[sendtoscott]

At about 3am this morning, I was woken up by about 8 or so gunshot-sounding pops. They came at about 2/second, with almost perfect regularity (I don't think a human could fire a semi that fast and consistent even if spraying and praying, and a full auto would have been faster, right?). I heard no voices (no yelling before or after like I would have expected in a shooting) and no sirens at all that night. It didn't sound like firecrackers to me - any guesses?

[hso]

transformer?

[dakotasin]

backfiring a vehicle can be done like that, and is funny. in order to do it, you need no catalytic converter.

[sendtoscott]

transformer?

Could be - we get enough power hits around here (late night computer reboots aren't uncommon) that I wouldn't be surprised if it was something electrical.

[mondocomputerman]

I don't know about that many in a row, but I heard about a gunshot-like sound if a piano string breaks.

[Davo]

perhaps firecrackers?

[countertop]

Could be a garbage truck emptying out a dumpster (had one do it everymorning at 4:00 am underneath my window when I was in college - yuck! just another reason to stay out late)

[sendtoscott]

perhaps firecrackers?

A string of firecrackers is usually faster and less 'regular'. Who sets off one string of firecrackers at 3am w/o yelling or whooping? I can't rule it out, tho.

[ZenMasterJG]

i'd agree with the backfiring car guess, i hear 'em pretty frequently, and it scares the heck outta me. One car backfired right outside my house and next think i know im in my boxers with a shotgun in my hand clearing the room and about to start going through the rest of the house, when i hear it backfire again a good distance up the street.

Sure felt silly then. Good to know that the practice has paid off and the house-clearing has become more-or-less instinct though.

[sendtoscott]

i'd agree with the backfiring car guess,

For 8 or so popping sounds instead of one or two?

[ZenMasterJG]

sure, it would be weird, but it could happen. It would probably take a weird combination of a bad valve and bad timing, but i bet i could mess up an engine enough to get a consistant intake backfire :D

[mfree]

Nope, I used to do that with my '84 Tbird all the time. It only required two slow O2 sensors, busted-out cats, and a crosspipe with a couple of pinholes from bad welding (hack shop, still makes me angry...).

It was it's most fun going down the freeway with tailgators.... drop to second and cruise a bit, floor it and let off in rapid succession. Whoever's back there gets met with a shotgun-blast level of noise and a 6 foot long cloud of blue and yellow flames :)

I miss that car.

Anyways, HV arcing can make a noise like small caliber shots, .22 or .25. backfiring is more shotgun like. Basically anything that would create a shock wave can do it.

[dakotasin]

sure, it would be weird, but it could happen. It would probably take a weird combination of a bad valve and bad timing, but i bet i could mess up an engine enough to get a consistant intake backfire :D

no, just takes a vehicle w/ no cat. get up to a little speed (not much), keep it in drive, turn the key off, tap the gas, turn the key on -pop!- turn the key off, tap the gas -pop!- and repeat until you irritate everybody.

not hard to do, can be done as fast as you can turn a key (which can be exceedingly rapid). not sure about long term consequences, but i never had any problems, nor did my friends who participated in the practice.

[Larry Ashcraft]

I don't think a human could fire a semi that fast and consistent
Actually, a good shooter can fire .20 splits (5 per second).

[sendtoscott]

Actually, a good shooter can fire .20 splits (5 per second).

Fair enough, but out in the street at 3am?

[sm]

Transformers and during tornados /storms the power lines "popping" is similar.

Unfortunatly I have heard heard incoming shots, also not long ago I heard the fatal shots fired just a short distance from me, where I buy gas.

I also hear shots fired often, one can see the casings in various travel routes around here. Now for some reason - we have folks popping off firecrackers - my theory is - pop off the firecrackers and when 'popping' is actually gunfire - folks will think it is firecrackers.

Some days it gets real distracting with all the shots fired, speeding car sounds, and sirens.

I would plan for the worst - hope for the best and for sure practice awareness no matter what the sounds are you heard.

[MNgoldenbear]

Fair enough, but out in the street at 3am?
This surprises you? Must live in a nice neighborhood! :D Lived in one area where gunfire was more common than backfiring. Not that your situation couldn't have been from backfiring, etc. New Year's Eve used to be a zoo. Could tell types of firearms being emptied by the general tone and number of rounds fired -- often very nice, even spacing of shots.

Actually, a good shooter can fire .20 splits (5 per second).
Who said they were good? :) Even if they're 'banger' types, they can just crank off rounds quickly -- several per second in a nice rhythm (but probably not hitting $h*t that they're 'aiming' at).

[jsalcedo]

I've heard that sound.

Upstairs neighbor, Sunday morning 4AM after a chili cook off / beer tasting.

[grnzbra]

I don't think a human could fire a semi that fast and consistent even if spraying and praying,

You haven't seen Jerry Miculek start with a holstered revolver, draw and fire 6 shots, reload and fire 6 more all in 2.9 seconds. (with no misses)

[sendtoscott]

You haven't seen Jerry Miculek start with a holstered revolver, draw and fire 6 shots, reload and fire 6 more all in 2.9 seconds. (with no misses)

I saw it on TV once. I suppose Miculek could have been holding up a gas station in my neighborhood at 3am - how are his S&W guns selling? :)

The total lack of human voices makes me suspect it wasn't firecrackers or a shooting.

[Farnham]

[Gribble voice, takin out cigarette]

Aliens, man, aliens. Or them goverment black helicopters. Either way, stay inside.

[/Gribble voice, replacing cigarette]

dakotasin, we used to do that with our trucks, if you put it in second, wrap it way up, shut off the key and count to 3, it will rattle windows. If you count to 6, it will indeed put a gash in your muffler and make it sound like you hit a landmine. :eek:

S/F

Farnham

[Sheldon J]

no, just takes a vehicle w/ no cat. get up to a little speed (not much), keep it in drive, turn the key off, tap the gas, turn the key on -pop!- turn the key off, tap the gas -pop!- and repeat until you irritate everybody.

not hard to do, can be done as fast as you can turn a key (which can be exceedingly rapid). not sure about long term consequences, but i never had any problems, nor did my friends who participated in the practice.

I have a relative that did this for a reliable effect he added a spark plug to the exhaust system, made a real loud bang. He keept it up untill one day he blew the whole system off his truck.:what:

[Chupacabra]

There was a shooting about a block away from my apartment over the summer and it sounded like someone slamming a metal dumpster lid shut very rapidly. Quite unnerving.

:uhoh: