[pistolwretch]

I'll be headed out tomorrow to burn a LOT of 45acp through my latest
5" build.

I'll also be bringing one of my brand new, steel 55 gallon drums.
I enjoy creating a raging inferno in a drum in my backyard.
Partly to get rid of the space eating cardboard boxes that take up valuable space in my shop, partly cause who doesn't love a nice outdoor fire this time of year.

With old boxes, newspapers, lawn clippings, tree trimmings, expired tax documents and tracer projo culls I have gotten the drum actually glowing red. When most of the barrel glows, the heat comfortably irradiates a good 10 ft radius.

Well, my previous barrel rusted through. So I found a couple new ones.
Anyways I have tried various tools to ventilate previous barrels.

I've tried drilling, poking with various instruments of destruction and striking with a sharpened axe. I settled on the oxy/acetelyne cutting torch. I have small tanks and this uses a fair amount of gas. Also the drums previously held engine oil so the process would be stinky and smoky at a minimum.

I'll bring one with me tomorrow and try various munitions.
Ideal would be penetration of one wall only. Exit holes are jagged and sharp!

I don't think a 22lr from a handgun will penetrate. And if it did not, might pose a ricochet hazard. 556 will zip right on through both sides and leave nasty exits.

I dunno about 9mm or 45 or some 556 RRLP (Reduced ricochet, low penetration).

Make some guesses! I'll report back with pics of results.

 

[GIJoke]

I'll be headed out tomorrow to burn a LOT of 45acp through my latest
5" build.

I'll also be bringing one of my brand new, steel 55 gallon drums.
I enjoy creating a raging inferno in a drum in my backyard.
Partly to get rid of the space eating cardboard boxes that take up valuable space in my shop, partly cause who doesn't love a nice outdoor fire this time of year.

With old boxes, newspapers, lawn clippings, tree trimmings, expired tax documents and tracer projo culls I have gotten the drum actually glowing red. When most of the barrel glows, the heat comfortably irradiates a good 10 ft radius.

Well, my previous barrel rusted through. So I found a couple new ones.
Anyways I have tried various tools to ventilate previous barrels.

I've tried drilling, poking with various instruments of destruction and striking with a sharpened axe. I settled on the oxy/acetelyne cutting torch. I have small tanks and this uses a fair amount of gas. Also the drums previously held engine oil so the process would be stinky and smoky at a minimum.

I'll bring one with me tomorrow and try various munitions.
Ideal would be penetration of one wall only. Exit holes are jagged and sharp!

I don't think a 22lr from a handgun will penetrate. And if it did not, might pose a ricochet hazard. 556 will zip right on through both sides and leave nasty exits.

I dunno about 9mm or 45 or some 556 RRLP (Reduced ricochet, low penetration).

Make some guesses! I'll report back with pics of results.

Looking forward to the report and pics!

 

[jfrey]

I have used the pointed end of a pair of fencing pliers with fair success punching vent holes in barrels.

 

[Kip]

Go with .45
Might actually be a good job for those RIP deals....not the black-outs for pics tho!

 

[tac45]

are we going to roast marshmallows??????

 

[pistolwretch]

Marshmellows are done using my fire pit with unseasoned shaggy bark Juniper!
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are also done using the fire pit, but with large chunk Mesquite charcoal........NOT briquettes, true charcoal.

 

[Infidel4life11]

I have shot many off 55 gal drum, plastic and metal.

115gr 9mm impacting off centerline will penetrate and then spin around and around the inside of the barrel sometimes.

With standard 40s&w or 45acp hp I don’t believe will penetrate both sides. I’ve had trouble getting either caliber go through a windshield with any energy on the other side.

 

[pistolwretch]

I've shot many 55 gal drums as well.
But they were older and rusty. Less than 50% of original strength I'd guess.

Years ago a good bud shot a middle of the road 44 mag at an empty beer keg.
I was standing directly to his side at maybe 10 yds.
I strongly suspected it would not penetrate so I warned of a bounce back and was ready for Freddy.

Sure enough that 240gr lead slug came directly back.
I could see it coming and right for my face!!!!
I had time to twitch my head, missed my ear by maybe 4".

Was pretty low velocity at that point, but still something I did not need to feel, lol!

 

[july19]

The pointy end of a pick; that’s what I used in the old days.

 

[Scaramouche]

I don't have a non-war story to match that one but I will say part of my misspent youth was devoted to hauling 55 gallon barrels, television sets, clothing washers and dryers, highway traffic cones, you name it, out of the boonies cause folks practicing their marksmanship and somehow didn't start the countryside afire but forgot to remove their "targets".

 

[psafety]

I've always shot about a dozen holes thru the bottom of my 55g burn barrels with a 22LR. That mild steel is an easy task for a 22.

 

[SparkyAZ]

Carbide hole saws and an electric drill... manual labor.
Or fill it up about half way with lumber before you start blasting away with your 45acp... fun labor.

 

[Lou1]

I'll be headed out tomorrow to burn a LOT of 45acp through my latest
5" build.

I'll also be bringing one of my brand new, steel 55 gallon drums.
I enjoy creating a raging inferno in a drum in my backyard.
Partly to get rid of the space eating cardboard boxes that take up valuable space in my shop, partly cause who doesn't love a nice outdoor fire this time of year.

With old boxes, newspapers, lawn clippings, tree trimmings, expired tax documents and tracer projo culls I have gotten the drum actually glowing red. When most of the barrel glows, the heat comfortably irradiates a good 10 ft radius.

Well, my previous barrel rusted through. So I found a couple new ones.
Anyways I have tried various tools to ventilate previous barrels.

I've tried drilling, poking with various instruments of destruction and striking with a sharpened axe. I settled on the oxy/acetelyne cutting torch. I have small tanks and this uses a fair amount of gas. Also the drums previously held engine oil so the process would be stinky and smoky at a minimum.

I'll bring one with me tomorrow and try various munitions.
Ideal would be penetration of one wall only. Exit holes are jagged and sharp!

I don't think a 22lr from a handgun will penetrate. And if it did not, might pose a ricochet hazard. 556 will zip right on through both sides and leave nasty exits.

I dunno about 9mm or 45 or some 556 RRLP (Reduced ricochet, low penetration).

Make some guesses! I'll report back with pics of results.

I always ventilate my burn barrels with a pistol. .45acp 230 gr ball at 5 or 6 feet goes through both sides but I don’t mind the jagged exit holes.

 

[Babboonbobo]

We always used a 22lr to aerate our 55gal drums as a kid. We loved dad getting new barrels because that was our job.

 

[pistolwretch]

Tough job but someone had to do it!

 

[Raylan Givens]

This thread needs pics at some point.

 

[FWoo45]

If you're set on the torch method, be careful and fill it with CO². I always do when I cut the lid out of a barrel or weld up a tank that has been previously filled with something that might go boom. Seen enough barrels and square tanks get rounded to do otherwise. Even something as benign as hyd fluid can make a loud noise and sphere out a rectangular tank pretty easily when a torch or a MIG welder is applied to it. JME.

 

[pistolwretch]

Thanks FW, I am aware.
I paid extra to have the seller cut off the tops.
Super heated, contained hydrocarbons can provide
exciting results.

 

[N of 1]

IN for pics

 

[Integrity Arms]

Hollow point 9mm and you'll be gtg.. I believe these would penetrate than come to a halt at the opposite wall.. Looking forward to the report back..

Oh and have fun...