benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
In reference to firefighters, though, a primer/case/bullet from burning ammunition would not penetrate their suit, as has been demonstrated in many tests.
About ammo in your home
- Thread starter jaydubya
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Oohrah
Member
I was a professional firefighter, the reporter was a liar in his state-
ment. The only danger in the cook offs would be ammo contained
in the chamber of a firearm. Sometimes black powder stored in
improper containers gave a moment of thought
Most powder
containers split and burn with a very hot flame, but not with the
same heat range as combustable metals
ment. The only danger in the cook offs would be ammo contained
in the chamber of a firearm. Sometimes black powder stored in
improper containers gave a moment of thought
Most powdercontainers split and burn with a very hot flame, but not with the
same heat range as combustable metals
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Ammo In A Fire Test
Flying bullets are not a problem in a fire.
Most center-fire rifle cases are not a problem in a fire.
Beware of the blown-out primers, CF pistol cases, and .22 Rimfire cases though!
They can do a lot of damage at close range!
I did some quick & dirty testing last fall.
Here are the results:
Test set-up using furnace duct sheet metal:
One side:
The other side:
The remains of the cook-off ammo:
*Note the .223 did not even blow out the bullet or rupture the case. The slow rifle powder just burned and vented out the primer flash hole.
*Note the aluminum .357 case went clean through the furnace duct sheet metal.
*Note all the .22 RF cases, and the .223 primer almost went through.
My recommendation is to store all loaded ammo or primed cases in steel GI ammo cans.
They are designed to contain exploding ammo in a fire and will prevent primers & shrapnel from possibly injuring a fire fighter who got to close.
rcmodel
Flying bullets are not a problem in a fire.
Most center-fire rifle cases are not a problem in a fire.
Beware of the blown-out primers, CF pistol cases, and .22 Rimfire cases though!
They can do a lot of damage at close range!
I did some quick & dirty testing last fall.
Here are the results:
Test set-up using furnace duct sheet metal:
One side:
The other side:
The remains of the cook-off ammo:
*Note the .223 did not even blow out the bullet or rupture the case. The slow rifle powder just burned and vented out the primer flash hole.
*Note the aluminum .357 case went clean through the furnace duct sheet metal.
*Note all the .22 RF cases, and the .223 primer almost went through.
My recommendation is to store all loaded ammo or primed cases in steel GI ammo cans.
They are designed to contain exploding ammo in a fire and will prevent primers & shrapnel from possibly injuring a fire fighter who got to close.
rcmodel
The Bushmaster
Member
It seems that you have them encased in something, mcmodel. What is it and what if you just layed them out in the open and torched them? I have always been told that unless they are chambered they are mostly harmless. The exploding cartridge in the camp fire is a hollywood mith...
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I had them inside a thin-wall 1" aluminum tube.
It added no velocity, only direction.
I was running the test in my basement and didn't want a case to break a window out.
Ammo in a camp fire?
No myth at all.
The primers & cases could easly put your eye out if you were standing there close to it!
Those dents & holes in 24 gage sheet metal should tell you that.
rcmodel
It added no velocity, only direction.
I was running the test in my basement and didn't want a case to break a window out.
Ammo in a camp fire?
No myth at all.
The primers & cases could easly put your eye out if you were standing there close to it!
Those dents & holes in 24 gage sheet metal should tell you that.
rcmodel
jaydubya
Member
I'd like to put to bed what that reporter said. He said that, as he stood in front of that house where I heard rounds cooking off, that "a bullet landed on his head." I doubt that he was an NRA member, just some guy trying to describe what was happening around him. I do not doubt that, from the rubble, something bounced off his head. He called it a bullet. I transposed what he called a "bullet" into a more proper name for what I think he meant: a cartridge. I have also no doubt that a cartridge can be flung several yards into the air and in any direction by fellow cartridges cooking off. Firefighters, with their visors down, have no problem dealing with this. The reporter was not so equipped.
Can we put this thread to bed? Please?
Jack
Can we put this thread to bed? Please?
Jack
Ammo/fires
I keep most of my ammo in an outbuilding 30 ft from the house, with just the essentials for H/D in the house in a metal lock box. There is always a budding reporter trying to scale the corporate ladder. BBQ tanks and Acetylene and O2 bottles are a big concern to them, not ammo. When we got a equity loan to pay the cards off, they mentioned no flammables in the house or attic due to insurance regs.
I keep most of my ammo in an outbuilding 30 ft from the house, with just the essentials for H/D in the house in a metal lock box. There is always a budding reporter trying to scale the corporate ladder. BBQ tanks and Acetylene and O2 bottles are a big concern to them, not ammo. When we got a equity loan to pay the cards off, they mentioned no flammables in the house or attic due to insurance regs.
The Bushmaster
Member
I would summize that aluminum pipe would direct the case and/or primer in one direction or another. The Mythbusters did some tests where they threw several different cartridges into a fire and not much happened...Mostly fizzled.
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jaydubya
Member
As the starter of this thread, which I thought had been kidnapped, I must admit this has been an informative exchange. I have learned from it, and I suspect others have too. I offer that this has been an excellent example of the FIRST Amendment at work.
Cordially, Jack
Cordially, Jack
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