Mythbusters TV show: Blowing up Guns

[Demonical]

Crazy show tonight, inspired by the Daffy Duck/Elmer Fudd shotgun barrel that splits like a banana peel. They set out to try to do that to a 12ga shotgun. I didn't know what model of gun they were using.

They tried various things and could not damage the barrel so eventually they took a metal plug inserted it in the barrel and then welded it in place!!

When they fired the gun it simply blew the metal plug out of the barrel. No damage to the manequin placed at the gun to absorb any blow-back.



So then they went to work with a bolt action rifle, again I didn't know what model or caliber, but after various failed attempts to blow up a gun barrel, they finally hammered a bullet into the end of the barrel and then fired the gun. Like the shotgun, it failed to do much more then a small split at the end of the barrel, but no damage to the manequin positioned as the shooter.



Not that I'd try any of this stuff at home but apparently modern firearms are hella strong!!

 

[BCWILL]

Yep it was a Cool episode
I loved how the gelatin finger actually bulged the barrel though.........

I guess they shoulda tried a Sako Barrel instead ?

 

[Dosing]

Or maybe a boresighter...

 

[Andy]

And yet the various Chicken Littles would suggest that headspace that's outside field by a few thou, or a load that's one grain over a published max load spells certain calamity.

 

[cereal83]

And yet the various Chicken Littles would suggest that headspace that's outside field by a few thou, or a load that's one grain over a published max load spells certain calamity.

lol Thats so true

 

[BIGREDD]

Mythbusters is not a good training aide...
We blew up a Shotgun on purpose for use as a training aide in the firearms course. All we used was an old Savage SXS and a single cloth patch stuck in the choke two inches inside the end of the barrel. Standard 1 1/8 ounce 2 3/4" # 7 1/2 12 gauge load... separated the barrel along the solder line for 6 inches and banana peeled the barrel back for a foot. The device we used to hold the gun when we fired it remotely was a wooden vice and it was clamped at the pistol grip. It was full of shot pellets that were blown 180 degrees backwards! There was steel shrapnel in the trees for fifty feet around the explosion.
I don't know what kind of loads they were using on Mythbusters or what kind of firearms... but don't believe their bull####! A cloth patch can and will cause a barrel to burst... I have proof!

PS I don't recommend that any one try this experiment... I certainly won't, ever again!

 

[SuperCub]

Billy The Kid had a 7600 in 35 Whelen that apparently had the bbl plugged with mud and was fired. It was peeled back like a banana just like in the cartoons.

I just about cried.


.

 

[pharaoh2]

I think those guys are idiots. They give people a false sense of security. They have done several episodes where the conclude the case is a myth, where as I know for a fact it is not. And we al know how easy it is to plug a barrel and blow it up. Now were going to have guys who are going to plug their muzzles with mud, and not worry about cleaning because 'the mythbusters said it was ok. Boom.

 

[RobSmith]

These guys seem to have given it an honest effort and I will give them credit for that .... But generally speaking firearms are so massively over-built that acidentally blowing one up is just as likely to be a manufacturing flaw than user error.

 

[sawatzky]

I am by no means an expert, but my understanding is that if the barrel is plugged completely the barrel won't explode. The gases left in the barrel compress when the round is fired and push the plug out. On the other hand, if there is only a partial block the barrel WILL explode because the gases can escape and the bullet collides with whatever is blocking the barrel. This may explain why Bigredd's shotgun experiment worked so wonderfully!!

 

[pharaoh2]

I will be anxiously waiting for a home test from a mythbusters supporter.

 

[mylesrom]

How about somebody with one of those Stevens 200's

 

[Mystic Precision]

Lost the link but was tied to SAAMI/NRA on proof testing of modern rifles. Was very interesting the protocol that all manf take for 'blowing up' their rifles.

Proof loads are at least 80,000psi with most around 100/120psi. A modern action should not break at this pressure. May not extract or function all that great afterwards but must hold together. From there, various makes and models grenade.

Given that magnum pressures are supposed to limit at 65000psi, there is a big safety margin AT THE ACTION. There are no limits set for the barrels.

Jerry

 

[uphere]

the shot gun was an 870 super mag and the rifle was a 6.5x52mm

 

[The Hippie]

what about if the blockage was closer to the chamber?

i find my self screaming at the TV when the mythbusters are doing firearms stuff almost as much as when liberals are speaking.
same with CSI. its a 9mm with this kind of rifleing, thus it was a glock 17.

any way, i must admit this show was pretty cool, even if they did leave out some important details.

 

[sunray]

Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd know more about firearms than Jamie and Adam.
Knew a guy who blew the end off a Mossberg shotgun with a blank. Some bonehead stuck a potato on it and the owner, who should have known better, pulled the trigger. Nobody hurt, but the guy had to buy a new barrel.
"...with most around 100/120psi..." Um, no. What would be the point of testing say a .30-06 at 100/120 psi?

 

[bigdawg]

yea it does't take much to do that but on the other hand i think it needs to be positioned the right way

 

[Plinker]

I only watch Mythbusters in order to catch glimpses of the cute redheaded lady.

 

[Juster]

 

[slicknick]

"...with most around 100/120psi..." Um, no. What would be the point of testing say a .30-06 at 100/120 psi?

I think me meant 100K/120Kpsi