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Afghanistan
Army to use 'Dirty Harry' bullet against the Taliban
2010-08-15
British troops are to be issued with a new 'super-bullet' to fight the Taliban as their current ammunition does not have the punch to kill the enemy at long range.

The high-performance round will be fired from standard-issue SA80 assault rifles. Nicknamed the 'Dirty Harry round' after the powerful bullets used by Clint Eastwood in the 1971 movie, it is expected to be on the front line in Afghanistan by 2011.

Its development by UK defence firms BAE Systems and QinetiQ follows Army concern in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, last year that the standard 5.56mm SA80 round was failing to hit its target at distances of more than 400 yards.

The Taliban use more powerful rounds in Russian-designed AK-47 rifles to hit British forces at a range of 600 yards. Now the British troops' new round will even up the odds.

The new bullet gives greater range and force against human targets and light vehicles. Because it is the same calibre as the standard bullet, the SA80 rifle will not need modification.
So it's a 5.56 mm bullet still. The cartridge will be more powerful, but it's still a 22. That may even up the odds some, but if I were a Tommy, I wouldn't want even odds, I'd want the odds all in my favor.
Military sources say initial trials have been successful. Pending formal approval, the MoD is expected to order up to one million rounds.

A senior Royal Marines officer just back from Afghanistan said the new bullet would be welcomed on the front line.

He said: 'It will give our infantry soldiers an edge which at present we are lacking.' An MoD spokeswoman said: 'We work closely with industry to ensure equipment is continuously improved.'

Posted by:tipper

#8  "AK-47 rifles to hit British forces at a range of 600 yards"

Are they superman? 7.62x39 is crap past 300m. It simply doesn't have the velocity that a 7.62x51 (NATO) does. Its a matter of physics, you simply cannot get enough powder into that cartridge, and the barrel isnt long enough to add that kind of accuracy.

That's why the 7.62x54 (Dragunov) is out there.

I call BS on the article. 600 yards for 7.62x39 is horse crap
Posted by: OldSpook   2010-08-15 23:59  

#7  I still say they should be using M14's over there.
Posted by: crosspatch   2010-08-15 23:25  

#6  Dump enough rounds,

True enough, Skid - which is why we switched to th little 5.56 - lots more rounds can be carried than the old .30-'06.
Posted by: Glenmore   2010-08-15 23:12  

#5  They're just thinking of this now?
Posted by: Goober Goobelopolous   2010-08-15 23:05  

#4  The SA80 has had a miserable life from conception to now .. Uk forces should never have decommisioned the 'right hand of freedom'

oldies will know what I mean
Posted by: Harcourt 1   2010-08-15 20:30  

#3  Dump enough rounds,
fast enough,
you don't need luck.

a haiku
Posted by: Skidmark   2010-08-15 19:09  

#2  The AK-47 may be able to propel a round 600 yards with dangerous velocity but most such rifles and/or shooters are not able to do so with dangerous accuracy - though sometimes they get 'lucky.'
Posted by: Glenmore   2010-08-15 18:10  

#1  I wonder if the Taliban feel lucky?
Posted by: DMFD   2010-08-15 16:36  

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