Propane tanks and the range, what's the real story

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Propane tanks and the range, what's the real story

Posted: 6/29/2001 8:04:05 AM EDT

I think we have all seen shot up propane tanks at the range or in the woods. What is the real deal?

Do you shoot them full? Do you shoot them empty? Do they fly in the air? Do they make a huge fire ball?

Posted: 6/29/2001 8:19:29 AM EDT

[#1]

If you shoot one with enough of a propane charge, it will spew gas out of the hole. I've seen them spin around until the gas is emptied, seen them simply fall over, and seen them take off like a rocket.

No explosions or shrapnel, but I've never tried tracers or a flame source nearby.

Posted: 6/29/2001 8:32:56 AM EDT

[#2]

Ask member name "hi_capacity" to post his pic from one of our Houston shoots. Incendiary round through a small Coleman type propane can makes big fire. Make sure you are off at least 75 yards, the fireball is suprisingly large on a good, bursting hit.

Failure to ignite results in a spew of white gas, I've seen the spinning bottles too. Someone ought to be standing by with a tracer to fire into the cloud to ignite it.

Had a fellow come out with an acetylene tank, we didn't let it on the range. That would have been a bomb, with nasty shrapnel...

Be smart, and the small propane cans will work fine.

Posted: 6/29/2001 12:12:14 PM EDT

[#3]

You need to put a source of ignition near the propane tank when shooting them. I've found that flares work excellent for this purpose. The fact that I get them for free might have something to do with it, too. [:)]

Posted: 6/29/2001 2:40:07 PM EDT

[#4]

Just curious....will a tracer round ignite them??

Posted: 6/29/2001 4:15:47 PM EDT

[#5]

It appears we graduated from cherry bombs and glocks? I had fun just shooting the old freon jugs, some not so empty, in corn fields. If it was my land I could have been more innovative.

Posted: 6/29/2001 4:23:11 PM EDT

[#6]

I use a Dura-Flame log and lite it right behind the tank I am shooting at, it usually goes off in a huge mushroom cloud. I did that to a 5 pound tank once that was full, I was at least 50 yards away or better but man you could feel the blast from that far away. If you do it please be careful, we don't want you to be some nutcase on the news. You know what I mean. [;)]

Posted: 6/29/2001 4:41:04 PM EDT

[#7]

One lb. Coleman fuel canister, Blue Tip Incendiary .50 cal round, & Barrett 99 makes a nice little fire ball. Puts itself out and lots of fun. I did have a steel plate behind the canister as this helps ensure 100% ignition.
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1527374&a=11560808&p=51125102[/img]
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1527374&a=11560808&p=51125099[/img]
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1527374&a=11560808&p=51125101[/img]

Posted: 6/29/2001 4:53:55 PM EDT

[#8]

I was thinking the same thing with the tracers. Anyone think it would ignite a small bottle? Or even a can of aerosol hairspray, spray paint, ether...?

[pyro][frag][rocket]

Posted: 6/29/2001 5:07:13 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Nobody ever found out where it came down at...

View Quote

[b]LIKE HELL!!![/b] I finally know where that dammed tank came from. $2,500 bucks in damage to my roof and a splattered Fluffy the cat...

Thanks for getting rid of that dam cat. [;)]

Posted: 6/29/2001 5:14:43 PM EDT

[#10]

Acetylene explosively polymerizes at pressures above a few atmospheres, that's why it's supplied to welders dissolved in acetone in a sponge-filled tank at a relatively low pressure.

Maybe the tank that flew through the roof was full of MAP gas, or some such.

Posted: 6/29/2001 5:17:34 PM EDT

[#11]

I think cans of carburator cleaner work real good with tracers. Never tried it though.

Posted: 6/29/2001 6:27:41 PM EDT

[#12]

Of course everyone got drunk.

Some scientist decided to prop an acetylene tank up and hit the valve with a sledgehammer... BOOOOM! The thing took off like a rocket, right through the roof of the shop! Bunch of instantly sober guys departed the area PDQ.

Nobody ever found out where it came down at...

[/quote]

It was probably oxygen and I'm suprised any of you had eardrums left.
[;d]

Posted: 6/29/2001 6:30:18 PM EDT

[#13]

[img]albums.photopoint.com/j/view?u=1391821&a=12234409&p=46447004[/img].

Posted: 6/29/2001 6:33:18 PM EDT

[#14]

[img]albums.photopoint.com/j/view?u=1391821&a=1223409&p=46447004[/img].

Posted: 6/29/2001 8:18:58 PM EDT

[#15]

I put those exploding targets on the tanks and they've always gone off, stay back at least 50 yards and shoot from behind cover. [sniper]

Posted: 6/29/2001 8:48:18 PM EDT

[#16]

I have a endless supply of the small green empty Propane cans They Make Great targets and are fun to shoot and if you are a good shot you can make the propane can bounce and flop around . Dont forget to wear gloves when you pick up the old propane cans after shooting them They Tore the hell out of my hand pretty Bad .

Posted: 6/29/2001 10:04:03 PM EDT

[#17]

Find the flaming large propane tank in this photo. Please not that none of the tanks exploded, all the punctures just became torches.
Photo taken from 600yds away I believe and there is a car in there too. A four door sedan IIRC.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=426318&a=3143414&p=48797556[/img]

Posted: 7/1/2001 9:32:10 PM EDT

[#18]

I had to take a HAZMAT class for work. The firemen that taught the class told us the way they empty ammonia from propane tanks (used in drug labs) is to shoot them with .223 rounds.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Propane tanks and the range, what's the real story

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