Padlock Poll: Donate or Toughness Test Them?

Should I "donate" these padlocks or "toughness test" them?

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G

Geno

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Dear THR Members:

We all recall the commercials by Master™, the padlock company…”Tough Under Fire”. Myth Busters did something similar recently. But, I don’t think they had the really beefy padlocks.

Well, I have four (4) Master™ padlocks. Two of these padlocks are normal, run-of-the-mill $15.00 padlocks. But, the other two are the biggest padlocks I’ve ever seen. Back when I bought them (ten years ago, they cost $79.00 and $99.00 each. I used them to secure a couple of heavy, steel ammunition cabinets that I had.

My question is this, should I donate these padlocks to people who could use them, or should I take them to the family farm and see just how “…tough…” they are “…under fire…” of pistols and rifles? If I take them to the family farm, I would take the digital camera and the video camera and record the process. For my part, I’m curious about the effect a .22LR, 9mm, .45 ACP, 5.56 AP and .7.62 NATO would have on these. If all else fails, I have a Mark V in .300 Win Mag. You vote.

View attachment 300256

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TOUGHNESS test all the way... Nobody wants a used lock:neener:

PLEASE post pictures/info of the testing tough.

Mythbusters did some really cool lock tests (Padlocks and deadbolts) a while back... Something like Handgun vs Rifle vs Shotgun Slug.... Give that a go.
 
TexasRifleman:

That's awesome!! Thanks, I bookmarked that link.

Doc2005
 
Shoot them! I would not waste the time with the 22. Well maybe try it on the brass lock. From my actual effort the lock on the left is very tuff to break off. I broke my bolt cutters on one of those. If at first you don't succeed get out the blue tipped wrench :evil:
 
If I knew somebody that needed a few I would just donate them, if there are no takers shoot the hell out of them.
 
Donate them.

Shoot them if you want. The Box 'o Truth website ran their own test. Pistol rounds didn't do much. .223 punched right through but didn't open it. The only thing that actually broke the lock enough to open the hasp was a shotgun slug. And these were cheap laminated Master Lock knock offs.
 
TRman - nice link.... had no idea that a .308 wouldn't do the trick. I figured no handgun round would..... but the .308 surprised me.

All of a sudden I feel the need to buy a shotgun and some slugs...... you never know when you might need a lock opener! ;)

Oh... and I guess considering that the Box o truth has done this..... I guess you'd be better off donating them... and if you do so, try to do it at a place where you can get a tax write-off for the donation.
 
I don't think there is a handgun caliber that will open the lock on the far left (probably not any of them)... but go ahead... try and prove me wrong.


All of a sudden I feel the need to buy a shotgun and some slugs...... you never know when you might need a lock opener!
Click to expand...

LOL... And when the neighbor sees you preparing to shoot your front door with a 12 ga. you can honestly answer "What??? I lost my keys... what would YOU do???" :D:D:D
 
Reflections after viewing Myth Busters and the link below offered up by TexasRifleman:

The tests in the link are attacking the lock through the less critical area...their centers. The locks' mechanical aspects are at the sides, bilaterally, meaning each side locks the loop into the body on each of these locks. Let's add something that had not yet been tested.

Q 1: What if the penetration, angle of attack, comes from the side?

Q2: What if the penetration, angle of attack, comes from the top?

Please feel free to give feedback on distance, angle of attack, brand and configuration of ammo, weight of ammunition to use, etc. I do own bullet resistant attire, and I will also be behind a shield, firing mechanically. Ergo, flying lead and pieces will be a non-issue.

I won't even bother testing with a shotgun; we know they work. :)

Thanks all,

Doc2005
 
Doc2005 brings up some good points. To add to what he already said, how vulnerable are the shackles? When using bolt cutters, you cut the shackle, not the lock. Or does the shape of the shackle make it too hard to hit squarely?

To find out, I say test them.
 
October:

Excuse my ignorance, at least I am willing to learn, but what is a "shackle"?

