This article reports an experimental investigation on the axial impact buckling of thin metallic cylindrical shells fully filled with water. Low velocity impact tests are carried out by DHR-9401 drop hammer rig. The whole process of dynamic buckling is simulated using LS-DYNA computer code. The consistency between experimental observation and numerical simulation is quite satisfactory. The investigation indicates that quite high internal hydrodynamic pressure occurs inside the shell during the impact process. Under the combined action of the high internal pressure and axial compression plastic buckling occurs easily in the thinwalled shells and buckling modes take on regular and axisymmetric wrinkles.