this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
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The town I used to live in has to have signs in the laundromat to remind people to check their pockets for ammo.
Apparently they've had to replace a couple dryers.
Can a bullet fire just from a dryer? Wouldn’t that mean firearms would be randomly discharging in people cars in hot places like Arizona? Or is it somehow sparking or something from beating against the dryer like buttons from jeans or coveralls?
Asking because I never knew that was a thing lol
Man, that would be a fantastic topic for Mythbusters!
Just yesterday evening I saw their final episode on YouTube, closing up fourteen years of shows. I was moved.
Maybe a really hot commercial dryer, but nothing at home or coin operated is likely to set a bullet off. Most dryers operate at under 200F, smokeless powder ignites at 300-350F. Also when not in the confines of a barrel they generally just pop as explained in this video:
https://youtu.be/3SlOXowwC4c
Is it the heat or the percussion that sets them off? In the drier they would be bouncing around in a metal container.
Centerfire ammo needs a strong precise hit to the primer to set it off, I think that's statistically unlikely for a loose object like a screw or a zipper to set that off.
Rimfire ammo has the primer inside the rim of the base. I suppose it could be possible for a heavy tumble against a sharp metal ridge in the drum being enough to discharge the round.
Thanks, as you can tell Im not super well informed about firearms in general