Important lesson!

[oink]

Well, I have this old hard drive I want to pitch but it has personal data on it. After considerable thought I determined that both the easiest and most efficient way to permanently destroy the data would be to put at least a couple of good size holes through it. Well my Springfield Micro Compact .45 was dirty so a simple solution was born.....I thought.

Eight rounds later I discovered that 230 GR plated LRN .45ACP loaded moderately hot and expelled from a 3" barrel will not penetrate and only moderately dents a desk top hard drive.

Darn, OK plan B, I'll end this thing! Well, 240 GR cast LSWC on top of 10 GR of 231 out of a 3" 629. Nope! Three rounds of that and no joy! This thing had resisted 11 rounds of good ammo.

OK, OK, enough of this already. Zero 240 GR JFP on top of 14.2 GR H110 from the same 3" 629. ***Bingo!*** Only one round needed. A large hole through and through with nice tinkly sounds when shaken. Glass disks?

Well the important lessen to be taken away from this exercise is that to kill an old hard drive you need velocity. Weight alone won't do.


PS: Actually I think the 240 GR LSWC did the job but they didn't actually penetrate it.

 

[vonn]

More velocity is always good!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Hence the term "hard" drive.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Though my process is lacking much entertainment value, I take hard drives apart to salvage the super-strong magnets, and fold up the data disc.

 

[LVSteve]

9mm. 357 Mag or 7.62 Tokarev for the win when you need penetration.

 

[billwill]

If you have never messed with hard drive magnets.....those are some strong little suckers. As for the hard drive, angle grinder or a sledge will do it. Or shoot some distance with rifle. Try for a smiley face!

 

[rwsmith]

Old heavy clothes washer.....

Well, I have this old hard drive I want to pitch but it has personal data on it. After considerable thought I determined that both the easiest and most efficient way to permanently destroy the data would be to put at least a couple of good size holes through it. Well my Springfield Micro Compact .45 was dirty so a simple solution was born.....I thought.

Eight rounds later I discovered that 230 GR plated LRN .45ACP loaded moderately hot and expelled from a 3" barrel will not penetrate and only moderately dents a desk top hard drive.

Darn, OK plan B, I'll end this thing! Well, 240 GR cast LSWC on top of 10 GR of 231 out of a 3" 629. Nope! Three rounds of that and no joy! This thing had resisted 11 rounds of good ammo.

OK, OK, enough of this already. Zero 240 GR JFP on top of 14.2 GR H110 from the same 3" 629. ***Bingo!*** Only one round needed. A large hole through and through with nice tinkly sounds when shaken. Glass disks?

Well the important lessen to be taken away from this exercise is that to kill an old hard drive you need velocity. Weight alone won't do.


PS: Actually I think the 240 GR LSWC did the job but they didn't actually penetrate it.

.38 Wadcutter bounced right off. Left a dent and a grey smear. The 110 grain +P.......Swiss Cheese. I think on the washers made now, the wadcutter would be able to go right through it.

 

[bigride]

I solve this problem by having no important data...except for these valuable comments on the forum.

 

[snowman]

I have two retired hard drives sitting on a bookshelf behind me, and the one on this machine will be retired very soon. Think I'll line them up one behind the other, and see what my magnum handloads will do. My .44s are 210gr JHPs on top of 26.5gr. of H110. They chrono close to 1700fps out of a 629 Classic DX w/8-3/8" barrel. Should be interesting, if I get around to it.

Regards,
Andy

 

[Kanewpadle]

Drill press works every time.

 

[JH1951]

Some politicians use a bleach bath.

 

[oink]

Drill press works every time.

What possible entertainment value could possibly be found in that?

 

[oink]

Some politicians use a bleach bath.

Good one!

I think technically it's BleachBit.

 

[Kanewpadle]

What possible entertainment value could possibly be found in that?

Ok, drill it, then shoot it.

 

[76Y40]

Four layers of denim, pork ribs, a bag of oranges with the hard drive sandwiched in between the oranges to simulate lungs, more pork ribs, and five layers of high-tech fleece.

Paul Harrell fans on You-tube will get this technique.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My last exercise involved a 104 year old Winchester Model 1892, .25-20, 75-grain hard cast RNFP-gas check, about 1500 FPS. Modern technology introduced to century-old fix.

Better than buckshot. Not as noisy as a magnum revolver. Probably good practice for turkey season.

Ah, nostalgia! Maybe next time I'll try the 1894 Marlin .44-40, 1905 vintage. Or my Civil War-vintage .41 caliber Pennsylvania sporting rifle, should provide some old-time round-ball therapy for a 21st Century hard drive. Maybe invite Paul Newman and Robert Redford over for a redux of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (THINK YOU USED ENOUGH DYNAMITE THERE, BUTCH?).

Might as well have some fun with all this techy stuff that usually has us pulling our hair out in frustration.

 

[rwsmith]

"Tacticooly" speaking......

Hence the term "hard" drive.

...it is a 'hardened drive'.

 

[rwsmith]

You know that we....

I solve this problem by having no important data...except for these valuable comments on the forum.

...learn a lot of important stuff about guns here, right?


PS So, I know that if I'm attacked by a perp wearing an old washing machine, I'd better have some high velocity ammo if I expect penetration.

 

[bigride]

...learn a lot of important stuff about guns here, right?


PS So, I know that if I'm attacked by a perp wearing an old washing machine, I'd better have some high velocity ammo if I expect penetration.

I was referring sarcastically to my own comments, but after re-reading my original comment regarding valuable comments, I realized my comment about comments of value was ambiguous in reference to my own comments during my comment. I hope this comment clears up any confusion regarding my previous comment about valuable comments.

 

[NYlakesider]

I was referring sarcastically to my own comments, but after re-reading my original comment regarding valuable comments, I realized my comment about comments of value was ambiguous in reference to my own comments during my comment. I hope this comment clears up any confusion regarding my previous comment about valuable comments.

That sounds like something Radar Oreilly would say to lieutenant colonel Henry Blake!

 

[chuckie]

Last one I destroyed I used a cutting torch to melt it.

 

[gman51]

I have used the bullet trick and it seemed to have done the job.

An IT guy at work said just take a strong magnet and run it in circles on case sides, top and bottom. He said that will make a hard drive useless. Probably not as much fun as shooting holes in it though.

 

[riverrat38]

Encapsulate it in a time capsule.
Some lads in the future would get a kick out of viewing Century old porn!
Of course they would think it rather quaint!

Best,
Rick

 

[jimbo728]

Some politicians use a bleach bath.

Isnt that what "Brighto" was really for?
Jim

 

[Firesticks]

20 ga with buckshot worked on mine. Wasn't much left of ANYTHING when I was done "playing" Dr Destructo. Had to scrape it all up with a shovel.

 

[allthumbs]

Very important lesson ! I'm learning a lot about the proper ammo for any use. Plus my mind is spinning from bigride's last post

 

[Abbynormal]

Set it on top of a 12ga with 00 Buck and apply trigger pressure.

Next while on ground, 1 round 00Buck 12ga at close range

 

[S42N8]

I was referring sarcastically to my own comments, but after re-reading my original comment regarding valuable comments, I realized my comment about comments of value was ambiguous in reference to my own comments during my comment. I hope this comment clears up any confusion regarding my previous comment about valuable comments.

I'm still confused as to the commentary on commentary, but as I value valuable commentary and am more or less a big ambiguity fan, please let me know when the unambiguous valuable commentary arrives so that I can properly re-read it at the Department of Redundancy Department. I've got a couple of offices there.