Like everything else, the product is only as dangerous as the end user. A little common sense goes a long way to preventing an accident.Also don't assume all the valves and especially the hoses are completely 100% airtight.

You guys are getting off topic. I don't understand how powder residue would get on the front of the bullet as it travels out of the bore. Look at the target, the little black ring is around the edge of the frayed hole. Last time I checked, the powder followed the bullet down the bore. If there were powder residue on the front of the bullet towards the ogive, this would mean there would bea good deal of blow-by...& not to shoot down any ideas, but I still don't think the bullet is hot enough to singe the paper either -- Prove me wrong.

What else guys, keep thinking --

^^I still say the gas-pocket idea is about as good as any right now. Especially if we rule out any type of paper burning. I suppose we'd have to have boattail HG bullets to test it though.

Agshooter, if you everget a chance tolook at a super slo-mo video of a bullet being shot out of a rifle bore you will notice that a certain amount of gasses exit the muzzle prior to the bullet doing so. It's not hard, therefore, to imagine that even the front of the bullet would have some burned powder residue on it. Plus, a bullet traveling down the bore of a rifle with powder fouling already there is certainly going to pick some up before exiting the muzzle. So, I still think the most plausible explanation for the "black ring" is a dirty bullet.I don't think a scorching hot bullet or a gas pocket behind the bullet are the answers. Whatever it is, I do know with absolute certainty that I won't be loosing any sleep over it, that's for sure.

The little black ring is called "bullet wipe" and is lead from the bullet. Check out www.firearmsid.com

Since I shoot copper jacketed and solid copper bullets, I don't think what I'm seeing is lead. The "wipe" surely must be powder and/or primer fouling.

I figured I should take this question to higher powers, so this is what Speer Technical Services told me:

"The ring is the jacket material (copper)/bullet nose(lead) and bullet lube on cast bulletscutting the paper and tearing it back. Note, when you look at a wadcutter bullet hole, the paper is "punched" by the bullet nose, very little black ring is evident."

Its what is referred to as "bullet wipe" Its a combination of things including powder residue, oil residue (from your bore), bullet coating, but mostly jacket material. When the bullet contacts the paper it leave a little bit of itself. Thats why you see more with a lead tip bullet than a full metal jacket, the lead is softer thus more transfer.

I can't tell you whether bullets are hot or not with any degree of certainty but my mind tells me they would be extremely hot, & air wouldn't cool them. The explaination of blowing up gas tanks and cylinders is just proof of the indisputable fact that everyone is an expert on the internet....even fools.