If someone is shooting at you with a .357 Magnum...where is the best cover?

Doug.38PR · February 6, 2006, 11:44 PM

If someone is shooting at you with a .357 magnum or even a rifle, what is the best cover. You are walking down the street and some nut comes out of a bank with a magnum handgun or a full semi auto rifle. They start shooting. You duck out of the way. WHERE. Magnums and rifles can penetrate cars. Buildings? Of course the purpose of cover is also concealment not just barrier penetration. But where is sufficient cover and protection to be able to shoot back against such a powerful weapon?

Syphonius · February 7, 2006, 12:21 AM

It was my understanding that most rounds will penetrate a car body but they won't penetrate the engine block. That would be my second choice for cover.

My first choice would be whichever direction put the most concrete and brick between me and the barrel.

Pointer · February 7, 2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

what is the best cover.

Behind a manhole cover about 24'' wide and 6' tall...

4" of reinforced concrete...

300 yards of distance...

In a tank...

bclark1 · February 7, 2006, 01:28 AM

best defense is a good offense

or a building. that wouldn't hurt either.

czc3513 · February 7, 2006, 01:45 AM

lol
I just watched transporter2 and I almost roflmfao.
In the movie, a door and some wall was bulletproof.
The best cover is as much cover as possible.
A have read that most rifles shoot through one or even two buildings containing several walls. I dont know if this is true.

If you cant hide, you should kneal or drop to the ground to reduce the chances of being hit. But this will probably be your reaction whether you plan on it or not. If you are unarmed, ryao. Just a guess.

IndianaDean · February 7, 2006, 01:46 AM

Behind a redwood tree perhaps?

BillCA · February 7, 2006, 01:54 AM

Doug38pr,

Do you lie awake at night thinking of these scenarios?

Quote:

You are walking down the street and some nut comes out of a bank with a magnum handgun or a full semi auto rifle.

Is a "full semi auto rifle" something different than a semi-auto rifle? Or were you describing a full magazine?

Okay, to be serious...
Most commonly available cover will be behind an automobile's engine compartment, usually aligned with the tire. The engine provides cover against most ammo and the tire/rim against rounds fired low from taking your legs or ankles out.

Thick trees are usually excellent cover. Wood is dense and will usually slow or stop many FMJ rifle rounds if it's big enough to hide behind.

Concrete walls or K-rail barriers will also work although a rifle with AP ammo may penetrate, depending on distance and angle. Concrete "planter boxes" filled with dirt will work well and some can be found at the base of lamp posts in parking lots.

If nothing else, a telephone pole works until you can spot larger cover (though some of us full-figure types will have to suck it in to hide behind one).

If you're in a shopping mall, strip mall or other retail store, don't expect those solid looking pillars to offer much protection. They're often cosmetic shells for looks. Likewise for pillars at strip malls -- they're stucco covered plywood. Even those "granite pillars" at office buildings are just a thin tile placed over plywood. Likely it will stop a .357 but not a rifle's FMJ round.

Sir William · February 7, 2006, 03:01 AM

A gutter, a car engine may work but, many are aluminum and rounds will go right through many modern engines. Rims? 20" high riding spider rims don't provide much cover and your ankles would be easily seen. I would look for a heavy duty utility truck bed with tools in the box compartments, closest thing to a armoured car I can think of. An Asplund tree trimming truck or a plumbers truck.

yorec · February 7, 2006, 05:48 AM

Shoot back? I'm ducking around the nearest corner and keeping on going! (Call the calvary and tell 'em where to find the guy and what kind of cover they migh expect to find when they get there - or at least what worked for me to get out of there!)

sterno · February 7, 2006, 09:08 AM

I recently read a story about a guy who was fiddling with his SKS (7.62x39) when he had a negligent discharge. The round went through one interior wall, his exterior wall, his neighbors exterior wall, and came to rest somewhere in the neighbor's house.

The story didn't say if the houses were brick or not. Not sure how you hide from that.

I guess you should just hope the shooter has bad aim.

kymasabe · February 7, 2006, 09:32 AM

Sir William...you wouldn't want to hide behind my plumbing truck. the 10ft. box on mine is fiberglass over plywood! just busting your chops. I agree, one of those heavy steel utility body trucks would be great cover.

springmom · February 7, 2006, 09:54 AM

I would think .... anywhere my old arthritic feet and knees can carry me as fast as I can go!

Seriously, unless you are expecting that this guy is going to come out spraying and praying in a 360 degree arc, which is going to be pretty hard to do if he's running away also, ISTM that the best thing is to take a page from hunting and simply hold still and make yourself as small as possible behind SOMETHING. Anything.

Then run. Or, in my case, hobble quickly.

Springmom

Mikeyboy · February 7, 2006, 09:58 AM

If your not the intended target just get down. If your the intended target (or if everybody is the intended target), run, get behind something solid and shoot.

