Diggit
Hero Member
- Mar 25, 2012
- 811
- 132
- Detector(s) used
- White's MXT, DFX, GMT and Fisher F5
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
i have seen a lot of posts lately about people finding live bullets in the ground and thinking they are dangerous.
They are not going to "explode"
You can take a live round and throw it at a concrete wall as hard as you can and it most likely won't do anything. You can throw them into a fire and you will get a "phtttt!"noise and maybe a "pop" when they ignite. The most dangerous part of doing THIS will be the fragments of copper,and only for about ten feet.
It takes the impact of a small object deep into the primer pocket to get the primer to ignite the gunpowder.
Bullets without the support of the chamber of a firearm are just not that dangerous. The danger comes from when the "flash" of the powder (Modern gunpowder doesn't explode,it just ignites fast) while confined in the steel of a firearm chamber.
Think of it as a firecracker. If you have one in the flat of your hand,with your palm open,when it explodes, (yes it will HURT and cause burns) the force is directed outwards. However CLOSE the same hand,and you will probably lose fingers.
If you find live rounds and are still afraid that they are dangerous,soak them in WD40 for a a few weeks, (this will penetrate the primer,making it inert) and throw them in the trash.
They are not going to "explode"
You can take a live round and throw it at a concrete wall as hard as you can and it most likely won't do anything. You can throw them into a fire and you will get a "phtttt!"noise and maybe a "pop" when they ignite. The most dangerous part of doing THIS will be the fragments of copper,and only for about ten feet.
It takes the impact of a small object deep into the primer pocket to get the primer to ignite the gunpowder.
Bullets without the support of the chamber of a firearm are just not that dangerous. The danger comes from when the "flash" of the powder (Modern gunpowder doesn't explode,it just ignites fast) while confined in the steel of a firearm chamber.
Think of it as a firecracker. If you have one in the flat of your hand,with your palm open,when it explodes, (yes it will HURT and cause burns) the force is directed outwards. However CLOSE the same hand,and you will probably lose fingers.
If you find live rounds and are still afraid that they are dangerous,soak them in WD40 for a a few weeks, (this will penetrate the primer,making it inert) and throw them in the trash.
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