Car Knocker
Member
Probably a bit of a difference in cooking off pound containers and cartridges.
Do I have a BOMB in my house???
- Thread starter DogBonz
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All of the walls on the buildings were made such that they would "blow out" in the event of a major explosion.
I've read that gunpowder and fireworks plants have buildings with very strong walls, but with roof structures that are designed to blow out (up) in case of explosion. This keeps weak walls from blowing out the weak walls of adjacent buildings, but still allows the pressure of an explosion to escape. Never been in one of those places, though, so this may be an urban legend.
I've read that gunpowder and fireworks plants have buildings with very strong walls, but with roof structures that are designed to blow out (up) in case of explosion. This keeps weak walls from blowing out the weak walls of adjacent buildings, but still allows the pressure of an explosion to escape. Never been in one of those places, though, so this may be an urban legend.
Ammo cans are pretty weak, as far as bursting points go. Some time when I'm bored and I find an ugly one I'll blow it up and film it. I've done it before inadvertently, though.
The latch on an ammo can is pretty strong, and works sort of like a mason jar's latch to seal that rubber gasket and make the can air and watertight. However, the other end of that lid is just held in with six pins made of mild steel - I've bent plenty - that are probably about 3/16 of an inch in diameter if at all.
Open your ammo can, and with it on the ground point the lid up at the sky, then push it to the left. It'll fall off and you can see the pins. They're just held in there by friction.
I blew up one of my ammo cans keeping aerosols in it in the back of a truck. Got hot one summer day and pop! Off went the lid: Bent those pins out. I lost two cans of green gas on that deal, too...
If you lit off a pound or two of smokeless in one I think you'd get a nice pop, off would go your lid, and a big flame out the top. Might light something on fire, but I'd highly doubt there would be any building-rending (or bystander-shrapneling) explosions going on.
The latch on an ammo can is pretty strong, and works sort of like a mason jar's latch to seal that rubber gasket and make the can air and watertight. However, the other end of that lid is just held in with six pins made of mild steel - I've bent plenty - that are probably about 3/16 of an inch in diameter if at all.
Open your ammo can, and with it on the ground point the lid up at the sky, then push it to the left. It'll fall off and you can see the pins. They're just held in there by friction.
I blew up one of my ammo cans keeping aerosols in it in the back of a truck. Got hot one summer day and pop! Off went the lid: Bent those pins out. I lost two cans of green gas on that deal, too...
If you lit off a pound or two of smokeless in one I think you'd get a nice pop, off would go your lid, and a big flame out the top. Might light something on fire, but I'd highly doubt there would be any building-rending (or bystander-shrapneling) explosions going on.
At Radford Army Ammunition plant you can see the convrete end panels all lined up for the magazines left over from WWII.
Wooden front, back and roof provided the weak direction and allowed the blast to escape upwards and not spread through the common wall.
The entry wall of buried bunkers is the typical escape, and a concrete ramp may be located 20 or so feet away to deflect the blast upwards from these installations.
Wooden front, back and roof provided the weak direction and allowed the blast to escape upwards and not spread through the common wall.
The entry wall of buried bunkers is the typical escape, and a concrete ramp may be located 20 or so feet away to deflect the blast upwards from these installations.
That's good info Zero_DgZ. Sounds like ammo cans are designed such that they will not become bombs if their contents cooks off. Makes sense. However, it could also be that not all ammo cans are made equally. I know there are some fake ones out there for sale that might actually be stronger than the "official" ones.
scout26
Member
There's a big difference between storing 500 rounds of ammo and having it cook off in an ammo can and having just the powder for 500 rounds burning in a ammo can.
500 small explosions vs. 1 big one.
(I work for Bway Corp., we make ammo cans for the DOD at our Homerville, GA facility.)
http://www.bwaycorp.com/media/pdf/bway/ammo_boxes.pdf
500 small explosions vs. 1 big one.
(I work for Bway Corp., we make ammo cans for the DOD at our Homerville, GA facility.)
http://www.bwaycorp.com/media/pdf/bway/ammo_boxes.pdf
32nd reply on ammo storage
Can't speak from experience on the ammo cans, but sound design will have them failing before a huge explosion occurs.
However, simply drill some vent holes in it and cover with some airtight tape. This way, if they do blow, they simply vent through your drilled holes. I'd say several 3/8 or 1/2 diameter holes on opposing sides. This way, if a fire does ensue, venting equally on either side keeps the can from becoming a projectile with balanced porting. Multiple small holes easier to cover with tape than a couple large ones, ensuring your watertight seal remains intact. You could cover with your favorite flavor of duct or some metallic tape.
This allows you to keep what you have if it's a metal can. Or go with plastic ammo container, it will fail long before an explosion will occur.
jeepmor
Can't speak from experience on the ammo cans, but sound design will have them failing before a huge explosion occurs.
However, simply drill some vent holes in it and cover with some airtight tape. This way, if they do blow, they simply vent through your drilled holes. I'd say several 3/8 or 1/2 diameter holes on opposing sides. This way, if a fire does ensue, venting equally on either side keeps the can from becoming a projectile with balanced porting. Multiple small holes easier to cover with tape than a couple large ones, ensuring your watertight seal remains intact. You could cover with your favorite flavor of duct or some metallic tape.
This allows you to keep what you have if it's a metal can. Or go with plastic ammo container, it will fail long before an explosion will occur.
jeepmor
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