Weeg · February 7, 2006, 12:19 PM

All this QB-ing...Too much supposition, not enough fact...

Heck, why not run around until you find a BRINKS truck to hide behind?

What would Chuck Norrisdo?

.

yorec · February 7, 2006, 01:07 PM

Cause a Brinks truck would likely BE his next target - lol.

Recon7 · February 7, 2006, 01:18 PM

you may just need some concealment. I would rather put an inadequate barrier between me and the assailant if it gives me an escape route, rather than hiding behind a car. for example if I am walking down main street with plenty of store fronts and parallel parked cars, I would rather dash into then through the store and escape than stay behind the car. the store walls may not be bullet proof but you do not present a target, and would be hard to hit even if he is still shooting at you. if he just went "postal" he is looking for easy targets. he may even enjoy trying to shoot that foot under the car. if you are his target than he will walk around the cover and then shoot you.

erh · February 7, 2006, 01:40 PM

I cast my "Wise-Crack Vote For:" Somewhere in the next County or even the next State over, away from that particular situation..!!" (erh)

texdawg · February 7, 2006, 01:53 PM

behind the wife?

bad joke, sorry. behind the engine end of any vehicle

grndpndr · February 7, 2006, 04:43 PM

Im w/ERH,#1

next county.#2 behind MG42

#18indycolts · February 9, 2006, 01:50 AM

I'd hide in the direction the bullet WAS NOT traveling!

SrtDog · February 9, 2006, 03:35 AM

Square behind two .357 Magnums of course.

RsqVet · February 9, 2006, 04:16 AM

Don't take a pistol to a Rifle fight!!! Get the heck out of there fast and use your side arm only as needed to efffect that course of action. You will likely not have a choice of cover but will take what you can find.

As some one else pointed out any concelment is good, and also the cover even if not compleatly sufficient may decrease a round to the point of not being fatal or severe --- not much consolation but making the best of a bad situation.

I found it intresting in reading that rounds will tend to hit and follow walls so troops are trained to walk a foot or more away. Hope if it ever comes to that I have the presance of mind to remember that. .

Weeg · February 9, 2006, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RsqVet

I found it intresting in reading that rounds will tend to hit and follow walls so troops are trained to walk a foot or more away. Hope if it ever comes to that I have the presance of mind to remember that. .

Yessir...

"Bullet Channels"

AirForceShooter · February 9, 2006, 04:22 PM

In a ditch.
A DEEP ditch

AFS

erh · February 9, 2006, 05:10 PM

Today's "Wise-Crack Vote For the new and improved answer A is: Hide behind large boulder; begin "Lobbing" Grenades repeatedly w/ trusty 40mm launcher until situation is resolved; then see & modify my original answer to: "'I swear I was in the next County during that awful disturbance Officer; that's my story and I'm stickin' too it..!!" (erh)

February 7, 2006, 01:45 AM	#5
czc3513 Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2005 Location: Oregon. Posts: 709	lol I just watched transporter2 and I almost roflmfao. In the movie, a door and some wall was bulletproof. The best cover is as much cover as possible. A have read that most rifles shoot through one or even two buildings containing several walls. I dont know if this is true. If you cant hide, you should kneal or drop to the ground to reduce the chances of being hit. But this will probably be your reaction whether you plan on it or not. If you are unarmed, ryao. Just a guess. __________________ "HEDP: High Explosive Donkey Punch"

February 7, 2006, 05:48 AM	#9
yorec Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,328	Shoot back? I'm ducking around the nearest corner and keeping on going! (Call the calvary and tell 'em where to find the guy and what kind of cover they migh expect to find when they get there - or at least what worked for me to get out of there!) __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?

February 7, 2006, 09:08 AM	#10
sterno Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 362	I recently read a story about a guy who was fiddling with his SKS (7.62x39) when he had a negligent discharge. The round went through one interior wall, his exterior wall, his neighbors exterior wall, and came to rest somewhere in the neighbor's house. The story didn't say if the houses were brick or not. Not sure how you hide from that. I guess you should just hope the shooter has bad aim. __________________ .38, .39; whatever it took. Sterno's Myspace - Grayskull Myspace

February 7, 2006, 09:32 AM	#11
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Sir William...you wouldn't want to hide behind my plumbing truck. the 10ft. box on mine is fiberglass over plywood! just busting your chops. I agree, one of those heavy steel utility body trucks would be great cover. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

February 7, 2006, 09:54 AM	#12
springmom Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2005 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,823	where to hide? I would think .... anywhere my old arthritic feet and knees can carry me as fast as I can go! Seriously, unless you are expecting that this guy is going to come out spraying and praying in a 360 degree arc, which is going to be pretty hard to do if he's running away also, ISTM that the best thing is to take a page from hunting and simply hold still and make yourself as small as possible behind SOMETHING. Anything. Then run. Or, in my case, hobble quickly. Springmom __________________ I will not be a victim home on the web: www.panagia-icons.net (my webpage) www.nousfromspring.blogspot.com (Orthodoxy) "I couldn't hear you. Stop firing the gun while you're talking!" Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun

