How Bulletproof is Thanksgiving Dinner
Have you ever found yourself pondering the unthinkable scenario of a Thanksgiving feast turning into a chaotic showdown, with grandma, fed up with her daughter-in-law's cooking, brandishing a 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun from beneath the dining table? No? Excellent, that means you're sane.
Yet, with Turkey Day swiftly approaching, we at BulletSafe saw an opportunity to shed light on a rather unique form of protection. Picture this hypothetical situation: a dining table, accommodating six to eight guests, stretches to 78 inches or 2 yards in length. If shotgun-toting grandma were to open fire from one end of the table, every shot would be considered point-blank. Shotguns, originally crafted for close-quarters combat within the confines of World War I trenches, can wreak havoc at such close range.
While some hunters may argue that they've taken shots at a turkey only for it to flee, likening it to shooting a bulletproof vest encased in stuffing, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. First, a live turkey is protected by a robust layer of feathers designed to shield it from the elements. Second, when a turkey is hit in the body by a shotgun with turkey loads from distances exceeding 40 yards, it might be wounded but is unlikely to meet its demise due to the aforementioned protective feather layer.
At point-blank range, however, the tables turn, and the turkey's fate is sealed.
That is unless you take two crucial steps: a vigilant weapons check at the entrance to prevent any potential dinner table disruptions and the fortification of your beloved turkey with a BulletSafe IIIA bulletproof vest. Even at point-blank range, the BulletSafe IIIA vest can thwart large-caliber slug rounds and heavy buckshot like 00. While it may result in some unsightly deformation on your centerpiece, you can rest assured that none of the shotgun pellets will breach its defenses.
Soft armor vests, such as the BulletSafe VP3, boast a NIJ Level IIIA rating, primarily designed to halt pistol caliber rounds ranging from 9mm to .44 magnum. However, in practice, they also provide protection against shotgun rounds, either from buckshot or slugs.
In one of our videos, BulletSafe’s very own Jake demonstrated the dependability of our VP3 vests by actually up-armoring a turkey and blasting it with a round of buckshot followed up with a slug to the back. Just as predicted, there was no penetration.
While we sincerely hope that no one has to grapple with shotgun-wielding, holiday-induced chaos this Thanksgiving, we, at BulletSafe, encourage you to prioritize your safety in this unpredictable world. Consider acquiring one of our bulletproof vests for added peace of mind.