Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: Ultima on 01/02/2005 20:40:03

Title: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ultima on 01/02/2005 20:40:03
I keep hearing that if you seal the end of a gun barrel with your finger it's impossible to fire a bullet. I can't see how this could be true unless there are some crazy vacuum or pressure thingers going on. If it is true it would be fairly easy to stop an assailant from shooting you at point blank, which makes me doubt this plus the overall insaneness [:0] of it. So I put it to all you clever peeps is there any reason why this would be true or not?

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 01/02/2005 21:08:30
well, if that doesn't work, then your body will make a good barrier and either halt the bullet or slow it down.

Glad I could help[;)]

Actually, in my humblest of humble opinions, I can't imagine it working, even if there is some truth to it, surely the build up of pressure upon your finger would shatter it  !! (your finger that is)..OUCH !!

Perhaps a passing bullet propulsion expert can help here.

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: roberth on 01/02/2005 22:14:42
I wouldn't try it. Some people have attempted to stop a bullet with their temple, but suicide normally ensues.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: MayoFlyFarmer on 02/02/2005 05:22:39
is it suicide if its caused by stupidity?

Are YOUR mice nude? [;)]
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Corbeille on 02/02/2005 13:40:55
Bugs Bunny tried this when Yosemite Sam pointed a gun at him. Sam pulled the trigger and there was an explosion which left Bugs unharmed but Sam's face was blackened and his moustache singed. Sam hopped around shouting "rootin' tootin varmit ". So it would appear to be safe to try.







 Nah pop no style, a strictly roots!
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ultima on 02/02/2005 13:50:36
Cmon guys is it utter rubbish??? I'm sure i've heard of people blowing their fingers off, but is it possible?

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 02/02/2005 22:02:56
...as a firm believer in empirical study I got my old trusty air pistol out and plugged the end with a sausage which was wrapped in cellophane to make it air tight....result....dead sausage !

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: tweener on 03/02/2005 04:34:07
I don't really know, but I've heard that the pressure inside the chamber of a gun while the explosion is happening is around 50,000 psi.  That is a HUGE pressure that would certainly blow apart a mere flesh and blood finger.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ultima on 03/02/2005 08:19:33
Cheers [:D]. Neil that doesn't prove that your finger wouldnt stop it [:D], I think you should do a repeat to get an average result [;)].

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 03/02/2005 21:59:06
Matt...this time I used a Fish Finger....same result [:D][;)]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: gsmollin on 04/02/2005 17:56:44
A lot of things have been known to jam a gun barrel. That's why it is so important to keep it clean. However, the forces involved in jamming a gun barrel are very high, so you don't want your finger caught in the middle. (Safety point: Avoid pinch points!) I don't know where this particular legend came from, but if you stick your finger in a gun barrel, it will blow it off.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: MayoFlyFarmer on 04/02/2005 18:38:26
quote:
Originally posted by neilep

...as a firm believer in empirical study I got my old trusty air pistol out and plugged the end with a sausage which was wrapped in cellophane to make it air tight....result....dead sausage !

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'




I was about to ask why you only tried with an air pistol... and then i remembered where you live [:I]     my condolances [:p]

Are YOUR mice nude? [;)]
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ultima on 05/02/2005 17:02:32
Yeh?! cos hand guns are good? [:P]

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: gsmollin on 06/02/2005 17:55:00
The second ammendment protects all the rest.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ylide on 07/02/2005 12:13:53
This won't work.  I'm assuming that the premise is that the blocking of the tube prevents the ignition of the gunpowder.  A handgun is not airtight, so this is unlikely to occur and let's not forget that there's almost some air inside the gun when you stick your finger there.  The air pressure from the explosion of the propellant will move your finger out of the tube quickly anyway.  (Then there's that pesky bullet to contend with)

Remember, guns don't kill people, tissue shock and blood loss do.  



This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: eddirichard on 10/02/2005 20:29:47
The only way you can stop a gun from firing with your finger tip is by putting your finger between the hammer and the firing pin! Other than that its plain stupidity! Unless you got eleven fingers and you wanna get rid of it quick![8D][;)][:o)][8)][:(][:(!][xx(]
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: wembley on 11/02/2005 16:08:03

I think the idea here is that only an idiot fires a gun with an obvious obstruction in the barrel. Caertainly it's a good way to damage the gun. On the other hand, it's going to damage the person on the other end a lot more.

Bit of a desperate gambit, but if someone if pointing a gun at you, what do you have to lose?

