BALLISTIC BAFFLE HAVING ENERGY DISSIPATING BACKING

Abstract

A ballistic baffle includes an abrasion and impact layer for deflecting bullets and one or more layers of energy dissipating material. The abrasion and impact layer takes the impact of a projectile while the energy dissipation material disperses the energy thereof to reduce or eliminate the risk of the bullet penetrating the abrasion and impact material. The composite baffle enables the use of baffles that are lighter weight, less expensive and/or have improved performance characteristics over conventional single layer baffles.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/435,971, filed Jan. 25, 2011, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved ballistic baffles for deflecting bullets, such as at a shooting range. More particularly, the present invention relates to baffles having an impact layer (also referred to as an abrasion and impact layer) and one or more layers of energy dissipating material adhered on a backside of the impact layer to improve energy dissipation, reduce cost and/or to reduce baffle weight.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of reasons for which individuals engage in shooting at a shooting range or similar facility. Many individuals will shoot to improve their proficiency in hunting. Law enforcement officials shoot on a regular basis to maintain their proficiency in the use of firearms so as to ensure their skills and promote safety. Shooting proficiency can be done using a number of different types of training facilities. One type of training facility used to improve shooting proficiency is the indoor shooting range.

Safety concerns at an indoor shooting range are particularly important because shooting range structures and ballistic projectiles are all enclosed at relatively close distances from the shooter. Thus, bullets deflecting from targets or other shooting range structures could threaten the safety of a shooter or others at the range if not properly controlled. Shooting ranges typically use a number of safety precautions to control the direction and deflection of bullets. In most indoor shooting ranges and some outdoor ranges, one such precaution is the hanging of ballistic baffles from the ceiling or other support structures along the shooting range at such an angle as to deflect stray bullets towards the bullet containment area at the back of the shooting range. This directs the bullets away from the shooter and away from the ceiling where penetration could cause a risk to others outside the building and where deflection could cause injury to others inside the building.

Ballistic baffles used for deflecting bullets in shooting ranges are commonly made of or include steel panels which are approximately three-eighths (⅜) inch (or 9.5 mm) thick. Hardened steel (or in some situations regular steel) may be used so that bullets do not penetrate the baffles and reach the ceiling or high walls where there may be a higher risk of a bullet exiting the building or deflecting towards the shooter or others nearby. Unfortunately, the use of the ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) hardened steel plate raises several concerns. For example, steel panels can be very costly and changes in steel prices can cause substantial variations in the cost to build a shooting range. (As used herein, about or approximately ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) (or other size) refers to plates of steel or other materials which are considered to be ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) (or other stated size) in industry even though exact thicknesses vary slightly.)

Additionally, the steel panels can be cumbersome because of the weight, requiring heavy reinforcement of the structure which supports the baffles. A panel 4 feet by 8 feet (1.22 m by 2.44 m) of ⅜ths inch (9.5 mm) steel weighs nearly 490 lbs. (222 kg). If five such panels are disposed in a linear array to form a 40 foot (12.2 m) wide baffle, the baffle weighs 2450 lbs. (1110 kg). If five rows of baffles are used on a shooting range, 12450 lbs. (5550 kg.) must be supported above the range.

Finally, steel panels may not provide optimal performance for a particular type of projectile deflection. While steel has very good abrasion and penetration resistance, it is not as good at avoiding deflection and/or compression. Additionally, in some situations it may be desirable to use softer grades of steel to keep costs down if they can be adequately enhanced to provide similar deflection characteristics to a hardened steel panel.

Thus, there is a need for ballistic baffles which are lighter, less expensive, and/or have improved performance characteristics over three-eighths (⅜) inch (approximately 9.5 mm) steel baffles while preventing bullet penetration and deflecting bullets away from the shooter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to create a baffle for containing projectiles. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a ballistic baffle may be made by adhering or otherwise attaching a layer of an energy dissipating material to the impact layer formed by an impact and abrasion resistant material.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a compressive resistant material may be attached to one side of an abrasion and impact resistant material forming an impact layer. The impact layer is intended to receive and deflect bullets or other projectiles and the compressive resistant layer is intended to strengthen the impact layer against bullet penetration and deformation of the impact layer by dissipating energy from the impact of a bullet. It will be understood that, unless stated to the contrary, that reference to a layer will include a single layer of a material with a given characteristic and to multiple layers with that characteristic.

