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They where right not to be concerned. Ammunition is MUCH less dangerous outside the chamber of a firearm, not even enough energy to puncture though drywall six inches away.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
This video was made by SAAMI as an aide to firefighters. Shame they wasted all that ammo....
Sporting Ammunition and the Fire Fighter: What Happens When Ammo Burns? - SAAMI - YouTube
I'm sorry but you can show me all the vids you like, I've experienced many things that debunk your video myth. I've been struck by shrapnel from exploding ammo, taken men to get medical attention after pieces of brass cases have penetrated flesh... Less dangerous than in a chamber but still dangerous.Quote:
Originally Posted by WarPig1976
Here is what happens when a whole load of ammunition and stuff goes up., sorry WP I agree with Jim if my house ever went up in flames I would say to the firefighters who rolled up forget it let it burn but keep away just protect the other houses from radiant heat that's if I could not put the conflagration out in the first instance.
The Halifax Explosion 1917 Nova Scotia, Canada - YouTube
The thing that will fly the furthest in a fire is the PRIMER cups.
There is a fair amount of energy stored in the tiny amount of priming compound.
When ammo is "ignited" outside of the confines of a proper chamber, the ignition of the primer WILL start the main powder charge.
HOWEVER, with the case, particularly at the neck, not being constrained by a chamber and the bullet not having to engage any rifling, the main propellant charge is not going to develop anywhere close to 40,000 PSI; just enough to "fizzle" and throw the bullet a few feet, and launch the primer, quite energetically, out of its pocket. A primer leaving a pocket under its own "energy" WILL be a MAJOR eye hazard, traveling with sufficient speed, and thus energy, to destroy an eye or break skin at several feet distance, somewhat like a pellet fired from a decent air-rifle. NOT enough to punch through the side of a steel ammo can, though.
Ammo in steel, Browning-type links behaves a little differently, because the necks are partially constrained by the link. i have seen the aftermath of several of cans of this stuff that was caught in a fire.
The "bullet" side of the can looked like a random cheese grater. Not all of the bullets had fully penetrated even at ZERO distance. The first bullet to exit essentially provided a "vent" that prevented a catastrophic buildup of pressure, i.e. a "cinematic" bomb. The "expended" bullets were to be found only a few feet away. BLANK ammo in "mil-spec" cans, in a fire, is likely to be MUCH more exciting if the heat does not cause the rubber seal to fail, and thus provide a "vent", before the cartridges start to cook off.
There is a reason that even the "Untidy Notions" calls it "safety ammunition".
Black-Powder fueled ammo? A WHOLE different bag. Note that the old "battleships" used (and STILL use) coarsely-granulated Black Powder in their main armaments. Thus, incredibly stringent procedures and very special handling equipment is required to transfer the silk-bagged charges from the magazine up to the turrets. These magazines are usually below the waterline, but a "lucky" torpedo or, as with HMS "Hood", a steeply-plunging AP / HE projectile WILL ruin your day.
Like these poor souls found out in 1989 on the Iowa;
USS Iowa Battleship(BB61) 16 inch guns huge accident (Explosion)1989 4/19 - YouTube
I have no doubt Jim, point being there's no need for extreme responses to unfired cartridges on the ground or in dud boxes.
Cinders, comparing the Mont Blanc which was full of explosives and the Iowa incident which involved something around a 100lbs of BP to small arms ammo isn't a fair comparison,,,Good God man!!!:lol:
They were in a burn barrel though...not on the ground. Yes, we've had a lengthy thread here before about this whole thing. I just know that one of my troops would have a story that's unquestionable as he lost the end of his middle finger to an exploding cartridge, down to the bottom of the fingernail. He carried on a served a full service career after...just retired a few years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by WarPig1976
Yes, BP is a whole nother thing...I have some good (Humorous) stories about that stuff too.
Most nerve racking experience I ever had was being in the middle of a string in a match and the guy next to me was having hang fires, and was way too eager to rack them out.
Realistically I'd guess 10 seconds is safe to at least recock if possible, 30 seconds to open the bolt is what I go with. All when pointed down range of course. Most old stuff I don't see the need to shoot but will admit a friend and I recently sacrificed some GP90 for science, confirming what was found in other videos by Bloke on the Range that those are in fact fully smokeless.
The Mont Blanc was carrying 2,300 tons of picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 35 tons of high-octane gasoline, and 10 tons of gun cotton. Mixing a cargo of high explosive and high-octane gasoline is not a good idea.
--fjruple
Our SSR's state "In the event a shooter has a mis-fire they will keep the weapon pointed down the range for 30 seconds, after which they will re-cock the weapon and fire again in the event the cartridge does not fire they will leave it for a further 30 seconds after which if it has not fired it will be ejected from the chamber and removed from the firing line and placed in a safe place for disposal of or de-construction by the owner."