Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

So I rewatched the video.

He had an 5.56 carbine with a scope on it and he couldn't hit the target the size of a riding lawnmower so he got closer to within a distance of 43 feet (that was said in the video).

Not only is he a moron, his marksmanship skills also sucks!

Actually he isn't only required to hit the riding mower, but hit the jars of tannerite. So he is trying to hit a smaller target. Additionally from the destruction/fragmentation of the mower, the tannerite wasn't just sitting on it, but was buried inside it. Can't say where, but it was inserted sufficiently to contain enough of the blast to create significant fragments and fragments that travelled horizontally. So hitting whatever was exposed of the tannerite was a bit more difficult. I don't know the technical and practical aspects of it, so I don't know what impact is required for detonation; it may be that if the 5.56 had to pierce anything prior to hitting the tannerite, it may not have had enough left to detonate it.

Also, it is not really a scope on that AR. It is a T-1 style red dot sight. Most likely it has no magnification. Probably a 3MOA red dot which doesn't make for fine accuracy. Quick and sufficient yes. Fine, no.

Not defending his reckless actions, just saying it required more than just hitting a riding mower sized target with a scope.

One less spot for concealed carry.

@oldgrognard: thanks for your insight. I didn't think of the tannerite being a smaller target.

Guess he should had chosen his weapon more wisely.

Something with more penetrating power than the puny and weak 5.56x45mm NATO.

Maybe a 7.62x39mm, a 7.62x51mm NATO, or a .50 BMG.

Well that was interesting.

We had a 'stupid things I've done' thread a while back. I think he wins.

You are welcome. It is easy to overlook even the obvious sometimes. Just as I probably understated the MOA of that T-1 style red dot. 3 MOA is a very good one, but watching that video I don't think he spent the money for a good one. Probably bought a cheap version which will have a 5 MOA. That makes it even less accurate.


Actually 5.56 is probably a good choice for Tannerite because it's high velocity. Explosives have a speed/pressure requirement. That is why a small blasting cap with a very fast wave will explode C4 when even a huge fire will not. Same as what Timothy was saying about the 40mm being thrown around. Stable until you reach the critical factor. As I said I have no knowledge of Tannerite so I may certainly be wrong about that. I am just going off of experience with modern explosives. I'm sure any of the rounds would have sufficient velocity for the Tannerite since I've seen it explode when shot with pistols. The only point I was raising there was if it had to pierce something first. And in most cases 5.56 has as good remaining velocity as 7.62x39. 7.62x51 and .50 will retain a lot more.

I probably have not explained that well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannerite

He wasn't the first, see Notable incidents.

Tannerite makes me giggle. Not because I ever shoot it, but because it makes for good stories.

Why you'd fill a giant metal object full of explosives and not expect to lose a limb is beyond me.

100 lbs?

Was he Crazy and Stupid?

There's several videos on Youtube of people detonating 100+lbs of Tannerite. They weren't crazy\stupid (maybe a bit crazy lol) because they took the proper precautions.

He certainly had a rifle chambered for a caliber that'd set it off from a much safer distance.

I wonder how close he would have got if it hadn't exploded when it did, he got a little distracted didn't he?