[hguant]

> to having sparks generated by bullets hitting e.g. metal and even then, there's not a lot of sparks

Just wanted to chime in on this - it's impossible for most bullets to cause a spark, unlike what TV and movies show. Most projectiles (including the .303 round the British were using back then!) are lead with a copper plating, which are both non-ferrous metals.

Some Soviet era and US military ammunition (specifically m855 rounds) have a steel core, and those can cast sparks, but almost all handguns, and most rifles, aren't using ammunition capable of doing do.

[progre]

The reason for this is that the bullet has to be made of a softer material than the barrel, or else the barrel would wear out really fast.

[sandworm101]

Sparks no, but a spall can be hot. Fabric will not spall but whether by spark or spall, bullets hitting solid objects can generate enough heat to ignite things they touch.

[dwohnitmok]

Ah yes you're totally right! I suppose the majority of fires I've seen have been caused by spalling or something similar as sandworm101 points out.