Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!cca!ima!pbear!peterb From: peterb@pbear.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: handgun control Message-ID: <9@pbear.UUCP> Date: Wed, 16-Jan-85 05:50:16 EST Article-I.D.: pbear.9 Posted: Wed Jan 16 05:50:16 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 10:36:35 EST Lines: 42 Nf-ID: #R:alice:-322200:pbear:7600001:000:1937 Nf-From: pbear!peterb Jan 11 02:29:00 1985 /* Written 9:59 pm Jan 7, 1985 by sdcc13!ee161anm in pbear:net.politics */ >I don't know about all fire arms, but the M16 A-1 service rifle (which will >soon be replaced with the M16 A-2 service rifle as the primary firearm for >the US armed forces) uses a .22 round which is designed to "rotate" or >"spin" upon impact (it hits at 3.250 ft/second). Although the round >becomes >disfigured upon impact, it does not shatter. It kind of bounces around >inside the victim, and doesn't usually exit. Death is by no means >automatic, >and survival is actually more probable. Besides, except for sniping, >shooting with this rifle rarely produces a hit. You kind of shoot in in >general directions to make it more difficult for the enemy to shoot in your >general direction. Excuse me, but let me correct some points here. first the M16 A-2 is NOT .22 caliber. It uses the standard NATO round of 5.62 mm. This is equivilent to .217323 caliber (close, but not exact) Also, 3.250 ft/second is really slow, equivilent to 2.515 MPH. I could walk faster than that. You are saying that rarely does the rifle produce a hit?!? Come on, on the target range that rifle is accurate to 500 meters, or about a third of a mile. It is only in wartime that the ammunition is expended in suspect of a target, and then its usually FFE (fire for effect), the equvilent of using a case of 12 gauge shells to kill a bird suspected to be in a tree. This is why the figures are so low for hits/round. If used wisely and without the fear of getting hit first, that weapon makes a teriffic hit. Also the round does not "bounce" around. The newer NATO loads vary. some disintegrate and create a cone effect. some mushroom and lodge themselves. Otheres are jacketed and pass through cleanly. With these loads, death is more probable if the bullet enters a vital area such as upper chest, neck, head, etc... Peter Barada ...!ima!pbear!peterb