How to "deconstruct" a LP tank w/ a .223?

[kcmarine]

Okay, we have a new gas grill that has a feed from the house and no longer need the propane tank. We bought it, and its ours to get rid of. The only rifle that I have (well, actually, its in layaway) that can reach out to the safe distance to shoot this thing with is a Remington 700 SPS Varmit gun in .223 Remington. A 3-9x40 scope of unknown manufacture is mounted.


What kind of round is needed to punch a hole in this thing? What would make it go boom?

We'll probably shoot this thing from 100+ yards. I don't think I'll have a problem hitting the thing, but I don't want to go and examine the target until the tank is destroyed.

 

[CDignition]

It will just leak out..unless you shoot it wit han API round or tracer to set it off...

Use 3 or 4 bottles of tannerite.. that will get it going,lol...

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

lp won't ignite from just shooting it......the gas will spray out at a very high pressure causing the tank to fly around very erratically (sounds dangerous huh?). In order to explode, the lp needs an ignition source (I wouldn't try to blow it up because of the risk of setting something else on fire/shrapnel/getting in trouble with local authorities)

Prolly best to just use up the rest of the gas and ditch the empty tank

 

[kcmarine]

I don't think I'll have to worry about the authorities. The range at which the shenanigan will be pulled is out in the middle of no where (really, I mean it) and there is no range attendant. You can do basically whatever you want out there (as long as its safe). There are 100 & 200 yard lanes that would be excellent for this.

 

[dejr2000]

KC, Let me know how this turns out for you. I was planning on doing the same with an old tank that is too old to be filled and needs to be thrown away. Next trip out to the deer lease and the game is on.
BW

 

[trickyasafox]

any round will go through. plan ol ' fmj would probably do it in fine. if this is something you are going to pursue, have a wide birth in all directions. reactive targets can be a great deal of fun, but certain ones require a bit more care

 

[Will Learn]

Wheres the range? I might be tempted to come watch or shoot it up with you. I have some steal core .223, I wonder if that would set it off? Maybe it would help if you set the tank on its side and shot at the nozzle. The only other way i could think of would be to set a fire by the SOB and then shoot it up, but that might be asking for trouble . I saw a video of some guys breaking a molitov cocktail next to one and then shooting it, which resulted in a big flame shooting out of it for a couple of secs but no explosion. Like I said, I'm game if you have the area to shoot it but we might want to think about putting it out at the 200yd line. It might also be a good idea to shoot from behind something.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Leave like a heavy duty canle in back of it.

Or maybe rig up some sort or Rue Goldberg contraption with a steel target that resets itself on the last shot as a lever to ignite a flare and then shoot the tank.

have fun, and be safe.

 

[Kar-el]

While I do not suggest doing so:

Stick a lit road flare in front and behind the tank, then shoot it slightly to the right or left (to keep from hitting the flare). It's your best bet if no incendiary rounds.

 

[EAFO]

they did something like this on Mythbusters. If I remember correctly, it was pretty anti-climatic. You can probably find the video on the internet.

 

[jimbob1911]

LP tank

My friend has lit many a LP tank on fire with gasoline and then shot it from far away....I can only wait for the responses but he seriously put like four tanks in an old van then lit the van on fire and shot it with a 30-06....I would assume that just making a small campfire or placing a flare as suggested would be much safer though since this kid kinda had a deathwish

Ps...This was on his OWN property, not at a range.

 

[Ian]

I've tried to blow up 1lb propane cylinders with incendiary ammo (genuine surplus military incendiary) and with an open flame (burning gasoline) just behind the tank. Neither method worked.

 

[JesseL]

I've had good luck with igniting the little 1lb Coleman propane bottles by shooting it with a standard fmj and having a friend hit it with an incendiary or starburst round immediately after. Timing is critical, if the second round hits too soon not enough gas will have vaporized, too late and the vapor will dissipate.

 

[Andras]

9 rounds of M855 through a car door into a big tank of propane sitting in the back seat.

 

[Plink]

About the best you can get from a propane tank is a lot of fire. There's no O2 inside the tank for the fuel to mix with, so it won't explode. Only the propane that exits the tank can burn as it mixes with the air. It's kinda boring, actually.

 

[CrackerJim]

Not sure how to calculate it but.......how about a 55 gal drum with the propane tank inside. Crack the valve of the propane tank, drop it in the drum (maybe place it nicely in the drum ), put the lid on. If the the mix is right, it would be a nice little fuel / air bomb.

Too bad I don't have access to an appropriate area to try that.....sounds like fun.

Have fun, be careful...

Jim

 

[trickyasafox]

oh ps- i'll be the first to say it:

leave your range as good as you found it and clean your mess

 

[OldBillThundercheif]

Hunter Thompson used to rest a handfull of blasting caps on top of them. Apparently J. Depp was able to blow one up with a shotgun using this method.

 

[jad0110]

The common thread in these videos is an open flame of some kind.

The first two videos stress other posters' point about being extra careful. Watch carefully in the 2nd video, you can see the propane tank flying directly back at the shooter, hitting him in the leg (he wasn't injured).

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6101176111656641960&q=shooting+an+LP+tank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNuFxo9eV5I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFM88BRyXoY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmxpjhCVKK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-M8xRwVxk4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMEOgi8dSSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wyONDCMJk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W09dHLUdT6U

For God's sake, do be careful if you're going to do this at all. But bring a camera if you do!

Edited to add: The suggestion by Will about shooting from behind something is not a bad idea. If you can move someones car in front of you to duck behind, that's probably not a bad thing. Just make sure it's a beater!

 

[gaucho1]

Based on large hole I would shoot the tank with a shotgun slug.

Stupid AND fun!

 

[CZguy]

While I do not suggest doing so:

Stick a lit road flare in front and behind the tank, then shoot it slightly to the right or left (to keep from hitting the flare). It's your best bet if no incendiary rounds.

I read this whole thread, just to find that you beat me to it.

 

[chris in va]

I'll second the shotgun slug. You want a very large hole so all the propane dumps out at once. A road flare or small fire behind will ignite it, about 3' away.

I've shot many 1# tanks, and my 45 does the best job. A rifle works so-so, but only punches a very small hole in the tank and it takes a while to get everything evacuated. More of a FOOOF instead of a KAWOOM.

EDIT: One more thing, let all the propane burn out before you go kicking it around. A tank I had just shot was still burning a little, and as I kicked it away from some branches it lit up a little. Seems by some amazing physics miracle the stuff can remain liquid for a while longer even though the pressure is gone.

That first video is incredible!

 

[heypete]

Propane tank.
Lit road flare.
Duct tape.

Some assembly required.

I've seen videos of those used to great effect.

 

[sorensen440]

That is so unsafe and only a fool would try it
damn I wish I could go

 

[4fingermick]

I reckon two stick/arc welders, one either side, the rods a short distance from the sides of the tank (paint removed from under the tip of the rods, long safe distance and apply power at same time. I know this is absolutely explosive with acetelyne, but I don't know how it'd go with butane/lpg.