Thread: Strangest damage to bonnet

If we go back to the bullet theory.

Can you take a photo of the hole from a flat bullet trajectory point of view? Your current photo is looking (sort of) top-down; what does the hole look like from a side-on (possible) bullet path view?

Mind you, I prefer the meteorite theory...

Originally Posted by skidrov

If we go back to the bullet theory.

Can you take a photo of the hole from a flat bullet trajectory point of view? Your current photo is looking (sort of) top-down; what does the hole look like from a side-on (possible) bullet path view?

Mind you, I prefer the meteorite theory...

It wouldn’t have hit on a level trajectory, always in an arc type line.

Originally Posted by Chops

It wouldn’t have hit on a level trajectory, always in an arc type line.

At the speed it was travelling at, and over the hundreds of metres before the collision, it would have been as as straight as the eye could see. If it was a meteorite then before it hit the atmosphere it would have been travelling in a parabolic trajectory. Even then that's only really "curved" when your looking at distances of hundreds or more kms.

It must have hit something after it went through the bonnet. There should be another scratch somewhere under there. That will then give info on the angle of strike.

I don't think it will be ice. An ice object that small won't have the kinetic energy to pierce metal. If it was going fast enough it would have melted way before.

Mike

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Truly intriguing event
I did a bit of reading

If a meteorite, it would have been travelling at 100-200ms on impact
Any size and it would go straight through the bonnet and into the engine.
Perhaps it was literally dust particle size and hence why you cannot find it?

I like the iceball theory - silent assassin!

A tumbling free falling bullet projectile could make an irregular impact penetration but I’d imagine you would be able to find the slug

Does the penetration extend to the inner skin of the bonnet? Could the culprit be hiding in the bonnet skin?

Steve

i will take a few more photos in the morning. It has dented a second layer inside the bonnet. Also it hit on roughly a 15 degree downward angle coming from behind.

Went to to a panel beater who subscribes to a bullet even then not sure as it is so big.

I definitely agree about it looking like a pick axe or something. What is hard to explain is that I didn’t see it in about 30 odd minutes of driving before. I even had got out and dropped my daughter at a friends house (where I even stood near the front fender speaking to the friend’s Mum).

aluminium bonnet isnt it....

hot ember in the right place with the right wind.. that looks to be how ally melt holes for up.

wind blows the ember ash away and the melted ally has just deformed away or is in small particle form in the second layer.


try it with a coke can at home (or beer can) with a bit of hot coal from the webber use steel tongs and after the event realise that hey, this is why they dont make ally fire tools.

Surely if it was an ember the paint would be scorched.

If it was a falling bullet bullet shot upward would have lost most of its muzzle velocity before falling at a terminal velocity of 300m/s , a bullet travelling at 200m/s will break human skin , so doubtful a bullet at 300m/s would go through a beer can , let alone a bonnet . I imagine a 410 slug would be slower than a .30cal bullet .

Can falling bullets kill you?

Was your neighbour shooting at that time?

Originally Posted by goingbush

Surely if it was an ember the paint would be scorched.

If it was a falling bullet bullet shot upward would have lost most of its muzzle velocity before falling at a terminal velocity of 300m/s , a bullet travelling at 200m/s will break human skin , so doubtful a bullet at 300m/s would go through a beer can , let alone a bonnet . I imagine a 410 slug would be slower than a .30cal bullet .

Can falling bullets kill you?

Also, if shot straight up the descent is an end over end tumble