Dropped ammo exploding

Hi guys,

One of the hats I wear is as Postmaster and today I got an interesting E-mail regarding prohibited items in the post.

NZ Post is very picky about having guns and ammo not enter the posting system - guns because gangs like to steal them and ammo due to safety concerns.

Anyway, this month someone sent a packet of 9mm ammunition via packet post, and while it was being sorted it dropped on the floor at the sorting centre and two rounds went off, one round apparently just missing a worker. Has anyone else had such a situation or been around when it happened?

I have heard of one round going off on very rare occasions but this is the first time I've heard of two rounds exploding after a fumble.

Watch this video from SAAMI regarding rifle, shotgun amd handgun ammo getting dropped....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlO...ature=youtu.be

Outside the confines of a chamber a round doesn't build up enough pressure for the bullet to travel fast enough to do any damage?

When unconfined ammo ignites it is generally a pretty feeble afair as the the pressure does not build after the projectile and case are pushed apart - there is simply no barrel for the powder to burn inside. Since the case is often lighter than the projectile it is usually the case which moves the most with the projectile barely moving at all. Both have so little energy imparted to them that a couple of layers of strong cardboard usually stop them.

I have personally witnessed tests of this happening.

Stop dropping packages.

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Originally Posted by square1

Stop dropping packages.

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Somebody probably put a "Fragile" sticker on it - thus guaranteeing that it would be flung forcefully down!

.22 rimfire does and he says shotgun too. 22LR in a Straw Experiment - YouTube

ok, I guess its more like thrown.

Ammo is pretty hardy stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M71dxHFD3-U

Takes a special type of mentality to even consider doing that

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

That looks kind of cool.
Guess what I'm going to try?

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that's the new Zealander way!
im not going to. but by all means go for it, just don't blame me if it doesn't go to plan.

As kids we used to wack the end of a .22 on an anvil, it would go bang and the projectile would go like a bumble bee round the shed with little power, we alaways sat on the right side!:)

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Originally Posted by Maca49

As kids we used to wack the end of a .22 on an anvil, it would go bang and the projectile would go like a bumble bee round the shed with little power, we alaways sat on the right side!:)

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Just like I said at #10

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Originally Posted by cambo

Watch this video from SAAMI regarding rifle, shotgun amd handgun ammo getting dropped....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c&feature=youtu.be

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Interesting Video, was always worried a bit about storing Ammo at home.
Cheers for that.

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Originally Posted by Spook

Just like I said at #10

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I got it?

Now to buy a packet of straws

I'm older and wiser now:ORLY:

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Originally Posted by Tbirdsteve

Hi guys,

One of the hats I wear is as Postmaster and today I got an interesting E-mail regarding prohibited items in the post.

NZ Post is very picky about having guns and ammo not enter the posting system - guns because gangs like to steal them and ammo due to safety concerns.

Anyway, this month someone sent a packet of 9mm ammunition via packet post, and while it was being sorted it dropped on the floor at the sorting centre and two rounds went off, one round apparently just missing a worker. Has anyone else had such a situation or been around when it happened?

I have heard of one round going off on very rare occasions but this is the first time I've heard of two rounds exploding after a fumble.

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Are there any more details on the packaging and how/where the rounds went off ?

To me, it sounds half urban legend / half remarkable luck that the primer on 9mm will detonate when dropped on to concrete floor.

More info on the source of the story ?

Dropping ammo and it going off?


If if the round got hot,(really damn hot) The projectiles wont fly at all, if anything, possibly the primer or the case will move, and it wont be far.

Someones telling porkys........

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Originally Posted by Southern Man

When unconfined ammo ignites it is generally a pretty feeble afair as the the pressure does not build after the projectile and case are pushed apart - there is simply no barrel for the powder to burn inside. Since the case is often lighter than the projectile it is usually the case which moves the most with the projectile barely moving at all. Both have so little energy imparted to them that a couple of layers of strong cardboard usually stop them.

I have personally witnessed tests of this happening.

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clips on youtube as well.

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Originally Posted by Tbirdsteve

Hi guys,

One of the hats I wear is as Postmaster and today I got an interesting E-mail regarding prohibited items in the post.

NZ Post is very picky about having guns and ammo not enter the posting system - guns because gangs like to steal them and ammo due to safety concerns.

Anyway, this month someone sent a packet of 9mm ammunition via packet post, and while it was being sorted it dropped on the floor at the sorting centre and two rounds went off, one round apparently just missing a worker. Has anyone else had such a situation or been around when it happened?

I have heard of one round going off on very rare occasions but this is the first time I've heard of two rounds exploding after a fumble.

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I find that hard to believe.........

regards

I got a picture with the e-mail - I'll forward it and post here. I was very sceptical at first too but they're not in the habit of deliberately lying. It didn't say what happened to the sender but part of the terms of use are that a sender can be held liable for any damages etc if the sending rules are broken, so they could be sued for the cost of shutting down the sorting centre.

Here are the pictures which were circulated with the e-mail - they're not very clear and at least one is inverted.

Attachment 24558


In fact in this one to me it doesn't even look as if it's exploded properly. Maybe it popped out the side or something.

Attachment 24559

Package looks like one of my dogs ate it.
Can't see the ammo making the package explode like that. Wonder how it was really being "handled"???

Still not good trying to post ammo. Everyone knows (or should know) the rules.
Trying to get around not getting a form signed by the Police and putting it in the post to save on courier fees, makes it harder for those who do everything right.

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

That looks kind of cool.
Guess what I'm going to try?

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have you tried it yet?

I;m about to send off some stuff, seems fastways are the only ones who will courier firearms?

Anyone couriers firearms if they don't know its firearms :)

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Originally Posted by Toby

Anyone couriers firearms if they don't know its firearms :)

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Which is all happy till something vanishes and you have to make a claim. From experience the first question is what was in the package?

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Originally Posted by mikee

I;m about to send off some stuff, seems fastways are the only ones who will courier firearms?

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Bring it round & we can get it sorted no drama, I use Fastways all the time :)

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Originally Posted by Toby

Anyone couriers firearms if they don't know its firearms :)

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Yep all good until something dumb happens & it gets lost, damaged or split open.

Nek Minite no insurance (which is generally only $1500) and them asking you some fairly interesting questions about sending restricted items...

Came across a curly one the other day that had me going WTF... seriously... so I had to pay more for increased insurance...:ORLY:

Sending stuff overseas via NZ post international courier is covered up to $2k IIRC, if there is a claim on it & its worth over $2k they pay out $0 like, Nah Dah, Zip, Zero :wtfsmilie:

It was in the fine print...I must investigate other couriers policies...

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Bring it round & we can get it sorted no drama, I use Fastways all the time :)

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Hey thanks for that

I could say its just a paintball gun but in reality it could best be described as a permanent marker, hopefully it will be off to a new home as long as the paperwork arrives soon.

Especially since I have spent what I got for it in advance, eh ;)

Interesting discussion guys. I used NZ Post recently when I sent and received a replacement for an AR15 upper. As I understand it the upper is not a firearm.

nz post wouldn't even let me send a scope because its a firearm part. (I shit you not, no common sense)

NZ Post changed policies regarding gun parts about two years ago and now don't want even stocks either. And uppers have been a no-no for even longer. There is no cover for any gun parts that are sent and go missing. You can send scopes inside NZ but overseas will depend on their own regulations.
Steve.

The even more interesting thing is that NZ Post deliver the mail ex USPS (USA) when you order from Brownells etc. You have no control over that.

They also deliver most of Gun City's items.

Steve

I'm pretty sure I failed school cert physics but I imagine the case would go flying rather than the projectile ... but what would I know.