How Durable Is A Ballistic Helmet?

Setup, previous armor test, and minimalist helmet philosophy

The video opens with Classic Firearms on the range with Tim Kennedy, joking around after hammering a target before shifting into a more technical focus. They reference a previous test where a SCAR 17 giveaway rifle was paired with Guard Dog body armor, Level III+ Versa plates, and a Cerus plate carrier that absorbed heavy fire and still performed impressively. Attention then turns to a Guard Dog Level 3A ballistic helmet, advertised to stop up to .44 Magnum. The hosts highlight its updated comfort system: a softer, Velcro-attached cushion liner that replaces the typical hard foam, making extended wear more tolerable. Tim explains his minimalist helmet setup, usually running only a Wilcox mount and night vision devices instead of bulky accessories. He contrasts this with teammates who stack triple multi-color lights and large external battery packs for long NODs runtime. Tim explains why he avoids helmet-mounted lights, preferring a simple headlamp worn around the neck or on the forehead when the helmet is off, which can be tucked into his shirt to provide diffused, low-signature illumination during building searches.

Helmet fit, balance, and first 9mm and .45 ACP impacts

The discussion moves into helmet fit and balance, emphasizing how head shape and forehead profile affect comfort and stability. They note that running a PVS-14 monocular often requires a counterweight on the rear of the helmet to prevent front-heavy pressure points and neck strain. With the Guard Dog Level IIIA helmet properly adjusted, the hosts begin ballistic testing. The first live-fire test uses 9mm ammunition in the 115–125 grain range. After the shot, they inspect the exterior and find only a small mark, while the interior padding shows a slight bump where the round impacted, indicating backface deformation but no penetration. Next, they step up to .45 ACP. This impact leaves a more visible external dent in the shell, yet when they pull back the liner, the internal deformation appears similar to, or even less than, the 9mm hit. The helmet continues to hold its shape, and the suspension and padding remain intact, suggesting the Level IIIA rating is performing as advertised against common handgun threats.

Multiple frontal and rear handgun hits and .45 deflection

After confirming the first hits did not penetrate, the hosts escalate the test by targeting more vulnerable areas of the Guard Dog Level IIIA helmet. They deliberately aim at the front mount region, where accessories like night vision typically attach, and then at the rear of the helmet. Using both 9mm and .45 ACP, they stack multiple impacts across the forehead, mount area, and back. Each time, they pause to examine the shell and interior. The exterior shows growing dents and deformation, but no clean holes. Inside, the padding reveals raised spots and compressed areas where the rounds struck, yet there is still no evidence of a bullet making it through to where a wearer’s skull would be. Later inspection of one .45 ACP strike shows the round did not punch straight in but instead deflected, with the bullet jacket ending up lodged in the helmet’s side rail. This deflection and capture within the material underline how the helmet disperses energy and traps fragments rather than allowing penetration.

Shotgun buckshot blast and embedded projectiles

With the handgun tests already stressing the shell, the hosts move to a more punishing scenario using a Genesis shotgun. They load 2 3/4-inch shells filled with 7mm double-aught buck and repeatedly blast the Guard Dog Level IIIA helmet. Multiple pellets strike across the crown, sides, and front, adding to the existing handgun damage. After the shotgun volleys, they carefully inspect the helmet’s exterior, finding numerous impact craters and flattened spots but still no clear-through holes. Opening the liner, they discover buckshot pellets and the previously fired .45 ACP round embedded within the helmet’s ballistic material, all stopped before reaching the interior surface that would contact a wearer’s head. The padding, straps, and chin strap show scuffs and small nicks but remain functional and structurally sound. Despite the concentrated shotgun fire, the helmet maintains its integrity, demonstrating that the Level IIIA construction can withstand severe multi-hit abuse from both handgun rounds and buckshot without catastrophic failure.

Pistol mag dump, final inspection, and handgun vs rifle limits

Not satisfied with isolated shots, the hosts finish the torture test with a pistol mag dump, using remaining 9mm and .45 ACP ammunition to saturate the already damaged Guard Dog Level IIIA helmet. They fire rapidly into areas that have been hit before, attempting to exploit any weakness created by prior impacts and the shotgun blasts. After the barrage, they examine the shell and find what initially looks like a possible penetration. Closer inspection reveals it is actually a tear and severe deformation rather than a clean pass-through. The interior still shows no direct path where a round fully entered the helmet cavity. They conclude that, even after extensive abuse from multiple calibers and buckshot, the helmet has effectively defeated all their attempts to destroy it and could technically still be worn, though no one would recommend using a shot-up helmet operationally. The hosts stress that testing with rifle calibers like 5.56, 7.62, .223, or .308 would be unfair and misleading because the helmet is rated Level IIIA, designed for handgun threats, not rifle rounds.

SCAR 17 giveaway, Guard Dog armor, and Level III+ Versa plate

In the closing portion, the focus shifts from testing to gear highlights and a major giveaway. The centerpiece is a SCAR 17 rifle outfitted with a Trijicon ACOG 3.5x optic and an RMR mounted on top for close-range engagements. The rifle also features an angled foregrip, a high-capacity 120-round magazine, and a tongue-in-cheek “tactical UGG boot” reference to the SCAR’s distinctive stock. Guard Dog Body Armor’s contributions are showcased, including a Cerus plate carrier that integrates a removable bag and magazine pouches for modular load carriage. They revisit the flexible Level III+ Versa plate, which previously stopped both 55-grain and green tip rifle rounds while remaining relatively lightweight and conformable to the body. To round out the package, a fresh Level 3A ballistic helmet, similar to the one just tortured on camera, is included. The segment ties together the real-world performance seen in testing with the premium gear and protection offered in the giveaway bundle.