Fire a handgun and then it drops

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sdrslr

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2011
Messages
2
As you may be able to tell, I am not an expert with any guns.

I have a friend that told me that they were shooting a 38 special and after they fired it, they dropped it on concrete and that it bounced. I didn't say anything but I didn't think a handgun would bounce on concrete. All opinions and help appreciated.
 
Are you wondering if it's safe to fire again? Most likely

If you're really concerned, take it to a gunsmith to look it over. It should be fine, though.
 
Given equal mass, the harder (less likely to deform) the object, the more it will bounce when drop onto another hard surface. Little of the energy (weigh of the gun X speed of the drop) is absorbed by the object or surface, so it is directed back into the dropped object.

High School Physics 1
 
Sorry but I am not good at physics....we didn't have to take it when I was in school.

So, you are saying that by dropping a gun that was fired on concrete that it would bounce............does it bounce far? I want to make sure that this is accurate and that someone isn't just telling me this. Suppose I could go to a shooting range and ask them....sure don't want to try this myself to find out if this is accurate.

My main concern would be was there damage to the gun but more than that I would be concerned that my friend isn't being safe with the gun and if that is the case, I feel like I should discuss it with them. I just don't want to do that until I have the facts.

Thanks again
 
What difference does it make if it bounced or not? If it was dropped onto the concrete and did not bounce, would that change anything?
 
They dropped the gun :)what:), and you are concerned they might not be exercising proper safety protocols? :scrutiny:

Dropping a weapon will get you disqualified from any shooting match, and will probably get you tossed off of any managed range, if a safety officers sees it happen.

Are you asking us to confirm that a dropped gun COULD bounce? Like to fact-check their story? Why in the world would they tell you such a story anyway? I think if they dropped the gun, they probably already know it was a flipping STUPID thing to do, and also probably have some idea that it wasn't a safe thing to do, either.

If this happened, then they need a very firm safety lesson -- but I have to imagine "don't drop a gun" is one of those things most people really don't need someone else to tell them. Sort of like, "Don't slam you hand in a car door," or "Cutting off your head with a chainsaw might be disadvantageous."

Maybe I just don't understand the question. Please do explain.
 
Yes it would bounce, most everything that's not tremendously heavy would bounce when hitting concrete from waist level or higher.

As the other person mentioned, concrete isn't soft so the energy of the dropped object is deflected back at it...and it bounces.
 
Yep, dropped my beloved snubby once ... on tarmac. And it bounced and clattered around something awful. I almost threw up.
 
Sorry but I am not good at physics....we didn't have to take it when I was in school.
Click to expand...

How about just using common sense?

I would be concerned that my friend isn't being safe with the gun and if that is the case, I feel like I should discuss it with them.
Click to expand...

Did someone die and appoint you safety god?
 
In high school for a physics question,we were asked question first Which will bounce higher
a ball made of steel or one made of rubber when dropped from equal heights. Majority said rubber. Balls both dropped from 6 ft IIRC and guess what,the steel ball bounced higher.
Who da thunk it. If said indivdiual dropped my gun he'd be put on the "do not invite again" list. Hope he at least had the manners to offer to pay for repairs if needed.
 
El Mariachi said:
Depends-----was it an African gun? Or a European gun?......
Click to expand...

well, given the air-speed velocity and it being unladen at the time, I would hazard a guess that it was blue..no, no...green....


Yes, the gun would bounce. If there are no visible broken parts and it DRY FIRES okay, then I wouldn't bother with a gunsmith visit.
 
To the best of my knowledge, if you drop a gun in the Northern hemisphere it will come to rest pointing at a heading slightly less than when you dropped it. For example, if the gun was pointed due West at 270 degrees, when it comes to rest, the gun will be pointing at something like 269.9999999999 degrees.

If you are in the sourthen hemisphere the gun will come to rest at a slightly increased heading, like in Australia, and you drop the gun pointing due West at 270 degrees, when it comes to rest, the gun will be pointing at something like 270.00000000001 degrees.

This is only taking into account the rotation of the earth under the gun and does not account for rotational momentum applied to gun by the momentary contact with the rotating earth during the gun's initial bounce off the concrete.
 
Whooo boy.

sdrslr, if you have more of the story you'd like to share, or need further clarification, send me a Private Message and I'll reopen then. 'Till then...closed to prevent further funny business. ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top