Do Bullets Cause Wildfires?

[ziadel]

I have been told by several hunters in thius area that they do. Just last hunting season a co-worker had to fire up his water truck at his farm because some hunters caused one that, thank god they were able to contain.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

i dont see how they could unless they where tracers or some of the sort. lead or copper doesnt cause sparks.

You are mistaken or misinformed. Copper and lead may not spark as easily as steel, but they can and do spark.

Check my post (#7) here and note the photograph...
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=286070&highlight=spark

 

[mp510]

In the late 1970s a decent size wildfire was caused when a recreational shooter improperly waded a blackpowder weapon with tissue or toilet paper and the ignited paper was expelled when the shot went off and lit up dry brush.

 

[Spinner]

Do bullets cause wildfires?

Only when they're not out with the guns that are roaming the streets by themselves, shooting people.



Spinner

 

[BSlacker]

Burro Canyon had a fire recently from steel core ammo.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=62765

 

[Wes Janson]

I saw a small brush fire start during a small machinegun shoot last year-conditions were hot and dry, and there were only two or three tracer rounds shot by one shooter before being stopped, so it was definitely caused by a hot, non-tracer projectile ricocheting off a hard target and into dead brush.

 

[Zoogster]

I saw a small brush fire start during a small machinegun shoot last year-conditions were hot and dry, and there were only two or three tracer rounds shot by one shooter before being stopped, so it was definitely caused by a hot, non-tracer projectile ricocheting off a hard target and into dead brush.

It can happen. A lot of it depends on what is hit as well. When something hard that violently and rapidly deforms the bullet is hit then more heat is generated. So if it hits a metal target or rock and then land in a bush there is a greater chance than if it hit a tinderbox directly.

It is uncommon however. Now muzzle blast can quickly start a fire. Certain rounds pose a greater risk than others. Steel shot like that used for waterfowl would probably pose some of the greatest risk when striking a hard object as that really is solid steel and a lot of it with a large surface area to connect and spark.

However a similar danger exists when operating motor vehicles, especialy offroad vehicles, or power tools in the same conditions. Keep track of where your rounds are going and if you notice any problems act as quick as safely possible. There is already many greater reasons not to shoot indiscriminantly, so I guess I just assume people won't be letting loose in a wide general direction and not notice something smoldering.

 

[hotpig]

I have started small grass fires in the past with various mil surp ammo. Some may have been tracers and some metal cased.

 

[WeThePeople]

I have never started a grass fire with a round that wasn't tracer. I seen quite a few range fires started with tracer ammo (and started a couple myself) when I was in the Army.

Makes for a pretty interesting day for a platoon to walk downrange and stomp out a fire with combat boots because someone interpreted the rules to mean that the fire extinguisher can't leave the ammo hut in any circumstance.

 

[Bwana John]

After shooting steel jacketed ammo into rocks at night I have no dought that non-tracer/incendery bullets can cause fires.

As for tracers, we had at least 20 fires at last Oct. Big Sandy machine gun shoot.

 

[kermit315]

Originally Posted by Standing Wolf:

Well, yeah, but everybody knows firearms cause cancer.

yeah, cancer of my wallet.......haha

 

[pax]

Quick, somebody call Mythbusters.

pax

 

[Henry Bowman]

As I suggested in the other thread:

I would say it is far more likely that still-burning bits of powder flying out the muzzle ignited some dry grass, etc. This is more common with shorter barrel firearms (such as handguns) and is more common in some ammo brands than in others. Some ammo I have shot from a pistol throws a shower of glowing bits out behind the bullet. It is certainly possible that a bit could stick to the back of a bullet. Unlikely, but possible.