Safe rooms

[Metrocruiser]

Can we start a thread about safe rooms. Strategies, plans, bullet proof walls, etc.

[bacpacker]

You just did! I will be following the thread. We don't have a true safe room so the hints and tips will lead to ideas.

[Domeguy]

As most on here know by now, I live in a geodesic dome. It’s two story with a cupola on the top. There is no floor up to the cupola, but in an emergency I could rig one. While I was building the dome, I considered the cost of putting bulletproof or at least bullet resistant material in the walls, but due to cost, it was just a dream. But in an emergency situation, I have considered something to put in the walls of the cupola to have a 360 degree field of view/shooting platform. But that too I guess is also a dream.

[Metrocruiser]

Found a cool product and a cool safe room.
Armorcore safe room (https://youtu.be/cN9pQu6ou8o)

Sand, 12 layers of drywall, very cool website called
The box O truth (https://www.theboxotruth.com/tag/original-chapters/)

Layers of 1/16 sheet metal can stop bullets.
http:/https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/finding-cover-stop-bullets//

[Domeguy]

Interesting article, I learned quite a bit from it. Now I gotta find a way to bury the dome in sand.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

If you're looking for vault doors I can recommend (vaultprousa.com) happy customer and the quality and prices are hard to beat. I went with this (https://www.vaultprousa.com/professional-series-vault-door) an in-swinging 30". Check out the site.

[Sniper-T]

Metro, that 1/16 steel sheet link doesnt work, and I can tell you from experience that even a .22 will go through 16 ga sheet.

7.62x39 fmj's will go through 1/4" ms plate!

but you also have to remember, at least up here, we live in stick frame houses, so even fortifying a room will be of limited use if the bad guys decide to burn the place.

[Metrocruiser]

Here's the link about building layers.
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/finding-cover-stop-bullets/


Finding Cover: What Stops Bullets?
FINDING COVER: WHAT STOPS BULLETS?
USCCA Editor
What Stops or Slows Down Bullets?
You have metal, fibers, stone and liquids. One or a combination of any of the four may work. It depends on your application…

Maybe you want a dedicated dry-fire area or an armored safe room. How much weight you can hold and how much space you have may change what you need.

Fibers: Wood sucks at stopping bullets. Woven Kevlar works great. Fiberglass is so-so. Several layers of fiberglass with the right epoxy can be great!

Stone and liquid stone, aka concrete, work great! They are not very portable. They have thickness issues. “Baby” stones like pea gravel or sand have their place. Ceramics also fit here.

Metals: These are great for the thickness. Hard steel works best; soft steel comes next, followed by aluminum (hard and soft are blurred) and then copper. We used to shoot a lot of large electrical transformers. It was quite educational. They are layers of copper windings and mild steel. Electronics soak up a lot of bullets even from high powered rifles.

The Importance of Layers When it Comes to Cover
This leads us to a very important point! Layers! Combined layers can stop more effectively than a single layer of the same thickness — four 1/16″ thick sheets can stop more than a single 1/4″ sheet. Some of the layers may be breached, but the overall thickness has not. It may be hard for somebody to work with a single thick layer of steel, but not smaller layers. It normally takes between a 1/4″ to a 1/2″ of steel or 3/8″ to 3/4″ of aluminum to stop a bullet. Something like a metal target needs to be one solid layer, as does an active backstop. However, something like a safe room or dry fire station can use layers.

I've got a bunch of spare galvanized corrugated roof/fence panels leaning on my fence. Was thinking to layer it up in the emergency safe room closet for the kids and wife to crouch down in. Just in case.

Obviously it is 99.9999999999 chance it will not ever be required. But I like to diy stuff.

[Sniper-T]

Ah... now you're talking. a couple layers will make a world of difference!

[Metrocruiser]

I've made a small sample that I will take out to the bush and test with 22lr, 223, 7.62x39 and 00 buckshot.

It will be 3 panels and 2 PC of 3/4" wood sandwiched between them like a Big Mac.

Excited, I have not shot outside of a rifle range since the late 80's

[Metrocruiser]

Wow, it is tough to get some 00 out here.

Which ammo do you think will go through?

[Metrocruiser]

Dbl post.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

I've made a small sample that I will take out to the bush and test with 22lr, 223, 7.62x39 and 00 buckshot.

It will be 3 panels and 2 PC of 3/4" wood sandwiched between them like a Big Mac.

Excited, I have not shot outside of a rifle range since the late 80's

Try a higher caliber, .308, .30.06. It will tell the tale, try from a 100yds.

[Fidel MD]

https://www.theboxotruth.com/

[Metrocruiser]

Try a higher caliber, .308, .30.06. It will tell the tale, try from a 100yds.
Hi Bwrr
I wasn't planning on testing the more powerful, no more calibers other than 7mm. RM.

I found this guy on YouTube the other day. He is pretty funny. He has a side kick like Guermo on Jimmy Kimmel that holds the camera. He has 2.45 million subscribers. He shoots and blows up shit. Check this out, he buys a safe from Costco, puts $10k and a bar of gold in it, then duct taped two grenades to it and .....

https://youtu.be/P-IyyqPG5LQ
He also lines up 12 cast iron frying pans and shoots them with handguns up to .50 and rifle rounds as well.

https://youtu.be/ZRTn6sS4iNY

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https://www.theboxotruth.com/

Hi FMD,

I have been here recently. Thanks!

Hope you and yours are doing well during these times.

[Metrocruiser]

FEMA.gov how to build a safe room
http://https://www.fema.gov/safe-rooms