The Huns hate her! The USA's ONE WEIRD TRICK that German grenadiers don't want you to know!

Published on September 26, 2019
Duration: 8:51

This video debunks the WWI myth that American soldiers could shoot grenades out of the air with shotguns. Live testing revealed that buckshot embeds in grenades, and birdshot lacks the mass to significantly alter trajectory. The myth originated from a DuPont advertisement exaggerating trapshooting skills. Historical context also highlights the limited deployment and reliability issues (jams due to wet paper cartridges) of trench shotguns.

Quick Summary

The WWI myth that American soldiers could shoot grenades out of the air with shotguns is false. Live testing revealed that buckshot embeds in grenades, and birdshot lacks sufficient mass. The myth likely originated from a DuPont advertisement exaggerating trapshooting skills.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: WWI Trench Shotguns
  2. 00:25The Grenade-Shooting Myth Explained
  3. 01:31Testing the Myth: Experimental Setup
  4. 02:00Live Fire Test: Shooting Grenades
  5. 03:05Analysis: Why It Doesn't Work
  6. 04:30Historical Limitations of Trench Shotguns
  7. 06:15Origin of the Myth: DuPont Ad

Frequently Asked Questions

Could American soldiers in WWI really shoot grenades out of the air with shotguns?

No, this WWI myth is false. Live testing showed that shotgun pellets either embed in grenades or lack the mass to significantly alter their trajectory. The required accuracy and timing in combat were also practically impossible.

Where did the myth about WWI shotguns shooting grenades come from?

The myth likely originated from a DuPont American Industries advertisement promoting trapshooting. It used hyperbole to suggest that the skills learned in trapshooting made soldiers capable of extraordinary feats, like shooting grenades.

What were the actual limitations of WWI trench shotguns?

Trench shotguns like the Remington Model 10 were used in limited numbers. They suffered from frequent jams, especially due to paper cartridges swelling in wet trench conditions, making them unreliable.

What happened when shotguns were fired at grenades in testing?

During testing, 00 buckshot tended to embed in the grenades upon impact. Birdshot lacked the necessary mass to move the grenade significantly. The grenades were not effectively 'returned' to the thrower.

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