How tough are Al tanks versus steel tanks?

[Goldminer]

I was just surfing the net today when I came across a video which really surprised me.

http://www.yukoneer.com/misc/Tank shootout Final.wmv

For some reason the LA Sherrif's dept. and some marine school took a full Luxfer Al 80 and a full LP steel 80, shot them with a 30-06 rifle and filmed it. The results were interesting. It took 3 direct hits to puncture the steel tank. The first 2 only dented it. The Luxfer failed first shot.

 

[H2Andy]

ah... ahem...

*cough cough*

that little film was put together by our very own WhalerKyle the Tank Buster, after
countless posts of guidance and support from us

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=50551&highlight=tank+explode

and

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=93903&highlight=tank+explode

and yes... it would stand to reason that something made of aluminum will be
easier to pierce than something made of steel... but who can be sure?

well... Kyle, of course

 

[mossym]

guidance and support? that's one way of putting it!!

 

[Henryville]

I'm still waiting for the tank busting 100% O2 fill shot with a tracer round experiment.

 

[Leadking]

means nothing. Unless it's a dead center shot, the curve of the cylinder deflects the energy of the bullet.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Aluminum tanks are thicker and steel thiner due to steels higher tensil strength and being less brittle. I can see the bullet hitting the stell and causing a bit of elastic flow cushoining the shot as oppesed to AL not wanting to flow.

Any thought on this or corrections ?

 

[matt_unique]

Always wanted to see what would happen.....very cool!!!

 

[whalerkyle]

YAY, another blow up tank thread. That's 4 and counting.

 

[triton94949]

What are the chances that your tank would ever get shot with a 30-06 round?

 

[jonnythan]

What are the chances that your tank would ever get shot with a 30-06 round?

I dive at a quarry in VT sometimes, and trust me, the chances are pretty good.

http://www.ngray.com/galleryalbums/scuba_bigblue_10-03/PICT2598.jpg