February 6, 2006, 11:44 PM	#1
Doug.38PR Junior member Join Date: January 18, 2005 Posts: 3,298	If someone is shooting at you with a .357 Magnum...where is the best cover? If someone is shooting at you with a .357 magnum or even a rifle, what is the best cover. You are walking down the street and some nut comes out of a bank with a magnum handgun or a full semi auto rifle. They start shooting. You duck out of the way. WHERE. Magnums and rifles can penetrate cars. Buildings? Of course the purpose of cover is also concealment not just barrier penetration. But where is sufficient cover and protection to be able to shoot back against such a powerful weapon?

February 7, 2006, 12:21 AM	#2
Syphonius Member Join Date: December 7, 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 18	It was my understanding that most rounds will penetrate a car body but they won't penetrate the engine block. That would be my second choice for cover. My first choice would be whichever direction put the most concrete and brick between me and the barrel.

February 7, 2006, 01:28 AM	#4
bclark1 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,531	best defense is a good offense or a building. that wouldn't hurt either.

February 7, 2006, 01:46 AM	#6
IndianaDean Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2004 Location: Indiana(obviously) Posts: 362	Behind a redwood tree perhaps?

February 7, 2006, 03:01 AM	#8
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	A gutter, a car engine may work but, many are aluminum and rounds will go right through many modern engines. Rims? 20" high riding spider rims don't provide much cover and your ankles would be easily seen. I would look for a heavy duty utility truck bed with tools in the box compartments, closest thing to a armoured car I can think of. An Asplund tree trimming truck or a plumbers truck.

February 7, 2006, 09:58 AM	#13
Mikeyboy Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2005 Posts: 1,231	If your not the intended target just get down. If your the intended target (or if everybody is the intended target), run, get behind something solid and shoot.

February 7, 2006, 12:19 PM	#14
Weeg Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2005 Posts: 463	All this QB-ing...Too much supposition, not enough fact... Heck, why not run around until you find a BRINKS truck to hide behind? What would Chuck Norrisdo? .

February 7, 2006, 01:07 PM	#15
yorec Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,328	Cause a Brinks truck would likely BE his next target - lol. __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?

February 7, 2006, 01:18 PM	#16
Recon7 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Posts: 707	you may just need some concealment. I would rather put an inadequate barrier between me and the assailant if it gives me an escape route, rather than hiding behind a car. for example if I am walking down main street with plenty of store fronts and parallel parked cars, I would rather dash into then through the store and escape than stay behind the car. the store walls may not be bullet proof but you do not present a target, and would be hard to hit even if he is still shooting at you. if he just went "postal" he is looking for easy targets. he may even enjoy trying to shoot that foot under the car. if you are his target than he will walk around the cover and then shoot you.

February 7, 2006, 01:40 PM	#17
erh Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 158	I cast my "Wise-Crack Vote For:" Somewhere in the next County or even the next State over, away from that particular situation..!!" (erh)

February 7, 2006, 01:53 PM	#18
texdawg Member Join Date: January 12, 2006 Location: Big D Posts: 56	behind the wife? bad joke, sorry. behind the engine end of any vehicle

February 7, 2006, 04:43 PM	#19
grndpndr Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2006 Location: SW SD Posts: 13	Im w/ERH,#1 next county.#2 behind MG42

February 9, 2006, 01:50 AM	#20
#18indycolts Junior member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Indpls Posts: 1,159	I'd hide in the direction the bullet WAS NOT traveling!

February 9, 2006, 03:35 AM	#21
SrtDog Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 71	Square behind two .357 Magnums of course. __________________ When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion. - Abraham Lincoln I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight. - General George Patton Jr If you're going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill

February 9, 2006, 04:16 AM	#22
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Don't take a pistol to a Rifle fight!!! Get the heck out of there fast and use your side arm only as needed to efffect that course of action. You will likely not have a choice of cover but will take what you can find. As some one else pointed out any concelment is good, and also the cover even if not compleatly sufficient may decrease a round to the point of not being fatal or severe --- not much consolation but making the best of a bad situation. I found it intresting in reading that rounds will tend to hit and follow walls so troops are trained to walk a foot or more away. Hope if it ever comes to that I have the presance of mind to remember that. .

February 9, 2006, 04:22 PM	#24
AirForceShooter Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Sarasota (sort of) Florida Posts: 1,296	In a ditch. A DEEP ditch AFS

February 9, 2006, 05:10 PM	#25
erh Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 158	Today's "Wise-Crack Vote For the new and improved answer A is: Hide behind large boulder; begin "Lobbing" Grenades repeatedly w/ trusty 40mm launcher until situation is resolved; then see & modify my original answer to: "'I swear I was in the next County during that awful disturbance Officer; that's my story and I'm stickin' too it..!!" (erh)

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