Car shoot-up

[acfixerdude]

Howdy! I want to do a fundraiser for my club. Thinking of taking a donated car filled with gas and auctioning off the first shots to blow it up with some incendiary rounds or tracers. Then all the paid participants open fire.

What can I do to ensure an awesome explosion, cheaply?
What type of distance should we be shooting from?
Are there any regulations (Federal or Texas) that would prohibit us from doing this on private property?
What regulations are there on shooting AP, incendiary rounds, tracers, etc? I know you can't use calibers determined by FTA as pistol rounds...
Who should I notify before hand about the impending explosion?

More importantly, what would you pay for the first shot and would you come to Lubbock, TX to do this

President, Tech Gun Club

 

[wickedsprint]

Id drain the oil first unless you want the EPA ninjas to jump out of the bushes.

 

[Telekinesis]

I'd recommend something like an over-the-counter exploding target type of thing. Building your own is dangerous (and very likely illegal) and the alternative is a federal explosives license which might be a bit much for a one time event.

Distance will depend entirely on what type and how much explosive you use. Just as a general idea though, if I knew a car packed with explosives was going to detonate when I shot it, I would want to be at least 100 yards away.

Regulations about ammo type would be state law, but I don't think there's anything to worry about legally. Just make sure you're safe about firing bullets that are designed to start fires. Makes sure you aren't firing into dry brush during a drought or something. Nothing would put a damper on the event than starting a wildfire that engulfs everything in its path.

I would definitely notify the fire department, and would probably ask them to send someone to be on scene to put out the fire when you are done with it, especially if you plan on using any type of fuel (water doesn't put out gasoline fires). You also might want to notify the PD to make sure they know that it is a fundraiser event so they don't find out about it from someone who just tells them "There was shooting and then this HUGE explosion! It sounds like a war zone!!!" Hell, maybe even invite them to come and watch.

And while I'd love to come and watch a car explode, my next shooting related trips are going to be for training.

 

[acfixerdude]

lol, EPA ninjas...

Thanks TK, I planned on calling county fire for this just in case, didn't think to ask the Sheriff to participate though.

What's the max you'd imagine any sane (right, lol) gun enthusiast would bid for first right?

 

[Countryboy7]

Get about 40 pounds of tannerite hahah

 

[Telekinesis]

What's the max you'd imagine any sane (right, lol) gun enthusiast would bid for first right?

I'm a college student, so I'm not really knowledgeable on these kinds of bids (lack of disposable income makes it just a tad bit difficult to be able to afford that kinda thing) but I would say it depends more on the person and how much they want to donate to the cause. I would see the exploding car as more of a way to draw people out to the event and get more small donations rather than trying to catch a few high bidders. Think of it as increasing foot traffic in a retail store. The more people who come by, the greater chance you will sell something (or receive donations).

Personally, I would set it up as a raffle where an individual can buy multiple tickets instead of a bidding war. That way you're more likely to get a lot of small purchases that will add up as opposed to only getting a few large bids.

For example, if I see the guy in front of me putting $50 down to get the first shot, I wouldn't bother with a bid of $30, I would just drop $1 so that I could say I shot at the car. However, if its a $5/ticket raffle, that first guy may still buy the 10 tickets, but I may buy a few more tickets to increase the odds that I win, while still getting to shoot no matter what. At the end of the day, the first guy still has a much better chance at getting to shoot the car first, while I will still get to shoot second, but you come away with more money.

 

[Whacked]

Many years ago my dad brought home a movie from a cop friend.
It showed the effects of a bullet (various pistol, rifle and of course, 12ga) thru different media; plate glass various angles, windshield various angles, etc.

for the finale, they set up a few gas tanks, near empty, half full and full. then proceeded to shoot them, tracers included, to try to get that "hollywood" explosion.

they finally got that explosion. nothing fired from a firearm worked.
they used C4

so I would re-think your idea
for your idea to work, you will probably need a NFA item or 2

 

[David G.]

