sifted wood ash for clearing barrel?

[Captain Morgan]

We recently moved to a home with a wood stove, and I have a bunch of ash saved in a barrel. I was going to use it on the driveway when it gets icy, but the wife says no because it will get tracked into the house. So, I'm wondering if I could possibly use the ash in a clearing barrel, instead of sand, if I sift it so that only fine ash is in the barrel. Any thoughts?

Edited: tested in 30 gallon trash can 3/4 full of sifted ash. It barely stopped a Hornady critical defense (which didn't even expand) but it did not stop 115 gr. FMJ. Both tests were with 9mm.

 

[Jeremy1066]

What is a "clearing barrel"?

 

[printcraft]

What is a "clearing barrel"?

You aim your weapon there when loading and unloading (clearing) your weapon.
Safe direction, good backstop and all of that.

 

[TiMMaY]

I do not this the ash would be dense enough to stop the bullet as it exits the muzzle.

 

[Jeremy1066]

You aim your weapon there when loading and unloading (clearing) your weapon.
Safe direction, good backstop and all of that.

Thank you. I usually clear my barrel down range.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Thank you. I usually clear my barrel down range.

I want to build this for my home, to clear the gun before dry fire practice, cleaning, etc.

 

[SEIndSAM]

Got an access to an outdoor range? Fill a 5 gal bucket with some , seal the top with a lid and shoot it....

I'll bet it's not dense enough for use as a clearing barrel.

 

[bluewraith]

I think you would be better off using sand. A 5 gallon bucket full of sand around here costs $0.50, not including the bucket.

 

[Jeremy1066]

I want to build this for my home, to clear the gun before dry fire practice, cleaning, etc.

Gotcha Wouldn't a barrel of water suffice?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Gotcha Wouldn't a barrel of water suffice?

It might, but it would make a heck of a mess if the gun discharged. I think sand is the way to go.

 

[Jeremy1066]

It might, but it would make a heck of a mess if the gun discharged. I think sand is the way to go.

Only if you add Jello mix to the water.

Wait, are we talking inside the house?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Only if you add Jello mix to the water.

Wait, are we talking inside the house?

A lot of guys put one in a closet or in a garage for clearing the gun before cleaning, etc.. I mean, you don't plan on firing into it, but it's there just in case.

 

[BogWalker]

I'd go ahead and use the sand.

I bet you could sell the ash as some sort of fertilizer.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Ash is in no way dense enough. Use sand. Water in a pinch, but keep in mind not only is there a mess, but water is a hydraulic medium, the possibility of splitting the bucket is always there. If you really need something indoors that only exists in the remote chance you did not properly unload then a box of books or magazines works fine.

 

[Arm America]

Save the ash for making soap. That's about all it's worth.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I burn wood to heat my house (furnace only runs enough to check that it works), and I have a big pile of ashes out back.

I spread it on the garden and mix it in with the compost. Next spring I thought about sifting it into the fertilizer spreader and putting some on the lawn.

 

[IndyGunworks]

I doubt it would work... and you will end up with lead in your soap so why risk it?

 

[Brian Ski]

Bet it would make one heck of a cloud, if a round got shot into it!!!!

 

[Captain Morgan]

9mm:
Yes for a hornady critical defense, which didn't expand.
No for FMJ.

I told my wife to get some sand while she's at the store.

 

[IndyGunworks]

why not just take a couple of shovel fulls of dirt out of the yard?