Why Firearms Are Practically Useless Underwater

Most guns can fire reliably underwater, but the ballistic performance is extremely poor, no matter the caliber. With normal ammunition, it could even be dangerous.
Underwater weapons have been invented for this very reason, and they employ different techniques to reach decent ranges underwater. My "stuntman" Guy and I tested some of them ourselves while taking some underwater footage for your viewing pleasure.
If you can and want to help me making videos like this, you can directly support me on Patreon:
/ backyardballistics
with your help, I can keep making educational content without having to give up my freedom of speech to the advertiser's needs.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Massive thanks to Guy Warnett (aka "the stuntman") and Carson Pollard for helping out in this one, and to all my supporters on patreon for making it possible.

[@gscapinelli9214]

Can I seal reloaded rounds with nail polish? hahaha

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

@@gscapinelli9214 yes you can do, although it's going to be a pain doing it, because it's shear thinning, so it won't flow in the crevices on his own, and needs to be brushed in them.

[@gscapinelli9214]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Thanks! I had my doubts if it could somehow creep inside and contaminate the powder/primer. Btw, amazing channel. Love it. Cheers from Brazil.

[@hughgrection3052]

@@Backyard.Ballistics u should try this again but next time use some of the new super hydrophobic coatings on the bullets that's made from fungus. I've seen videos here made with it on ball bearings. And they drop the bearings in water. One with and one without the coatings. And the one with the coatings goes thru water with near zero drag and full speed. The coatings cause cavitation on nearly everything and no drag. Would make angreat experiment 😎

[@johnsmith-sp6yl]

@@hughgrection3052 coating would shear off travelling down the barrel and accelerating, might survive a bit on the front so it'd still possibly work but it'd be better suited to a spear gun i think

[@dtgs4502]

I love the typical engineer solution of just avoiding the problem entirely. Don't need increased drag if you remove the water.

[@gaveintothedarkness]

Can we take a minute to appreciate how beautiful the location of this pool is? The county side looks amazing.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Totally agree 👍

[@ek8710]

Am I right in thinking it's Italy?

[@agravemisunderstanding9668]

​@@ek8710 He's Italian, and has an entire video on Italian gun laws so it's safe to say he lives there.

[@FrancisTha1st]

9:29 is all i've ever wanted to hear my father say

[@janhulek2791]

Now this, this is is what education looks like!

[@DSlyde]

Props to the Stunt Guy, taking it like a champ, in his skivvies, all for our education. Good work and great confent

[@TechGorilla1987]

@4:25 - When I lived in Hawaii, my dad was a sport diver. They regularly carried something he called a "bang stick" for contact firing against predators.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

That's it I think... A stick that goes bang 😉👍

[@MrEazyE357]

It's basically a stick with a 12 gauge shell loaded in the end of it. You pretty much have to press it against anything you're trying to dissuade/kill. Edit: Apparently they come in other calibers as well.

[@josephking6515]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Not the be confused with the knights that say *Ni!* 🤦‍♂️

[@lw8249]

The USSOCOM Supercavitaing projectiles have been a wonderful discovery for me. I've always seen how bullets were pretty much rendered useless by water and sand due to certain physical phenomena, and to see how those bullets passed several feet of water and they were able to penetrate armour after that, and the same thing with sand surprised me in an incredible way.

[@nicksanza109]

I knew this anime was getting a fan service episode

[@peterkoller3761]

when you talked about the gun having to be fully submerged, I recalled an anecdote I have been told: decades ago (probably 50s-70s) in my village, a huntsman wanted to shoot a pike in a stream while submerging the muzzle of his rifle. pulling the trigger was the last thing he ever did.

[@nytia117]

Great video. I recall Mythbusters doing similar tests including firing a .50 BMG into a swimming pool. Very cool stuff.

[@josephking6515]

Yeah, to keep yourself safe you just need to carry round a swimming pool that is about 1 metre deep. 👍

[@neonbelly4]

@@josephking6515 better carry an ocean just in case

[@seanmcgroty2248]

Some of this myth probably comes from the existence of "maritime spring cups" for Glock handguns. They aren't meant to let the gun fire underwater, but to allow water to drain from the striker channel after the gun has been submerged. The other part is movies, especially "US Marshalls", which has dialogue specifically invoking the myth.

[@BlurbFish]

That, and a generally poor understanding of how propellants work. It's easy to wrongfully conclude that a firearm needs air, as they obviously work by making fire inside the chamber and barrel - which is why you'll also find people claiming that firearms would not work in space (a vacuum).

