Bullet dropping from sky

Repete, your question about fatalities caused me to do some looking for actual statistics.

Wikipedia say that on "July 22, 2003: More than 20 people were reported killed in Iraq from celebratory gunfire following the deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay in 2003".

A link about the same issue.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/middleeast/2008/04/deadly_merriment_the_fallout_f.html

Also, this quote from Wiki simply explains how many of these deaths occur, which is not the result of a bullet falling at an angle perpendicular to the horizon at terminal velocity. The last sentence explains what happens when the bullet is not coming straight down.

"Bullets fired into the air usually fall back at terminal velocity, speeds much lower than those at which they leave the barrel of a firearm. Nevertheless, people can be injured, sometimes fatally when bullets discharged into the air fall back down. The higher mortality is related to the higher incidence of head wounds from falling bullets. Fatality accrues, when the firearm is discharged at an angle, thus the bullet keeps its angular ballistic trajectory, and falls at a speed faster than at terminal velocity."

In other words, when a bullet "keeps its angular ballistic trajectory", the bullet never reaches zero velocity and zero spin at any point in its trajectory as it would if it was fired at an angle perpendicular to the horizon.

Still, a 30 caliber slug on the top of the head moving at terminal velocity for that bullet and all of the variable conditions present at the time would not be a pleasant thing. At least for me it wouldn't be, but maybe I'm a wuss that worries too much about blood loss, damaged tissue, and related things.
 
I am not a scientist or anyone with a degree, but I do know you never fire a weapon into the air, When in high school, after Christmas break which included new years eve I found a hunting bullet that had struck the concrete at an angle like the leaning tower of pisa, and it had a good flat mushroom on it. There are a small number of bullet strikes on the 4th of july and new years. DON'T DO IT PERIOD. ThomasR
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooterA 30 caliber bullet will reach ~ 150-160 fps, no matter how high it went, and no matter how long it falls... it will tumble and mostly travel sideways. Terminal velocity is reached fairly quickly.

Smaller bullets will reach slower velocities, and a 17 caliber bullet will reach ~40 to 50 fps.


Yes, that is a bullets terminal velocity defined by it's variables, it's mass and a height (remember that part of my post?). In this specific case your refering to specific bullet sizes.

Originally Posted By: CatShooterit will tumble and mostly travel sideways.

That's irrelevant, mostly, given the object we're discussing.

Originally Posted By: CatShooterTerminal velocity is reached fairly quickly.


I never said it wasn't.

So, aside from the irrelevant or unargued points of your post... I explained the theory, and you supported that same theory with an example (which I quoted above).

I guess we'll just send our diplomas back together, we'll save on postage anyhow.
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Originally Posted By: CatShooter how stupid can you be

Personally, i'm constantly amazed why people always feel the need to belittle and insult someone.
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Originally Posted By: ThomasRI am not a scientist or anyone with a degree, but I do know you never fire a weapon into the air,

Hard to shoot ducks and geese without shooting in the air.
 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanRepete, your question about fatalities caused me to do some looking for actual statistics.


Thanks for the hard work Winnie, but I really was kidding.
Truth is, I could give a rip if those AK rounds kill em or just make em wish they're dead.
I just wish more "falling projectiles" would hit those pukes that treat our Flag like toilet paper.
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: Winny FanRepete, your question about fatalities caused me to do some looking for actual statistics.


Thanks for the hard work Winnie, but I really was kidding.
Truth is, I could give a rip if those AK rounds kill em or just make em wish they're dead.
I just wish more "falling rounds" would hit those pukes that treat our Flag like toilet paper.

No problem. I understood what you were saying, and I totally agree.

Your question just led me to wonder if there were any actual documented "statistics" on the issue anywhere. I'm told that I'm on a steep learning curve here, so any new knowledge is power...... I guess.
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Originally Posted By: Winny Fan I'm told that I'm on a steep learning curve here, so any new knowledge is power...... I guess.
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LOL,,,,, To True!
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I don't know about a bullet but that Australian just jumped from 112500' or so and hit 729 mph. Lol. Would have been funny if he hit a bird lol.
 
Originally Posted By: nastynatesfishI don't know about a bullet but that Australian just jumped from 112500' or so and hit 729 mph. Lol. Would have been funny if he hit a bird lol.

At those heights anything is falling much closer to a complete vacuum. Once anything starts hitting the denser parts of our atmosphere it comes up against a lot more resistance. These guys are crazy, I just read about Kittinger's jump. He said "I couldn't feel any wind resistance, almost no sence of even falling." I forget what altatude they say the resistance increases drastically.

For a rifle round shot at an angle: I know once the bullet slows down enough it becomes unstable and starts tumbling through the air. It then would come up against a lot more resistance and slow down faster.
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: Winny FanRepete, your question about fatalities caused me to do some looking for actual statistics.


Thanks for the hard work Winnie, but I really was kidding.
Truth is, I could give a rip if those AK rounds kill em or just make em wish they're dead.
I just wish more "falling projectiles" would hit those pukes that treat our Flag like toilet paper.

Maybe they should take their celebrations up a notch...mortars would be a nice change.

Easy answer: Anyone knows a 17HMR falls a lot faster than other projectiles and has a lot more killing potential.
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