[LMB] Talking of Rocket Ship Galileo OT:

[Mark Allums]

Marna Nightingale wrote:
> Paula Lieberman wrote:
> 
>>> How on EARTH[1] is one supposed to fire off rifles and pistols in a 
>>> vacuum?
>> Chemical cartridges or pellets containing materials that combust and include 
>> oxidizer and fuel in them to propell the those--rocket guns, essentially. 
>> Solid rockets work in space, so do liquid fuels ones, and thrusters that use 
>> "bipropellant blowdown"
> 
> Let me rephrase that: rifles and pistols that were purchased at the 
> local hardware store shortly before Our Heroes took off, with ammo ditto.

The question has been answered.  Standard ammo would work fine.  In 
1/6th gravity, the sights would be off.  But with no air resistance, the 
bullet would retain its muzzle energy through out the whole trajectory.

Niven used rifles in Protector.  They fired them at an alien ship 
following them.  Believe it or not, it's reasonable!  Given the rest of 
the story, which I will not give away.  Read the book.  :)

--MArk Allums