Archived: Backyard Ballistics accidents and stories thread

[asilentbob]

Accidents, mishaps, catastrophes, near misses, and stories. Make them good if you can. We all want to feel nostalgic sometimes and remember the past. Or hear about recent stuff that happened to you or a friend. Go!
(we might need to get a quotes thread going again too)

EDIT: and I will delete shit to keep the thread tidy.

[Dream of the iris]

One time I was trying to make nitric acid using the ammonium nitreate, sulfuric acid in a jar with plastic wrap and ice cubes.

I let it go for a few minutes in my garage and came back and the entire garage was full of red fumes! I could barely breath and went for my respierator and turned off the hotplate, opened the garage and went outside to breath.

That was pretty scary.

[InspiredByMe]

Let's see worst I've had was an accident with flash powder, this was back in the day, and I lighted it with a match and paper. I know It didn't work the first 2 times so I finally got it....bright burn!

I got the top side and all the sides of my three fingers on the thumb line that comes from the middle finger to my thumb. It was all burnt grayish at first and I thought it was just my nails because of the endorphins, but I was wrong. I put it under water and let it cool down from the hottest temp. After it was all white. I let it cool in a wet cloth and dealt with it, cleaned my nails up and the rest sucked. I was in crazy pain.

But the worse part was that after it healed I hit a tree branch outside and scraped 1/4 of the dead white skin on my thumb off. The bright red of my skin was like an internal fire. I was filled with pain.

Throughout the healing more of the white skin came off and it eventually was covered with the new skin but it was oh so painful. It finally healed but then my muscles were held back because the skin was fresh. It took me 2 and a half weeks to get all of the dead white skin off.



Holy shit I am descriptive as fuck when I'm haigh.

[Dream of the iris]

I tried to make one of these

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1_u3...eature=related

Yeah yeah kewl central, right? Well it seemed like a good idea at the time

On New Years eve using 10 gallons of gasoline and a small flash device placed in a plastic baggie with a long fuse going out. I went to light it and the damn gas tank erupted in flames. Thank God it didn't explode I just ran away and let it burn.

Jesus, that was probably the dumbest and near death/bad burn experience I ever had. Fuck me..

[asilentbob]

Originally Posted by asilentbob

I love hand lighting single shells... But I wouldn't be very comfortable doing it in a show. I helped set up a show a while back, all electrically fired. The lead operator and his buddy were sitting at this fold up rubbermaid table with the firing system and selector box. I was standing between them at the table. The show was going fine... Then a rack with chains of 4" Ti salutes blew apart... and the chains kept firing. The salutes were mostly scattering going out away from us and the crowd, but one ended up skipping across the ground and ended up 1-1/2ft or so from one leg of the table when it went off. 4" so took about 4 seconds. Course your mind doesn't really start kicking your body into motion until about 2 seconds have gone by. The farther of the 2 guys in the chairs ended up getting mostly out of his chair. The one in the closer chair ended up just turning away from it a bit, still in the chair. I ended up getting about 2ft away. The closer guy got pieces of his jeans embedded into the skin in his legs, lots of little cuts and bruises from dirt clods, and some specked dots on part of one arm that were burns from some of the titanium. Hard to describe, but probably not as bad as it sounds. I got hit with a dirt clod a few inches from my manhood. Left a bruise. The farther guy at the table was about like me, but a couple more bruises and maybe a cut or 2 on the legs, can't really remember.

The blast jolted the table upward yanking the heavy cord and firing system... The yank deformed the firing system box a bit and it ended up fucking up the really big rotary selector switch and some of the solder points inside... BUT the cable was good and we ended up finishing with a different firing system. So yeah, from now one we don't sit at a table, we kneel ready to take off, and if there is a table we put it on its side as a rudimentary barrier.

Also, at that show the very last thing we fired was a volley of a whole bunch of shells packed with home made "Flaming Shit" stars... Think chrysanthemum/willow, but with course only partially charred charcoal... and burning all the way to the ground... So the shells go up. They all burst. All the flaming shit comes down. Hits the ground. ~10 seconds later the whole field is on fire. It was beautiful.

Yup.

[T.K. Baha]

I once burned my hand on a sparkler.

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by asilentbob

Yup.

I remember that story, close call dude.

The closest thing I've had to an accident was when one of my friends (I think we were 13 or so) knocked the ash of his cigarette into a load o' whistle mix and I was sitting close by - WHOOOOSH!, that was pretty stupid.

