Gun related science fair projects

[Lucas McCain]

Is this project something scientific that will peak your interest, or is this a away you think you can force something over on your 6th grade teacher who hates guns. Looks like to me that you are heading for a lose- lose situation. After all he gives the grade for the project, correct?

 

[kraigwy]

My Granddaughter and her little partner did a gun related project for a science fair.

They went with the assumption that it would take 1800 ft lbs of energy to humanly hunt elk and what would be the shortest barrel (keeping it legal at 16 inches) to make a light easily handling rifle at 300 yards.

I donated a 308 rifle w/26 inch barrel, using factory 180 gr bullets.

They choreographed the rifle and cutting the barrel 2 inches at a time, then created a graph of the results to see the velocity change so they could compute energy.

They did good at the fair they were only faulted in the photos they took, one had the girls photo in it, the judges didn't think (and I agree) that photos of middle school girls should be allowed to float around in public.

Choreographing the load:

Cutting the barrel:

The Girls had a ball.

 

[mainegunner]

You know what guys? That school has no policies against guns whatsoever, and I mean it. I had a discussion over 7mms with my 8th grade teacher. The 5th grade teacher had a 12-ga SxS in his closet and the shells in his desk! I couldn't care less about my teacher! As if none of you used an excuse at some point to go shooting. Mine? This project. And buck? One day last year there were ice crystals growing on the door of a classroom. Yes, ice on an inside, wooden door. Hows that for cold?

 

[Skans]

A science fair project involving guns or shooting, or even the explosive properties of a particular cartridge seems difficult and impractical-to-impossible to me. About the best I can come up with is measuring the trajectories/drop of various rounds fired from a bench rest over a long range. Boring. Been done. And, simply too difficult to set up.

Guns are old technology and nothing more than a tool for hurling projectiles. You might as well be testing and recording data on different rubber bands on slingshots.

I wouldn't let your desire to get under your teacher's skin cloud your ability to come up with a good science fair project. You'll have plenty of opportunity to argue 2nd Amendment rights to Antis over the course of your life. Pick your battles.......and projects wisely.

 

[Vt.birdhunter]

My kids are in school in NY. I wouldn't let them do a school project focused on firearms.
Ignorant PTA members would be all over it; my family would be labeled "gun nuts". It would genuinely frighten some. I hate it, but its the world I live in.

All that aside....if socially acceptable in your neck of the woods and authorized by the parental units, you can shoot various calibers into wet newspaper and compare depth of penetration/bullet expansion. Compare velocities within calibers, varying bullet weights/designs, barrel lengths used,pellet rifle vs. .22, etc. Take photos of recovered slugs. (I would NOT bring lead slugs into a school due to the toxicity of the lead itself)

Wet paper is commonly used as a poor mans ballistic gelatin to ROUGHLY compare penetration. It is inconsistent with expansion data IMO.

Collect newspapers on recycling or trash night, ask neighbors or school mates.
Soak it overnight in garbage bags, drain excess water before shooting.

If you know anyone with a digital scale borrow it; compare weight retention of recovered slugs. Should be good for an extra chart or 2

What ever you decide, PLEASE DO IT SAFELY
You can even write up a paragraph or 2 showing safety protocols you followed. Its the best way to show anti-firearm-ex-teachers your batting for the good guys. GL

 

[mainegunner]

Thank you, vtbirdhunter. I have no problem with being labelled a gun nut by the way guys. I sit on my roof and shoot pigeons with my .22 pellet gun.

 

[kilimanjaro]

If you're not required to have a physical demo of a gun-related topic, you could consider an exhibit showing how firearm technology made history, for those who adopted it, and those who didn't. Examples might be WWI and machine guns, or early assault rifles such as the BAR and Pedersen Device.

 

[Vt.birdhunter]

I have no problem with being labelled a gun nut

Guns and schools don't mix well in today's social climate. Its not whether your right or wrong, its the perception.

I sit on my roof and shoot pigeons with my .22 pellet gun.

Hunting for food is great. Shooting nuisance/invasive species is a necessity at times.
Not asking your reasons....just curious.

