Can a Smith & Wesson model 500 revolver bullet pierce through a gas tanker and cause it to blow up?

George A

Yes it will have enough power to penetrate the tank. But very, very seldom does a shot through the tank cause the Hollywood style explosion.

Only in the movies will you see sparks fly off the side of a vehicle running into plastic construction barrels & a violent explosion when 1 single shot from a pistol, rifle or shotgun punches a hole in a gas tank of a vehicle or semi gasoline tanker.

macer_81

it maybe possible for it to peice through the tanker again maybe depends on how close and the actual thickness of the tank as far as it blowing up you are watch to many movies it may catch fire after multiple shots but will not blow up i have shot propane bottles and have never gotten on to blow up on first shot

Justin T

First, don't listen to Bill on his answer (his mention of "cop killer bullet" invalidates whatever point he was trying to make).

Second, we need to know specifics. Is the revolver using the .500 S&W Magnum or the .500 S&W Special cartridge? (yes this exists, I've seen it before) Is the load a standard factory load or is it a specially cooked up handload? How far are you away from the gas truck? Is the bullet rounded or flat at the nose, or did someone custom cast it to have a sharp spitzer design?

While a .500 cartridge does have the potential to punch a hole in the gas trunk tank, there's very little chance of actually blowing it up. The fired bullet doesn't generate enough heat to ignite the gas.

Also there was an episode of Mythbusters where the crew tried to blow up a gas tank like shown in movies, with an ignited trail of gas, and it didn't work. Even when they rigged the test so the fire would go inside the tank of gas, they simply didn't get an explosion, just a really hot and wild burn.

Answer to the first part of the question: possibly if the conditions are right. Answer to the second part of the question: no.

Max Cruise

This has been tested by Mythbusters.
Only way to get the gasoline to ignite was with .30-06 tracer ammunition. And that was after they shot at a longer range to allow the phosphor to have time to get hot enough.
Your Smith will have no trouble penetrating a gas tank. But it will not produce the stereotypical Hollywood explosion.
Remember, it is not the gasoline that explodes, it is the gas vapor in the air that ignites.

Chris

It will probably punch a hole right through the tank but it will not make it explode like in the movies.

David W

Email the Mythbusters and ask if they'll check it out for you.

Fred C

Pierce it? Sure. However, if you are talking about gasoline, it will not explode, it will just leak.

bill (dollar bill)

ONLY WITH ARMOR PIERCING BULLETS.......LIKE BLACK TALONS, OR COP KILLERS........AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE UP CLOSE.......YOU WOULD PROBLABLY INCENERATE YOURSELF.....GOOD LUCK PYRO!!!!!

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