[@jic1]

Games too: in _Half-Life,_ the Glock 17 is one of the two ranged weapons you can use underwater.

[@randomargument972]

Do you feel anything when shot happens? Like your lungs and stomach aching?

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Yes well that's why I was the one filming it instead of shooting it😂 Guy said he could feel the shock travelling through his body. In any case we decided to heep his ears out of the water, even though he was wearing earplugs

[@OnTheRiver66]

I have never seen the cavitation rounds demonstrated. Thank you!

[@Sawer]

Most interesting firearm channel on youtube! Very much underrated, love you guys!

[@TheDECKMASTER2]

I love this part of your description --- "with your help, I can keep making educational content without having to give up my freedom of speech to the advertiser's needs."

[@Ares12893]

Very cool! I’d love to see a revolver underwater too. Also, maybe a longer barrel could be added to the power head if you ported it so water can escape out of the way - similar to a door breaching muzzle break or standoff.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Yes that would work I guess

[@rognvaldrasbjrn3972]

Absolute brilliance. The best teacher/lecturer I've seen yet. Much respect from 🇿🇦

[@osclax2010]

I was just waiting for the "stunman" to get impaled by the Rod with the shell on the tipe Due to the recoil...

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I need him alive 😉👍

[@Kycirion]

Same... kept thinking it needs a wide round handle.

[@STriderFIN77]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Alive is good, 'diabolical laughter, :-)

[@MondayHopscotch]

Surprised how effective the simulated barrel is for that slug! Cool idea.

[@peteraugust5295]

Its a good clarification that the acceleration of a projectile decreases exponentially over barrel length, meaning that the first inch of barrel is far more "effective" then the last inch ;)

[@KurtOnoIR]

Holy crap! You just gave me the best idea! 💡 💡 💡 off to make a spear gun for river fishing!

[@LUR1FAX]

I think the Russians are way ahead of you with their APS :P

[@REVOLVER_NOIR]

Excellent work! Thank you for posting. ☺️

[@KingAnarchist]

Amazing stuff brotha. You're one of the best around.

[@zincminer]

Love your content and also all the great guys assisting you!

[@andik.4235]

I am envying that "gun range".

[@malachichou-green8767]

I’m always excited when a new video comes out from you!

[@jakeed09090]

The video quality was fantastic, you did a great job and as always your videos are very high quality. Thank you for doing what you do!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@jakeed09090]

@@Backyard.Ballistics i just hope you're doing well man. Thank you for the content you make.

[@Dsdcain]

I liked your stuntman. He seems like he's got a great sense of humor. 😊 I also kind of got a kick out of the inflatable shark floating around in the background. Hinted at the main use for the bang stick (which is what I've heard them called here in the US) without actually having to explain it. Wonderful video. Educational and entertaining. Of course I'd expect nothing less from your content.😎 Thank you for sharing this with us. Stay safe out there sir. 😎

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thank you for taking the time to comment! I have to say that Guy's sense of humor is almost as good as his appetite😂

[@RCDisiac]

Love this guy. He should be more popular

[@yourbestfriend2498]

Love it dude! Keep up the good work!

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

This is fascinating, great vid.

[@demos113]

Lovely work & good job stuntman! :-)

[@erikolgberg7727]

Everyone's talking about how beautiful the scenery is. Meanwhile I'm just admiring that exquisite shark floatie.

[@neilfriesland634]

I really appreciate your scientific approach.

[@CJ-by8ij]

Awesome video. Keep up the good work!

[@hamomelette5765]

I enjoy the educational approach and interesting non-conventional topics

[@katana1430]

You might actually be on to a marketable loading, divers have been using these for decades, so a load that displays increased underwater performance might be worth something. Bit of a niche market, but you never know.

[@jpdesimone]

Your videos are awesome. It's only a matter of time and and post volume before this channel blows up.

[@tokoloshgolem]

Expendable Aussie stuntman 🤣

[@multicoloredwiz]

Great demonstratjon ... and perfect closing seconds lol

[@REXOB9]

great video, thanks!

[@felixman9691]

Great videos!

[@christopherconard2831]

It's good to see you provide you assistant with proper safety gear.

[@peteraugust5295]

Normal people going for vacation: Yay a pool, lets jump in! Carlo and Guy going for vacation: You did bring guns, didnt you?! This video was excellent, as always!