In another aspect of the present invention, an impact absorption or damping material may be placed between the compressive resistant layer and the impact layer. The impact layer may be designed to receive and deflect bullet projectiles and the damping material and the compressive resistant layer may strengthen the impact layer against bullet penetration and at the same time dissipate energy from the impact of a bullet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a fragment containment material may be attached to a back side of the compressive resistant layer or damping layer. The fragment containment material may be configured to contain fragments of any projectiles which may penetrate the abrasion and impact resistant layer, the compressive resistant layer and any other layers which may be present.

The layers of material provide a baffle which can be lighter weight and/or have greater resistance to penetration than conventional baffles in some configurations. In other configurations, the composite baffle simply may be less expensive than a steel only baffle having similar bullet stopping/deflecting capabilities. In still other configurations, the composite baffle may provide improved performance for specific applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a series of ballistic baffles hanging from a ceiling in an indoor shooting range in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of a ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) steel ballistic baffle in accordance with the teachings of the prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of a ballistic baffle made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a side cross-sectional view of another ballistic baffle made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of yet another ballistic baffle made in accordance with principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a shooting range using a ballistic baffle system of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The baffles shown may accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is often not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures may be presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all objects or advantages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.

The present invention typically includes a material for receiving the abrasion and impact of a projectile, referred to herein as the impact layer. The impact layer may be backed by various energy dissipating layers of material. The energy dissipating layers may include a compressive resistant layer and/or a damping layer.

The impact layer may be formed of different materials which are suitable for receiving the abrasion and impact of a high velocity projectile, such as a bullet, with minimal wear or damage. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the abrasion and impact layer is preferably steel plate which is thinner than traditional baffles. In other words, the layer of steel is less than ⅜^th of an inch (9.5 mm). Thus, the steel may be, for example, between 1/16^th and 5/16^th of an inch (1.59 mm to 7.94 mm). This thinner piece of steel reduces weight by about 16-84 percent and renders the steel cost in the baffle substantially less than a conventional ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) steel plate. Depending on the desired use, a mild grade steel or hardened steel may be used. Other materials may also be used as discussed below.

The addition of a compressive resistant layer provides resistance to compression and bending, and stiffens the impact layer, thereby preventing excessive deformation and piercing of the impact layer by projectiles. The use of a good compressive resistant layer allows for use of an impact layer which is thinner than the traditional steel baffle.

Where a damping layer is used, the damping layer helps to dissipate energy caused by the impact of the projectile. The damping layer may be located between the impact layer and the compressive resistant layer. The damping layer may allow for some bending of the impact layer without transferring the bending to the compression layer. This can help prevent damage of the compressive resistant layer by damping and distributing the point loads which may occur from a bullet strike while still allowing the compressive layer to stiffen the impact layer and prevent a bullet from piercing or overly deforming the abrasion and impact layer.

Turning now to FIG. 3, therein is shown a cross-sectional view of a ballistic baffle, generally indicated at 5, made in accordance with the present invention. The ballistic baffle 5 includes an abrasion and impact resistant material forming the impact layer 7. A layer of compression resistant material forming a compressive resistant layer 9, is adhesively attached to or otherwise affixed to the impact layer 7. The impact layer 7 may be thinner than a conventional hardened steel baffle depending on the material being used. For example, if the impact layer 7 is hardened steel, it will typically be less than ⅜^th inch thick. While not required, the impact layer may preferably be between 1/16^th and 5/16^th inch thick (about 1.6 mm to 7.9 mm) and more preferably between about ⅛^th inch (about 3.2 mm) and ¼^th inch (about 6.4 mm) thick, with about ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) being the presently most preferred. Unless otherwise noted, references contained herein to size refer to the thickness of a layer of material. Thus, for example, ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) means a sheet or pieces of the material of any length or width which are ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) thick.

The abrasion and impact resistant material forming the impact layer 7 may be selected from materials such as AR500 Steel (or other hardened steel), soft steel (for certain applications), aramid fiber (KEVLAR), or ceramics. By replacing a single panel of ⅜^th inch (approximately 9.5 mm) steel with ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) steel, a weight reduction of approximately 320 lbs. (145 kg) is achieved in steel weight. Additionally, the cost of steel in the baffle may be reduced nearly 66 percent.