 

[mainegunner]

I shoot them because they are horribly filthy. I also have no problem with being perceived as a gun nut.

 

[Skans]

I shoot them because they are horribly filthy.

I just hope you don't do this in an urban environment. If so, that's a lot of pellets and dead birds littering up the place.

also I have no problem with being perceived as a gun nut.

...I think we get it - you like being perceived as a gun nut. Anyway, how about something like making a light bulb light up with the power of potato. Or creating "green" energy from windmills and fireflies? Teachers love that stuff!

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

I'd suggest going to the Box O' Truth website and look through the "Original Chapters" subdirectory.

He's tested all kinds of things with guns - maybe it will give you some ideas.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

The school has no policies against guns,

The United States government has a policy against guns in schools -- or even within 1000 feet of a school if you don't have a carry permit issued by the state in which the school is located. Google "Gun Free School Zone Act." (Which .45 Auto quoted in post #20)

Don't give the former teacher an excuse to make life seriously unpleasant for you.

 

[Banger357]

Given the political crap de jour, I'd go with terminal ballistics and arbitrary designations such as the M855 ammo which is suddenly, magically, "armor piercing". The things that affect terminal ballistics can be fascinating if you're smarter than me and have a solid understanding of physics.

 

[dakota.potts]

You could do something with ballistic coefficient and bullet shape and how it affects bullet drop, stabilization and wind resistance
Or if you have the capable, you could try creating steel projectiles and treating to different hardness. Testing Rockwell hardness could be part of the experiment and then you could look at their effects versus hard and soft targets. Or how changing bullet weight affects chamber pressure. There are a thousand tests that can be done from a scientific standpoint considering firearms study is applied chemistry, engineering, and metal working rolled into one.

 

[Moomooboo]

The United States government has a policy against guns in schools -- or even within 1000 feet of a school if you don't have a carry permit issued by the state in which the school is located. Google "Gun Free School Zone Act." (Which .45 Auto quoted in post #20)

Don't give the former teacher an excuse to make life seriously unpleasant for you.

Even if you have a permit by the state, youre not necessarily allowed depending in the state.

 

[Bucksnort1]

Mainegunner,

Consider what John Williamson said about consequences.

What about measuring and demonstrating the burn rates of some powders?

 

[mainegunner]

OK guys. I am going to do something about guns, so get that idea out of your heads. I decided to test which calibers can effectively bust locks. Also, we live literally across the street from a high school and own 11 firearms.

 

[Vt.birdhunter]

Watch out for lead splatter/shrapnel.

Hardened steel with odd angles (locks) have a funny way of throwing lead, jackets and bits of steel at unpredictable angles and ranges.


Dad gonna help you out with the logistics?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

OK guys. I am going to do something about guns, so get that idea out of your heads.

I don't think anybody here is trying to talk you out of doing something involving firearms. What we ARE trying to do is (a) try to prevent you from violating federal law in the process; (b) try to prevent you from deliberately antagonizing a former teacher in the process; and (c) select a project for which you have the assets to perform.

I decided to test which calibers can effectively bust locks.

This is for a science fair, isn't it? You should be looking for a project that demonstrates some scientific principle. Locks vary tremendously in strength and construction, bullets vary tremendously in composition, and cartridges vary tremendously in power. JMHO, but I think you will have too many variables to be able to demonstrate any valid scientific theory.

What's the scientific principle your proposed experiment is intended to prove? How will the results of the experiment prove the theory?

Also, we live literally across the street from a high school and own 11 firearms.

So?

Re-read the GFSZ Act. Do so keeping in mind that we are referring you to it because we would like to keep you out of jail, court, and potentially prison.

 

[mainegunner]

Could we just get a mod in here and delete this thread? I knew I shouldn't have asked in the start. More than half have been nothing but "Don't do gun stuff" "Blah blah blah blah blah" than actual ideas! Thanks to the guys who posted the ideas. Also, Aguila, consider what Kilimanjaro said. HOW IS COMPARING EARLY ASSAULT RIFLES A SCIENTIFIC TOPIC?