No wait a minute, I once had a couple of 30mm cylinder shells go off at way too low altitude, and rain their contents down on me, but I got off with a few holes in my clothes I think, nothing major.

On the 26th we'll be hand lighting on a barge again, I honestly hope I won't have anything to contribute to this thread with, but I'll get someone to tape the show for you guys.

[theinvader]

what happened to this thread????

My incident: firecrackers stuck in the ground. One didn't light (these were m1000's) and the fucker pissed me off. I kicked it; shoe was obliterated. Severe burns on toes. Ouch.

Note: m1000 firecrakers contain 3 grams of powder. Legal limit in Michigan (i live in IL, illegally imported )

[Barney'sDealer]

Originally Posted by theinvader

Note: m1000 firecrakers contain 3 grams of powder. Legal limit in Michigan (i live in IL, illegally imported )

I live in southern Ohio, it's so nice living near Kentucky.

[asilentbob]

"Prior to December 6, 1976, the legal limit in the United States for firecrackers was a maximum of 2 grains of blackpowder (130 mg); after this date, the legal limit in the United States was reduced to 50 mg (0.77 grains) of flash powder."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firecracker

The m-1000 style crackers are 50mg flash in a little aluminum pill with fuse stuck into it, then put in a casing and plaster of paris or similar poured around it. More confinement, more total weight. Same flash content... UNLESS what you got was homemade crap or "spiked" stuff from china... Though I don't see why the chinese would take the time to boost the content and risk future shipments being flagged... When they can just rename the box and packaging to hype it up and make more money without even messing with the internals.

[Hydroponichronic]

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-li-bom...,4549650.story

Some kid tried to cook something and failed epically. Lost a hand (and maybe more) and got arrested. Any bets on what it was? My money's on AP. That shit's vicious. Actually, I feel for the kid. I did my fair share of dumb shit back in the day, before I understood the basic tenets of safety and common sense, but it could have ended just as bad.

[DrGoogfan]

Originally Posted by SAS

I once burned my hand on a sparkler.

you shouldnt be allowed on the internets.

[313]

Originally Posted by theinvader

what happened to this thread????

My incident: firecrackers stuck in the ground. One didn't light (these were m1000's) and the fucker pissed me off. I kicked it; shoe was obliterated. Severe burns on toes. Ouch.

Note: m1000 firecrakers contain 3 grams of powder. Legal limit in Michigan (i live in IL, illegally imported )

yay i can blast off m1000's!
oh wait no i cant....dude we arent even allowed to have firecrackers in michigan..its REALLY gay but everybody here goes to ohio and get the shit there and brings it back and goes crazy.

[Hammer Tank]

dismantled some artillery shells, loaded the powder into a 1/2 in. x 12 in. metal pipe, fuse on the end.

I was planning on holding it in my hand like a roman candle, and using my digital camera to film the whole thing. (the result would have made a great video for rotten.com) At the last minute I decided to just lay the thing down and watch + film from a distance.

Holy shit I'm glad I did. The 'roman candle' lasted about 1.5 seconds, until the whole damn thing detonated. the pipe split open; there was a 2.5 in. split in the bottom of the pipe, where my hand would have been. I probably would have lost my hand, or part of it. Scary as hell. The explosion was magnificent though

I gained a lot of respect for backyard ballistics that day.

[per.y.ohlin]

Originally Posted by Hydroponichronic

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-li-bom...,4549650.story

Some kid tried to cook something and failed epically. Lost a hand (and maybe more) and got arrested. Any bets on what it was? My money's on AP. That shit's vicious. Actually, I feel for the kid. I did my fair share of dumb shit back in the day, before I understood the basic tenets of safety and common sense, but it could have ended just as bad.

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Hydroponichronic]

Originally Posted by per.y.ohlin

This is why we can't have nice things.

lol. Yea, unfortunately. Although, I think it's our job to pass on basic pyrotechnic safety to future generations of thrill seeking teens. But I'm lazy, so it's up to you guys.

[asilentbob]

I know its kinda our job... but I'm seriously getting tired of it... I'd like to move on to advanced forums and actually discuss shit.

[InspiredByMe]

Need moar content

...........and that doesn't mean all the kidiots can start making threads

[theinvader]

Thanks dude I was drinking thar.
Fuck, I have to go wash my mouth out.

Pics of your hand currently, plz!

[theinvader]

Fuck, dude. You seem pretty tough/badass.

