[Atlas Sneezed]

Stored ammo in Reseda explodes, forcing evacuation of homes

If I may offer a more accurate and appropriate headline and subhead:

Ammo Storage Shed in Reseda Burns

Neighborhood Boys Thrilled by all the Popping Sounds.

Ignorant Government Officials Overreact to Harmless Event.

Note that ammo does not "explode" even in the chamber of a gun. The powder burns in a controlled manner.

Also, when an unchambered round discharges due to fire, the heavy bullet moves slowly away, and the lighter casing move more quickly away, but not at any velocity that could do much harm to anyone. Might put your eye out if you were close by, or even sting a bit. But I'd love to see the scene after, and see how many bullets made it out of the structure (zero) and how many casings made it more than 20 feet (few).

[Daffynition]

DING!DING!DING! We have a winner!

Perfect!

[JrsyJack]

Correct...same principle as how barrel length affects muzzle velocity. With no confined space, i.e. barrel, to compress and direct the blast a bullet is just a firecracker.