9mm Exploding Rounds

[savage1r]

My dad picked up a few sets of these at a local gun show and gave me a few to test and see what they did. As you can see in the second shot of the video, at impact there is an initial spark, and then about 10 feet away or so there is an actual blast. Is there any practical use for these other than fun factor?

VIDEO LINK

 

[silicosys4]

Hmm, interesting, they would most likely be an incindiary type bullet rather than a true exploding bullet.
Something like this:

http://clarkcustomcartridge.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=21

To my limited knowledge, there were explosive bullets produced in WW2 for use in spotting for artillery,
and both Germany and Russia snipers apparently were using them against each other on the eastern front in violation of the Geneva convention.
As to how common that was, I have also read that the exploding rounds, particularly the Russian ones, were very inaccurate (40cm @ 300m) due to variances in weight and weight distribution because of the nature of the explosives. In the book "sniper on the eastern front" a German sniper describes using them occasionally on particularly important soft targets, but never it would seem over 100m.
The true exploding bullet as I've read about is done one of 2 ways: A chemical explosive with a primer at the tip of the bullet that detonates on impact,
or the Japanese method, just pack the tip of a bullet with a really unstable explosive and do away with the primer entirely.

As far as I know, the only practical application a true small arms "exploding bullet" would have is as a marker or spotter round for artillery. Combat wise, the Geneva convention outlaws exploding projectiles under 400 grams in weight for use on people, so no small arms rounds. At one time .30 caliber exploding rounds could have been used in aircraft guns without violating the Geneva convention, as they are intended to be shot at planes....not the people inside them, lol
No planes are made with guns that use civilian rounds anymore though.

They look like fun for shooting cans of brake cleaner and propane tanks though

 

[RedAlert]

I can see one major disadvantage. Unintentional setting of brush or forest fires. While you may be using a range with all burnable materials cleared away (not evident in the photo), as sure as the sun comes up someone will disregard all common sense and fire these in the woods. Smokey the Bear, has way too many fires to contend with from lightening strikes without us adding to the load.
Shoot responsibly please.

 

[Gatofeo]

Incendiary and exploding bullets are illegal on all federal land, unless it is on a range made especially for such ammo (military and police ranges can get an exemption).
I expect that every state also bans their use on their land. Never heard of a state that allowed incendiary or explosive ammo on its land.
That narrows it down to private land. But if you start a fire and the feds or state must respond to put it out, they'll almost certainly hand you the bill.
You may also be charged with a felony.
Felons may not own or even handle firearms (a few states make exceptions, based on the type of felony, but don't expect this exception).
Is shooting these bullets worth paying thousands of dollars for fire suppression, or a felony tag?
I live in the remote Utah desert. Folks bring all kinds of garbage out here, shoot it up, fire tracers and incendiary bullets, and think they're not causing any harm because, "It's just wasteland."
They find out differently when they're in front of a judge, receiving jail time and a big fine.
I wouldn't shoot these rounds over anything but the ocean or Great Lakes, and only if I had a few miles of open water for the bullet.
Save the ammo as a curiosity, and save yourself a lot of headaches.

 

[mljdeckard]

Yeah, it's become a big deal here lately. As good as Utah is for gun laws, I don't see how we gain anything by rocking the boat and insisting we should be able to burn and blow things up as well. When I was a teenager, we tried burning EVERYTHING in all the ways we could imagine. There is no sense of humor about it anymore. Just because WE think burned target material looks cool sitting out there in the desert, doesn't mean that the general public or the BLM does.

 

[silicosys4]

I don't know about "all federal lands" or "felony".....

http://smartgunlaws.org/ammunition-regulation-policy-summary/

(3) Incendiary Ammunition: Connecticut and Utah regulate incendiary ammunition. Connecticut bans distribution, transportation or importation into the state, keeping or offering for sale, or giving away of any incendiary .50 caliber bullet. This banned projectile is defined as a bullet that is designed for the purpose of, held out by the manufacturer or distributor as, or generally recognized as having a specialized capability to ignite upon impact, including, but not limited to, such bullets commonly designated as “M1 Incendiary,” “M23 Incendiary,” “M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary” or “API,” or “M20 Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer” or “APIT.”

Utah bans firing any incendiary ammunition on state lands, except within the confines of an established military reservation. The state does not define incendiary ammunition.

(4) Dragon’s Breath & Bolo Shell Ammunition: Three states, Florida, Illinois and Iowa, regulate dragon’s breath ammunition. Dragon’s breath ammunition is a type of shotgun shell that contains exothermic pyrophoric mesh metal as the projectile and that is designed for the sole purpose of throwing or spewing a flame or fireball to simulate a flamethrower.113

A bolo shell is another type of shotgun shell that expels as projectiles two or more metal balls connected by solid metal wire.114

Florida prohibits manufacture, sale, offering for sale or delivery of any dragon’s breath or bolo shells. Possession of such ammunition is prohibited if the possessor knows of its capabilities and it is loaded in a firearm, or if the possessor intends to use such shells in the commission of a criminal act.

Illinois prohibits manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, or carrying of any dragon’s breath or bolo shell. Illinois also prohibits manufacture, sale or transfer of shells represented to be dragon’s breath or bolo shells, as well as the knowing or reckless discharge of a dragon’s breath or bolo shell.

Iowa generally prohibits possession of dragon’s breath ammunition.

 

[Zoogster]

Be careful not to start fires.

To safely use such things you need to clear all brush from the area, and/or wait till just after heavy rains/snow.

 

[mljdeckard]

And yeah, good luck shooting any on military reservations either.

 

[Sam Cade]

To my limited knowledge, there were explosive bullets produced in WW2 for use in spotting for artillery,
and both Germany and Russia snipers apparently were using them against each other on the eastern front in violation of the Geneva convention.

The Geneva conventions (there are four, but only three were in effect during WWII) deal with the treatment of non-combatants and POWs.

 

[kingcheese]

Practical? If you had to stop a car id imagine them being effective outside of that? Maybe to start a bonfire?