What to do with old helmets?

[vanagon40]

I have a lot of old helmets.  Some are 10 to 20 years old.  Is there anything to do with these other than send them to the landfill? Or use them as targets to see how tough they really are?

[Jack]

I think the target idea is great 

[Big Rig]

That depends on whose head is in them....I,m just sayin!!!

[Ratdog]

According to some helmet makers' propaganda I've seen... the protection materials inside a helmet begin to become compromised after five years.  If that's true, then I'd opt for the distruction before disposal plan of attack.  Target practice is a good thing, I'd say.   

[jbooth2099]

I have a buddy that makes bird houses out of his.  He lives in the country and the birds were always making their way into his barn where he stored his gear and making nests in his helmets, so he just started hanging them in the trees around his property for them to use.

JB

[R J]

When ya use them for target practice, they will not react as you think they will.

I've used 22, 9mm, 45, 357 (hollow point), and 3 shotguns.  10 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 with a full choke built in the barrel.

[Westernbiker]

When ya use them for target practice, they will not react as you think they will.

I've used 22, 9mm, 45, 357 (hollow point), and 3 shotguns.  10 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 with a full choke built in the barrel.

Yea, ok....so you going to tell us how they react?

[Chrisj CMA]

Some places that sells helmets actually recycle some of the materials and then dispose of what cannot be reused........and theres no chance of it ever being used again by some idiot that may find it

[RedValk]

hmmmmmmm....i've got a bunch of old helmets....i like this target practice suggestion. i have a shooting 'range' in my back yard out at the ranch...literally in my back yard. I just might have to do some shooting this weekend.........

[Psychotic Bovine]

I had an old Shoei full face that I took out to the range.  .45, unless fired directly perpendicular would ricochet and leave a large gouge.  If shot direct, it would punch through one side, but not exit.  The 7.62mm Russian punched straight through.  This was a fiberglass helmet which flexed causing huge patches of paint to explode off of the shell.  Interesting experiment. 
If I had another helmet to dispose of I would try .32 acp, 9mm Makarov, .45 acp, .357 mag, 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .44 Mag. And maybe .45-70 Gov't at 100 yards. 
I think it's a great way to dispose of helmets, just be careful of ricochets.

[Big IV]

I have a barn full of helmets that we've collected that need something to happen to them.  I wonder if the neighbors would complain if I started shooting. Stupid neighbors. Used to be able to shoot back here in the woods. Ofcourse that was before I built a house back here. Stupid me.

[R J]

When ya use them for target practice, they will not react as you think they will.

I've used 22, 9mm, 45, 357 (hollow point), and 3 shotguns.  10 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 with a full choke built in the barrel.

Yea, ok....so you going to tell us how they react?

Read the response 3 holes below your post.   Ricochet badly.

[junior]

how about a cascading waterfall from one helmet to the others? your woman would love you for it 

[Lyn-Del]

I've been thinking of using them as flower "pots" around the bike barn .... remove the lining and drill a drain hole.  They'd certainly fit the motorcycle theme.  Though after reading this thread, I may decide to take them out and shoot them to put the needed drainage in.

[sheets]

I was thinking the hanging flower pot theme as well.  Kind of a historic time-line of the evolution of the helmet and the bikes they went with.  Each one probably has a story that goes with it.  Conversation piece while decorating the shop area.  Ya might be a red neck if . . . .   

[Karen]

I don't know, I think if I shot 'em, I'd want to put 'em up on the wall along with my moose horns...

[BF]

If they're old "vintage" (sixties era) 3/4 helmets, I saw a company on the web not too long ago that refurbishes them, puts in new/updated materials and sells them.  Can't remember what the site was, but if I do, i'll post it here for ya. 

[LandElephant]

How about drilling a hole in the top and inserting one of those cheap $5 solar outdoor lights and using them for decoration.

I just made a smoking area for a friend a couple months ago using an old tolet and urinal.  Sit on the tolet and pitch the butts into the urinal.  It is a object of conversation.

Land Elephant

[asfltdncr]

Gut  em and make hanging lights for ....?

[ArmyValker]

Ask your bass fishin' buddies (or any boating fisherman) if they'd like to have them... I use mine for those cold rainy mornings running across the lake.

[hubcapsc]

Ask your bass fishin' buddies (or any boating fisherman) if they'd like to have them... I use mine for those cold rainy mornings running across the lake.

D00d... you need a funny hat...



-Mike

[czuch]

Must confess I like the bird house idea best. I have old cowboy boots that I made into bird houses.
I got good at it and they sold at the swapmeet like free beer. I was home by 10am. $20 each and I had16 of em. . Total investment was about $4 each. I never pass up  worn out boots at a yard sale now.
Guess I'll be lookin at helmets too now. The wife thanks you.