Re: Bullets + Gas tanks. The truth?

[Brian McDonald <Brian_mcdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Robert J. Hansen" wrote:

> > Whats the truith behind guns and gas? What really happens if I use my
> > AK-47 to shoot up the gas tank of an Accord stationwagon?
>
> You get a punctured gas tank and gas leaking out on the ground, which is
> a definite fire hazard.  But bullets rarely make sparks (for an example,
> swing a sledgehammer against an I-beam, and see how many sparks get
> created), so there's not much risk of the bullet itself setting the tank
> afire.
>
> Tracers and API (armor-piercing incendiary) rounds are exceptions to
> this rule, of course.
>

I saw a fellow one time hang up a gas tank from an automobile on a line.
Poured a couple of gallons of gas into it and then put 50 rounds of .45
tracer through it.  Major leakage but no fire or explosion.

>
> > What about those big gas tankers? Will it destroy a city block if I
> > shoot at it with a 5.56?
>
> You won't even penetrate the tank.  Those things are heavily armored for
> a reason.  You'd need a fifty-cal, or something in that range.
>

They aren't armoured in any useful sense.  5.56 is iffy to penetrate but
anything heavier should punch the tanker wall no problem.  Wall thickness on
the tanks is well under quarter inch.