Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!bellcore!att!cbnews!military
From: mjt@super.org (Michael J. Tighe)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: m16xx
Message-ID: <7661@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 22 Jun 89 11:50:35 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Lines: 39
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: mjt@super.org (Michael J. Tighe)


>>When the M-16 was first put into use, wasn't one of its characteristics
>>an abnormally small amount of rifling twist?  The idea was to make the round
>>nearly unstable, so it would tumble when it hit and do more damage.
>>Supposedly, M-16's to be used in the arctic needed a bit of extra twist
>>because of the greater air density.
 
>>Does anyone know whether the above is correct?  Is low twist still used
>>on the M-16?  On what other weapons?  
 
Recently, I got do to some home-grown ballistics with several weapons,
one of which was the (sarcasm mode on big-time) dreaded, evil-death,
baby-killer, drug-scum (sarcasm mode off) Polytech AKS.  One test
consisted of the following.  A large stump (approx 25 inches in diameter)
set in front of 1/4 inch plywood.  Another hardwood stump of similiar
proportions was set behind the plywood.  The AKS round went completely
through the first stump, made a hole in the plywood (this indicated 
the attitude of the slug) and went at least two inches into the second
stump!  The plywood showed that in all cases the bullet was tumbling
when it left the first stump.

The second test consisted of shooting into a green, forked tree.  Each
fork was approx 8-10 inches in diameter.  The slug passed through the 
first fork and lodged in the second fork, several inches deep.  I dug
the bullet out with my knife, and found it to be pointing toward me!
It had went approx 4 inches into the second fork with the wrong end
forward.

These tests were performed on private property in my home town (hick
town, USA).  For you city folk, the wood being fired into was
EXTREMELY hard wood.  If you've never had the opportunity to shoot
where you can just cut loose and enjoy, you haven't lived yet.

Tom
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