Knock Knock: Liquid Metal Breeching Rounds

David Hambling:

Special Forces also funded the development of another technology by Polyshok Inc., known as the Impact Reactive Projectile. The firm says this 12-gauge ammunition solid slug acts as a liquid. Unlike other projectiles, it will not over penetrate and go through walls. It pretty much stops where it hits – and causes gigantic injuries in the process.

1. [AirPillo]

   Oh, wait… I overlooked that this was a breaching round. That makes sense, now. The usual breaching round is a highly compressed slug of metal powder that atomizes on impact after delivering its energy, right?

   Then again, breaching rounds are for blowing locks open and such. Why do they even mention this one causing injury? They’re not meant as an offensive ammunition.

2. [AirPillo]

   Isn’t that exactly what a jacketed hollow-point projectile is for?

3. [Pete]

   Sounds like it’d be in breach of the 1899 Hague convention: “The Contracting Parties agree to abstain from the use of bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with a hard envelope which does not entirely cover the core or is pierced with incisions.”

4. [Joe in Australia]

   The other good thing about liquid metal is that it doesn’t need to be surrounded by human flesh when traveling back in time to kill John Connor.

5. [zuzu]

   Due to the widespread use of the shotgun as a sporting firearm, it is used in guerilla warfare and other forms of asymmetric warfare. Che Guevara, in his 1961 book Guerrilla Warfare, notes that shotgun ammunition can be obtained by guerrillas even in times of war, and that shotguns loaded with heavy shot are highly effective against unarmored troop transport vehicles. He recommends that suburban guerrilla bands should be armed with easily concealable weapons, such as handguns and a sawed-off shotgun or carbine.

   Also, shotgun barrels aren’t rifled, which greatly increases the simplicity of their manufacture to where any DIY machinist could do so.

   c.f. Saiga-12 & AA-12

6. [retrojoe]

   @#1>Hollowpoints generally do not “explode”. They expand to a predetermined point but maintain mass to ensure penetration. There are “frangible” rounds, generally made of sintered iron or bronze, that break up on impact.

7. [Umbriel]

   @5 — Apparently some police are using them as the default load in their shotguns, for both door-opening and shooting at felons. The latter isn’t just a matter of bloodlust — police would ideally want a round with as little chance of overpenetration as possible, to minimize harm to hostages and bystanders.

   The reference to “gigantic injuries” in the article is a link to a Journal of Forensic Science article on the potential for this round to confuse pathologists by confounding their usual expectations as to ammunition type and range with regard to shotgun wounds.

8. [Counter]

   Pete – the differing needs of actual shooters, modern generals, and 1899-era generals make the Hague Convention as ridiculous on an international scale as any of the unenforced obsolete laws of the rural US. Ever single bullet designed before and after was evaluated for stopping power by all parties. We already have the capability to make the perfect Hague bullets: flechette grapeshot. Guess what: it’s not used. Armies refuse to fight with weapons that can only wound their enemies.

9. [Hapax]

   I checked out the Polyshok main page http://www.polyshok.com/

   It doesn’t look like the rounds are designed as breaching rounds. Looks like the energy dispersion is designed to minimize over-penetration and collateral damage.

   There’s a great link on the page to a forensic science journal that gives you cut-away photos of the rounds.

10. [Mark]

    Acctualy I just don’t get this, what the hell?

11. [Takuan]

    http://artintifada.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/israel-dime-weapon-effect-on-gaza-article-and-gallery/