New "electric shock" bullet under development

[Preacherman]

I just found the Web site of the MDM group (of whom I'd never heard before). They are developing an "electric shock" round, which they describe as follows:

ShockRounds™ are positioned to be a potential major breakthrough product for the law enforcement industry, the military and border control and anti terrorism initiatives.

ShockRounds™ are specialized bullets and/or non-lethal munitions that generate a high voltage charge and are fully compatible with standard ammunition calibers. This voltage discharges upon impact causing immediate target incapacitation.

By making standard bullets and rubber bullets "electric" and thereby, far more effective, this patent-pending technology will:

Make law enforcement safer and more certain
Save lives and ensure less collateral damage
Reduce injuries and fatalities
Enable far better control and effective enablement in aircraft, public places, arenas etc.
Provide an effective anti terrorism and border control
Decrease legal liability and revolutionize the munitions industry.

In a manner similar to stun guns and "Taser"(NasdaqSC "TASR") technology, a ShockRounds™ bullet discharges an electrical shock upon impact and disrupts the nervous system. It incapacitates the target immediately, although temporarily, via electric shock. ShockRounds™, however, are more versatile and have more applications than any other products currently marketed. For example, the ShockRounds™ rubber bullets can totally incapacitate a target at 100 metres, whereas traditional rubber bullets are largely ineffective at their maximum range of about 40 metres. Further, ShockRounds™ rubber bullets are not restricted to close range use as is the case with stun guns and products such as the "Taser" gun which is limited to around 12 metres as well as requiring a direct wire to the target.

Given the global emphasis on law enforcement, security and terrorism prevention, the need for new and more effective lethal and non-lethal weapons could not be more acute. ShockRounds™ technology is applicable to a wide range of markets and security needs, introducing far more application and versatility to this market sector.

ShockRounds™ technology is being developed for traditional metal and rubber bullet cartridges that are fully compatible with existing firearms. MDM Group proposes to have existing ammunition manufacturers either manufacture the ShockRounds™ products under contract or license. The worldwide market for metal bullets is estimated at over five billion dollars while for rubber bullets it is over $150 million and growing rapidly.

There's a lot more info on the site - worth a visit. There's a QuickTime video showing a test of one of these rounds - click here to view it.

[BluesBear]

It's still a bullet. It's not rubber it has a ceramic element. Which makes it a ceramic bullet. At close range it will still kill you. Look at that crossbolt penetrating the wall.

Thousands of volts. Yes but at what amperage? Voltage without amperage is meaningless.

On the upside you really won't need a bulletproof vest against these thing. A standard scuba suit should do nicely.

[Fatcat]

Yea, I've seen this somewhere. I'm not an engineer (yet), but I don't think the bullet will create enough current to do much of anything. I'm only vaguely familiar with the workings of the piezo effect, but.. I dunno.

On top of it all, the ceramic that generates the charge slowly "ages" as it sits, which reduces the potential charge of the material. Probably not a big deal, but I don't want my bullets becoming less effective over time. Heat also reduces the effectiveness.

No kidding about the crossbow though, looks like the bullet would still achieve some penetration; probably causing more damage than the rubber bullets they are trying to replace.

A decent site on piezoelectricity

[Autolite]

To get the same effect, before I load the mag, I just take my bullets and rub them up and down the sleeve of my sweater a few times ...

[Roadkill Coyote]

Interesting, they're jumping on the boat that Jaycor has been working on for several years. Jaycor's closer to a workable system

Correction: looks like their already aware of Jaycor's stuff, and are claiming that they can do better, although if they want to remain less lethal, they're going to run up against all the same problems that Jaycor did. I wonder how they intend to keep their system from penetrating, but still get good contact? Jaycor was trying to use a large caliber projectile and probes.

[DigitalWarrior]

[raz-0]

I'm sure with high enough pressures that thing will be lethal enough to actually be useful again.

[El Cid]

Nothing new. Captain NEMO had them in the Nautilus.

The book, not the movie!
Jules Verne's 20000 leagues Under the Sea.

[AF_INT1N0]

The problem with non lethal rounds is that you still have to put the goblin somewhere, and what if you have a short? My dad used to say the more complicated a machine the higher the likelihood of malfunction.