Will a firearm fire in a vacuum ?

[CHEVYINLINE6]

My Monday morning question is will a firearm fire in a vacuum ? No I don't mean a Hoover. I believe I have seen a video of a firearm firing under water. If there enough oxygen in a cartridge case to ingnite it in a vacuum ?

CHEVYINLINE6.

 

[GunnyGene]

Yes. Gunpowder, even black powder, contains it's own oxidizer. With BP, that's what the saltpeter (potassium nitrate) is for.

 

[sceva]

Yes You can even fire one in space; and the velocity won't drop off until the projectile is acted upon by something

 

[mr surveyor]

Yes You can even fire one in space; and the velocity won't drop off until the projectile is acted upon by something

well, how would that affect barrel pressure, velocity and general ballistics?


jd

 

[fiasconva]

What jd said. Would the bullet tumble, spin, or what? It would be an interesting experiment.

 

[Dan in MI]

In a closed breech nothing would change until the bullet exits the barrel. Autoloaders and revolvers would get messy once negative pressure is introduced.

 

[GunnyGene]

It would continue to spin, it would not tumble if it was properly balanced, it would maintain muzzle velocity, and the straight line trajectory would only be influenced by gravity or whatever junk or dust it happened to encounter. Recoil would be the same and if the gun was held by some astronaut on a space walk it would induce some uncontrolled spin or other movement on him. In near earth orbit there is no firearm that generates the required escape velocity of approx 7 miles/sec. (36,700 fps), so the projectile would enter Earth atmosphere at a much higher speed than initial muzzle velocity due to gravitational attraction and probably burn up in the upper atmosphere.

 

[CHEVYINLINE6]

Yes You can even fire one in space; and the velocity won't drop off until the projectile is acted upon by somethin

Yes You can even fire one in space; and the velocity won't drop off until the projectile is acted upon by something

Spock, yes Captain. Spock load the 12 pounder. We got a big surprise for the Romulans.

CHEVYINLINE6.

 

[rugerguy]

Come on guys its "ballistics"..... internal, external, and terminal ....you can break them down any way you want to.............

 

[Johnnu2]

Hell..... who doesn't know all that... C'mon.... Geeze.

J.

 

[Tenbore]

Wouldn't the spinning bullet create its own gravity?

 

[GunnyGene]

Wouldn't the spinning bullet create its own gravity?

No. Spin has nothing to do with gravity. You're thinking about Rotational simulated gravity (centrifugal force in a rotating frame of reference - the bullet).

 

[WanderLust]

Can't we all tell that this is crying out for a video? We need the smarter folks on here to find a simulation, or create a computer program, or to get a favor from Elon and head to space with a 1911! (Wonder if you'd have to get through a security check first?)

 

[GunnyGene]

Can't we all tell that this is crying out for a video? We need the smarter folks on here to find a simulation, or create a computer program, or to get a favor from Elon and head to space with a 1911! (Wonder if you'd have to get through a security check first?)

Why? Do they not teach basic Physics in 6th grade anymore?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Can't we all tell that this is crying out for a video? We need the smarter folks on here to find a simulation, or create a computer program, or to get a favor from Elon and head to space with a 1911! (Wonder if you'd have to get through a security check first?)

Yeah, try and talk NASA into firing a gun in space.

 

[rugerguy]

way too many variables involved across the board in the matter of "each" of the 3 'ballistics'.........thats why they publish the manuals as well as folks input ( the internet) all of their own personal choices and likes................its called "working up a load" that works and is accurate for YOU and YOUR particular gun.........

and today , can you even afford it???

 

[bowzette]

This is why I went to law school. I think I need a drink.

 

[Tenbore]

No. Spin has nothing to do with gravity. You're thinking about Rotational simulated gravity (centrifugal force in a rotating frame of reference - the bullet).

Too deep for this redneck. I think I'll go rebuild my tractor.

 

[Rat76]

It was done in '75.

Remembering That Time the Soviet Union Shot a Top-Secret Space Cannon While in Orbit

In 1975, the USSR fired a cannon from an orbiting space station. We finally got a good look at the gun.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[Jimbo357mag]

SO.... because of the recoil, guns and cannons are not practical in space but missiles and lasers are the weapons of choice.