Is it true that Glocks, 1911, and Sigs shoot underwater?

[AgtTanner]

There is a video at this web site http://www.magills.com/ that shows Glocks, 1911, and Sigs shooting underwater. I'm not buying the video, on the other hand I'd rather ask the experts... you guys. So can you empty the entire clip underwater? Are guns effective underwater? How far and how fast will the bullet travel? As crazy as it may sound you never know when a situation will arise and I am always ready for any situation...

[Rob96]

I know if you change the spring cups on the Glock Model 17 you can shoot it underwater. I don't know about the rest.

[ctdonath]

I got the Glock cups, just haven't installed them yet. Testing ought to be interesting. I don't actually see any use (for me) beyond sheer coolness factor, and that Glock has supposedly stopped making the cups, so installing them should raise my G17's value.

The "Glock underwater firing cups" are a couple tiny plastic pieces, not particularly cup-shaped, that wrap around the firing pin. My pair cost $30. Word is ONLY the G17 is built for this use, as far as Glocks are concerned.

There are a couple web sites showing photos from Glock underwater tests: effective range is about 10 feet. It does cycle properly.

WARNING: SHOOTING GUNS UNDERWATER, EVEN ONES MADE TO OPERATE PROPERLY THERE, IS HIDEOUSLY DANGEROUS _TO_THE_SHOOTER_. I expect doing so would burst eardrums, crush nuts, and generally shock the #%!! out of other body parts. KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER. ONLY USE ROUND-NOSE FMJ BULLETS - HOLLOWPOINTS WILL EXPAND _IN_THE_BARREL_ AND CAUSE MAJOR SERIOUS DAMAGE.

[NAD]

I watched the Magill video. He fires several handguns of several calibers under water in his pool at home. No crushed nuts, busted ear drums, or anything.

Most semi-autos would not cycle reliably, however, some did. I can't remember every handgun or caliber used. I remember a Glock and a 1911. I don't recall if he was using ball or hollow point ammo. He mentioned in the video that he wanted to try an AR-15 in a later video.

Years ago there were some guys attending a major IPSC match and fired a 1911 in the hotel pool they were staying. Apparently, there was a big arguement as to whether it would blow up the gun. I guess after enough alcohol they got the nerve to try it and it worked. However, they had to find another hotel to stay at for the night because they got caught.

[Thumper]

Shoots underwater even without the cups...the cups are just to keep the firing pin from slowing due to water pressure. It makes a neat sound...from ABOVE the water.

[Hard Ball]

However, remember that water is much denser than air. The drag on an object moving under water is about 90 times greater than in air so muzzle velocity will drop rapidly.