The compression resistant material forming the compressive resistant layer 9 may be selected from a variety of materials including: concrete, including, but not limited to high PSI and reinforced concrete, concrete board formed by nesting mesh in concrete (commonly referred to as backerboard and sold under the trademarks DUROCK (USG), HARDIEBACKER (James Hardie Industries) and WONDERBOARD (Custom Building Products), for example. The compression resistant material may also be steel including either hardened steel or regular steel, rubber, fiber glass materials, wood, such as wood pieces, particle board, OSB and the like, carbon fiber, KEVLAR, or ceramics.

As an example of weight savings, a sheet of HARDIEBACKER backerboard (about 0.4 inches (about 10.2 mm) thick) weighs approximately 83 lbs. (37.6 kg). Thus, a compressive resistant layer 9 formed by three sheets of backerboard could be used behind an impact layer 7 of ⅛^th (3.2 mm) steel while still reducing weight over a conventional baffle and having a thickness three times that of a conventional baffle. While ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) of steel is lost, it is replaced by about 1.2 inches (about 30.6 mm) of mesh impregnated concrete board and a lower overall weight. This enables the baffle to remain generally rigid when impacted by a bullet while saving both cost and weight.

The compressive resistant layer 9 may be adhered or attached to the impact layer 7 using customary methods of adhesion, such as epoxy, glue, riveting, etc., as applicable to the particular energy dissipating material used as the compressive resistant layer, i.e., backing material. Additionally, as noted above, the compressive resistant layer 9 may include multiple pieces of compressive resistant material 9 which may use various methods for attaching them to each other including epoxy, glue, riveting, screws, etc.

In stopping a bullet, two factors must be considered. First, it is important to contain the bullet without penetrating the stopping material and second, the energy from the bullet must be dissipated. With a conventional baffle, this is done relatively easily because the hardened steel is difficult for the bullet to penetrate and the mass of the ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) (or greater) hardened steel will dissipate the energy. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that a thinner piece of hardened steel or other material can stop a bullet without the bullet penetrating the material if a compressive resistant material or other energy dissipating material is attached to the impact layer 7 to help reduce deformation and dissipate the bullet's energy. Thus, a baffle can be made which is lighter weight than conventional baffles, reducing the steel (or other abrasion and impact material) cost and reducing the amount of support structure needed to hold the baffles above the range. In addition to or in the alternative, the use of less steel may simply reduce the cost of the baffles, as less expensive materials can be used as a backing to the impact layer 7.

While shown in FIG. 3 as being of a similar thickness to the impact layer 7, the compressive resistant layer 9 may be thicker. Depending on desired weight and performance characteristics, the compressive resistant layer 9 may be 10 times or more as thick as the impact layer.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view of another ballistic baffle, generally indicated at 11, made in accordance with the present invention. The ballistic baffle 11 includes an impact layer 7 on which is adhered or attached a plurality of layers of energy dissipating material indicated at 13 and 15 to form impact absorption or damping layers. The impact layer 7 may be made from the same materials as the impact layer discussed regarding FIG. 3. The impact absorption or damping materials 13 and 15 may include the material of the compressive resistant layer, of a damping layer of one or more rubber panels formed from one or more of vulcanized rubber, chopped rubber, pure rubber and self-healing or self-sealing rubber, EPDM rubber, and/or wood products, such as wood pieces, particle board, and/or OSB.

Similar to the discussion above, if hardened steel is used for the impact layer 7, the impact layer may be less than ⅜^th inch thick and, while not required, may typically be between about 1/16^th and 5/16^th inch thick (about 1.6-7.9 mm), and more preferably between about ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) and ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) thick, with about ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) currently being most preferred and shown in FIG. 4.

Each of the plurality of layers of energy dissipating material, e.g., the impact absorption material 13 and 15, may be made of the same energy dissipating material as the other layers, or a combination of materials may be used. It will be appreciated that there is overlap between the materials which may be used in a compressive resistant layer and a damping layer. Which forms the compressive resistant layer may depend on the materials selected. For example, oriented strand board (OSB) may serve as a compressive resistant layer when placed against a rubber, but may serve as a damping layer when placed against concrete backerboard.

