I know this is indicative of too much time on my hands, but really, I have enough serious business to deal with at work up at the hospital, and stupid little projects like this are fun for me. So please, spare the "this is useless" type comments. It's fun, it's interesting, and it's more socially acceptable than going shooting at 4am where I live. So, without further ado...
What?
Sealed ammunition has become a concern of mine. Why? I am curious if the ammunition without sealed case necks is G2G in environmental extremes. Why? Because. Also, because Dr. Roberts says ammunition for duty use should be sealed, last I recall from previous conversations. None of the TSX/GMX 5.56 ammunition, which is my favorite, comes with a sealed case neck except the X135, which is at the whim of my supplier, and not at my whim as a purchaser. So I am looking for civilian-saleable alternatives. But none have case-neck sealant...but does it matter?
How?
This got me to thinking about one of my friends, and his watch hobby. He talks to me often about it, and how the watch mechanics (jewelers?) out there have machines which will test watches at many ATM's. So why not use this to test ammo? Well, because I don't have one, and it's expensive. So, I figure...what if I tie ammo to a string? Drop it in a deep portion of the lake? Then came the question of logistics (a boat, a bridge, looking mighty suspicious, etc.). So that led me to wonder...what about carbonated water? Pressure is pressure, and water is water...I recalled that sodas are carbonated at 2-3 ATM's, and 2 ATM's is PLENTY for ammo to withstand. It's about the same as many optics. So, I recalled the most explosive mineral water I've bought in a while...TOPO CHICO out of Mexico. My local Kroger handles it. But what's the ATM? Well...I YouTube'd, and what do you know? I have a crazy Mexican twin out there who is also curious about same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZT8hVEBXMk 2.2 bar. Wow! I recall SeanM from this board saying that he has had ammo ruined on 15-30ft depth swims, which aligns nicely with my "test-chamber"...a bottle of Topo Chico...
Method:
I remembered from highschool that cold liquids will dissolve and hold more CO2 than hot liquids, so my first move is to get the Topo down to around freezing. Next, is to crack 'er open, and dump 3 rounds of each ammo to be tested in, and seal it back quickly, then shake it, and then heat the bottle to around 80*F or so. This should provide AT LEAST 2.2 bar. The hotter the liquid, the higher the pressure due to escaping CO2.
The test subjects:
3 rounds of Hornady TAP GMX 5.56 55gr
3 rounds of MK318 SOST (control sealed)
3 rounds of Federal bulk target .22LR (controlled un-sealed...expected to fail)
3 rounds of Barnes 50gr TSX 5.56
Let them sit in the "chamber" for an hour, take them down, and see which one's have the clumpy powder!
Pictures to follow...