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Posted: 9/9/2001 1:50:22 PM EDT
 This can't be the stupidest question I've seen on this site, such as the "do your farts stink" thread I read last night.......  

I was reading "Blackhawk Down" today, and in the fighting in the book, the Somali's are firing at the helicopters above.

 This question just crossed my mind:

If fired straight up, how high will a round travel?

Would you be relatively safe in a helicopter at say 5,000 feet, from an AK47.62x39mm?

How about .223, 7.62, .50 cal?

Link Posted: 9/9/2001 2:16:28 PM EDT
[#1]
Chance of an accurate hit from that range is pretty small, but the bullet could go that far.  I don't remember where my old physics book is, but off the top of my head:  0 (when the bullet reaches a stop) = Initial velocity - 32*(time^2) says that a bullet fired straight up at a velocity of 2500ft/s would go up for almost 9 seconds.  I forget the distance equation, and none of this takes into account drag (which is really not a major factor here), but the bullet would easily be able to hit a target at 5000ft in just over 2 seconds from the time it was fired.  All in all, I do not recommend sitting still in a helicopter while people fire rifle rounds at you.
Link Posted: 9/9/2001 4:46:23 PM EDT
[#2]
Link Posted: 9/9/2001 4:56:41 PM EDT
[#3]
Link Posted: 9/9/2001 5:21:31 PM EDT
[#4]
Link Posted: 9/9/2001 8:57:54 PM EDT
[#5]
Thank you all very much for the replies...

Those are definently thoughts to ponder, and some good scientific calculations to work up on the calculator.

Thanks again,

LAWDOGKMS
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 3:19:40 PM EDT
[#6]
cool.
I have always wondered about that...
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 4:02:04 PM EDT
[#7]
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 4:22:41 PM EDT
[#8]
so much for shooting down airliners with my .22
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 7:43:41 PM EDT
[#9]
Had a big argument with family members in Ka. on new year's eve a couple of years ago about this. They were buying into the bull on the evening news about bullets coming down as fast as they go up.
We went elsewhere for the night.
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 8:19:33 PM EDT
[#10]
Unfortunately here in AZ we have "Megans Law". Basicly it put extremely high fines for vertical discharge of a firearm.

This came about from a girl named Megan, who unfortunately died from negligent discharge of a firearm. The police concluded that the gun was fired near verticle due to the trajectory of the bullet returned near verticle.

They still haven't found the firearm or person responcible.
Link Posted: 9/10/2001 9:38:34 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:

6,746' for a 62gr 223
6,701' for a 123gr 7.62x39
17,911' for a 50 BMG

[i](Those are maximum altitudes though, none will have much "oomph" left that damned high)[/i]
View Quote


"Not much"?  More like "zero", considering that the velocity at the terminal altitude is NOTHING.  No velocity = no force = [b]no oomph![/b]  I can honestly say I wouldn't mind being shot with a .223 6,000 feet above the ground.
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