at least 250 feet (76 m) away from the blast site.
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Question Can piranhas make their way through bulletproof glass? Anotheronebitesthesoil Community Answer Um, no. Piranhas cannot get through regular glass, so they definitely cannot get through bulletproof glass. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 50 Helpful 57
Question Can sharks make their way through bulletproof glass? LucaD2004luca Community Answer Only Mako sharks are powerful enough to break bulletproof glass. Other sharks such as Hammerheads or Great Whites can only break regular glass. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 50
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Tips
The toughness of bulletproof glass depends on the material’s thickness. Thin glass—usually about 3 centimetres (1.2 in)—will break more easily than will a very thick pane. At its thickest, bulletproof glass reaches 8 centimetres (3.1 in).[17]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
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Warnings
Remember to always take the necessary safety precautions when using firearms. Always treat firearms as if they’re loaded and keep the muzzle pointed down-range and away from people. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
Only attempt to shoot through bulletproof glass in a safe testing setting. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 8
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 118,474 times. 63 votes - 53% Co-authors: 5Updated: April 1, 2021 Views: 118,474 Categories: Working with Glass In other languagesSpanish
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Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Firing Multiple Handgun Rounds to Shatter Bulletproof Glass 2 Using Rifles and High-Power Ammo 3 Shattering Bulletproof Glass without Firearms Other Sections Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff 
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 118,474 times. 63 votes - 53% Co-authors: 5 Updated: April 1, 2021 Views: 118,474 Categories: Working with Glass In other languagesSpanish 
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1 Keep at least 30 yards (27 m) from the glass when firing a handgun at it. Bullets that ricochet off of the bulletproof glass can bounce back in the direction from which they’re fired. Maintain a safe distance from the target to avoid being hit by a ricocheting bullet. Make sure to also wear eye and ear protection when firing a handgun.[2] 
2 Shoot 3–5 rounds of handgun ammunition at the glass. Some types of relatively thin bulletproof glass are designed to only withstand a single round of gunfire from a firearm.[3] So, keep shooting, since multiple bullets impacting in the same location may be enough to break through a thin sheet of bulletproof glass. 
3 Keep your aim steady and hit the same location on the glass. Aiming well is relatively straightforward whether you’re shooting a handgun or a rifle. Line up the firearm’s sights on the target and exhale slowly when you aim to keep the sights steady. Gently squeeze the trigger while shooting. Never jerk the trigger, or you’ll ruin the shot. 
4 Fire 2–3 magazines of ammo at the glass if it doesn’t shatter after 1 magazine. If you empty a full magazine into the glass and it’s still holding together, keep on firing.[4] Thicker bulletproof glass can withstand quite a few rounds fired into it, so try emptying multiple magazines into the glass. 
1 Keep at least 50 yards (46 m) away from the target to avoid ricochets. Many of the rounds you fire at the bulletproof glass will not pass through it, and some may ricochet. To avoid these bullets, keep a safe distance from the target. Also wear eye and ear protection whenever you’re firing a gun, no matter the caliber.[5] 
2 Fire .308 or .30-06 rifle rounds to break most bulletproof glass panes. While high-powered handguns, like a .44 magnum or a .45, are more powerful than smaller handgun calibers, even these can’t match the power of a rifle. Try using a standard rifle round like a .308 to break the glass. You’ll certainly need a rifle to break tough polycarbonate or glass-clad polycarbonate glass.[6] 
3 Try using a high-powered .50 caliber rifle to break bulletproof glass. If a moderately powerful caliber rifle bullet like the .308 doesn’t break bulletproof glass, try something a little more powerful. For example, a powerful .50 caliber rifle could penetrate thin bulletproof glass with 1 round, and could break thicker glass with several rounds. This should penetrate any type of polycarbonate glass.[9] 
4 Use armor-piercing rounds to maximize your rifle’s power. Armor-piercing rounds are commonly used by military and police personnel and are designed to blast through thick, protective armor. While bulletproof glass isn’t the same as armor, the armor-piercing rounds will still be more likely to break it than ordinary bullets.[11] 
5 Shoot an explosive round to break multiple layers of thick bulletproof glass. As their name suggests, military-grade explosive rounds detonate on impact and will shatter the object they’re fired into. This type of super high-power ammunition will break through even the thickest 5-pane bulletproof glass.[12] 
1 Hit acrylic bulletproof glass for 5 minutes with a sledgehammer. Due to differences in their construction, some types of bulletproof glass are vulnerable to blunt objects, while others aren’t. Blunt objects like sledgehammers will not be able to break through polycarbonate or glass-clad polycarbonate bulletproof glass, but can break through acrylic material.[13] 
2 Fire a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at bulletproof glass to blow it apart. While bulletproof glass is great at stopping handgun rounds, it’s ineffective against explosive grenades. So, if you hit the glass with an RPG or any other type of hand-launched explosive device, it’s sure to be utterly destroyed. The RPG can blast through as many as 16 separate layers of bulletproof glass.[15] 
3 Break bulletproof glass with explosives like dynamite or C4. Most varieties of detonating materials will almost certainly break through many layers of bulletproof glass. Set these explosives within about 3 feet (0.91 m) of the glass to maximize their effectiveness. While some types of bulletproof glass are rated “Blast resistant,” they’re likely not strong enough to withstand C4 or dynamite exploding only a few feet away.[16] 
Anotheronebitesthesoil Community Answer Um, no. Piranhas cannot get through regular glass, so they definitely cannot get through bulletproof glass. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 50 Helpful 57 
LucaD2004luca Community Answer Only Mako sharks are powerful enough to break bulletproof glass. Other sharks such as Hammerheads or Great Whites can only break regular glass. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 50 
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