@Whacked

A few months ago here in SC Alaska some people were out in the wilderness and shot at a 90lb propane tank and it alerted a whole town. It can work.

 

[acfixerdude]

oooohhhh... propane tank; much cheaper than Tannerite.

I agree with the raffle idea, somebody else mentioned it to me too. I'm also thinking about getting the support of local military recruiters in the form of some heavy duty machine guns to shoot, or any other assistance they could provide. It'd be a good recruiting event for them I suppose.

Thinking I hide a propane tank or a couple lbs of Tannerite somewhere in the car(s) and draw a ticket for the first shooter; he/she shoots one round, then I draw the next ticket for the next shot if no boom, and so on.

Once she goes boom, firing line may open fire.


Commence Operation Pinata.

 

[Colonel]

Not sure how legal it is, but if you fill the car with a neutral-flame mix of oxygen and acetylene and set it off, it'll make a crater about 4 feet deep where the car once sat.

Might want safety glasses and earplugs, though.

 

[deadin]

This will really enhance the shooting community's image.

 

[mortablunt]

Coat it with tannerite and thermite. Gasoline isn't a great explosive. It's not even that great of an accelerant.

 

[Whacked]

and shot at a 90lb propane tank and it alerted a whole town

propane and gas are 2 different mixtures, different flashpoints, and propane s under pressure.

Oh, you will probably need a fire truck on standby, along with EMT
flying debris will be an issue.
insurance and a way to be protected from a lawsuit if/when someone gets hurt.

altho it could be fun, sounds like more a hassle and would come up with something else

 

[bob barker]

I have done this on my land in tx..

Take a big propane tank, biggest you can find, strap a road flare to it, ignite the road flare. Shoot the tank with a .308 or something. KABOOM!! The flare ignites the escaped gas. I have tried with a incinary round and it didnt work. That is why we used the road flare.

We also blew up a refrigerator. We took 5 lbs of tannerite and a 5 gallon plastic tank of diesel. HUGE EXPLOSION> bigger than the propane.

I am a Tech Grad, and grew up in Lubbock. I live in Houston now. Good luck!

 

[Art Eatman]

I don't know of any laws against that sort of pleasure, in Texas. I would definitely tell the Sheriff's office about The Plan, to avoid hassle. SFAIK, as long as it's on private property with the landowner's approval, it's good to go.

A "once in a blue moon" sort of fund-raiser probably wouldn't require any sort of business license, particularly outside of city limits.

 

[Sam1911]

Please read and think about this before you get too nuts about it: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=332334

Goodhue County prosecutors on Wednesday charged Brian Wesley Childs with gross disregard for human life and several lesser charges. All told, he was charged with three felonies and five lesser counts.

 

[230RN]

No.

Too risky.

Every time I hear about one of those "Yee-haw!" events I think of unintended consequences.

It's amazing how many times Murphy shows up.

I am personally concerned with your event because of how it might reflect on me and my own gun rights if something goes flooey.

It's been a long standing principle with me that if I have to be concerned with negative effects on one of my proposed adventures, I don't do it.

No.

I won't hold your beer while you...

Terry "Wimp because I haven't been a wimp several times in the past," 230RN

 

[MtnCreek]

Didn't read all the posts, so sorry if this has been convered. If this explosion will cause the car to burn, it will have to be stripped of all plastics, cloth, rubber, .....

Good Luck & take photos!

 

[wojownik]

Kinda risky, IMHO. Check your local ordinances, including fire codes, and think about the insurance and liability implications if someone gets injured (debris, etc.).

 

[blarby]

" Hold my beer, watch this "

We watch carefully as he constructs an improvised explosive device, the advertised detonation of which is resoundingly heard throughout the BATFE.

Even though its more than likely an incendiary device as described at best, they've got a lil issue with this sort of thing.... regardless of its intent.

Tread carefully on that'n....