Marbles - Lethal?

[JoergS]

They can be - if fired from a powerful slingshot.

Marbles are often used as alternative slingshot ammo. In this regard, The Slingshot Channel tests two very common myths:

- Can marbles penetrate flesh?
- Will marbles shatter when they hit a hard surface?

These myths are checked out, using ballistic gelatin and a solid wall. See the harmless looking glass balls tearing the gelatin into shreds, and see how they chip stone shards from a massive rock...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVdq1Z5cSvA

The message is clear: Marbles are about as dangerous as steel balls when fired from a powerful slingshot.

 

[JVoutilainen]

So, we MUST build a Europe wide checkpoint system and establish our own version of the now infamous TSA to make sure no one carries marbles.

If we don't, "terrorists" are going to get us.

 

[JoergS]

Alternatively, they could allow passengers to carry a knife. Even a terrorist armed with firearms would find it tough to fight off dozens of passengers with combat folders.

 

[JVoutilainen]

Sorry, I forgot to add

[SARCASM][/SARCASM]

Yes, we do have alternatives, and that is why you should be very careful with the message you want to send with these tests. I say this with utmost respect, and wish that you take this as constructive criticism... even though it might be difficult to see sarcasm as constructive

 

[conw]

Alternatively, they could allow passengers to carry a knife. Even a terrorist armed with firearms would find it tough to fight off dozens of passengers with combat folders.

Anyone know the way back to NFW?

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Yep I have killed rabbits with marbles at close range.

 

[hso]

JoergS,

Back when knives were allowed on airliners, passengers didn't retake hijacked aircraft with their knives. There is no reason to think anything would be any different.

 

[JShirley]

That's actually not true. Not once upon a time, passengers were advised to tamely sit during hijack attempts.

These days, US passengers feel they have nothing to lose by resisting a hijack attempt. There have been several "hijack attempts" since 2001- at least one, apparently just a mentally challenged guy getting mouthy- who had their asses handed to them by the rest of the passengers.

 

[hso]

John,

Just because the airlines told passengers to cooperate with hijackers to avoid being harmed isn't quite the same thing as the passengers having been willing to take on the hijackers.

Increased security has limited the opportunity for hijackers/terrorists to act in numbers seen in the past. Passengers facing a single threat have an easier time than those that might face a team of 3 or more. You or I or a few others here would try to rally others to help, but I'm very skeptical that the folks I see on flight after flight would have our backs.

 

[jbkebert]

JoergS

Thank you for another great video. I must say nice group in the gelatin. I am very surprised that the marbles did not shatter and would take that kind of abuse. Perhaps a bag of marbles for slingshot ammo. I have been using 3/8" stainless steel balls they fly great but are getting a little expensive.

Do you think that a box of .495 cal lead balls would suffice for small game hunting? The .375 stainess balls work like a charm.

 

[JVoutilainen]

HSO,

So, you don't think you could trust your fellow americans to do the right thing? That is truly a sad state of affairs...

Furthermore, as they say "road to hell is paved with good intentions", and so it is with these security measures - take it from a person who has seen soviet union from close proximity; this is not the direction you want to be moving.

I will not travel to the US because I will get a) radiated, and the image of my naked body recorded b) subjected to a humiliating pat down. It is a shame, to say the least, because I have relatives in the states, and I would really really like to experience the untouched wilderness that can still be found in your beautiful country.

That said, Europe is traveling along the same dark path as the USA. I honestly think it is time good men stop serving wicked masters.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Yeppers
marbles out the Ol paintball gun (esp with a FA trigger pack)
wow, not something you want to stand in front of.

 

[longspurr]

Marbles - Lethal?
Having shot a couple dozen canada geese with a wrist rocket and marbles, I say NO.
The geese took affront to being smacked and hurried on. I took care to make center body shots at 5 to 10 paces. I saw no evidence the Geese were seriously concerned - they went back to feeding, out of sling shot range. The only damage was a low shot that hit a leg. I saw that goose limping for a couple of days.

Perhaps a hit to the neck or head would be different, but I avoided that. I just wanted to reduce the goose **** on my lawn and sidewalk.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Marbles - Lethal?

Heck, my cousin darn near choked to death on one once.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Marbles are too light. Use lead balls instead.

 

[mortablunt]

I just got a great idea from this thread: Make a Metro 2033 style pneumatic ball bearing rifle.

 

[mcshiff]

I used marbles for slingshot ammo all the time when I was a kid. Whole hell of a lot cheaper than ball bearings and shot better than oblong rocks.

 

[exavid]

When I was around 13 or 14 a friend and I made 'marble cannons' out of pieces of water pipe with one end capped and fastened down to a wood base. A teaspoon or so of home made black powder set off with Jetex model fuse and a marble would sure fly. They would bury themselves in a cedar fence post. Eventually my dad found out what we were doing and I lost my marbles. At least I have a reason for that.

 

[JoergS]

Marbles - Lethal?
Having shot a couple dozen canada geese with a wrist rocket and marbles, I say NO.
The geese took affront to being smacked and hurried on. I took care to make center body shots at 5 to 10 paces. I saw no evidence the Geese were seriously concerned - they went back to feeding, out of sling shot range. The only damage was a low shot that hit a leg. I saw that goose limping for a couple of days.

Perhaps a hit to the neck or head would be different, but I avoided that. I just wanted to reduce the goose **** on my lawn and sidewalk.

Well, maybe your marbles weren't large enough, and a standard wrist rocket does not even reach a third of the shot energy I am getting with my hand made full butterfly bands.

 

[Mike1234567]

Joerg... I'm disappoint that you spoke of using "smoother" ammunition to enhance penetration yet you failed to coat the marbles with lubricant to enhance penetration.

 

[M-Cameron]

Back when knives were allowed on airliners, passengers didn't retake hijacked aircraft with their knives. There is no reason to think anything would be any different.

well to be fair.....back when knives were allowed on planes....hijacked planes werent used as manned cruise missles...

"back in the day"....a hijacking usually meant a quick trip to Cuba and a few hours inconvenience.