[@Boba0514]

"for underwater firing. you need an elongated, heavy projectile. kind of like the one my stuntmen is holding on to"

[@doomdave475]

I have a question/recommendation about the the contact gun, what if the end of the barrel was able to be fitted with a solid rubber disk (similarly to certain spec ops suppressors that have a solid washer fitted after the last baffle instead of a hollow one, in order to allow the operator to go under water without filling the suppressor and gun with water before the first shot) this way you could have a longer barrel withput having to worry about the water, and the projectile would simply puncture this disk after firing (or the pressure buildup caused by the projectile compressing the air infront of it, not which would happen first). Would this be a viable way to get a longer barrel?

[@rendy2888]

great video, can you please make a video about bullet trajectory on diferent surface

[@Flederratte]

Please do more tests under water also with some additional footage of spearguns and selfmade underwater loads.

[@donschlonski2936]

That's a little beyond a firearms channel... Come on man you're being a nerd

[@w6krg]

I had a "Bang Stick" when I was diving in shark-infested waters. They did not work as well as the "Shark Dart," an 8mm very sharp hollow tube. When contact was made a CO2 cartridge would expel its entire load into the shark, wrecking organs and making it buoyant. This also produced a lot less blood, keeping other sharks away.

[@luissantiago5163]

Oh awesome! Cheers

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

Fantastic content! sadly, KZbin keeps burying your content even though I am subscribed. it apparently doesn't even show it on my "subscriptions" page.

[@fabiosbrizzai9354]

Nice backyard, nice landscape and nice friends who let you shoot in their swimming pool. And nice video, of course. Question: what about bullets shot from outside the water? How far do they travel after they've hit the surface?

[@riflemanm16a2]

What if you used a full length barrel shotgun and sealed the end of the barrel? I suppose the difficulty there would be sealing the back of the action as well. Obviously, firing it once would break the seal, but theoretically, it would have the same effect as the shell with the air gap in the front. However, I wonder if the projectile would push the air in front of it forward with enough force to break the seal prematurely.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

An in depth look at underwater weapons! Boom tish!

[@kirkc9643]

That view though!

[@user-bq5nl8xf3y]

Yeaaah science! Also, cool tech drawing posters, where do you get them?

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Just bought them off Etsy😉

[@user-bq5nl8xf3y]

@@Backyard.Ballistics awesome, thanks mate!

[@GRAndreas7]

Thank you

[@giancarlocara5793]

very interesting video like all those published by backyard ... the presence of fartmen is fantastic

[@Veritas419]

I had to hit pause to admire the beautiful Italian landscape.

[@SjefSjaakie]

i just thought of something and i thought it might make for a decent video, what happens if you get shot by a tracer round, does it burn inside the body like an incendiary round would.

[@gruntopolouski5919]

Re: your “improved round” using the brennecke (sp?) slug… with the slug at the front of the round, what’s the difference? Wouldn’t it still have zero momentum at point of contact, vs being accelerated before contact? BTW: I have been told that the point of the bangstick/sharkstick is that the projectile pierces the skin, then the gas expanding within the body does the damage. Is this not correct?

[@MrEazyE357]

Can I come visit that house... Please? What a gorgeous view. Italy is amazing!

[@762gunr]

I imagine you could market long sealed loads like the one you made that would only chamber in a custom chambered "bang stick". A 4 or 5 inch water tight 12 gauge shell would get serious penetration.

[@NoosaHeads]

The powerheads used in Australia have a .303 bullet (165 gn). They will kill a shark. (Presumably due to the rapidly expanding gases and hydrostatic shock effects).

[@TylerO_O.]

another high CALIBER video my friend!

[@rilesmattix5217]

"Not only DO glocks" there ya go. Fix it before it gets too far along lol

[@timbo853]

The ammunition from DSG Technology looks like it does the job pretty well in regular guns so I’d go with them but that’s just my opinion.

[@jasonwarren9279]

Did you buy or make the shark billies?

[@seantierney3]

two things I would wonder about. first what about a short barrel only 2 or 3 inches that is ported so that the water can be displaced? secondly I wonder if a black powder load would shoot more effectively due to its rather instant ignition and burn rate not being affected by pressure like smokeless.

[@Aikano9]

Would something like a gyrojet be better for underwater shooting?

[@AlaricAchos]

this was very interesting

[@MarkoDash]

what about a blank? would it just blow a bubble or would the water in the barrel be shoot out like a submarine firing a 'water slug'.

