Exploding Bullets in House Fire - Page 2

JimPage · July 21, 2012, 08:36 AM

jimpeel: "An author for the NRA magazine wrote an article about this subject. He cited the difference between contained and uncontained ammo. He set up a test stand where he used a Burnz-O-Matic torch to set off various calibers of ammo. He aimed the ammo at a standard fire jacket. The rounds did not cause any damage whatsoever regardless of caliber."

It was based upon this and other articles with similar information that made me put the capped case in the fire. I was shocked that the primer went through my leg.

**44 AMP** · July 21, 2012, 12:52 PM

many years ago, while overnighting in a hunting cabin, a loose .308 Win round got mixed in the some paper trash, and went into the stove. A few minutes later, a loud bang, and few "ptinks" were heard.

next morning, cleaning out the stove (we cleaned our shorts the night before

) the .308 case & bullet were found, the case had ruptured (blown out) and several small chunks of brass had "grenaded" the inside of the stove.

While brass fragments (or the primer) can cause injury,you have to be very close to the case when it explodes. Standing right next to the fire in street clothes is not recommended.

From a practical perspective, a firefighter in full bunker gear stands very, very little chance of injury from ammo cooking off in a fire.

However, the presence of ammo cooking off also implies there are other things in there that either are, or could burn/detonate (solvents, powder, aerosols,etc..) so since things are replaceable and lives are not, policy is to let hazardous materiels burn, if no lives are at risk to do so.

Fireman also do not enter burning areas where fuels or paints are stored, if no lives are at risk. Cellar Savers/Silo Savers (volunteers) and full time professionals ARE heroes, not because they will allow unoccupied buildings to burn down from time to time, but because they WILL and DO go into burning buildings to rescue people.

scrubcedar · July 21, 2012, 05:04 PM

I have an uncle who tried this with a .22lr as a kid. He was looking closely at the .22 that had been in the heat awhile, bad time to be looking, it cooked off at that moment. The base part of the case ended up in his cheek, completely covered. He told Grandpa that he fell on a stick because he knew he'd be in trouble for fooling around with live ammo. Of course the wound wouldn't heal that way and became badly infected. When they finally took him to the doctor he opened the wound and fished out the brass. Mom said she wasn't sure after Grandpa got ahold of him which cheek hurt most

It would be a little hard for me to say they're harmless, I've seen the scar. I don't think that it would have pentrated the bunker gear firefighters wear, but I'm with them, little pieces of shrapnel all over while I'm fighting a fire? People are still more important than property.

Silver Bullet · July 22, 2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

I can't expect any fireman to put himself in harms way to protect any kind of property.

Isn't that what firemen do? Isn't the risk from the fire much greater than any random ammo pops ?

**Frank Ettin** · July 22, 2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Bullet

...Isn't the risk from the fire much greater than any random ammo pops ?

It isn't the random ammo pops that are the risk. The powder is an accelerant. It burns hot and in quantity can increase significantly both the heat and speed of the fire. A couple of boxes of cartridges shouldn't be a problem. But some folks, especially active competition shooters might have several thousand rounds, or more, on hand.

See post 16:

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathaniel

As a volunteer fireman myself, I wouldnt worry about the rounds cooking off but the flamables causing higher temps which in turn causes a flashover...

Capt Rick Hiott · July 22, 2012, 05:15 PM

I was a fire fighter for many years, and went to one house where the had ammo going off,,,I never slowed down. Knocked the fire out and went out side and cooled off. It was no big deal.

What will scare you is after you put out a house fire and find a full bottle of propane in the closet............................That will scare you!!!!

Silver Bullet · July 22, 2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

The powder is an accelerant. It burns hot and in quantity can increase significantly both the heat and speed of the fire.

Got it.

Thanks.

July 21, 2012, 12:52 PM	#27
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,292	many years ago, while overnighting in a hunting cabin, a loose .308 Win round got mixed in the some paper trash, and went into the stove. A few minutes later, a loud bang, and few "ptinks" were heard. next morning, cleaning out the stove (we cleaned our shorts the night before) the .308 case & bullet were found, the case had ruptured (blown out) and several small chunks of brass had "grenaded" the inside of the stove. While brass fragments (or the primer) can cause injury,you have to be very close to the case when it explodes. Standing right next to the fire in street clothes is not recommended. From a practical perspective, a firefighter in full bunker gear stands very, very little chance of injury from ammo cooking off in a fire. However, the presence of ammo cooking off also implies there are other things in there that either are, or could burn/detonate (solvents, powder, aerosols,etc..) so since things are replaceable and lives are not, policy is to let hazardous materiels burn, if no lives are at risk to do so. Fireman also do not enter burning areas where fuels or paints are stored, if no lives are at risk. Cellar Savers/Silo Savers (volunteers) and full time professionals ARE heroes, not because they will allow unoccupied buildings to burn down from time to time, but because they WILL and DO go into burning buildings to rescue people. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 22, 2012, 05:15 PM	#31
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	I was a fire fighter for many years, and went to one house where the had ammo going off,,,I never slowed down. Knocked the fire out and went out side and cooled off. It was no big deal. What will scare you is after you put out a house fire and find a full bottle of propane in the closet............................That will scare you!!!! __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

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July 21, 2012, 08:36 AM	#26
JimPage Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2010 Location: Rome, NY Posts: 941	jimpeel: "An author for the NRA magazine wrote an article about this subject. He cited the difference between contained and uncontained ammo. He set up a test stand where he used a Burnz-O-Matic torch to set off various calibers of ammo. He aimed the ammo at a standard fire jacket. The rounds did not cause any damage whatsoever regardless of caliber." It was based upon this and other articles with similar information that made me put the capped case in the fire. I was shocked that the primer went through my leg.

July 21, 2012, 05:04 PM	#28
scrubcedar Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2012 Location: Southwestern Colorado Posts: 507	I have an uncle who tried this with a .22lr as a kid. He was looking closely at the .22 that had been in the heat awhile, bad time to be looking, it cooked off at that moment. The base part of the case ended up in his cheek, completely covered. He told Grandpa that he fell on a stick because he knew he'd be in trouble for fooling around with live ammo. Of course the wound wouldn't heal that way and became badly infected. When they finally took him to the doctor he opened the wound and fished out the brass. Mom said she wasn't sure after Grandpa got ahold of him which cheek hurt most It would be a little hard for me to say they're harmless, I've seen the scar. I don't think that it would have pentrated the bunker gear firefighters wear, but I'm with them, little pieces of shrapnel all over while I'm fighting a fire? People are still more important than property.