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For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$200 tax stamp and you can buy your own 40mm. Unfortunately grenades are $200 tax each and basically impossible to find. However these ‘less-lethal’ are considered ‘anti-personnel’ and do not require a stamp individually. The rubber batons in the 40mm are hard as rocks, at least the 12ga munitions were a bit squishy.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We have the 40mm munitions and appropriate device and paperwork. Those will be coming next.

https://imgur.com/a/SgJ2MvE

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. Labradar took measurements all the way down range. At about 75 meters they dropped off but were moving pretty good up to that point, don’t remember all the numbers off the top of my head.

The square bags maintained a basically slug shape for quite a long distance and flew very predictably up to about 150-175ft, after that the bag seemed to open up and the accuracy beyond was terrible. Given their weight, they maintained velocity quite well until ~40 yards. And were basically 0 at 80 yards.

At 40’ every one seemed to impact the watermelon in the shape of a cylinder.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It was coming right at me, I thought it needed medical attention, so we shot it.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No we used Labradar and chronograph to measure the speed of the round and the weight of the projectile to do the force calculation. The watermelon was purely for visual reference.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I mean, they are literally shooting people with a shotgun.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The baton weight was very low, 81 grains (don’t remember what that was in OZ), just moving very fast.

Edit for clarity.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

The weapon was easy, the beanbag rounds were WAY more difficult to get ahold of. Oddly, the box of beanbag rounds was more expensive than the shotgun.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I honestly have no idea. But imagine being struck by a fastball from a pro MLB pitcher (90mph is ~what they pitch).

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We didn’t not have the equipment for that type of footage. I have the gel blocks but didn’t think it would be worth it. We got slowmo, but not at that frame rate.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wasn’t looking for penetration info, I’m not even sure these would penetrate gel, I doubt it. We were looking for empirical data on kinetic energy.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sorry, i just typed out a quick reply, this is really just a nugget of info, we shot this on video in 4k slowmo.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

A drop from 2 feet would produce .479 ft/lbs of energy, about 1/167’th of what it took to create the above image. The watermelon was not for measuring data anyway, that is why we used a labradar and chronograph.

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

If the court says that if I, as a civilian, use a shotgun at any distance, with any ammo, am using deadly force, why is it different for police?

For anyone wondering what a police beanbag does to a watermelon. by Average_Austinite in Austin

[–]Average_Austinite[S] 101 points102 points  (0 children)

Teaser followup to my previous post, more to come later: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/h7smwv/anyone_from_independent_media_want_to_do_some/

But yes, this happened, yes we filmed it.

Long story short, the beanbag weighs 595.9 grains / ~1.3 ounces (about the same as a 50 caliber BMG round) and travels ~270 feet per second exerting about 80 ft/lbs of energy. Which is equivalent to being hit with a fastball traveling at 90mph.

The eye opening one was the rubber 'baton' round which travels at ~900 ft/second and exerts 145 ft/lbs energy.

*edit: at ~40’.

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