[@PilotTed]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the soviets underwater AK that shot a weird AG round, forgot the name, bit the bullet was probably around 6 inches long.

[@PilotTed]

Probably more like 4 inches though, but ifs still quite long

[@flightlesschicken7769]

How does 45 ACP compare to 9x19 underwater? It's bigger but it's traveling a fair bit slower and is much heavier. I imagine it would going a fair bit farther. Relatively speaking that is

[@KurtOnoIR]

Beautiful landscape. Anyway I suddenly thought of that guy who fires his khar pistol into a bucket of water in his bathtub. It blew up in his hand, no injuries.

[@presidentmerkinmuffley6769]

Owning a Kahr I need to see this, how did I not....

[@johndagostino2451]

What about a fn 5.7 pistol round that should work underwater as bullet is pointed and thin 🇮🇹🐾🦊

[@Volvith]

**laughs in soviet submarine gun**

[@smokeshow7691]

why can you put some rubber on the end of the barrel and make it longer?

[@jameshealy4594]

I guess with a powerhead/bang stick firing a conventional round the primary wounding mechanism is likely to be the muzzle blast entering the body? Your shell seems like it might be quite marketable to people who use such devices.

[@thespectator2976]

Was bit worried about safety here, that thin steele rod was close to spear your stuntman ;)

[@robertunderdunkterwilliger2290]

Will the HCI in the pool rust guns fast?

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Chlorinated water is particularly aggressive towards steel, especially stainless grades 304 and 316, which contain Nickel in the range between 8 and 12%, which is the most susceptible of stress corrosion cracking, a very fast and dangerous form of localized metal corrosion. Its residues once the water evaporates, on the other hand, are much less damaging than those of saltwater. In any case the gun was thoroughly rinsed, dried and oiled afterwards

[@robertunderdunkterwilliger2290]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Thanks!

[@yaykruser]

7:20 I could already see the metal rod doing through his abdomen 😣

[@comentedonakeyboard]

No Stuntmen were bitten by Rubber Sharks

[@tomtcom]

I feel that the shell with the pole could have been done differently since I feel there was a risk to the stuntman getting impaled. Like a longer rod to extend past him or something similar to the butt of a rifle. Interesting watch though!

[@dandel351]

I'm wondering if the stuntman had any negative effects on his body from the underwater concussion??

[@LOL60345]

i once lost the slide of a blank gun like this in the river :(

[@romanregman1469]

Try coating the projectile in carbon black graphene tubules

[@Travel_Electra]

Is it possible the rod from the shotgun shell tests could've skewered stuntman?

[@kirkc9643]

he wasn't holding it like that

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I he held it the wrong way he colud have been injured, although the recoil velocity ia very low. Normally divers attach a proper handel at the end of the stick to manage recoil better, but I couldn't find any...

[@tylerpellegrini2984]

What if you used hydrophobic powder all over the gun and mag before putting underwater

[@runningchildfan2748]

Aw hell yeah

[@adas5698]

I thought he was shooting a jelly fish for some reason

[@MrCookluke]

It's so unusual to see an English stuntman shoting

[@somecoder3054]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 This was genius.

[@huntzkush]

Stuntman needs some sunscreen. Look at that sunburn! Anyways, love the video!!

[@peteraugust5295]

hey english, what did you expect? They look like that as soon as the set foot outside of their island ;)

[@HeadhuntexGamer]

@@peteraugust5295 you say that as if Germans are any different.

[@peteraugust5295]

@@HeadhuntexGamer not nearly as bad as brits usually. We tend to get sunburnt as well, but while it happens to them in the moment they close their door for us it takes until we remove the key from the lock.

[@HeadhuntexGamer]

@@peteraugust5295 Oh I see, well that's an improvement I guess. I'm Spanish so we are used to it

[@peteraugust5295]

@@HeadhuntexGamer that is part of it. The other is that generaly people from these countries spent way less time in the Sun. I have lived in multiple really warm countries and hardly anyone there decides to just lay in the birght sun for an afternoon in the way most german tourists do.

[@justiceforjoggers2897]

So all's I need is bigger boolet?

[@theraindog9141]

General Kenobi

[@donschlonski2936]

So basically its worthless to fire underwater.... All you guys commenting on the quality of the video instead of the content!

[@Feldwaldwiese]

There will be a tv show named Backyard Ballistics => kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3K3gqGNg957g5Y

[@LUR1FAX]

Water is just too thicc and dense for boolets.

[@crabmansteve6844]

Guy is cool as fuck. Lol