[HOE] Guns&ammo in odd environments

[Theo McGuckin <tsm@jlab.org>]

> Well, oxygen is required for firing a bullet.  The chemical reaction
> involved is combustion.  Some rounds are sealed well enough to
> maintain sufficient oxygen to fire underwater or in space, expecially
> rifle round. Shotgun rounds, on the other hand, are not well sealed.  
> They do not fire underwater and would not fire in space.  Any round
> hand reloaded is less likely to work, since most reloading machines do
> not seal as tight as the factory models.  I was able to fire my 9mm
> under water, but not if I reloaded the rounds.

But not all combustion requires an outside source of oxygen. As pointed
out the shuttle and rockets fly into space using combustion. As a more
down to earth example, magnesium flares burn (combust) underwater. Your
comment on shotgun rounds (which are generally cased in plastic or some
type paper material, right?) makes me wonder whether the rounds failed to
fire because of no oxygen or because the ammo simply got wet?

Out of curiousity I looked up the molecular equation for gunpowder:
It's made up of carbon (C), saltpeter (KNO3) and sulfur (S). So there is
oxygen available in the equation. Wood is essentially made up of carbon
(for burning purposes) and so needs air (oxygen) to burn. Magnesium flares
have Magnesium-oxide in them (I think) so they "have their own oxygen
supply", as do bullets.

Theo McGuckin - SysAdmin, JLab, Safety Warden (Bldg. 85)


	...whose thoughts and ideas are purely his own and in no way
	reflect Jefferson Lab, its staff or ideals. Unless of course
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