A gunshot wound to the head with a rifle or handgun will not produce an easily predictable outcome. The skull is a sealed container that protects the brain. It is designed to block blunt trauma and the curved spherical structure is strong and handles shock very well. There is very little room for movement. If the brain swells inside the skull, the pressure can build and cause extensive damage.Penetrating trauma (where the bullet gets inside the skull) leaves a permanent cavity (bullet track) may be large, but the damage from the temporary cavity caused by hydrostatic shock can be much worse. With no room to move, the shock waves can do massive damage.For some lucky people, the bullet may not enter the skull. Even if it does, the bullet may pass through non-critical parts of the brain and survival is possible.Click here to watch an ISIS propaganda video of one of life’s lottery winners.
https://youtu.be/qHFzjRKz3pU
An ISIS sniper gets a pretty good head shot with an SVD sniper rifle. For some reason, maybe cinematic effect, the sniper chose to shoot 7.62x54R Tracer. In the screenshot below and the video, you can actually watch the round bounce off the skull and fly away.
His target doubles over for a second and the sniper takes another shot which goes high. Our target then recovers his wits and gets off the X and out of sight.
Conventional wisdom and Hollywood would have use believe that a head shot with a sniper rifle is game ending. This video shows there is a lot of biology resisting that head shot.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.