I remember James Garner doing this once - was it 'Support your local gunfighter'?

Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: eddirichard on 11/02/2005 16:28:05
Heres a good way to stop a gun from being fired at you at close range.

If its a revolver, grasp the gun at the cylinder while trying to point the gun away from your person. The weapon cannot fire if the cylinder cannot rotate.

If its a pistol, grasp the gun and push on the slide slightly towards the shooter. This will cause the slide to unseat the round in the chamber. The pistol's hammer will not fall on the firing pin.

This will save you a few precious seconds until you think of your next move. Probably kick 'em where it hurts and run like hell!![}:)][:(!][:(]
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: eddirichard on 11/02/2005 16:33:04
Don't do the above if its a rifle unless you are Jet Li![;)]
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 15/04/2005 08:56:56
Actually no one in their right mind would fire a gun with their own finger over the barrel, hence the saying   "Got you over a barrel" :)

Death is natures way of telling us to slow down.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: ukmicky on 17/04/2005 02:22:54
the presure inside the barrel would be to great for your finger to contain. the result one less finger
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: simeonie on 28/04/2005 22:15:15
I presume you mean making the barrel air tight by putting your finger there. If so then you could test it by putting something like a really small cork in the barrel or something that is air tight like that. But maybe the gun would explode because the energy can't really be released anywhere. But I do not know myself.

mmm hi!
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: McWhitey on 17/10/2005 02:55:43
Well guys, I'm a bit late but found out the hard way. Whilst using my air rifle tonight which is a break barrel type, I was trying to feel how strong the air velocity was that was coming out the barrel (without pellet of course). I couldn't feel it on my fingertip so I broke the barrel and stuck my finger over holere the air fires out(on the butt side). Whats the danger I thought, no pellet, feck, the pellet isn't even loaded into this side if there was one. Well, when I pressed that trigger expecting at most a hard, almost hoping a hard jet of air, the unexpected happened. The barrel snapped shut. Must be the safety or the way it's all constructed but the end result was my left index finger was crashes like a grape. I spent 4 hours in casualty getting an artery tied shut whilst on a drip with my finger split like a big Y. Luckily the bone is ok but one of my nerves is severed so half of my fingertip is numb. Of course my girlfriend who was there to prise the barrel open for me is happy to continue the lie that the loft door hinge crushed my finger as she obviously doen't want to be seen as living with a total imbecile.

Let that be a lesson to you, fingers and guns only get a guy in trouble

DOH
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 17/10/2005 04:12:30
McWhitey !..OMG....OUCH !!!...didn't stop you typing this though eh ?...unless girlfriend typed it for you.

Oh boy...was there blood all over the place ?

I wish you better, thanks for posting and welcome to the site...

OUCH !!...I think I'm getting sympathy pains !

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerogain.com%2Fforum%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Faction-smiley-075.gif&hash=84631c0c4a382b5e68463904b7b9fddf)
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: McWhitey on 19/10/2005 00:35:13
Thanks for the sympathy, yeah, there was a bit of blood. It took mr a while to type it one fingered! Healing nicely though even if going a bit infected and no feeling.
Good site, found it wondering if anybody else had inflicted such a needless injury on themselves but I think I am the first or the first to own up!
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 19/10/2005 01:03:21
Well I'm glad you're healing...hope there's no serious infection...are you on antibiotics ?

I suspect you are the first to admit to your unique self infliction....perhaps there are other out there who want to add to this list and come clean about their own self inflicted errors !!

Speedy recovery to you McWhitey.

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerogain.com%2Fforum%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Faction-smiley-075.gif&hash=84631c0c4a382b5e68463904b7b9fddf)
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 23/10/2005 20:55:32
I have been shot countless times with all different types of air guns.  I've even shot myself.  No series injurys though.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: neilep on 23/10/2005 21:31:59
Phil...can i ask why you've been shot so many times ?...why did you shoot yourself ?...was it an accident ?

glad you're ok.

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerogain.com%2Fforum%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Faction-smiley-075.gif&hash=84631c0c4a382b5e68463904b7b9fddf)
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 27/10/2005 22:56:38
I shot my foot (with my shoe on) it didnt hurt :) im fine.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 27/10/2005 22:58:10
O yea i've been shot many times because me and my friends like to do that.  Ever heard of airsoft or paintball.  I wouldn't let my friends shoot me with anything above 100fps though.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 27/10/2005 22:59:24
1000 fps
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: simeonie on 30/10/2005 13:17:35
wouldn't a good way to see if this works to seel the tip of the gun with something else. And just see if it works. If anyone here has got a gun of their own, try it. But could you break your gun doing that or make the gun explode or anything?

