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2010-07-24 Science & Technology
New Ammo Slashes Machine Gun Weight
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Posted by  Anonymoose 2010-07-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ]  Top

#1 7.62 ball goes for what, $1-2 per shot? I'm sure this stuff will be $8, $12, $50 per cartridge?
Posted by gromky 2010-07-24 02:21||   2010-07-24 02:21|| Front Page Top

#2 2 things come to mind...

First: How did they strengthen & seal the chamber under high pressures with plastic casings, did they tighten clearances, etc?) -- and will it work under field (dirt, fouling high heat) conditions?

Second: Much of the 16 pounds "saved" will probably be used for more ammo. You can seldom have "too much" in the field.
Posted by OldSpook 2010-07-24 04:06||   2010-07-24 04:06|| Front Page Top

#3 People been talking about "caseless" (the plastic just burns up) ammo for 50 years.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2010-07-24 04:52||   2010-07-24 04:52|| Front Page Top

#4 Yep, you can never have too much ammo; you can have too much weight to carry.

I'm hoping this is the Steve Holland ammo, but it doesn't sound like it with the straight magazine, and sounds like it needed a new chamber.

Biggest problems so far have been seal to bullet at neck and design of case head; primer pocket and extraction.
Posted by Whiskey Mike 2010-07-24 05:01||   2010-07-24 05:01|| Front Page Top

#5 They could be the mostly deadly, weightless, invisible Death Ray bullets imaginable, but if you are not allowed to SHOOT them, what good are they?

Besoeker's Small Arms Program Office six year minute, no-cost R&D study: The fellows who are giving us fits appear to be sticking with the standard, cheap, and plentiful 7.62x39. How about we produce as much 7.62x51 and 5.56 NATO as our ammunition plants are capable of, and permit our warriors to pump it into the enemy in unprecedented, deadly volumes until we achieve success?
Posted by Besoeker 2010-07-24 07:54||   2010-07-24 07:54|| Front Page Top

#6 sounds good too me Besoeker, but you know that would kll to many fluffy bunnies
Posted by chris 2010-07-24 12:12||   2010-07-24 12:12|| Front Page Top

#7 Have to wonder how the plastic case holds up when the chamber is hot from heavy fire? Hate to have it melt and stick.
Posted by Gomez Thranter5886 2010-07-24 15:33||   2010-07-24 15:33|| Front Page Top

#8 Ive seen this ammo at the AAI booth a couple of years ago at AUSA. It is pretty impressive. I believe it deals with the isues of heat and sealing very effectively.
Posted by remoteman 2010-07-24 19:11||   2010-07-24 19:11|| Front Page Top

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