This is dangerous. There is no such thing as “bullet proof”. Giving people even the impression they have some kind of additional protection against firearms is another “full self driving” moment.
Why slight the target market? The gun in this video is a Thompson Sub Machine Gun aka “Tommy Gun”. Actually perfect for marketing this. Full auto seems scary and inherently more “powerful”, and the Tommy Gun is iconic and recognizable to the general public as something using by gangsters.
The thing is the Thompson fires .45 ACP which is a large round but often has relatively low muzzle velocity - the most important criteria when it comes to armor or penetrating solid surfaces.
A “typical” .45 ACP round is 935 ft/s. In Chicago we have kids with Glocks modified full auto via a “switch”. A .357 SIG Glock with an extended magazine is 30 rounds at around 1,450 ft/s. An FN 5.7 can reach well over 2,000 ft/s. Even 9mm +p+ is 1300 ft/s.
Level IIIa body armor using composite plates and Kevlar, etc is barely rated to stop the lower end of these rounds. They would slice through the Cybertruck like butter. These are handguns - a modern round in a modern rifle or SMG would be even more effective, of course.
Not to mention, the Tommy Gun in this setting is shoulder mounted so muzzle climb is at a minimum. The glass is relatively safe as a result. In the scenarios I’ve described muzzle climb at full auto is substantial and there is a very good chance it will climb up almost regardless of aim and hit the glass.
Not to nerd out on guns but if someone buys this and feels emboldened in terms of firearm defense it probably won’t end well.
I fully agree on the “this is a dangerous claim” statement. To Tesla’s credit, the video does test more than just the tommygun including a Glock 9mm 115gr ~1100fps which seems to be a pretty popular round. What I think is dangerous is that claims are being made that already have formal testing standards, such as https://nij.ojp.gov/specification-nij-ballistic-protection-l.... The Cybertruck should not get to claim “bulletproof” to try to put itself in the same category as the hardened luxury vehicles designed to the standards. Take a look at how scientific the BMW defender test rigging is https://www.bmw.com/en/innovation/armored-car-bulletproof-ca....
> if someone buys this and feels emboldened in terms of firearm defense it probably won’t end well
Ok. So what though? What exact scenario are you worried about here? You don't clarify.
That someone intentionally getting into a shootout will be unsafe? That someone will let their friend shoot at them as a test? Maybe it's cruel, but I find myself missing sympathy in both cases. Something else?
The scenario I’m concerned about is someone thinking a Cybertruck is different from any other vehicle when evaluating risk in any given scenario or situation.
There are plenty of famous examples of people adjusting their tolerance for risk based on false perceptions.
“Oh we took a wrong turn and those kids on the corner have visible pistols but we’ll be fine - I saw a YouTube video where this car took bullets from a machine gun”.
No. You’re going to catch a bullet as much as anyone else would.
You are, of course, trying to be sarcastic. However, the majority of people who shoot at cars are not trained marksmen. The majority of your body is indeed behind the door, not behind the window. Bullets from an untrained shooter are essentially randomly distributed.
In short, if I had to drive through Chicago at night, this is without a doubt one of the best consumer vehicles to do that in.
Why would you need a special car to drive through Chicago at night? There are almost 10 million people in Chicagoland. We don't hide in our houses at night.
randomly distributed means they'll hit you and the window with the same likelihood as any other part of your car. with your logic, it doesn't matter what car you get. you get shot anyway...
Readit News
This is dangerous. There is no such thing as “bullet proof”. Giving people even the impression they have some kind of additional protection against firearms is another “full self driving” moment.
Why slight the target market? The gun in this video is a Thompson Sub Machine Gun aka “Tommy Gun”. Actually perfect for marketing this. Full auto seems scary and inherently more “powerful”, and the Tommy Gun is iconic and recognizable to the general public as something using by gangsters.
The thing is the Thompson fires .45 ACP which is a large round but often has relatively low muzzle velocity - the most important criteria when it comes to armor or penetrating solid surfaces.
A “typical” .45 ACP round is 935 ft/s. In Chicago we have kids with Glocks modified full auto via a “switch”. A .357 SIG Glock with an extended magazine is 30 rounds at around 1,450 ft/s. An FN 5.7 can reach well over 2,000 ft/s. Even 9mm +p+ is 1300 ft/s.
Level IIIa body armor using composite plates and Kevlar, etc is barely rated to stop the lower end of these rounds. They would slice through the Cybertruck like butter. These are handguns - a modern round in a modern rifle or SMG would be even more effective, of course.
Not to mention, the Tommy Gun in this setting is shoulder mounted so muzzle climb is at a minimum. The glass is relatively safe as a result. In the scenarios I’ve described muzzle climb at full auto is substantial and there is a very good chance it will climb up almost regardless of aim and hit the glass.
Not to nerd out on guns but if someone buys this and feels emboldened in terms of firearm defense it probably won’t end well.
Ok. So what though? What exact scenario are you worried about here? You don't clarify.
That someone intentionally getting into a shootout will be unsafe? That someone will let their friend shoot at them as a test? Maybe it's cruel, but I find myself missing sympathy in both cases. Something else?
There are plenty of famous examples of people adjusting their tolerance for risk based on false perceptions.
“Oh we took a wrong turn and those kids on the corner have visible pistols but we’ll be fine - I saw a YouTube video where this car took bullets from a machine gun”.
No. You’re going to catch a bullet as much as anyone else would.
In short, if I had to drive through Chicago at night, this is without a doubt one of the best consumer vehicles to do that in.