[paul.fr]

You see it in films, but can you use a six shooter to "shoot the lock off"?

[ukmicky]

NO & yes or should that be yes and no.

It would depend on the type of lock but even then would require a lot of shots as demonstrated by the mythbusters who needed to shoot many times and even then needed to use the  most powerful hand gun in the world and a high calibre rifle.

Basically what you see them do on telly is a myth and cant be done in reality.

[neilep]

Le Michael is correct !


I saw Mythbusters bust this myth

[another_someone]

Common sense will say it will typically not be possible, unless the lock has a specific week point.

A bullet flies out of a gun with a certain energy.  It hits its target with less energy (if only slightly less) than it leaves the gun.

When the bullet leaves the gun, good old newtonian mechanics tells you that the energy of the recoil must be equal to the energy leaving of the bullet as it leaves the gun.  This means that the energy of the bullet as it hist the lock must be no more than the energy your hand can cope with from the recoil.  In other words, if a bullet could knock the lock off, then your hand could knock the lock off.

The only difference between the force of the bullet and the force your hand could give (aside from the range of a bullet is further than the range of your arm - not an issue if you are standing within a couple of feet of the target) is the small size of the bullet will concentrate the force over a small area.  Thus if you can find a small vulnerable area on your target, you can concentrate the force there (but you could do the same with a screwdriver or strong knife).

[DoctorBeaver]

The easiest, and perhaps only, way would be to shoot the wood away where the lock slides into it. I've seen what a Magnum 38 can do to a wooden barrel. I doubt a door frame would pose it too much of a challenge. If the lock slides into concrete or brick, you might need 1 of these...

[another_someone]

The easiest, and perhaps only, way would be to shoot the wood away where the lock slides into it. I've seen what a Magnum 38 can do to a wooden barrel. I doubt a door frame would pose it too much of a challenge. If the lock slides into concrete or brick, you might need 1 of these...

If the kind of barrel you are talking about is one of those held under compression by metal bands, then I can imagine that if you can cause a flaw in the wood at the right place, the compression the wood in under will do the rest of the work in shattering the wood.  This is not comparable to the way a door lock is held in place.

[DoctorBeaver]

I was talking about the holes the bullets made. 6 of those around the lock housing and it would be bye-bye lock.

I shot a 3" diameter branch of a tree with the rifle I used to have (damn the firearms ban!). I also think my shotgun would make a mess of a doorframe from fairly short range.

[BenHermer]

MythBusters - S04E19 - Mega Movie Myths 2 Hour Special

Try get your hands on that episode, they try a large range of locks, and large range of guns.

[JimBob]

There is also the fact that the locks used in the Mythbusters episodes were of modern make and composed of modern metallic alloys. In the past, the locks would be of poorer quality and also made of poorer alloys. It is only in the last 30-40 years that locks have become impervious to shot. When I was much younger and somewhat more foolish, I destroyed locks with a 22 long rifle bullet.

That isn't a tough lock to destroy. I don't think that the guy who owned that shed ever figured out who did it, either. I'm safe admitting it. He was in his 70's when I was in my teens. I am now somewhat older. (Read + 50 or so years)

[neilep]

As a firm believer in empirical study I took a colt 45 and shot my daughters little locket thing that locks her diary that she has kept for many many years !

It worked !!

......I can't see why she was upset !!..I reminded her that whilst her diary entries were blowing away in the wind that she had just contributed to Science !!..sheesh !!...some kids !!

[JimBob]

I know - they just will look back at this when older and say to themselves "What was I thinking? My father is so wise!"

[Make it Lady]

Why don't you just slide a credit card into the lock like everyone else does.

[DoctorBeaver]

Why don't you just slide a credit card into the lock like everyone else does.

I'd check to see if it was unlocked first.