Is it possible to shoot of a lock like you see in the movies?

Question

In movies, you see someone shoot off a Master lock with one shot from point blank. Is that really possible to do with a handgun?

Answer 1

In movies and television, a locked door, or a padlock on a cage is never an impediment so long as the Hero(tm) has bullets to spare. One or two shots is generally enough to destroy the lock, allowing the door to open.

Unfortunately, in real life -- as shown by the MythBusters -- this requires a large calibre gun (such as a massive .357 Magnum pistol) at close range, which causes lots of very dangerous shrapnel. Only SWAT teams and soldiers ever do this in real life, and it involves a shotgun, Kevlar body armor, and full face protection. Even then, the goal is not specifically to destroy the lock, but to destroy the surrounding door. The old standby "entry tool" (a small battering ram) is a better choice in most situations. That, or a good, hard kick on an especially flimsy door

Answer 2

Yes, a gun will work, but it depends on the caliber. My friends and I did this experiment many years ago before Mythbusters attempted it. We were wondering which would work better for destroying a lock- a handgun or a rifle, so we decided to waste some time and money to find out. We used two brand new, medium sized Master locks and set them against a sheet of plywood using nails to hold them in place. We then shot one with a .45 ACP from about ten feet (for safety purposes) and the other with a .308 from the same distance, both were shot center of the lock body. The .308 went clean through and the lock held, but the one hit by the .45 was completely destroyed and basically came apart when we went to pull on it. We analyzed both locks closely and determined that the one hit by the .45 was destroyed just by the shear blunt force trauma of the round hitting it, whereas the one hit by the .308 was for the most part left intact because the round went through and failed to destroy the lock release mechanism. The test was by no means scientific but it was definitely fun to try.

Answer 3

Some locks you can shoot off and some you can't. Master locks are pretty resistant to being shot off but if you have a large enough calibeer, it, too, can be shot off. Now, having said that, I must add that it ain't a good idea to be doing that. You could be hit by a riccocheting bullet and that wouldn't be a good thing. Even worse, you could hit someone else with the riccochet and that would be a bad thing. Just use a bolt cutter and keep your gun in the holster.

Answer 4

Okay, skip the firearm, the lock is the question. In old cowboy movies, you need to keep in mind that the first locks weren't solid body locks. They had a hollow sheet metal case and werent all that strong. I found one of these in a depot station years ago. They're a different item than that of a Master Lock. A Master Lock? You need a good idea where to hit it, the center of the body won't do a thing to it.

Answer 5

I did it with my 357 Magnum 1 shot just 4 months ago, and it was nice master lock too.
A rancher friend lost his key to the pasture gate and I was going varmint hunting on another pasture, when I stopped to see what the trouble was.
He was trying to use a small hammer to beat it open.
He asked me if I had a bigger hammer, at which point I pulled my 357 magnum and told him to step behind his feed truck.
My hammer worked on the first shoot.
All the rancher could say is I need a hammer like yours.
So to answer your question Yes a 357 magnum will for sure.

D58

Answer 6

Depending on the quality of the lock and caliber of the gun yes it is very possible. However, I highly suggest using the key instead, because you're shooting at metal and that round can come right back at you faster than you can blink.

Answer 7

I have a 308 Winchester T/C Encore, that's a single shot handgun with a 15" barrel and it will do it.

Answer 8

Generally not the way you see it done. You would need to use a different technique than simply shooting the lock body. You would likely need to shoot to break the hasp or to force the hasp and body apart.

Answer 9

Your typical padlock with withstand a round from most pistols. However most centerfire rifles will punch a hole through one. But even at that, a quality padlock may not open.

Answer 10

yes, but there is a possibility that it could ricochet. there are special shotgun shells, that the police and the swat use to break locks though.