How Easily Do Bullets Deflect?

Purpose of the bullet deflection test

The video focuses on whether bullets deflect when passing through obstacles such as branches and light brush, and how much their trajectory can change. The host explains that this matters for hunting and defensive situations, because shooters are responsible for every round fired. The test compares several common calibers rather than every option available. A general rule of thumb is introduced: heavier bullets are often said to deflect less, while lighter bullets may deflect more. Bullet construction and shape are also highlighted as important factors, with pointed projectiles like 5.56 expected to be more prone to deflection than large, flat-nosed rounds such as .45-70 or .500 S&W.

Test setup and 9mm PCC results

The test is conducted at roughly 25–35 yards, shooting through a patch of thick, dense brush toward a paper target. The shooter stands directly behind the brush and aims at the center of the target, firing five rounds per caliber. The first caliber tested is 9mm from an Aero Precision pistol-caliber carbine. Visibility to the target is limited by the branches. On inspection, only a couple of rounds land on the narrow target area, with a noticeable spread. The shooter notes seeing branches break and move as bullets pass through, indicating that the rounds are striking obstacles rather than traveling cleanly. Given the distance and experience with the PCC, the wide dispersion is attributed largely to deflection through the brush.

5.56 performance through brush

Next, 5.56 is tested using an FN M4-style carbine. Five rounds are fired at the center of a fresh target, with additional paper “wings” added to catch shots that might drift left or right. The rifle is confirmed to be sighted for a dead-center hold. On the target, three impacts appear near the point of aim and two are grouped slightly away, leaving a noticeable gap between clusters. At this distance, it is unclear how much of the spread is due to deflection versus normal variation, but the pattern suggests some influence from the branches. The host expected more dramatic behavior from 5.56, such as pronounced tumbling, based on prior experience shooting it through vehicle glass, drywall, and in ballistic gel tests, where it tends to destabilize quickly after encountering barriers.

7.62x39 impacts and downward deflection

The third caliber is 7.62x39, fired from a Zastava M70 with a 16-inch barrel. Five rounds are sent through a denser portion of the brush while aiming at the center of the target. The resulting group includes a couple of reasonably centered hits, but some impacts show clear signs of instability. One hole is angled, suggesting the bullet struck the paper while yawing rather than point-on. Another round impacts low on the target with a downward angle that does not match the shooter’s point of aim. Examination behind the target shows that this bullet continued into the ground immediately after passing through the paper. This indicates that contact with branches caused the 7.62x39 projectile to change direction sharply and dive, contradicting the assumption that its heavier mass would always keep it on a straighter path.

.308 behavior, tumbling, and keyholing

The test then moves to .308 Winchester, fired from a SIG Sauer rifle. Again, five rounds are aimed at the center of the target through the same brush. On inspection, several hits are present, but not all are clean, round holes. One impact appears triangular and blown out, showing that the bullet was already destabilized and possibly fragmenting or heavily yawing as it struck. Another impact is a clear keyhole, where the .308 bullet hit the target sideways, leaving an elongated profile instead of a circular entry. These results show that even a relatively heavy, high-energy .308 round can experience significant deflection and instability after passing through small branches, with its trajectory and orientation changing enough to produce sideways impacts at only 25–30 yards.

.45 ACP findings and sideways impacts

Next, .45 ACP is tested from a CMMG pistol-caliber carbine. The ammunition is described as naturally subsonic, with large, round-nose bullets that are often assumed to resist deflection better due to their mass and shape. Five rounds are fired at the center of the target through the same obstructed lane, though branches partially block the shooter’s view. On the target, several hits land left of the intended point of aim despite the carbine being previously sighted in. One of the .45 impacts shows a distinct sideways or keyholing effect, indicating that the bullet was tumbling as it reached the paper. Other holes are clean and round. The sideways strike demonstrates that even a slow, heavy .45 ACP round can be significantly disturbed by brush, contradicting the idea that it will always track straight through light obstacles.

Retesting 5.56 in denser brush

To better evaluate 5.56 behavior, the caliber is retested through the densest portion of the brush, where more branches can interact with the bullet. Five additional rounds are fired toward what is estimated to be the center of the target, though the shooter notes that the sight picture is partially obscured and may have drifted slightly toward the left target. On the resulting target, one impact is a clear keyhole, showing that the 5.56 bullet struck sideways after being deflected off its original path. Another hole is visibly distorted, suggesting the projectile was wobbling in flight. A couple of hits remain relatively clean, while one round may have deflected completely off the paper. This second pass confirms that 5.56 can experience substantial deflection and instability when it encounters thicker brush, reinforcing the broader takeaway that any caliber can deviate significantly after passing through obstacles.