whonew wrote:
Trebissky wrote:
There ain't no such animal.  And I'll tell you something else.  IF someone really was trying to shoot Cantor, or even into HIS OFFICE, they'd have found out what floor it's on first.  I'll tell you what I think.  Somebody went up on the roof of the building across the street and aimed AT the ground floor.  And I'll bet he made sure nobody was in there at the time, first.

"A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room, which is used occasionally for meetings by the congressman."
I notice nobody's talking about HEARING any gunfire anywhere around there.  Want to take some odds that's because the bullet was "fired" from a slingshot... with "enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds."  I don't care what kind of gun it is, when it sends a bullet UP, it comes back down just as fast.  Which means it WOULD have gone through the blinds AND embedded itself in the floor.



It went through the glass but didn't even damage the blinds.

And NO, a bullet does not come down as fast as it was fired UP. It comes down at terminal velocity and not a single FPS faster.

I guess we're all entitled to our own science too.
OK, let's just amend that a bit, then.  First, I didn't see where they said what caliber the slug was.  Let's say it was a 9mm just for argument.  Soooo...

9mm (pistol) - 124 grain @ 1225 fps

UZI 9mm - 124 grain @ 1450 fps

Let's say it was a pistol, so it went up at 1225 feet per second.  For this argument, which I'm not even trying to claim is really scientific, let's say it went UP for three seconds before gravity caught up with it.  Then it was ZERO fps for a bit, then started back down from 3675 feet, or about 2/3 of a mile.

Terminal velocity

Examples

Based on wind resistance, for example, the terminal velocity of a skydiver in a free-fall position with a semi-closed parachute is about 195 km/h (120 mph or 55 m/s).[2] This velocity is the asymptotic limiting value of the acceleration process, because the effective forces on the body balance each other more and more closely as the terminal velocity is approached. In this example, a speed of 50% of terminal velocity is reached after only about 3 seconds, while it takes 8 seconds to reach 90%, 15 seconds to reach 99% and so on. Higher speeds can be attained if the skydiver pulls in his or her limbs (see also freeflying). In this case, the terminal velocity increases to about 320 km/h (200 mph or 90 m/s),[2] which is also the terminal velocity of the peregrine falcon diving down on its prey.[3] And the same terminal velocity is reached for a typical 150 grain bullet travelling in the downward vertical direction — when it is returning to earth having been fired upwards, or perhaps just dropped from a tower — according to a 1920 U.S. Army Ordnance study.[4]

Competition speed skydivers fly in the head down position reaching even higher speeds. The current world record is 614 mph (988 km/h) by Joseph Kittinger, set at high altitude where the lesser density of the atmosphere decreased drag.[2]

An object falling toward the surface of the Earth will fall 9.81 meters (or 32.18 feet) per second faster every second (an acceleration of 9.81 m/s² or 32.18 ft/s²). The reason an object reaches a terminal velocity is that the drag force resisting motion is approximately proportional to the square of its speed. At low speeds, the drag is much less than the gravitational force and so the object accelerates. As it accelerates, the drag increases, until it equals the weight. Drag also depends on the projected area. This is why things with a large projected area, such as parachutes, have a lower terminal velocity than small objects such as bullets.

OK, so a slightly heavier bullet will come back down at around 200 mph.  So, how does that compare with how fast it went up?

1225 FEET per second, with 5,280 feet in a statute mile, means it would take about 4 seconds, give or take, to go up a mile... if it did.  OK, so one mile in 4 seconds times 15 seconds = 60 miles PER MINUTE... or 3600 mph, slowing as it got higher.

And according to that 1920 U.S. Army Ordnance study, it "only" gets up to around 200 mph coming back down.  Fine.

If you hit a window blind with something going 200 mph, I think it would STILL go through the blind instead of just bouncing off it.  But let's say it hit that blind at just steep enough of an angle that it didn't.  It would STILL bury itself in the floor, at least part way, not roll around on it and stop somewhere.

OK, so what would make it NOT go through the blind, and NOT dig into the floor?  Maybe the fact that it wasn't even going 200 mph?  Well I just also looked up slingshots, and found this:

Daisy B52 Slingshot Wristlok B-52
  Daisy B52 Slingshot Wristlok B-52
Daisy B52 Slingshot Wristlok B-52
 
Our Price: $9.25


Availability: Usually Ships in 2 to 3 Days
Product Code: DAYB52
Qty:



Description
 
Daisy B52 SlingShot
Wristlok Slingshot-Molded Grip-Extra Wide Fork. Sure grip handle. Solid steel frame. Durable surgical tubing power bands. Rugged release pouch. Flexible wrist support to greater power and accuracy.

Daisy'sline of PowerLine slingshots and accessories take advantage of today's technology to deliver the best in materials and design, while never losing sight of the reason people shoot--fun! Sleek, molded pistol-grip handle provides a strong, sure grip. Flexible wrist support steadies arm and improves aim. Durable, surgical-grade tubing and rugged release pouch delivers plenty of power. Nickel finish frame. Shoots 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" steel or glass shot.

WARNING: The slingshot shoots 225 yards. Clear shooting area of people and all property is recommended. Inspect slingshot before using. Power bands that have been damaged or that have become hard and brittle with age should not be used. Do not pull or draw the power bands directly backward to eye. Wear safety glasses while shooting.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE: The slingshot can provide your child with many hours of shooting enjoyment. However, it is not a toy. Slingshots are capable of velocities of more than 200 miles per hour. Please be sure your child is instructed on safe shooting practices. Common sense should always be used while operating this product. Happy and safe hunting!

 
And that's just a cheapie kid's slingshot, not the kind that ARE used for hunting.  Hmm.  So now I have to wonder if someone didn't just THROW a bullet at the window.  Wish I could find out if it had any rifling marks on it...

image image image
SGT. JIRI TREBISSKY H&D SAS

"When the winds of change blow, some people
build walls and others build windmills."
~ Chinese proverb
Edited 2 times by Trebissky 03/28/10 19:59.