[bgrav321]

In an episode of the show Burn Notice Michael Westen destroys a server room using a PGO shotgun. I know the PGO thing has been beaten to death here, but this may have actually been a semi legitimate use :confused:

Do any of you know of a special anti-electronic/materiel shotgun load?

[RevolvingGarbage]

Anti Electronic shotgun load? Really?

Any 12 gauge load above BB shot size is an anti electronics load, just ask any poor old TV or computer monitor taken to an outdoor gun range.

[AcceptableUserName]

lol @ anti-electronic load...wow.

[chevyforlife21]

unless your talking some kinda steel encased electronics walmart value pack works better then nessacary

[3pairs12]

I am going out on a limb here and saying copper would be best for anti-electronics.

[AcceptableUserName]

anti-electronics? seriously a any projectile travelling fast enough is anti-anything. jeez

[bigalexe]

In theory it is possible to setup a microwave burst or EMP device and put it inside a projecting such as a 20 or 12-gauge slug. However with current technology i dont think the device would be powerful enough to short out even the weakest of cellular phones.

However: if your talking about destroying physical data storage mediums it has been proven that Thermite (the aluminium/iron oxide stuff) is very effective because it burns through the platters in hard drives. A lot of fire damaged drives are just burned externally or if you shoot a hard drive with a gun it may dent the case leaving some or all of the platters inside that store the data still intact. Thermite completely burns through the drives and if you have a thermite incendiary round then yes that would be an awesome anti-electronics load. I haven't seen this used on Solid State Memory such as common USB Flash drives and SD Camera cards and the like. Im assuming it would work.

The issue with the thermite destruction of data storage is that it has to be detonated in precise position so it burns down through the data storage medium, so your aim has to be pretty good so if it were a projectile.

For more info on what im talking about theres some information on Hack-A-Day involving destruction of PC's with thermite.

Oh yeah, Burn Notice is a cool show btw.

[tactikel]

I shot a 19" BW tv with a 20 ga 3" mag 1.25 oz of #6 shot- the TV didn't make it :p

[EmGeeGeorge]

a dry chem fire extinguisher would work better

[Jorg]

I believe the round he was using was "quadrangle buckshot" which is a real round that is supposed to destroy electrical components (among other things).

http://www.mkballistics.com/special.htm

[4thPointOfContact]

Sometime in the early 80's there was a soldier disappointed in the length of his 12-month unaccompanied tour in Korea so he shot up the communications room in the bunker at Camp Red Cloud. We found that 5.56 makes nice neat holes in circuit boards that pretty much puts them in NotReparableThisStation category, especially if it's a sandwiched CB. He found out that the unaccompanied 12-month tour in Fort Leavenworth is much harder than an unaccompanied 12-month tour in Korea.


From the work I've done with computers and hard drives, I'd want to go with the hardest punch available in 12 gauge. Birdshot won't destroy all platters on a HD and any platter that's not destroyed or at least severely warped can be recovered with enough hard work.

[smithmax]

Those old nokia brick phones will stop a .22, but not a .40s&w...

[bgrav321]

that's what i was looking for Jorg, thanks!

[bigalexe]

Alright while we are on topic I have to put this out there directly. Are we talking about general electronics destruction and decommissioning such as disabling radios, cameras, active radar arrays and maybe the enemy's microwave for spite, or are we talking about targeted digital data destruction for the purpose of making the data unrecoverable?

The needs for these 2 situations are very different as has been pointed out. Disabling a circuit board is easy because you just punch some holes, maybe aim at the power cord area and BOOM; no more working radio. However data destruction is a much more complicated process requiring completed destruction (preferably incineration) of the actual storage medium.

[ArmedBear]

However data destruction is a much more complicated process requiring completed destruction (preferably incineration) of the actual storage medium.

Not really. I'm guessing a standard neon sign transformer connected to some cables would do a pretty good job of destroying circuits AND data. It could be done quietly, too.

Here's one for 50 bucks, 10kV, weighs 2.2 lbs.: http://firehouseneon.biz/items/neon-power-supplies/neon-transformer-power-supply-10kv-ja10kv-detail.htm

500 dollars, some cables, a backpack and the right access could probably completely fry a pretty impressive server farm before anyone knew what was up. That's why most places (including where I work and have worked) restrict access to server rooms -- sometimes to extremes.

Movies need drama, excitement, explosions, that sort of thing.

Real sabotage is seldom so dramatic, though its effects certainly can be.

[3pairs12]

Not really. I'm guessing a standard neon sign transformer connected to some cables would do a pretty good job.

You can do alot with those. I am an electrician and I keep one everytime I get the chance. Works great for keeping the neighbors dog from sticking his head under the fence. I am still saying copper would work great if we are just talking equipment destruction I wasn't even thinking data destruction.

[Virginian]

Those were special purpose loads all right. Hollywood blanks. The best possible loads for a pistol grip only 12 gauge.

[bgrav321]

Good grief people here can't over this PGO thing. That's not the point.

I think he was going for complete obliteration of digital data...and he may not have had time to use the neon tactic because he got shot at bailing out the window as it was...

Jorg's solution makes sense. It makes sense that there would be a load that was particularly suiting for such purposes.

[ArmedBear]

he may not have had time to use the neon tactic because he got shot at bailing out the window as it was...

Real spies, or whatever, plan...

[Rshooter]

Well, it depends on what compounds he has access to and how bad he wants to destroy the data.

The first type would be composed of a titanium core that would be ignited upon breaking into the core of the server. This material burns very well in most environments that are designed to prevent computer room fires. In practical application you can use large rounds like this to sink submarines.

The second and hardest to get type of round would be a depleted uranium (DP) core round where the DP would be ignited upon breaking into the core of the server. :fire: This material also burns very well in most environments and would make fire crews very wary of coming in to save the equipment. Think anti-tank rounds.