Re: Lethality the limit to small arms velocity


panzerboy@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> The history of small arms has been a gradual decrease in calibre and
> increase in velocity.
> The 5.56mm calibre has been around since the sixties.
> Before that the first generation smokeless rounds lasted 60 years. (the
> 7.62 NATO was pratically no advancement on .303 and .30 calibres). One
> might think we would be reader for another calibre decrease.
> Higher velocity flechette weapons have been made (Steyr ACR) but not
> adopted. Its hard too see how a a small (2mm?) projectile can create
> wounds of the order of a yawing 6mm.
> To achieve the same lethality you'd have to hit your enemy several
> times. That could be possible, IIRC the Steyr ACR had a high rate of
> fire (2000Rpm?), the G11 mechanism could send three bullets for one
> recoil. Electric priming and gatling type mechanisms might increase the
> rate of fire even more. Hard to see the use right now a complex
> flechette multi-barrel. Especially in a adverse environment. Your
> shoulder fired micro-gun (pico-gun?) would be jammed and the Jihadiis
> Kalashnikov ripoff would be worked just fine.
> So, can you foresee the trend to small higher velocity calibres
> continuing or have we reached a practical limit?

The limiting factor is target effectiveness. The projectile has to
carry several hundred metres, penetrate body armour and inflict wounds
severe enough to rapidly disable anyone hit by them. This takes a
certain minimum size of projectile. The smallest in current military
service is the 4.6 mm HK round used in the MP7 PDW; the jury is out as
to how effective that is, but bear in mind that the 5.56mm NATO has
been taking flak over its effectiveness, and that's a lot bigger and
more powerful.

The problem with flechette rounds is even worse than their smaller
calibre would suggest: because they are fin-stabilised, their stability
is not affected by penetrating flesh so they don't yaw or tumble, they
just drill a tiny hole straight through.

The optimum military rifle calibre (balancing recoil, ammo size and
weight, range and effectiveness) is probably somewhere in the 6.5mm
range. See: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Assault.htm

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk

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