Glocks fire under water?

Status
Not open for further replies.

roscoe

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
2,852
Location
NV
I was watching US Marshals and there is a scene where Tommy Lee Jones is just sort of rambling about how much he loves Glocks to Robert Downey. He takes Downey's gun and substitutes an empty (but still heavy) magazine, or some such BS, but he says in that scene that Glocks can fire under water. What is with that? It seems like I have heard that said before. Why would Glocks have even more magical powers? Or will all guns fire under water. It seems to me that it would have more to do with the ammunition having oxygen to burn, or something like that.

Or am I just an idiot?
 
Most any gun will fire under water if you get the air pockets out of chamber and barrel. If not the thing will probably blow up. I guess the Glock unique-ness is that supposedly with the right mods (maritime spring cups) they will cycle underwater.

P.S. Firing a gun you just took out of the water with water still in the barrel is also not smart.

Basically the propellant has oxidizer in it in the form of molecular oxygen usually carried by a nitrate group. I think some free air gets used, but there would be enough in the case anyway.
 
NavyJoe summed it up..

While I do not recommend that anyone shoot a gun under water.
If you were to shoot any gun under water, and I mean IF , you need to make sure that there is no air in the barrel. From what I understand your barrel should be completely full of water.

Carry on....:uhoh: :)
 
Last edited:
I seem to recall reading about Glock making some swap-out parts for use in water. In the early '80s around here, some of the Urchin fishermen wore Glocks underwater for protection from Mr. G. White. Don't know if any of them were dumb enough to try and use them or not...
 
The Glock 17 is the ONLY model rated for underwater fire. That is with the installation of maritime spring cups, waterproofed ammo, and proper training in handling the firearm for underwater firing. A word to the wise, don't be in the water when someone does this - the concussion can cause internal injuries. Also, don't do it if you haven't been trained in the proper techniques.


I am in no way advocating that you do this and I highly recommend you NOT do this.
 
The novelty of firing a pistol underwater is not worth your life. Leave that to the special effects guys in Hollywood.:cuss:
 
I bought a gun related video tape once and looked up the website of the people that put out the tape to see what else they offered. They had a tape of novelty stuff and one of the things they do on the tape is to fire a gun in a swimming pool. The cover of the tape has a picture of the guy standing in a pool.



FWIW; the tape I bought was The One Mile Shot with David Tubb. It was kind of interesting. He claims he never tried it before, he sits down and figures all the sight dope based on his 1000 yard zero that he uses in match competition. He then dials the dope into his scope and is on paper at 1 mile. Before it is over he is popping steel plates at a mile from the prone position with a sling, in the wind, with his target rifle.
 
It isn't a question of being nessessary for me. It is just an interesting tidbit of information. Does it matter ? No. But it is interesting to discuss never the less.
 
P.S. If you'd like to shoot something underwater get several highpower band spearguns and go swimming. Leave gun dry on boat.
 
Let me try that again.


Heckler & Koch P11:
The P11 by Heckler & Koch is one of those very special and very rare things, a firearm made specifically to be used underwater. In order to make the weapon function underwater the P11 uses a five shot "magazine", although it is better to call it a barrel cluster. A Electrical cirquit (with the battery pack located in the grip) fires each barrel in turn. When all the barrels have been fired the shooter reloads by removing the entire barrel cluster and replacing it with a fresh one, after which the spend cluster is either discarded or returned to H&K for reloading.
The projectile fired is a 7.62 mm dart, optimalized for underwater use. It has enough power and accuracy to penetrate a diving mask at up to 15 meters, and can also inflict deadly wounds at up to that range, although it is debatable if the sight underwater will often allow for such long range shots. Sights are rather rudimentary and located on top of each barrel cluster. The Trigger guard is very large, to allow the use of the weapon when wearing diving gloves.
If used above water the P11 is effective at up to 30 meters distance, and apparently makes as much noise as a muffled 9 mm pistol.

Note: A weapon specially made for the German Bundeswehr "Kampfschwimmer" (Combat Divers), the P11 is a classified weapon, and has VERY limited availability both in and especially outside the Bundeswehr. The weapon is rumored to be used by the British SAS, and Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Israeli combat divers.

Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)
Caliber: 7.62 mm x 36
Barrel Length: 7.2 inch (18 cm)
Action: Single Action Electrical
Range: 50 ft (15 meters)(underwater) / 100 ft (30 m)(open air)
Magazine: 5 shot replacable barrel cluster
Cost: $ ?
Made in: Germany
Special: Specially made for underwater use, all polymer construction. Electrical ignition, uses sealed replacable barrel clusters. Available only to the military
 

Attachments

  • hk_p11.jpg
    hk_p11.jpg
    13.6 KB · Views: 173
The marine cups have nothing to do with whether the Glock will cycle under water. They do have something to do with whether the striker will function under water.
 
Where this all comes into play is when you are trying to shoot fish in a barrel.
 
I read somwhere that Navy Seals use Ruger suppresed MK2 .22cal full of water and are more silent with the water, also article said when water wasn't available, urine worked just as well.:D I wouldn't shoot any gun under water, they cost too much
 
BenW, are you sure about that date (early 80s)? Glocks were introduced to the civilian US in 1985, and weren't very popular for a few years. No flame, just making sure it wasn't some other pistol they were using.
 
BenW, are you sure about that date (early 80s)?
No, wasn't sure about it. Might have been mid or even late 80s then (it's hell getting old). I just remember there were articles in the local paper about it with the divers wearing thigh holsters and they were definitely Glocks. They even had one underwater shot of a diver tucked under a reef overhang with pistol out like he was ready to fire. Funny how the memory breaks down -- I can remember minute details of a newspaper article but not even remember the year it was printed.:)

Personally I would prefer a 12 gauge bangstick in a shark situation.:)
 
Amen to the 12 GA slug idea. It's pretty interesting that they actually carried handguns underwater for shark protection, though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top