How Much Tree Is Really Cover?

[Dr. Bullseye]

Tree diameter. How thick does a tree have to be to provide cover? Of course if someone is shooting at you with say a FAL, that tree will have to be thicker and probably even for an AK but as a general rule, using a pine tree trunk as an example, what do you say?

[Brasilnuts]

My width plus at least a inch on either side.

[jesuvuah]

I have shot trees plenty of times and rounds will go through some pretty good size trees. How much energy on the other side, I have no idea. I am sure it depends on what kind of tree it is also.

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[Arik]

MAC did a test on that a few years ago. I believe he used 3 different calibers. 308, 5.45x39 and I don't remember the 3rd. Surprisingly 5.45 made it through a few trees that stopped 308.

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[10MMGary]

If it will stop a bullet it is cover, if it hides you but will not stop a bullet it is concealment. Too many variables to answer.

[BrigandTwoFour]

Don’t forget about stacking trees. I don’t know what kind of environment you are thinking, but in more of a woodland space, you can place several trees between you and them, increasing the density of cover.

[gaijin]

Only the part your opponents rds will not penetrate is cover.
As said, doesn’t take a lot to penetrate fairly thick trees.

[Watrdawg]

A long time ago when I was in high school I was using about a 18" diameter oak tree as a back stop when sighting in a 30-06 hunting rifle and at 100 yards pretty much all of my rounds went through that tree.

[Pi3]

A long time ago when I was in high school I was using about a 18" diameter oak tree as a back stop when sighting in a 30-06 hunting rifle and at 100 yards pretty much all of my rounds went through that tree.

If that is the case, a 30-06 might go through a 30" pine tree. At some point, it may be hard to find a pine tree large enough to offer protection. Back in my failed deer hunting days, I used to wonder how far as stray bullet would travel through dense woods to where I was sitting in a tree.

[Arik]

If that is the case, a 30-06 might go through a 30" pine tree. At some point, it may be hard to find a pine tree large enough to offer protection. Back in my failed deer hunting days, I used to wonder how far as stray bullet would travel through dense woods to where I was sitting in a tree.

Type of bullet will play a role too. Are you hunting with FMJ or soft point/expanding bullets?

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