The video opens with informal banter on the range as a ballistic helmet is set up for testing. The host from Classic Firearms introduces Tim Kennedy and explains that this helmet is part of a broader Guard Dog body armor package previously shown with a SCAR 17 giveaway. Unlike the earlier level III+ plates, this helmet is rated level IIIA, intended to stop handgun threats up to .44 Magnum. The host notes that Guard Dog has updated the interior with a softer, more comfortable Velcro-attached cushion liner compared to the harder foam pads commonly issued. Tim confirms the liner feels noticeably softer than what he normally receives. The plan is to focus this video on durability testing, with a separate video later covering detailed helmet setup and configuration.
The discussion shifts to how helmets are typically set up in the field. Tim describes running a very minimalist configuration: essentially a Wilcox mount and night vision devices, without extra lights or accessories. He contrasts this with teammates who use multi-color helmet lights and large external battery packs to extend night vision runtime. Tim prefers to carry spare AA batteries in his chest rig and relies on pre-mission checks rather than heavy counterweights. Because he tends to move aggressively through terrain, he finds that side-mounted accessories often get snagged or ripped off. The host relates similar experiences with a SureFire side light frequently disappearing from his helmet. Tim’s solution is a simple headlamp worn around the neck, which can be flipped onto the forehead when the helmet comes off or tucked into a shirt for diffused light during building searches.
Attention returns to the Guard Dog level IIIA helmet and its ballistic rating. The host reiterates that it is designed to stop handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum and asks Tim to start the test with a 9mm pistol. Tim fires 9mm rounds, using 125-grain ammunition, into the helmet. On inspection, the exterior shows only subtle marks, with a small bump visible under the Velcro area. Removing part of the interior pad reveals minimal deformation and no penetration, with no noticeable heat or damage beyond a raised spot. The host then switches to a .45 ACP pistol and deliberately targets an unshot area. The .45 leaves a more obvious impact mark on the shell, described as a “fat .45” hit, but the inside again shows very limited deformation. Both shooters note how similar the internal effect appears between the 9mm and .45 ACP impacts, with no breakthrough of the ballistic material.
The testers decide to aim at the front of the helmet where a night vision mount is installed, simulating a forehead shot. Tim fires a 9mm round that strikes near the center of the mount, and the host follows with a .45 ACP round close by. The mount area is visibly damaged, but inspection of the interior again shows no penetration and only modest deformation. The host briefly wears and tightens the helmet to feel for distortion and reports that it still feels secure and comfortable, without obvious pressure points from the impacts. They then move to the back of the helmet and repeat the test, first with 9mm and then .45 ACP. The .45 hit produces a strong external impact, but the inside remains intact, with deformation but no hole. The conversation acknowledges that while a wearer would likely suffer a significant headache from such hits, the shell continues to prevent projectile penetration.
Before completely destroying the helmet, they introduce a 12-gauge shotgun labeled the Genesis and load it with 2¾-inch double-aught buckshot. The plan is to escalate the torture test beyond handgun rounds. Tim fires multiple shots of buckshot at the helmet, effectively “lighting it up” with repeated impacts. After the string of fire, they examine the helmet and identify several distinct impact points across the shell. Remarkably, the previously embedded .45 ACP round is still lodged in the helmet, having been missed by the buckshot pattern. They also discover a buckshot pellet that appears to have traveled from one side, impacted internally, and then been stopped again by the helmet material, leaving the ball sitting on top of the inner surface. Despite the heavy shotgun hits, there is no evidence of complete penetration through the helmet.
Post-shot inspection reveals extensive but contained damage. The exterior shows multiple buckshot strikes and previous handgun impacts, yet the ballistic shell has not been perforated. The .45 ACP bullet jacket remains lodged along a rail on the side of the helmet, clearly visible and intact. Inside, they point out deformation and areas where the material has bulged, including spots influenced by the 12-gauge impacts from the opposite side. One buckshot ball is recovered resting against the inner surface, demonstrating that it was stopped before exiting. Despite the abuse, the interior padding, liner, and chin strap hardware remain largely functional. One strap shows a nick but is still usable, and the pads are still attached. The testers emphasize that even after this level of torture, the helmet could technically still be worn, though the wearer would certainly feel the blunt force effects.
To conclude the test, they decide to perform a handgun mag dump into the already damaged helmet, using remaining 9mm and .45 ACP rounds. The helmet is laid out and repeatedly shot in an effort to finally defeat the armor. Afterward, they inspect a torn area on the shell that initially looks like a possible penetration. Closer examination shows it is a rip or split associated with prior internal impacts, not a clean pass-through. Even after the concentrated fire, the ballistic material continues to prevent bullets from fully penetrating. They note that while a wearer would experience significant blunt trauma, the helmet still performs within its intended role. The host reiterates that this Guard Dog level IIIA helmet is part of the current giveaway package with the SCAR 17 and earlier-tested body armor, and comments on the retained .45 ACP round still embedded in the shell. The segment ends with appreciation for the opportunity to conduct such destructive testing.
Loading...