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MBelderson: 4 months ago | Last edited at 3:26AM on 2/8/2013

I'm told vertical shots fired into the air are harmless. How high up would an AK-47 bullet travel? What speed would it reach on its return?

And would it fall pointed end downwards?

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Answer 1

brandenB: 4 months ago via iPhone

I am not poing to sit here an calculate the speed of a bullet and encourage you to shoot a gun.

I would just stay away from this all together. Especially if you live in an area of dense pop. We don't need anymore gun violence

Secondly, a bullet can do damage in either facing direction. Just like a rock.

Thirdly, I am going to stress to NEVER shoot a weapon where you could hurt others

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Sorry, I should have said I'm not looking for advocates against gun violence, just some hard fact to use in a discussion. Any physicists out there?

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Answer 2

EdwardGoodman: 4 months ago

what goes up must come down and it might come down into some one's head. any idiot that fires a firearm into the air, other than bird hunting, don't need to be around firearms. as for high up on the AK don't know or what speed but enough to go through you.

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Sorry, I should have said I'm not looking for advocates against gun violence, just some hard fact to use in a discussion. Any physicists out there?

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EdwardGoodman: 4 months ago

that has got nothing to do with gun violence, it has got to do with common sense

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Okay, so what speed does an AK-47 bullet achieve if it is fired upwards and falls back to Earth?

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Answer 3

huntbill: 4 months ago via iPhone

Basic physics! A bullet fired upward must come down and has sufficient velocity to cause serious injury or death. Find something better to do with your time !

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Once again, I'm looking for had facts. It'd be great if you could provide some?

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Answer 4

Tony737: 4 months ago via iPhone | Last edited at 4:01AM on 2/8/2013

Not sure how high a 7.62 round will travel, but I believe terminal velocity on the way down 260 MPH and that it will not penetrate a human skull. I think I saw this on Mythbusters one time.

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newbuddah13: 4 months ago via iPhone

Stole my answer. Yes, it was proven on myth busters.

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Tony737: 4 months ago via iPhone

Thanks for confirming that, I wasn't sure. I know they did the penny from a skyscraper thing.

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scienceguy75: 4 months ago via iPhone

But they used pistols right??

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Thank you, can you point me to the episode? Do you remember which year it ran?

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Tony737: 4 months ago via iPhone

I don't remember but I'm sure it's on YouTube

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olpaint70: 4 months ago via iPhone

A baseball traveling at 80 miles an hour can kill if it contacts a human skull. A bullet falling at over 100 miles an hour can kill, or cause serious injury.

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Tony737: 4 months ago via iPhone

More likely to cause injury, at 260 MPH it's gonna hurt, but out of a rifle it's coming at over 1,000 MPH and pointy end first is a lot worse. Falling out of the sky it's tumbling end over end and would prolly hit sideways.

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Answer 5

beachbabysc: 4 months ago via iPhone

What idiot told you it was harmless? First, stay away from that moron. Second, guns are not toys they are weapons and not to be played with by untrained people. Don't pick one up unless you know how to operate it in a safe and secure mode.

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Just to make it clear, I'm looking for hard facts to counter an idiot's arguments. Do you have any data?

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Answer 6

scienceguy75: 4 months ago via iPhone

Not sure but I'd kill ya

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Answer 7

peter35: 4 months ago via iPhone

Never ever shoot a weapon in any direction other then an intended target. Always and I do mean ALWAYS know exactly where the bullet will land. ALWAYS if you cannot follow these simple rules never fire a weapon. Do you even know how many people are hurt or injured each year from stray bullets?

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MBelderson: 4 months ago

Just to make it clear, I'm looking for hard facts to counter an idiot's arguments. Do you have any data?

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peter35: 4 months ago via iPhone

Oh sorry. There's many variables that would effect the answer. I can assure you an unhindered bullet from an ak has enough retained energy in a free fall to wound a human being. If struck in the head it will kill

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Answer 8

olpaint70: 4 months ago via iPhone

A bullet fired to an extreme height would fall at max. 120 miles per hour , this could kill.

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