May 22, 2005, 12:24 AM | #1 |
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Shooting out tires
Is shooting out a tire so that the bullet punctures it, flattens it, and renders it useless as easy as it seems?
Can the average tire be shot out with 1 bullet? Do heavier bullets do the job better, or lighter, faster ones? just wondering. |
May 22, 2005, 01:10 AM | #2 |
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My first wife was always saying she'd like to "shoot out their tires with a BB gun"!!
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May 22, 2005, 02:09 AM | #3 |
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Is shooting out a tire easy? Well if I walk up to a car sitting still and pop a couple off into it, yes. If I am chasing someone in my car at 80 mph and trying to hit a tire then hell no.
Now lets see if you hook a big one |
May 22, 2005, 02:36 AM | #4 |
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It's easier on the sidewall. Don't even think of trying to shoot out tires of an airliner unless you have a 50BMG, they are very heavily constructed. Automobile tires can be punctured with a 22LR on the sidewall but don't expect instant deflation.Bigger caliber does a better job -faster deflation,a tougher bullet does a better job. If you're thinking of doing it on a moving car remember the consequences of the driver loses control and hits someone. Also a car can be driven on the rims for a great distance as those cop shows show.
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May 22, 2005, 02:35 PM | #5 |
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I went with a friend, fellow officer, once to see what happens. We bought some cheap truck tires (used, beat up ones from tire repair shop). Filled up with air at about 25 yards...9mm penetrated, didn't exit, 40's exited...my 44 mag went through the tire and the old refrigerator holding them up, plus you could smell the burnt rubber, we were afraid to use 22, 32, thinking they might "bounce" back. Made for fun plinking and somewhat informative.
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May 22, 2005, 02:48 PM | #6 |
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40, 45, 10mm, 5.56, 308 and 7.62 has for me.
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May 22, 2005, 03:21 PM | #7 |
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For liability reasons our departmental policy prohibits this. Therefore I wouldn't know...
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May 22, 2005, 03:23 PM | #8 |
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I shot a tire once in the tread with a 9mm FMJ. It was more like a slow leak. Nothing like what you see on TV.
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May 22, 2005, 03:42 PM | #9 |
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On our dept. this is authorized only if Garner VS. Tennessee applies (deadly force/fleeing felon law), but in general, firing at a moving vehicle is strongly discouraged. In the event that it does become necessary to shoot out tires, the recommendation is the dept. shotgun /w 00 buck.
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May 22, 2005, 04:26 PM | #10 |
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Shotgun. Well, it works for the Valdosta (sp) police department in GA.
Wayne |
May 22, 2005, 07:42 PM | #11 | |
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May 23, 2005, 12:37 AM | #12 |
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shooting tires
IMHO this can not be a good idea, basically you have a 6" target widthwise, you are probabaly not going to be parked when you touch it off,in fact probably travelling in excess of 50mph, and where is that round going to travel after the probable miss. If that round happens to miss the tire and strikes one of the occupants, who is possibly a joyrider of a very young age, man it just aint worth the consequences, thats where spike belts come in, always remember you can't outrun a radio.....
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May 23, 2005, 05:43 AM | #13 |
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What if you're chasing him like Charlie suggested, where deadly force is justified? Would you rather blow out a tire on a low population density road, or chase him into a crash in the middle of a elementary school and chance having to shoot it out with him there?
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May 23, 2005, 12:27 PM | #14 |
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Interesting, Frank. I never knew Garner vs TN was a civil case. None the less, it is the milestone case for the use of deadly force in law enforcement. Basically it provides for the use of deadly force against a fleeing felon if and only if he presents an immediate threat to your life or the lives of others in the area, and for deadly force if that person's continuing freedom will present a threat to the lives of others in the future. (Forgive my wording, I'm on a laptop at home and still working on my 1st cuppa joe). Each case would be judged on it's own merits, of course.
Spike strips. They work great IF you can anticipate a suspect's route of travel, and if you can flood the area with cruisers. They're perfect for limited access highways, but in an urban area with a lot of crisscrossing streets, it's hit or miss. LAPD or NYPD can put dozens of cruisers in the area, along with aerial surveillance, but most depts. don't have the luxury of all that. Another interesting thing is that the use of a firearm to take out a tire is not considered deadly force, but the use of a PIT maneuver is.
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May 23, 2005, 02:43 PM | #15 | ||
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May 23, 2005, 03:17 PM | #16 |
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It seems to me that the usual TV cop show scenario has the cop (usually with a 2" barrel .38), leaning out the window shooting at the car being driven by a fleeing felon. He hits the tire and the bad guy's car stops. Arrest follows and roll the credits and commercial.
This really does work. If the script writer is on your side. Otherwise, it is not only nonsense, but dangerous nonsense that can get innocent people killed, either by the bullets or by one of the cars going out of control. Jim |
May 23, 2005, 04:15 PM | #17 |
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My experience:
5 yards, as measured by paces: .38SPL, 2" S&W 60 - Through and through. 9mm, Glock 34 - Through and through. .45ACP - Through and through. 5.56 - Through and through. 20 yards, as measured by paces: .38SPL, 2" S&W 60 - Entered, no exit. 9mm, Glock 34 - Through and through. .45ACP - Through and through. 5.56 - Through and through. Ammo was all PMC FMJ except for 5.56 which was Winchester Q3131A. Tires were all 15" on a steel rim, inflated to 30 psi.
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May 23, 2005, 07:18 PM | #18 |
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I think the 12 guage would be the weapon of choice here. I recall a video from Texas from the chase car of a deputy stopping a pursuit this way.
I have a feeling it will give you a much higher chance of success then a handgun.
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May 23, 2005, 07:21 PM | #19 |
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Well, shooting at a static tire is useful info gathering - yet, actually what happens to bullet activity at the instant it hits (a) a tread; (b) a sidewall, when it is rotating at "n" amount of RPM relative to tire size and vehicle speed???
I often wondered if a tread hit at speed(?) while pursuing would possibly spin the round upward and not penetrate at all, or maybe bounce around hitting a gas tank. Maybe the 5.56, pointed as it is would penetrate (if it didn't fragment. But hanging an AR out a window at speed - odds aren't good. -AndyB
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May 23, 2005, 08:31 PM | #20 |
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At the range I am now going to, there are several dozen 18 wheeler tires stacked up on a hill for a backstop. While I was setting up targets, I noticed a bullet, what looked to be a .45ACP, stuck in the tire, and it wasnt even 1/2 way in. I guess it hit one of the steel support wires in the tires (the sides of the tires are the easiest to penetrate).
I was shooting it with a .22LR and 12 guage shotgun and all seemed to penetrate. However, I would think that most any bullet would be stopped if it hit in the right (or wrong) place. BTW I no longer shoot at the tires becuase of the risks involved. Now I just shoot at a large dirt hill. |
May 23, 2005, 09:17 PM | #21 |
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Hey Frank, in the above article, was it ever shown that the kid was actually engaged in a felonious activity? In the article it just says he was tampering with the car.
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May 23, 2005, 11:58 PM | #22 |
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I have heard that pistol bullets often fail to penetrate when the tire is on a car with decent speed. Tough to test, though.
Here, hold my beer. I'll try. |
May 24, 2005, 12:28 AM | #23 |
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Yup
It's pretty easy. I've never done it myself, but I've watched 'em do it in the movies.
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May 24, 2005, 05:33 AM | #24 | |
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