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Back in the day, folks used soft lead projectiles that went "splat" when they hit a target. They expanded pretty well, and did a lot of damage, even at the low velocities produced by black powder.
Then modern smokeless powder came about. Velocity increased, which allowed longer ranges. However, the soft lead was smearing inside the rifling of the barrel, causing a great deal of fouling, very quickly.
The solution was to put a copper jacket on the lead. That cured the fouling, but retarded expansion.
Next was to make JHPs. These allowed the bullet to expand - sometimes. If the tip got plugged, wrapped by clothing fibers, or crushed by a barrier, there was little or no expansion.
Is there a better solution? What if we went back to soft lead bullets? But cured the fouling...with a smooth bore?
But smooth bores are innacurate! Not so fast. Our modern tank cannons are smooth bores, and they are very accurate. The bores are smooth to get the most velocity possible, so the shells can smash through enemy tank armor. The accuracy comes from fancy ballistic computers...and projectiles with fins, like an arrow.
What if we made bullets out of soft lead, but gave them a narrowed back end with fins? Just like a miniature HEAT tank round. We would get velocity, accuracy (especially at pistol range), and expansion, without the need for a hollow cavity in the nose that can fail. As a bonus, the bullets would be cheaper to produce than a jacketed, bonded, wonder bullet.
Soft lead also has advantages when going through a hard barrier, like auto windshields. It tends to deform and go through, rather that skipping off, like a harder bullet sometimes can.
So? Crazy idea? Or not?
Then modern smokeless powder came about. Velocity increased, which allowed longer ranges. However, the soft lead was smearing inside the rifling of the barrel, causing a great deal of fouling, very quickly.
The solution was to put a copper jacket on the lead. That cured the fouling, but retarded expansion.
Next was to make JHPs. These allowed the bullet to expand - sometimes. If the tip got plugged, wrapped by clothing fibers, or crushed by a barrier, there was little or no expansion.
Is there a better solution? What if we went back to soft lead bullets? But cured the fouling...with a smooth bore?
But smooth bores are innacurate! Not so fast. Our modern tank cannons are smooth bores, and they are very accurate. The bores are smooth to get the most velocity possible, so the shells can smash through enemy tank armor. The accuracy comes from fancy ballistic computers...and projectiles with fins, like an arrow.
What if we made bullets out of soft lead, but gave them a narrowed back end with fins? Just like a miniature HEAT tank round. We would get velocity, accuracy (especially at pistol range), and expansion, without the need for a hollow cavity in the nose that can fail. As a bonus, the bullets would be cheaper to produce than a jacketed, bonded, wonder bullet.
Soft lead also has advantages when going through a hard barrier, like auto windshields. It tends to deform and go through, rather that skipping off, like a harder bullet sometimes can.
So? Crazy idea? Or not?