Very Important Idea for the Movie Jaws:

[Hokieman]

As an engineer, I like Mythbusters because they do actually use some decent science, physics, and engineering in their demonstrations. While I do not always agree 100% with their conclusions or methods, in general, they follow a pretty defensible procedure in their individual demonstrations.

I remember the sniper through the eye episode. If I was them, I'd have reached the same conclusion. When a guy fires a .30-06 steel jacketed round directly through a three piece scope from a distance of about 25 feet, and it doesn't penetrate completely, hey, what can you say? I believe they even tried the high-powered civilian model of the rifle used by Haycock as well. I believe the Marines on the Haycock Vietnam episode, but that doesn't mean it would happen every time.

As I type this, another thought occurs. In another episode, they tested being shot under (through) water with rifles and pistols. Turns out that you're much safer if the bad guy is using a high powered (supersonic) round than a slower sub-sonic pistol round. Seems the supersonic round breaks up and fragments due to a supersonic shock wave effect at the front of the bullet as it enters the water. With the slower pistol round, it can much more easily bore its way through the water without catastrophically breaking up on impact. I wonder if the same effect happened during Mythbusters' sniper test, and the high speed round fired from close in did the same thing breaking up immediately from supersonic shock wave disruption, while Haycock's much slower round from a long distance bored right on through. Hmmm....

[Alaric]

Originally Posted by Hokieman

As an engineer, I like Mythbusters because they do actually use some decent science, physics, and engineering in their demonstrations. While I do not always agree 100% with their conclusions or methods, in general, they follow a pretty defensible procedure in their individual demonstrations.

I remember the sniper through the eye episode. If I was them, I'd have reached the same conclusion. When a guy fires a .30-06 steel jacketed round directly through a three piece scope from a distance of about 25 feet, and it doesn't penetrate completely, hey, what can you say? I believe they even tried the high-powered civilian model of the rifle used by Haycock as well. I believe the Marines on the Haycock Vietnam episode, but that doesn't mean it would happen every time.

As I type this, another thought occurs. In another episode, they tested being shot under (through) water with rifles and pistols. Turns out that you're much safer if the bad guy is using a high powered (supersonic) round than a slower sub-sonic pistol round. Seems the supersonic round breaks up and fragments due to a supersonic shock wave effect at the front of the bullet as it enters the water. With the slower pistol round, it can much more easily bore its way through the water without catastrophically breaking up on impact. I wonder if the same effect happened during Mythbusters' sniper test, and the high speed round fired from close in did the same thing breaking up immediately from supersonic shock wave disruption, while Haycock's much slower round from a long distance bored right on through. Hmmm....

Also , Hathcock didn't intentionally make the shot. He saw the glint and reacted before the NVA sniper could squeeze the trigger. Mythbusters may have proved it's unlikely on purpose , but it is possible.
All things considered , it's a good show.

[Indian Head]

If I recall correctly, Mythbusters got so many emails about their sniper test that in a later episode went back and were able to duplicate the actual event.

But crystal radio sets?!?!? That's not a one-time story or myth. That's just history with so much obvious evidence. Now I want to see that episode!