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How to light multiple matches with a single bullet


2m read
·Nov 3, 2024

Hey, it's me Destin. About three years ago I did a YouTube video, but I tried to have a lot of matches with a bullet, and I never could do it. So, we've kind of up the ante here. We've taken that same rifle, that Ruger 10/22, and we've made a fully adjustable mount for it. We can adjust it in azimuth and elevation independently, and we've got our matches set up, so it gets more like a lab-type environment. My buddy John Henry is here.

Cool, yeah, yo, sup? So, John's going to help me. We're gonna see if we can light a match with a bullet. It's gonna happen! It's gonna happen.

Say that. Three, two, one. Alan, earth man! 1, I saw bling. Three, two, one. Three, two, one. Oh, earplugs, dude.

Yeah, alright. We're here for night two. Night one pretty much stumped. Tonight's different; it's a war, another battle.

Yeah, yeah, this is a marathon. This isn't a sprint. So, tonight we have changed from old matches to new matches. What's that mean, John?

We're just gonna work! We have also assembled every type of .22 ammo known to man. Night two, shot a million and five! Read it, read it.

Three, two, one, right here. Looks like it shot a little bit left. A little bit left?

Yeah, alright, adjust it to the right. Three, two, one!

We're boys, we have done it from the war! John, what's that?

Thanks, Flo! That's happening right now.

Oh yes, struck a match with a bullet. What are you gonna do next?

Let's try it again. Of course, you are! Of course, I am. Let's just see if we can get them all lit at once already.

Three, two, one, three, two!

Yes, that's awesome! Something else you're good with.

Three, two, oh yes, nice!

Yep, you go! After several hours of investigating why we could light an entire row of matches with one bullet, we used a high-speed camera to determine that the bullet was being deflected ever so slightly by the match heads.

We concluded that you can't light all the matches if they're lined up in a straight line because the bullet tumbles and follows a nonlinear trajectory after first contact.

We did, however, manage to light three matches with one single bullet, as you can see here.

Alright, five, four, three, two, one!

Hey, four! We got four!

Yeah, three-and-a-half, you!

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