Water actually does protect you from most bullets!

[THE BULK HULK]

Water actually does protect you from most bullets!

In most movies the superhero escapes certain death by simply jumping into water, but would that actually save him from someone shooting at him? The answer is yes and no.

It depends on the bullet, and how fast it goes. Paradoxically, the slower the bullet, the deeper it can go. The reason for this is because of the force at which it hits the water. If it hits hard enough, the bullet will shatter and become harmless, but if it is going slow enough it will continue through the water at speeds fast enough to penetrate human flesh.

Supersonic bullets, up to .50-caliber, disintegrate in less than three feet of water, while pistol rounds need up to eight feet to become non lethal. Shotguns slugs require even deeper water.

More - http://www.omg-facts.com/Science/Wat...from-mos/48419

[Mantikore]

I would think bullet type would play a major factor also. I would expect non frangible, armor piercing .50 BMG to do very well

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by Mantikore

I would think bullet type would play a major factor also. I would expect non frangible, armor piercing .50 BMG to do very well

This is more or less what was stated but still lacks any real merit. Even so, given how fast a human can swim and hold their breath it'd still prove futile.

[JeffreyH]

Originally Posted by &Zenith

This is more or less what was stated but still lacks any real merit. Even so, given how fast a human can swim and hold their breath it'd still prove futile.

Unless you plan ahead and have hidden scuba gear under water near your escape route.

So you jump under water, and then you have a minute or two to find your scuba gear, get oxygen supply and then put the rest of the gear on and safely get out of there.

[THE BULK HULK]

Originally Posted by JeffreyH

Unless you plan ahead and have hidden scuba gear under water near your escape route.

So you jump under water, and then you have a minute or two to find your scuba gear, get oxygen supply and then put the rest of the gear on and safely get out of there.

Only James Bond is capable of performing it correctly...

[Savino]

Ya I remember that episode of mythbusters, anything high power breaks up within like the first 3 feet or something, handguns go a little further but youd be safe underwater, you dont even need to be that deep, like 6-8 feet and you're golden.

[JeffreyH]

Originally Posted by THE BULK HULK

Only James Bond is capable of performing it correctly...

If you prepare in advance? With enough practice, I am sure anyone can do it.

Of course, if you never planned for it then yes, you are dead.

[is all mememememe with me]

there was a program on here about movie myths and they did saving private ryan. they actually tested this with the same bullets the germans used and they were only effective to about 1-2 feet under the water. although it doesn't seem like it, water pressure plays a huge role. the bullet is actually having to push the whole weight of all the water ahead of its path which tends to add up to quite a big weight. this just slows it down very quickly. it proved that all those guys getting shot in the water in spr actually never happened and was just put in for dramatic effect.

this is also the reason why CSI's use that water tube thing to do ballistics checks on bullets. they just shoot them into that long pipe of water and fish them off the bottom where they harmlessly drop.

[Carbonbased]

Good post but old news, mythbusters did a run on this already and concluded that the faster the bullet traveled, the more likely it was that it came apart on entering the water. So hand gun rounds actually fared the best .45acp IRC. That said I don't think they tested shotgun slugs it's not like they're designed to frag and they do have allot of mass. This video is a great representation of the range of a weapon underwater :/ (watch till the end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbA4um6pORA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbA4um6pORA
Video: click to display

So I guess the moral is if your going to shoot someone under water, grab them shove the barrel in their chest and pull the trigger

[is all mememememe with me]

...and blow your fucking hand off.

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by JeffreyH

Unless you plan ahead and have hidden scuba gear under water near your escape route.

So you jump under water, and then you have a minute or two to find your scuba gear, get oxygen supply and then put the rest of the gear on and safely get out of there.

I'd find you and shove a fucking shotgun so far up your ass you wouldn't even know where it was until I fired.

[is all mememememe with me]

im gonna facepalm again.



thats for all the idiots who think you can fire a gun under water. it would blow apart in your hand, possibly even blow your fucking face off. dont ever try this.

[Xlite]

Old, saw this on mythbusters ages ago.

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by is all mememememe with me

im gonna facepalm again.



thats for all the idiots who think you can fire a gun under water. it would blow apart in your hand, possibly even blow your fucking face off. dont ever try this.

How much do you want to bet, cunt? Your life?

[Ph0x]

You in fact CAN fire most pistols and a lot of rifles underwater, dipshit.

[JC Denton]

Ok so it slows down bullets. But what about harpoons?

[LSA King]

I would like to test this theory. Which one of you can I shoot? The human body is made up of 60% water so technically speaking you should only take 40% damage. Or is my math off?

Fuck you Diablo 3

[p6867]

This is why many people use water to test the penetration of their rounds.

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by phox

You in fact CAN fire most pistols and a lot of rifles underwater, dipshit.

These niggas is as dumb as a pile of rocks. Thinkin' we be packing powder pistols or some shit...

[Spence_tron]

Originally Posted by is all mememememe with me

im gonna facepalm again.



thats for all the idiots who think you can fire a gun under water. it would blow apart in your hand, possibly even blow your fucking face off. dont ever try this.

