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Post by JohnnyGalaga on Jul 21, 2003 23:27:19 GMT -5
I keep several hundred rounds of ammunition in my apartment. One of my biggest fears is if a fire ever broke out in my building. I couldn't imagine the danger it could pose to residents and firefighters.
Has anyone had any bad experiences with fire and ammunition ?
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Post by DoubleAction on Jul 22, 2003 15:22:47 GMT -5
Johnny;I've only had one house fire,and at the time my supply of ammo did not get in it as much as the main area.There are smaller fire proof safes that will hold back the heat more than having it in the open.You might want to contact the local fire department in your area and ask some advice on methods of storage.
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Post by JohnnyGalaga on Jul 23, 2003 2:30:26 GMT -5
When I took my CCW class last week, I asked the instructor about this scenerio. He explained to me that ammunition rounds in a fire would not be that big of a danger. Someone else in the class said it would be a lot like a firecracker going off. I find that hard to believe. Would this not be a potentially lethal situation ?
The instructor told me that the gas pressure in the gun barrel is what gives a bullet it's lethal force when it is fired. Would a round of ammunition going off by itself (not in a gun) be a serious threat, or not ?
To me, I would think that if a fire ever reached my ammo stash, there would be bullets flying every which way. This would be an unbelieveable threat to anyone who is nearby, which brings me to my next question . . .
Am I liable if this happens and someone gets hit ? If a fire gets to my ammunition and a firefighter or neighbor gets hit, do I go to jail ?
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Post by TA on Jul 23, 2003 8:08:35 GMT -5
I do not know for sure on this subject but here are my thoughts. If a fire was to reach a supply of ammo, I believe it would be more like a firecracker. Not to say there would no risk of injury, but I don't think there would be any bullets going 1200 fps.
When a round is chambered to be fired from a gun, it is contained. The strength of the casing is a result of the chamber that surrounds it. This forces the bullet and gases down the barrel. If the round was exposed to fire, the casing would either split open or the bullet would just pop off when the powder or primer lit. The gases that normally drive the bullet would just disperse.
Like Dubble said though, ask your local Fire Department for advise.
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Post by crazydave on Jul 23, 2003 8:10:51 GMT -5
Since the bullet is heavier than the brass, it would be the brass that would move, but since the shells are not 'contained' it would be more of a loud popping than a gunshot. It is possible that someone could be injured but I think it would be rather doutfull. There are some local laws regarding the storage of ammo and powders in most cities, call you local fire dept. to ask, they will give you the info.
Dave
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Post by Callahan on Jul 23, 2003 10:13:02 GMT -5
My local fire dept. is a volunteer outfit. Nice guys but y'all probably know more about this than they do!  |
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Post by DoubleAction on Jul 23, 2003 12:13:36 GMT -5
I called the Georgia Arms Ammunition factory and spoke to them about the reaction of ammunition in the case of a fire.They were very familiar with this,and even told me of instances of fires involving stored cartridges in bulk.I was told that there would only be a popping of the case,the bullet would go nowhere.Most of the time the bullet would be found beside the case after a fire.In one incident,a customer had a garage catch on fire ,which he stored alot of bulk ammunition in,the local fire department called them as to the popping firecracker noise,and the questions regarding the bullet projection.
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