Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!brl-tgr!jcp From: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto ) Newsgroups: net.legal,net.politics Subject: Re: NYC subway "hero" Message-ID: <7735@brl-tgr.ARPA> Date: Sat, 26-Jan-85 23:57:51 EST Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.7735 Posted: Sat Jan 26 23:57:51 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 5-Feb-85 17:52:08 EST References: <776@reed.UUCP> <709@hou2h.UUCP> Reply-To: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto ) Organization: Ballistic Research Lab Lines: 53 Xref: watmath net.legal:1362 net.politics:7210 Technically, a 'dum-dum' bullet is one with an X cut into the [flat] forward face of the bullet. This is the -ONLY- thing you will see called that in any reasonable reloading manual. Bullets with hollow forward sections are called 'hollow-point'. The hollowed out portion is almost always pentagonally shaped. 'Explosive' rounds are made by taking a 'hollow point' round and filling the hollow with explosive material. (order of a gram or so). The explosive effect is not really all that great, it just is there to ensure expansion once the bullet enters the body, (a problem with higher velocity bullets, or ones with small cross sections, like .22). 'Armor Piercing' ammunition is made with bullets that have a hardened steel penetrator forming the front of the bullet. They look rather conventional, (like a non-hollow point), except that the plating is usually a different color on front. Traditional (single component, non-hollow point), are available in several forms: Wad-cutter - where the front surface is flat, and the entire bullet consists of a cylinder of lead, flat on both ends. Used for target practice, as it makes nice sharp holes in the target (other types tear the target). Semi-wad-cutter - like the above, except the bullet starts to curve in at the fron before becoming flat. Looks like the traditional form, cut off about 1/3 of the way to the tip. Traditional aerodynamic shaped bullet - curves in to a point about a millimeter across or less. These, and semi-WC are available as metal-jacketed (generally in the higher velocities to avoid barrel fouling with lead), and partially metal jacketed (just the part that touches the barrel, not the tip). Standard US military ammo for rifles is full metal jacketed, standard aerodynamic shaped bullets. I believe the same is true for .45 automatic pistols. Ammunition with hollow front sections, and cut bullets (like dum-dums) are not allowed to be used in combat by the Geneva Conventions (I forget which). The easiest way to make a dum-dum is to take a lead-only wad-cutter or semi-wadcutter and cut a cross on the front surface. (Not real difficult). The idea is to score the surface so that the four pieces will divurge when striking the body. From what I have read, Goetz's gun contained HOLLOW-POINT ammunition, incorrectly termed 'dum-dum' by the press. Good sense on his part, actually, that is the preferred kind of ammunition if you want to stop someone at close range. Many (MANY!) police departments use precisely this ammunition, for exactly this reason. And yes, its what sits in the .357 next to the bed in my house. If I ever have to USE that thing, I'd rather NOT have to fire a second shot... -JCP-