Re Q1: I suspect that a side-on attack will merely fuse the lock shut by jamming the loop into the internal securing mechanisms.

Re Q2: I suspect that a top-down attack will compromise the internals, by driving them right out of the locks' bottoms.

Doc2005
 
Re: Padlock toughness...attack of the 1/4 inch drill.

1. I once bought a knaack jobsote toolbox that was locked shut. They use #5 master padlocks, set in a recess, so only the keyslot is visible. I called a locksmith, to see about picking the lock for me. He kind of laughed, saying he'd feel guilty about charging me, just drill out the keyway. The locked popped open as fast as if I used a key...;)

2. My neighbor runs a mini-storage, they use disc padlocks, she often defeats these locks using a drill into the keyslot.

So, if you're setting up a torture test, try shooting a lock using the keyslot as a bullseye! Post videos!
 
Excuse my ignorance, at least I am willing to learn, but what is a "shackle"?
Click to expand...
The shackle's the horseshoe-shaped metal piece as sticks out the lock - which you use to attach to chains and such.

A 7.62 tokarev round might do something interesting.
 
I say test'em out.

I'd much rather see a "real guy" test than a commercial show-off. Commercials will only show you what they want you to see, whether it's true or not.
 
Blast the little devils!

At first I thought, "Donate them, because it's already been done and I hate to see $200 plus in good to great padlock get ruined."
But..... and this is a big butt.... I've always been very curious as to why a padlock can be worth $50 or even $100. We now know what can open a $5 "Master Lock knock-off" (thanks to RifleMan but will a shotgun slug or a .30-06 take out one of the more expensive locks?
What will a .50 cal do to the most expensive one?

O.K., I'm sold. Blast them to smithereens!!!!!!!!!
 
Doc

Q2: What if the penetration, angle of attack, comes from the top?
Click to expand...

I like where you head is. That was the issue that I had with the Box 'O Truth test. They shot them straight on in the front, where the lock is the strongest. Now granted, they were recreating the master lock commercial. I would be very interested to see what would happen if you fired down on them. But this would require you to be VERY careful.
 
Careful indeed!

The rifle(s) will be strapped into a rifle rest very securely. The same for the pistols, but using a pistol holder. I will be in the far side either of 1) a concrete barricade, or 2) on the far side of my truck and wearing my bullet resistant vest, etc. I will be firing the weapons mechanically. Safety is #1. No people will be allowed to be within 500 yards of me, and there is a dirt solid backstop.

I am actually thinking that I should go straight to the rifles, and skip the pistols altogether. I think that pistols simply will not possess sufficient power to do any significant damage.

Weatherby Commerical?
Has anyone else ever seen the Weatherby, Inc commercial from back about 20 or so years? Roy Weatherby shot a large padlock (I think) with a .300 Weatherby Magnum. It shattered, and I do mean shattered the padlock. If anyone can locate a video of that can you please post the link here?

By the way, I just price checked these locks...wow, their prices have dropped significantly! Now, they cost not more than around $30.00ish each.

The Locks:

http://www.buyasafe.com/Padlocks_Trailer_Locks_p/m6325.htm

http://www.buyasafe.com/Padlocks_Trailer_Locks_p/m6230lh.htm

Doc2005
 
Fella's;

I'm a locksmith. Doc please allow me to sell you new padlocks at the prices you quoted, I need to retire soon.

The roundish silver lock in forged body is a Master mdl 6230, sells new in my shop for about $32.00. The guarded hasp mdl 957 is no longer in production AFAIK, & it's modern equivalent would probably be the 6327, maybe $40.00. A standard #1 laminated is about $12.00 and a brass #150 is about the same price.

Note: I'm at home, don't have the Master book in front of me, might be off on mdl # & price by a coupla bucks or so.

I'm not gonna tell you guys where to shoot one. And if someone does find a magic spot, do you really want to show off for one post? And let the whole world know how to defeat everybody else's padlocks? My consience would bother me, your results may vary.

900F
 
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