UPI reports …

Modesto Police said the 56-year-old man, whose name was not released, told them he was working out Wednesday night when he accidentally dropped a dumbbell on a rimfire .22-caliber bullet, causing the propellant powder in the bullet to be activated and sending it into his shoulder, The Modesto Bee reported Friday.

This man is lying to the cops. No chamber, no forward momentum of the bullet. A cartridge ignited outside a chamber will just blow a hole in, or blow apart, its brass case.

I know of an incident where a box of .22 LR was dropped on the highway and vehicles were setting them off, but as far as I can remember no tires were blown.

He was probably shot by a jealous wife or girlfriend, or as a warning from his dealer to pay up.

UPDATE: Mythbusters tried dumping a 100 rounds onto a fire, including .50 BMG rounds. They concluded that some of brass casings, not bullets, were thrown around by the explosions, but that even they might not have had enough force to penetrated skin, let along do serious harm. (Thanks to JM for the link).

You can’t cheat physicts.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]