i just found a source for free windshields and thought i would mention it and give some ideas for some training. as many may know taking a shot through a windshield or any glass for that mater presents a unique set of challenges. it is something that i believe should be practiced by any shooter that may be presented with this shot in a real life scenario. (this includes handgun shooters like patrol officer) the factors that should be considered when taking a shot of this nature are as fallows:
Angle of the windshield, sweep from bottom to top.
angle of the windshield, any angle from the side and not directly from the front of the vehicle.
distance from the windshield surface to the target.
bullet design and how well it performs after penetrating the glass.
and last but not least collateral damage to non-targets within the vehicle from glass and bullet fragmentation.
(if i forgot something please feel free to chime in)
if this is a scenario you intend to practice go to your local windshield company and most will be more than willing to give you as many cracked car windshields as you need.
set up your range in a responsible manner, when i did this i built a stand to hold the windshield in place at the correct angle out of 2x4's and placed a tarp under the windshield and stapled it up the back side of my stand to catch as much glass a possible.
when i built my stand it somewhat resembled the area of the car that ran from the back side of the hood, up the a-pillar, and back to the b-pillar of the vehicle and down. this left me enough room to place my target where the driver and passenger would be located and the tarp or cardboard backer behind them showed what the fragments were doing.
you can change up the up and down angle of the windshield by shimming the front or back of the stand.
now go out and see what your bullets do when impacting glass, change up all the angles and hopefully learn and prepare for the shot you hope you will never have to take....
Angle of the windshield, sweep from bottom to top.
angle of the windshield, any angle from the side and not directly from the front of the vehicle.
distance from the windshield surface to the target.
bullet design and how well it performs after penetrating the glass.
and last but not least collateral damage to non-targets within the vehicle from glass and bullet fragmentation.
(if i forgot something please feel free to chime in)
if this is a scenario you intend to practice go to your local windshield company and most will be more than willing to give you as many cracked car windshields as you need.
set up your range in a responsible manner, when i did this i built a stand to hold the windshield in place at the correct angle out of 2x4's and placed a tarp under the windshield and stapled it up the back side of my stand to catch as much glass a possible.
when i built my stand it somewhat resembled the area of the car that ran from the back side of the hood, up the a-pillar, and back to the b-pillar of the vehicle and down. this left me enough room to place my target where the driver and passenger would be located and the tarp or cardboard backer behind them showed what the fragments were doing.
you can change up the up and down angle of the windshield by shimming the front or back of the stand.
now go out and see what your bullets do when impacting glass, change up all the angles and hopefully learn and prepare for the shot you hope you will never have to take....