The energy dissipating material may be adhered to the impact layer 7 and/or to the other layer(s) of energy dissipating materials using customary methods of adhesion, such as epoxy, glue, riveting, etc., as applicable to the particular energy dissipating material used as the backing material. Additionally, the other materials may be formed directly on the impact layer 7 so that they adhere with or without additional adhesives, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a cross-sectional view of another ballistic baffle, generally indicated at 17, made in accordance with the present invention. The ballistic baffle 17 may include an impact layer 7 on which may be attached damping layer 13 of energy dissipating material, and a compressive resistant layer 9. Each of these layers may be formed as above. In use, the compressive resistant layer 9 provides a more rigid support structure for the impact layer 7 and keeps the impact and abrasion layer from being overly deformed or punctured by a bullet. In many cases, a desired compressive resistant layer 9, such as concrete, may break down if the impact layer is attached directly thereto. In these cases, the use of an absorption or damping layer 13 between the impact layer 7 and the compressive resistant layer 9 will dampen and distribute the impact of the bullet against the impact layer and prevent the transfer of high point loads to the compressive resistant layer. This prolongs the life of the compressive resistant layer. The absorption or damping layer 13 may be sufficiently rigid to adequately support the impact layer and prevent the puncturing or deformation of the impact layer.

The baffle 17 may also include a fragment containment material forming a containment layer 19 to decelerate or stop any projectile fragments which may have penetrated the other layers. The fragment containment material 19 may include steel, rubber, wood, and/or composites or structural fibers such as carbon fiber, aramid fibers (KEVLAR), or fiberglass. In some cases, a bullet may penetrate the impact layer 7 if, for example, a higher velocity round is used than for which the shooting range was designed. Even in such a case, however, the bullet will typically have dissipated significant energy before penetrating the impact layer 7, absorption or damping layer 13 and compressive resistant layer 9, and can be reliably contained by the fragment containment layer 19.

As before, if a hardened steel panel is used for the abrasion and impact resistant layer 7, the steel panel would be less than ⅜^th inch (9.5 mm) thick and, while not required, may desirably be between ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) thick and ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) thick. The material of the absorption or damping layer 13 may be made of the different energy dissipating materials as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. As with FIG. 4, the energy dissipating materials may be adhered to the steel panel and/or to the other layer(s) of energy dissipating materials using customary methods of adhesion, such as epoxy, glue, riveting, direct formation, etc., as applicable to the particular energy dissipating material used as the backing material. It will also be appreciated in accordance with the present invention that thickness of the steel and the thickness of the other layers will depend on the ability of the material forming those layers to dissipate energy from a projectile. Thus, for example, a material, such as concrete or cement may be able to dissipate the energy of a bullet or other projectile relatively easily, thereby requiring a thinner layer than other materials. However, another material may require a thicker layer, but be able to better dissipate the energy with less overall weight.

While shown in FIG. 5 as having the impact layer 7, the damping layer 9, the compressive resistant layer 9 and the fragment containment layer 19, it will be appreciated that the order could be changed or repeated, such as alternating layers, etc.

It will be appreciated, that the present invention provides a wide variety of combinations which may be used to make a baffle for containing stray bullets and other projectiles. The following are examples of baffles which could be used. They are for demonstration purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention;

Example 1

An abrasion and impact material formed from ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) of AR-500 steel is backed with 2 inches (50.8 mm) of OSB adhesively attached to the AR-500 steel.

Example 2

An abrasion and impact material formed from 1/16^th inch (1.6 mm) AR-500 steel is backed with an impact absorption material of ¾^th inch (19.2 mm) plywood and a compressive resistant material of ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) rubber which is backed by containment material of 1/16^th inch (1.6 mm) of AR-500 steel.

Example 3

A ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) panel of hardened steel is bonded to a ½ inch (12.7 mm) layer of 10,000 psi concrete.

Example 4

A ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) panel of hardened steel is bonded to 2 inches (50.08 mm) of fiberglass composite, which is boned to a ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) of aramid (KEVLAR) composite.

Example 5

A ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) panel of hardened steel is attached by epoxy to a ½ inch (12.7 mm) layer of carbon fiber.

Example 6

The same panel of Example 5 with a 1 inch layer of rubber adhesively attached to the carbon fiber.

Example 7

A 1/16^th inch (1.6 mm) panel of hardened steel attached to a ¼^th (12.7 mm) inch layer of fiberglass, which is attached to 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of plywood;

Example 8

A ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm) panel of hardened steel is backed by two sheets of mesh/concrete backer board (HARDIEBACKER) having a combined thickness of approximately 0.8 inches (21 mm).

While numerous examples can be given based on the variety of material which are discussed above, combinations of the following are presently believed to be preferred for various applications. Other applications (high velocity rounds versus pistol round) may have different preferred combinations.

