Explosive questions

[weswood]

I've got a couple questions for the demo experts out there.

1- If you taped a lit road flare to a bottle of propane and shot the bottle, would it really blow up, ala Dawn of the Dead?

2- If a pinch of C-4 or other plastique was put in a muzzle loading rifle, would it blow up or not? Not a big piece, maybe as big as the last knuckle of a little finger. I'm thinking it would act like a very quick burning powder, push the projectile out. I'm thinking a .45 octagon barrel about 1" across the outside.

3- Would a tracer ignite gas in a vehicles tank? Civilian car or truck.

Enquiring minds want to know, some explanation would be nice- like the propane bottle wouldn't blow because the pressure coming out of the hole would keep the flame away from the biggest part, sort of like a bunsen burner.

[Legbreaker]

Good questions all.

1. Not too sure, but I doubt it. I'm guessing it might ignite the escaping gas and create a jet of flaming propane.
Mythbusters did a few experiements on this a while back but using bullets rather than flares - they ended up having to use incendiaries I believe.

2. Using HE as the propellant? You've got some serious issues. HE, unlike low explosives such as gunpowder, tend to detonate so fast they shatter materials. Low explosives detonate or burn much slower and so have a pushing effect (this is why they're good propellants).
You try using HE as a propellant and you've at best destroyed your weapon, at worst killed yourself with flying ex firearm shrapnel.

3. Possibly - Once again, Mythbusters (Damn they do some cool experiements) have been there and tried that. Normal bullets wouldn't have a hope. Hitting below the level of the fuel, also no hope. The round needs to travel through the gaseous fumes at the top of the tank to have a chance.

[Targan]

I agree with everything Legbreaker said. I would add that to set off the C-4 you'd need some form of detonator or priming explosion but black powder or smokeless powder might do the trick (even though both are low explosives). What Leggie said about HE shattering materials is correct. Depends on how much C-4 was used but I'd say the gun would suffer a catastrophic failure somewhere inside.

[jester]

Propane tank and flares, nope, it would burn for a while, the gas inside would boil, the steal would weaken and the tank would either burn out or split where the tank had been compromised.

C-4 working as a propellant, sure but not in the type of barrel you have in mind. And I would not put that much C-4 nor would I use a "barrel" that narrow, and I wouldn't pack the charged either. Something like a larger canon barrel you could get the desired effect of basicaly a directional blast. My question is, if you have the C-4, why not just make a claymore, it would be easier and safer.

Tracers igniting gasoline, it can. Remember tracers have different ballistics than a normal round. If the gass is leaking sure, if the round lodges in the tank sure. I have seen tacers loose their jackets on the range and bounce all over. So that is what I would thinkk would do it, a peice of the burning jacket would come off and that is what would ignite the fuel.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by jester

My question is, if you have the C-4, why not just make a claymore, it would be easier and safer.

Excellent point.

[Legbreaker]

mmmmmm, directional mines.

Yum!


Why not simply make your own blackpowder? It's not exactly rocket science and it's what most muzzle loaders are designed for anyway.

[Grimace]

Basically what people have said it pretty much true. There is a small chance that with the flare and the punctured propane tank that you could have a "jet propelled" tank until the pressure escaped enough to stop it moving. But you're not going to have a big explosion or anything.

Also, a note on the C4. It *might* not ignite from black powder. It would depend on how much you packed in. If it did ignite, like was mentioned...*pow*, ruined weapon and you're likely picking shrapnel out of your face if you survive.

Finally tracers... yes, they can, but not every time guaranteed. You'd probably have to put more than just one into a gas tank to get it to ignite.