Well that solves my weekend plans: no cheap airsoft guns for awhile.
Few months ago this kid had his $30 co2 gun blow apart after around 150-200 shots. He saved his hands/body by throwing it (it started leaking before it blew up).
BTW leaking co2 into the air looks fucking cool until, lulz

[per.y.ohlin]

I have a sign for you to make here.

[InspiredByMe]

Damn poast. Lol stupid doctor.

And you made it with a ToTSE article recipe if I remember correctly...

[theinvader]

Well the kid's gun had a cheap valve, but the whole damn gun was plastic shrapnel, the co2 holder was gone.
I think the co2 just blasted off and the supercooling made the plastic shatter or something.
BP? I've only heard of AP...
Edit lol bp is black powder
melatonin is a great sleep aid

[theinvader]

So left/right hand? you have to switch writing hands?
I broke my hand over some kids head (too hard) and it sucked ass writing with my left, worse than my broken right.

[Barney'sDealer]

Originally Posted by Hydroponichronic

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-li-bom...,4549650.story

Some kid tried to cook something and failed epically. Lost a hand (and maybe more) and got arrested. Any bets on what it was? My money's on AP. That shit's vicious. Actually, I feel for the kid. I did my fair share of dumb shit back in the day, before I understood the basic tenets of safety and common sense, but it could have ended just as bad.

This AP is a extremely sensitive material. Stupid kid on Anarchist Cookbook

[Aphid]

I'm guessing the CO2 bulb was filled with AP? Gives me shivers thinking about it, I don't think I've ever used more than 1g of AP at a time and it's always in paper or plastic cases, I also nearly never hold or touch loaded caps with my hands, i either carry them by the fuse or use a pair of pliers.

Also, how does an airsoft gun blow up from a leaking CO2 bulb? sounds far fetched to me, I've emptied shitloads of them out with a hammer and nail and never had anything nasty happen (I only use them with BP).

Aside for some minor burns here and there i've never really had an accident...yet. Worst thing i've done was trying to scrape Lead Styphnate(sp?) out of small arms primers, I'd done about 20 and had a nice little pile happening when one detonated and sprayed my face with crap but thanks to the safety goggles it was nothing major - Made my hands shake for a bit tho .

[Hammer Tank]

Originally Posted by Aphid

thanks to the safety goggles

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13423915

"There is a substantial danger posed by your client's release. . . . He had access to the recipe and devices to develop a weapon of mass destruction."

Neff told the judge that he believes Zazi was trying to make triacetone triperoxide, an explosive called TATP, that has been used in terrorist bombings since the 1990s.

When TATP is packaged in metal tubes or canisters or detonated in a confined space such as a bus or a train, it can do extensive damage, Neff said.

"It's easy to transport and carry and difficult to detect," Neff said. "They are small white crystals similar to sugar or salt, and it does not activate metal detectors and can be transported in various packages in other items with little suspicion. It is easy to make using routine household or beauty products readily available to consumers."

I guess AP is a weapon of mass destruction

[litefire]

man..reading this stuff makes me feel really lucky

one time me and my friend had a few of those 12g c02 canisters(the ones you use in BB and airsoft guns) and we decided to have some fun with those.
We threw them in a cup with lighter fluid in it and lit it up, and ran the hell back.
After about a minute we were thinking "WTF why isn't anything happening?"
So, in our stupidity, we decided to walk up to it, and i mean walk up to it. We were probably 2 or 3 feet from it, when it exploded. Neither of us got any shrapnel, and I still have yet to find the canister, but we did get quite a scare and probably lost a good bit of our hearing

[Leshrac]

Originally Posted by Hydroponichronic

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-li-bom...,4549650.story

Some kid tried to cook something and failed epically. Lost a hand (and maybe more) and got arrested. Any bets on what it was? My money's on AP. That shit's vicious. Actually, I feel for the kid. I did my fair share of dumb shit back in the day, before I understood the basic tenets of safety and common sense, but it could have ended just as bad.

Listen to the report omfg...

The dumbass used gunpowder and tried to set it off with nitromethane... NO WONDER HE BLEW HIMSELF UP...

At that stage it's called NATURAL SELECTION not 'accident'.

When TATP is packaged in metal tubes or canisters or detonated in a confined space such as a bus or a train, it can do extensive damage, Neff said.

"It's easy to transport and carry and difficult to detect,"

Buahahahaaaaaaa !

God do I love "experts" on big gov's payroll...

[asilentbob]

Was the "gunpowder" black powder? Or DPSP/TBSP? Nitromethane/nitroglycerin/nitrocellulose... could be pretty potent... I'd probably try it if I had nitromethane and space. Granted I wouldn't fuck up... but still the idea is decent.

