Bullet expension question (firing under water)

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SquirrelNuts

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I got to do something fun today that put a big smile on my face.

I fired a Glock 17 and a H&K USP .40 under water today. From the Glock, I fired one round of Winchester Ranger 127 gr. SXT (talon) and one round of Winchester Ranger 147 gr. T (non-talon). I fired one round of Remington Golden Saber.

I was kind of worried about a report, but it sounded like a soft thunderstrike that could barely be heard from 100 feet away.

Each round expanded fully, and did not travel more than two feet from the muzzle. the 147 gr Ranger bullet had the jacket separate from the lead and fall off. The other two rounds kept their jackets, and I was very impressed.

When making an ammo selection, should I be worried about jacket separation? I would assume that this also pertains to rifle cartridges as well, but I am not going to shoot the AK under water.

I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences with firing guns underwater. The only guns I know of that you can do this with are Glock's, SIG's, and H&K's.

-SquirrelNuts
 
I never had a use for underwater shooting, but the Keltec P-11 will fire underwater, and out of battery. The fellow used FMJ--worried about int pressure with JHP.
I've done the out of batt test numerous times with the P-11

Btw, same fellow used his milspec 1911 with FMJ and it fired, cycled and fired, underwater. He'll try anything once.
 
Last I heard you can fire any modern gun under water if you make sure you let all of the air out of it.

Out of curiosity, were you under water when you tried this, or did you just stick your hand in? I've seen others say the report is far louder under water so I'm curious.
 
What feature allows those pistols to fire underwater, where others cannot?
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From what little I understand about it, it has something to do with the firing pin channel. I was told to not fire my 1911 underwater, as I have heard stories about problems with this. But, I honestly do not know.

I never had a use for underwater shooting
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My reason for doing it was to recover expanded HP's.

Out of curiosity, were you under water when you tried this, or did you just stick your hand in? I've seen others say the report is far louder under water so I'm curious.
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I was laying on the concrete slab that surrounds the pool. I had my head tucked into my arm and just my hand in the pool. I angled the gun down to make sure the bullet did not come out of the pool. Water will amplify noise...well, sounds travels better in water than in air, so there is technically less loss. As a kid, I went to a summer camp with a GIANT pool. I would always wear my Casio watch with the alarm beeping. When you would go under the water, it could be heard throughout most of the pool. Whereas the sound would have attenuated within a few feet in the air.

-SquirrelNuts
 
Perhaps I am incorrect but would it not have been easier to shoot at the water from a close range, rather than submerge the gun? (I have no experiance here)
 
Perhaps I am incorrect but would it not have been easier to shoot at the water from a close range, rather than submerge the gun? (I have no experiance here)
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One of the rules of firearms is to be sure of you target and what is behind it. Part of this rule is to never shoot at hard objects, including water. The bullet can (and has) ricochet off water.

Did you submerge the whole gun or just the barrel? Also, what could would it be to fire underneath the water if the bullet only goes 2 feet?
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I put the ENTIRE gun in the water. I did this to recover expanded HP's to see what they look like. I do not know of any practical reason to do this. Maybe to take out a shark at close distances. I would imagine that a FMJ would travel further, but I have no idea how far. I will test that one out later.

-SquirrelNuts
 
I've never had any bullets skip off the water when pointed straight down so I guess that's why I thought of shooting it at the water. But yes, I see your point. I think ballistic gel is more fun though, you can see it do the work and it' s normally still there. :D
 
I've never had any bullets skip off the water when pointed straight down so I guess that's why I thought of shooting it at the water. But yes, I see your point. I think ballistic gel is more fun though, you can see it do the work and it' s normally still there.
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I believe that would work too, but we had to worry about the report, and being under water takes care of that. I would love to play with some ballistic gel, but have no idea where to get it or how to make it.

-SquirrelNuts
 
Were you ever afraid that the HPs would expand whilst in the barrel and get lodged?

I've shot my Beretta 950 under water once before, but that was with FMJs.
 
Is this the same Kevlarman who had his sister shoot him with a .22 and then shoot himself with a .45 in the chest asking me about concern? hehe

It actually never really crossed my mind. I had seen pictures at a local police distributor where they fired a Glock under water. I just decided to try it myself. I had also read online (Glock Talk maybe?) about others doing the same thing.

-SquirrelNuts
 
I was just about to ask Kevlarman's question.

I would think the HP would start expanding as soon as it was fired. Since it's fully submerged, the barrel is flooded, like a torpedo tube. Checked the barrel yet?
 
Well, duh. That's why I plug the end of my barrel with beeswax, in case I'm ever in a gunfight underwater.

Wait, don't tell me you DON'T plug with beeswax? :eek:
 
It's a good thing you weren't submerged as well... or you'd be wearing hearing-aids for the remainder of your years.
 
Excuse the dumb question, but what did you do to clean the gun after it was under water? Did you have to take it all the way apart or just the usual field stripping?
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Just a field strip and shake out the water
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Off topic- but this reminds me of my unauthorized Glock-drop-in-the-toilet stress test. I was at work and had taken the Glock out of the IWB holster to use the head. And for some nerve-dysfunction reason I muffed reholstering it. Don’t ask.

Anyway.

A G30 with 10 rounds in it makes a very distinct sound when it drops into a toilet. (Thankfully flushed… that’s a whole different test.) Sort of a ‘CLUNK’ that echoes through the pipes.

Quick run to the machine shop and a lot of compressed air was in order.
 
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