"Live" Ammo??

[Brick]

Hello folks.â„¢

Once a long, long time ago, we were out and about in the Mojave Desert in California.

Some how someone found about 15 pistol rounds, FMJ.

But the parents shyed us away, 'cuz they were "live". Looked like from I remember 38spl or .44.

What's "live"? Also this past summer I found a shotgun shell that had been struck by the firing pin, but not fired. Dud. Is it still dangerous?

Also, in Full Metal Jacket, a soldier taps his M16 mag on his helmet, then slaps it into the gun. Is that to loosen dirt?

Thanks.

P.S. We don't have the shotgun shell or the pistol rounds. If you don't know, leave it alone...

 

[entropy]

If it has not fired, it is considered 'live'. Just because a primerstrike failed to fire it doesn't render it inert. That shotgun shell may not have been a dud, and should be treated as a live round until rendered inert.

As for the soldier tapping the mag on his helmet, it is to seat the rounds towards the back of the mag to ensure reliability. During combat, truck/helicopter rides and just plain humpin' the boonies, the rounds in a mag can slide forward, increasing the possibility of a malfunction. As a plus, I suppose it would get any loose dirt/sand out, too.

 

[TrapperReady]

Live = unfired cartridges

The dud shotgun shell dangerous? If you threw it hard at someone, they might get a bruise.If unfired rounds are dangerous, then the center console in my truck and the range bag in the back are miniature minefields.

BTW, tapping the magazine on something helps to get the cartridges lined up more uniformly to the rear of the magazine. It can help prevent misfeeds.

 

[mnrivrat]

Live simple means that all the components of the cartridge are intact . Primer - powder-and bullet. By themselves not a handling danger - you walk by them pretty regularly in the sporting goods isle of your local Wal-Mart . Only dangerous if mis-handled.

The dud is basically the same , all components intact but physical deformation of the primer by the firing pin did not set it off. Still capable of going off if mis-handled.

The little rap on the magazine you refer to is to set the cartridges to the rear of the magazine. (alignment) Nothing to do with getting read of dirt.

 

[aroshi]

As for the soldier tapping the mag on his helmet, it is to seat the rounds towards the back of the mag to ensure reliability. During combat, truck/helicopter rides and just plain humpin' the boonies, the rounds in a mag can slide forward, increasing the possibility of a malfunction. As a plus, I suppose it would get any loose dirt/sand out, too.

What he said! And apparently it helps to know if a magazine is full or half-full because of the difference in sound / vibration / reaction to the helmet. So I've been told.

 

[carebear]

You can tell if it is loaded by the weight usually. I just tapped em to seat the rounds.

 

[DelayedReaction]

Ammunition won't do anything nasty unless it's abused. Think about firecrackers; do they spontaneously explode if you look at them cock-eyed? Nope. Ammo doesn't either. It's very stable and designed to be treated roughly and still not go off. Only when the primer is subject to impact (or the round gets very hot) will things go boom.

 

[Brick]

Hello folks.â„¢

Thanks ya'll. You answered my questions.