Can Shooting Plastic Explosive Really Set Them Off?

TL;DR

C-4 explosives, contrary to media portrayals, are very stable and won't explode if shot or set on fire.

Transcript

Given that their main and really only purposes is violently exploding, you might be surprised to learn that most explosives utilised by the military are shockingly stable. So much so, in fact, that, contrary to what is often depicted in movies and video games, plastic explosives like C-4 won’t explode if you shoot them or set them on fire. In fact,... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍵 C-4 explosives are stable and can be handled without specialized equipment, making them extensively used by the military.
• ❓ The creation of C-4 involves a simple mixing process using readily available ingredients.
• 👲 Only when a blasting cap is attached to C-4 does it become a highly destructive explosive.
• 🌠 The US Army has conducted numerous sensitivity tests on C-4, shooting it and exposing it to various conditions, all with little effect.
• ❤️‍🔥 Soldiers during the Vietnam War used C-4 chunks as tinder and fire starters, despite the toxic fumes it produced.
• 😅 Eating even small amounts of C-4 can produce a mild high but can also result in severe health complications.
• ❤️‍🔥 Mythbusters tested the stability of C-4 by shooting a piece of it that was on fire, which stubbornly refused to explode.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can plastic explosives like C-4 explode if they are shot or set on fire?

No, plastic explosives like C-4 are shockingly stable and will not explode if shot or set on fire.

Q: What is the composition of C-4 explosives?

C-4 explosives consist of 91% RDX, 5.3% plasticizer, 2.1% synthetic rubber, and 1.6% mineral oil or motor oil.

Q: How do blasting caps trigger the explosion of C-4?

Blasting caps rely on a controlled explosion to cause the explosive components within C-4 to ignite and produce a wave of rapidly expanding gases.

Q: Can C-4 be ignited by fire?

C-4 not only remains stable when on fire, but it actually burns slowly, making it a good fire starter.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• C-4 explosives are widely used by the military because they are stable and can be handled without specialized equipment.

• The creation of C-4 is a relatively simple process, involving mixing RDX, plasticizer, synthetic rubber, and mineral oil or motor oil.

• Although C-4 is stable, it can produce a powerful explosion when a blasting cap is attached.