2 mm (between about 1/16^th and 1/12^th inch) or 4 mm (between about approx. ⅛^th and ⅙^th inch) sheets of AR-500 for the impact and abrasion layer, backed with:

• • ¾^th inch (19.1 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) of wood (1 to 4 layers of plywood or OSB);
  • ¾^th inch (19.1 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) of concrete (preferably 10,000 PSI high strength);
  • 1 to 3 sheets of 0.4 inch (10.1 mm) mesh/concrete board (backerboard);
  • ½ inch (12.7 mm) to 4 (101.6 mm) inches of rubber;
  • ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) of a fiberglass composite;
  • ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) to 1 inch (25.4 mm) of Kevlar composite; or
  • ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) to ¾^th inch (19.2 mm) carbon fiber for subsequent compressive resistant and/or absorption layers (or combinations thereof).

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown a shooting range baffle system, generally indicated at 30, formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The baffle system 30 includes a support member 34 and a plurality of suspension members 38 which are attached to the support member. The support member 34 may be trusses of a building, a beam or other similar structures which are designed to support a considerable amount of weight. The suspension members 38 may be attached to the support member in a variety of ways and are also attached to a plurality of baffles 42. Typically this is done by connectors 40, such as flanges or angle iron which is attached to the baffles. The baffles are often modular with panels (e.g. 4 feet×8 feet (1.22 m×2.44 m) connected together by a face plate and a backing plate with the connector being formed as part of or attached to the backing plate.

The suspension members 38 typically engage the connectors 40 so that the baffles 42 are disposed in an orientation between vertical and horizontal in order to deflect bullets which may be fired at too high of an angle back toward a collection system 46, such as a berm trap, a bullet containment chamber or other bullet containment system.

The baffles 42 may be formed in the manner of baffle 5 of FIG. 3, baffle 11 of FIG. 4, baffle 17 of FIG. 5 or combinations or modifications thereof. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the first baffle 42 and last baffle 42 are formed as baffle 5, with an impact layer 7 and a compressive resistant layer 9. The impact layer 7 may be formed from hardened steel or other appropriate materials. Most commonly the impact abrasion layer may be formed from hardened steel sheets (such as AR-500) which are 2 mm (between about 1/16^th and 1/12^th inch), ⅛^th inch (3.2 mm), 4 mm (between about ⅛^th and ⅙^th inch) or ¼^th inch (6.2 mm) thick.

The compressive resistant layer 9 may be made from the variety of materials discussed above, although two or three sheets of 0.4 inch (10.1 mm) backerboard (mesh/concrete) is presently preferred. This results in a lighter weight, less expensive baffle.

The second and fourth baffles 42 are formed like baffle 11 with an impact and abrasion layer 7, and energy dissipating layers 13 and 15, which may be formed from foam, rubber, wood or a variety of other materials as discussed above either as damping layers, compressive resistant layers or a combination thereof.

The third baffle 42 is formed like baffle 17 with an impact 7, a damping layer 13, and a compressive resistant layer 9. It may also include a fragment containment material 19 to contain any projectile which is able to penetrate through the impact and abrasion layer 7. The various materials used in each of the baffles may be those discussed above or other materials which perform similar functions.

It will be appreciated that the baffles can be tailored to the needs of the range. For example, the rearward most baffle may take the most rounds because it is close to the bullet trap 46 and is at the closest angle to the target 50. Thus, the rearward most baffle may be made the strongest with a ¼^th inch (6.4 mm) AR-500 plate impact layer 7 with an energy dissipating damping layer 13 and multiple sheets of backer board forming a compressive resistant layer 9.

In contrast, the first baffle is least likely to be hit and may use only a 1/16^th inch (1.6 mm) sheet of hardened steel (or a thicker piece of soft steel) with a couple of pieces of concrete board, OSB or the like. Thus, a customized baffle system may be provided which has less weight, less cost and/or better performance characteristics.

There is thus disclosed an improved ballistic baffle for use on indoor and other shooting ranges and shooting training systems. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications.

Claims

1. A baffle system for deflecting bullets, the baffle system comprising:

a support member for holding at least one baffle in an elevated position;

a suspension member for connecting at least one baffle to the support member so as to hold the baffle at angle between horizontal and vertical; and

at least one baffle having an impact layer and an energy dissipating layer attached to the impact layer to absorb energy from the impact layer.

2. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 1, wherein the impact layer comprises steel plate which is less than about ⅜th inch thick.

3. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 1, wherein the impact layer comprises hardened steel which is less than about ¼th inch thick.

4. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 1, wherein the impact layer comprises at least one of the group consisting of hardened steel, soft steel, aramid fiber and ceramic.

5. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 1, wherein the energy dissipation layer is a compressive resistant layer having at least one of the group consisting of concrete, concrete board, steel, rubber, fiber glass, wood, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ceramics.

6. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 5, further comprising a damping layer disposed between the impact layer and the compressive resistant layer.

7. The baffle system for deflecting bullets of claim 1, further comprising a fragment containment layer.

8. A ballistic baffle, the ballistic baffle comprising:

an impact layer; and

a compressive resistant layer attached to the impact layer.

9. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, wherein the impact layer comprises a hardened steel panel less than about ⅜th of an inch thick.

10. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, wherein the impact layer is formed by plate steel less than about ¼th inch thick.

11. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, wherein the impact layer is steel plate between about 1/16th and ⅛th of an inch thick.

12. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, wherein the impact layer comprises at least one of the group consisting of hardened steel, soft steel, aramid fiber and ceramic.

13. The ballistic baffle of claim 12, wherein the compressive resistant layer comprises at least one of the group consisting of concrete, concrete board, steel, rubber, fiber glass, wood, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and ceramics.

14. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, wherein the compressive resistant layer includes concrete.

15. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, further comprising a damping layer having at least one of the group consisting of vulcanized rubber, chopped rubber, pure rubber, self-healing rubber, self-sealing rubber, EPDM rubber, and wood products.

16. The ballistic baffle of claim 8, further comprising a fragment containment layer having at least one of the group consisting of steel, rubber, wood, structural fibers, Kevlar and fiberglass.

17. The ballistic baffle of claim 16, wherein the baffle comprises an energy dissipation layer disposed between the compressive resistant layer and the impact layer and wherein the fragment containment layer is disposed as a side of the compressive resistant layer opposite the energy dissipation layer.

18. A ballistic baffle, the ballistic baffle comprising:

a steel panel for deflecting projectiles, the steel panel being between about ⅛th and ¼th inch thick; and

a plurality of layers of energy dissipating material attached to one side of the steel panel, the plurality of layers of energy dissipating material being formed from the same material.

19. The ballistic baffle of claim 18, wherein the steel panel is about ⅛th inch in thickness and wherein the energy dissipating material comprises concrete.

20. The ballistic baffle of claim 18, wherein the energy dissipating material is aramid fiber.

21. The ballistic baffle of claim 18, wherein the energy dissipating material includes concrete.

22. The ballistic baffle of claim 18, wherein the energy dissipating material is composite fiber.

23. The ballistic baffle of claim 18, wherein the plurality of layers of energy dissipating material include two layers of compressive resistant material.

24. A ballistic baffle, the ballistic baffle comprising:

a steel panel for deflecting projectiles; and

a plurality of layers of energy dissipating material adhered to the side of the steel panel, wherein at least two of the layers of energy dissipating material are made of different energy dissipating materials.

25. The ballistic baffle of claim 24, wherein the steel panel is about 1/8 inch in thickness.

26. The ballistic baffle of claim 24, wherein the at least two different energy dissipating materials are aramid fiber and concrete.

27. The ballistic baffle of claim 24, wherein the at least two different energy dissipating materials are aramid fiber and composite fiber.

28. The ballistic baffle of claim 24, wherein the at least two different energy dissipating materials are concrete and composite fiber.

29. The ballistic baffle of claim 24, wherein the number of the plurality of layers of the at least two different energy dissipating materials is two.

30. A method for forming a baffle, the method comprising:

selecting a plate of hardened steel which is between about 1/16th and ¼th inch thick; and

attaching at least one layer of an energy dissipating material to one side of the plate.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the method includes adhesively attaching the energy dissipating material to the plate of hardened steel.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the method includes selecting concrete board and attaching the concrete board to the hardened steel plate.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the energy dissipating material is a compressive resistant material having at least one of the group consisting of concrete, concrete board, rubber, fiber glass, wood, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and ceramics.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the energy dissipating material is a damping material having at least one of the group consisting of vulcanized rubber, chopped rubber, pure rubber, self-healing rubber, self-sealing rubber, EPDM rubber, and wood products.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein attaching at least one layer of an energy dissipating material to one side of the plate includes attaching at least one layer of a non-metallic energy dissipating material to one side of the plate.

36. The method according to claim 30, wherein the method comprises attaching a damping layer to the plate and attaching a compressive resistant layer to the damping layer.

37. The method according to claim 36 further comprising attaching a fragment containment layer to the compressive resistant layer.