We are the ones facepalming nigga:

http://youtu.be/Dvgu3VaO8sE

http://youtu.be/Dvgu3VaO8sE
Video: click to display

http://youtu.be/0MA1IFKwdAQ

http://youtu.be/0MA1IFKwdAQ
Video: click to display

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by Unwyred

I think the idea of diving into water to escape gunfire stems from the fact that when a bullet hits the water its path changes direction, making it more difficult for an assailant to hit their fleeing target.

It's also difficult to track a target since their location will be distorted and refracted by the water.

[is all mememememe with me]

Originally Posted by Unwyred

I think the idea of diving into water to escape gunfire stems from the fact that when a bullet hits the water its path changes direction, making it more difficult for an assailant to hit their fleeing target.

thats refraction making it appear that way dummy. at least it is momentarily until the velocity decreases to the point where gravity can have effect.

[Spence_tron]

Originally Posted by is all mememememe with me

thats refraction making it appear that way dummy. at least it is momentarily until the velocity decreases to the point where gravity can have effect.

Its not just the visual effect of refraction, bullet trajectory itself usually changes direction somewhat when passing from one medium to another (refraction being light doing the same thing).

Shooting through/into water also represents the maximum structural upset caused to the bullet itself, which is why many people test penetration/expansion with water. This is also why the high velocity rounds penetrate less than slower rounds in water, faster bullets tend to disintegrate in just a few feet of water because of the greater structural upset. So you have a quite few things working against you when shooting into or through water.

Extremely long, drag/cavitation stabilized bullets would be needed for effective through-water shooting. You can thank the Russians for implementing that:

[Greyusurper]

This thread is golden! You do not know how often I'm not jumping in water because I think it won't shield me from bullets! I also assume it's not worth getting my clothes wet, but I'll quickly trade that comfort in for a bullet shield.

[-SpectraL]

I would snap an M203 grenade launcher on and pop a few in and around the area he just jumped into. Let's see him dodge flying shrapnel underwater.

[Ph0x]

Originally Posted by -SpectraL

I would snap an M203 grenade launcher on and pop a few in and around the area he just jumped into. Let's see him dodge flying shrapnel underwater.

*Shakes head*

[-SpectraL]

Originally Posted by phox

*Shakes head*

.M576 multipurpose grenade in the M203. 2000 pellets per round creates death zone 30 meters high and 30 meters wide, and the M203 launcher itself has a range of 150 meters. Doubt any underwater fugitive could escape something like that, and it can easily be clipped to a standard M16.

[Mantikore]

Originally Posted by Spence_tron

Its not just the visual effect of refraction, bullet trajectory itself usually changes direction somewhat when passing from one medium to another (refraction being light doing the same thing).

How would the bullet spin affect it in all this though? There would still be refraction of sorts, but would it be significant??

[litefire]

Why has this not been posted yet?

Mythbusters Shooting 50 Caliber Sniper into Water - YouTube

Mythbusters Shooting 50 Caliber Sniper into Water - YouTube
Video: click to display

If you're interested enough you should watch the whole episode, they test all weapons, Handguns, rifles, shotguns..everything. Basically the bullet starts to disintegrate the instant it hits the water. It loses force exponentially fast while its breaking apart, and apparently won't even puncture skin after about 2 feet (in most cases)

[Spence_tron]

Originally Posted by Mantikore

How would the bullet spin affect it in all this though? There would still be refraction of sorts, but would it be significant??

Sure the spin stabilizes the the bullet in air, but as the bullet transitions from a less dense medium (air) to a more dense medium (water) the projectile will quickly lose its spin and destabilize due to the friction/density of water.

If a bullet is transitioning from one medium to another, it is likely that it will become destabilized and lose its gyroscopic stability from spin given enough difference in the mediums... regardless if the medium is liquid water or drywall.

[is all mememememe with me]

Originally Posted by -SpectraL

I would snap an M203 grenade launcher on and pop a few in and around the area he just jumped into. Let's see him dodge flying shrapnel underwater.

the shrapnel wouldn't do shit. the huge water pressure wave caused by the explosion however would turn all his internal organs to mush.

this is also another reason why firing a gun under the surface is a bad idea. if you are actually in the water the pressure from the blast acting on the water around you could have bad effects on you the firer. would imagine it could easily burst ear drums at least. but despite that, even if you let the air out of the barrel before firing, it only needs a few bubbles stuck deep inside to cause the bullet to stop mid barrel and the blast to exit via smashing back through the firing block. but sticking the end of a barrel under the surface while the barrel is still full of air will definitely cause blast back.

[-SpectraL]

Originally Posted by Unwyred

...And you wouldn't engage a pack of wolves in hand to hand combat either.

Maybe not an entire pack, but three or four surely.

[Proots]

Originally Posted by -SpectraL

Maybe not an entire pack, but three or four surely.

Hand-to-hand as in, just your fists? Or, do you have a knife?

Also, this is an interesting thread. It made me think of the Mythbusters episode, as well. Christ, I hate those guys.

[-SpectraL]

Originally Posted by Proots

Hand-to-hand as in, just your fists? Or, do you have a knife?

Hand-to-hand, knees, elbows, even teeth... whatever it takes. Knives are for pussies.