[Leshrac]

It's as stupid and reckless as you can get but hey, depends on one's appreciation of 'decent'

[asilentbob]

I still never read the link... so I dunno how he went about it... and how he fucked up... fuse would be bad yeah... sparkler would be worse... e-det with cd box and a couple hundred feet of separation... thats more like it.

[Rock_is_dead]

I got two close calls for you kiddies:

It started as a trip to the desert, I brought my rifle for some fun, we got to camp and I started to unload fireworks, the ammo and the gun. We wanted to shoot before we set up camp but the fucking gun lock wouldn't come off. I had been working at removing it for what seemed like the better part of 15 min. I asked my friend to bring me a black plastic bag I had brought in his truck, it contained some firecrackers and all the ammo we had. At this point I was getting pissed that I still hadn't got the gun lock off, it was all I could focus on.
My friend comes back with the black bag, and I hear "is this a good place for it?" I don't even bother to look up, but something tells me I should. I glance up and see him laughing and waving the bag over the fire. Before I could even get a word out the bag rips. The firecrackers go off, no big deal right? Wrong. Just then my worst fear was revealed; there was a box of live rounds in the fire. I started cussing and telling everyone to go for cover. I got behind a dirt pile and went prone. I heard the rounds goin off and I will admit I was scared shitless. Long story short, no one got hurt.

The other one happened once again, while camping. We had been getting drunk all night it was just my friend and I alone. We got bored and found an old vw bug that had been abandoned long ago. We threw a few fireworks in the cab which was filled with weeds. Anyway, the car set a blaze soon, the entire car was an inferno. I thought It was getting out of hand I past my friend a shovel and we began to shovel sand on the fire. It took awhile but we got it out. Good times.

[The Savage]

Originally Posted by Rock_is_dead

....
there was a box of live rounds in the fire. I started cussing and telling everyone to go for cover. I got behind a dirt pile and went prone. I heard the rounds goin off and I will admit I was scared shitless. Long story short, no one got hurt.

Good news is that burning live rounds isn't as dangerous as one would think, the brass casing will fly further than the projectile (which often hardly moves), and while it might be damn hot if you get hit by one it's not going to really harm you. IIRC the military's preferred way of disposing of rounds is to burn them in quantities less than 5 or 10 tons or something like that.

[Rock_is_dead]

Originally Posted by The Savage

Good news is that burning live rounds isn't as dangerous as one would think, the brass casing will fly further than the projectile (which often hardly moves), and while it might be damn hot if you get hit by one it's not going to really harm you. IIRC the military's preferred way of disposing of rounds is to burn them in quantities less than 5 or 10 tons or something like that.

I've heard this, but the rounds were facing up in a plastic case and the brass was pressed against a metal power box we used to house the fire. The whole thing happened in a metal shack, and there were a few new otherwise unexplainable holes in the thin sheet metal roof. Looking back I probably overreacted; but then again I was faded.

[p6867]

I used to cut the fuses on flashbangs when i was in the army, then throw them at friends later, where they would go off in midair and scare the shit out of people, but not get close enough to be dangerous.

When practicing indoor tactics, my lt grabbed one of my custom flashes, got to 1 in cooking it off when it blew up between us. He blamed the company, thank god.

[nuclearrabbit]

Never had an accident. Well, not with pyro anyway. Honest, I didin't know she was 13.

[InspiredByMe]

Originally Posted by nuclearrabbit

Never had an accident. Well, not with pyro anyway. Honest, I didin't know she was 13.

I don't know whether to lol or not..

[The_Ninja]

My "friends" thought that it would be funny to pour out 1/4 gallon of gasoline onto my driveway and light it up. A good portion of the concrete was lit up, and the flame was creeping toward the grass. I was not happy. I had to run to get a bucket of water to put that it out.

[stupid noob]

I have shrapnel in my right palm from an APPN detcord ram rod incident.

I have had a couple of run away nitrations, one of which sprayed me with the whole mix.

I've had an acetic anhydride distillation pop open and spray hot AA in my face.

Burns from pretty much every chemical, as well as countless burns from flash powder and the like.


I think my hearing is damaged. Lol.

I almost lost my hand but thought better of fishing out a device that only popped a bit instead of fully detonated. Thank god too, it exploded like four more times after that. I dowsed it in water and buried it for a few hours.



Countless burns on my face from fire spinning and fire breathing and eating.