----------------------
http://www.simeonie.co.uk
Check it out. Click on the forums
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Solvay_1927 on 31/10/2005 21:25:54
I've tried it and it DOES work.

(I used quick-drying cement to seal the end of the gun, by the way.)


"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines."
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 01/11/2005 00:42:54
I thought people in the UK wernt allowed to own guns?

And is the gun okay.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: simeonie on 14/12/2005 17:25:14
people still do.

Actually if you havea license you can.

----------------------
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: ukmicky on 14/12/2005 21:23:59
The only hand guns i believe that are allowed in the UK are 22s and there only allowed for sporting purposes. Blocking up the end of a gun is a very dangerous thing to do.All that energy that is created when you pull the trigger has got to go somewhere and will chose the path of least Resistance,if the barrel is blocked semi blocked or even just a little bit dirty the blast can come out backwards towards you.

Michael                                      (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Fcopchase_e0.gif&hash=56c0428d4c98f5556733c055512adf32)
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Donnah on 18/12/2005 21:16:49
quote:
Originally posted by MayoFlyFarmer

is it suicide if its caused by stupidity?



No, it's natural selection.[:D]

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms." - Audrey Hepburn
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: another_someone on 19/12/2005 22:19:48
quote:
Originally posted by ukmicky

The only hand guns i believe that are allowed in the UK are 22s and there only allowed for sporting purposes.



Didn't think even 22's were allowed, which is why all our shooters now have to train abroad (and why there had to be special legal dispensation for the commonwealth games).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/52222.stm
quote:

Labour extended the ban on privately held guns to the smaller weapons after the party won the 1997 General Election.
Ministers believe the legislation will improve public safety. Pistol enthusiasts argue it will hit law-abiding sporting shooters.

Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: euphonium on 06/01/2006 18:37:44
In America there's a show called Mythbusters and they tested this myth and proved that shoving your finger or any other object down the barrel of a gun would not stop a bullet, and result in a probable death.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: dimbo on 16/01/2006 16:49:25
according to Mythbusters its not true. allthough they did manage to pop the barrell slightly in their experiments
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ray hinton on 29/01/2006 01:06:46
if you place your finger in the end of a gun barrel, then pull the trigger, a small metal object travelling around 850fps will move it,thus making room for several litres of scalding hot,rapidly expanding gasses,also travelling at around 850fps.these gasses will burn flesh off your hand and burn the sleeve of your best armani,so if you dont want to lose a finger(or suit)dont put your finger in a gun barrel.
its ok for james garner,he can afford to purchase new fingers "willy-nilly" us hourly paid workers cant.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: ukmicky on 05/02/2006 22:43:53
quote:
ANOTHER SOMEONE
Didn't think even 22's were allowed, which is why all our shooters now have to train abroad (and why there had to be special legal dispensation for the commonwealth games).


I just checked with a gunsmith friend of mine and what you say is sort of true.

Its sort of because they have found a way around the present law by producing guns with clip on clip off barrels allowing them to be sold as rifle's which do not have a blanket ban under the present law.

Michael
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ray hinton on 06/02/2006 00:49:19
WHAT WE NEED IS A BLANKET BAN ON ALL WEAPONS,IF WORLD LEADERS DONT LIKE EACH OTHER,LET THEM GO BEHIND THE TOILETS AND HAVE A PUNCH UP!.  (OR DID THAT USED TO BE A FAG)DO IT OUTSIDE THE UN THEN ALL THE OTHER DELEGATES CAN FORM A CIRCLE AND CHANT FIGHT,FIGHT,FIGHT.
THAT WAY WE COULD ALL LAY BACK AND ENJOY LIFE.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff238%2Frayhinton56%2F36_1_68.gif&hash=04956d2cc46130a48286f0d77bfa4c13)

RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 12/02/2006 03:46:57
When you say all weapons does it mean all weapons. (what about knives)
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ray hinton on 12/02/2006 21:35:09
KNIVES WERE THE PRIMARY WEAPON USED IN THE 9/11 ATTACKS,SOME PASSENGERS APPARENTLY WITNESSED MURDER WITH THEM.
CUTLERY IS AN OBVIOUS EXEPTION,BUT KNIVES SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF CONTROL,IF YOUR NOT A HUNTER,YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE CARRYING A HUNTING KNIFE,IF NOT A COMMANDO THE SAME,NO REASON TO CARRY A COMMANDO KNIFE.
UNFORTUNATELY CONTROLING KNIVES IS GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE,AS ANYONE WITH A FILE AND A STEEL BAR CAN MAKE ONE.
CRIME INVOLVING KNIVES IS ON THE INCREASE,THE SAD FACT IS WE ARE A VIOLENT SPECIES AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A DEMAND FOR WEAPONS OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER.   [V]

RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 14/02/2006 02:52:18
I think getting world peace would be a whole heck of a lot easier to achieve than no weapons.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: another_someone on 14/02/2006 06:13:17
One of the stories I have heard, but I cannot say if it is true or not, is that the reason the Chinese are so into the martial arts is because one of their emperors forbade the use of knives, so people had to invent ways of killing each other without knives.

George.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 14/02/2006 23:35:52
Wow, I can beleive that. So i guess a weapon could even be a fist.


Those chinese...
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ray hinton on 14/02/2006 23:43:05
Chinese,Koreans,Japanese,Indians they all have their own martial art,and each is as deadly as the next,but they look fantastic in a demo.

RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 14/02/2006 23:51:53
I've taken a Tang Soo Doo Korean karate class for about 5 years but could probably not hurt anyone. I don’t know about all karate’s but we pretty much only learned how to get out of a fight.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: ukmicky on 15/02/2006 01:50:22
quote:
I don’t know about all karate’s but we pretty much only learned how to get out of a fight.
as your only seven and a half, i take it you shout Mummy

Michael
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: i_have_no_idea on 15/02/2006 02:07:42
lol. Yes
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Ray hinton on 18/02/2006 23:19:49
When you get to about 4th or 5th kyu, you wont have to run,just kick the living s%£* out of them,they wont start again  [:p] [B)]

RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: tonycsm on 18/02/2006 23:53:14
I own a Winchester 1894 model .357 magnum rifle. If anyone cares to test out the theory of stopping a bullet with one's finger by bocking the barrel, then they are quite welcome to try it! Personally, I wouldn't try stopping the same bullet standing one mile from the scene.

If the .357 bullet is a copper jacketed, full charge round, it will pass through almost two railway sleepers, one in front of the other, so I guess a finger is going to cause very little resistance, but hey, I aint tried it so maybe it's true!
If anyone does try it, please let us all know!

Tony
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: tony6789 on 22/02/2006 14:36:28
not gonna happen

- Big T
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Nick Meyer on 12/06/2006 05:25:51
If you put your finger in a gun barrel the only thing you are going to acromplish is A+B+C A)get you finger blown off B)Send chunks of gun flying in any direction and C) Killing both people instead of one!!![:)]

Nick

   If its not illegal... It's legal!
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: jonty on 21/07/2006 04:21:17
trust me it isnt true belive me dont try it unless u want a trip to the hospital like i did wann see pics lol go to jonty-simes.piczo.com it cut a chunk out of 1 finger an skimd the other for sum reson i found it funny [xx(] that was for you ultima lmao (i do this so u dont have 2 lol [}:)] )

jonty-simes.piczo.com take a look for your self
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: tony6789 on 21/07/2006 18:10:58
i couldnt get in

NEVER! underestimate youth
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: nexus on 10/08/2006 00:53:28
I'm in the army and heard of this one and eddirichard is correct. Going on memory and second hand knowledge here. Works for only certain type of pistols with slides. The only one I know of is the Browning 9mm and you have to push back slightly on the slide. It is supposed to stop the action all together.

Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: Mjhavok on 10/08/2006 12:26:12
If this is true or not I fore sure will not be trying it.

Steven
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: nexus on 12/08/2006 04:35:39
You could try with a fake round, just check to see if the firing pin hit the percussion cap.
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: time-cop on 15/08/2006 00:37:36
even with ablank cartridge there is a massive amount of gas produced, put your finger over the end of the barrel and you WILL lose it [V]

Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: another_someone on 15/08/2006 01:54:43
But could you get away with it if you had a cartridge with a detonator (percussion cap) but no charge?



George
Title: Re: Stopping a gun with your finger tip?
Post by: time-cop on 17/08/2006 00:07:38
whats in a percussion cap ? fulmanate of mercury ? how big a pop would it make, how well is your finger sealing the barrel, this is producing more questions than answers, i want my mummy [:(]