The work aims to systematically summarize the experimental and numerical methods for the impact of thin conical shells, analyze the corresponding response behavior and load characteristics, and develop equivalent impact loading technology based on the plastic deformation of thin conical shells. By comprehensively surveying related research on the impact response of thin conical shell structures, the impact loading techniques and numerical simulation methods were summarized in detail, and the mechanical properties and energy absorption performance of thin conical shells were primarily characterized through the acceleration history of impact object and the load-displacement curve. And theoretical analysis was also conducted based on elastoplastic stress waves. The results show that the main loading approach for metallic thin conical shell impact tests includes drop-weight impact, explosive pulse loading, and pneumatic mass block impact, etc. Regarding the numerical simulation method, it is usually based on the compression of the metallic shell by a rigid plate. Furthermore, in addition to the axial loading on the conical shell, there are several other experimental designs for the investigation on the impact response, e.g., oblique loading, introduction of grooves, foam material filling, and composite material interlayers, etc. On the whole, the research in this field is still in its early stages of development. In the future, it needs to investigate comprehensively and deeply the influence of shell parameter variation on its impact response and load characteristics as well as the corresponding mechanism. It is suggested to combine the experimental and numerical approaches together in related research.