Re: AK-47 fired underwater

DougC wrote:
# Clark Magnuson wrote:
# # The extra mass of the water in the barrel would cause the gun to fail.
#
# If the gun is taken into the water with the muzzle down, the air will
# remain in the barrel. The first pull of the trigger will fire
# normally.

The real risk of barrel rupture is when you fire with the barrel only
partially filled, as might be the case it the gun is taken into the
water muzzle down (especially if it's then brought to some depth, so the
air in the barrel is compressed a bit).

When fired, the bullet accelerates normally through the air-filled part
of the bore, then slams hard into the water. The inertia of the bullet
then combines with the propellant gas pressure to cause a very sharp
pressure spike directly ahead of the bullet; this may be combined with
sideways (radial) pressure from the bullet deforming/expanding against
the water while still inside the barrel.

If the whole barrel is filled with water, and surrounded by water, then
the pressure rise is more gradual and may or may not harm the gun
depending on many factors.

Aamund


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