Bullets / Ammo That Lose Most of Their Energy (Velocity) In a Few Yards

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Mike1234567

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I know that bullets need mass+velocity to be effective. However, for close-range needs, such as for self and home defense, it would be very convenient to have ammunition with bullets that are very effective at nearby objects but lose most of their deady force within a few yards. Let's arbitraily set it at twenty yards.

This isn't about frangible bullets nor long-distance shootouts. This is about close-range SD/HD bullets that rapidly lose their energy to minimize collateral damage.

My guess is this ammo would be ultra-high velocity rounds with projectiles made of some sort of hard plastic.

Does any ammo like this exist and do they work?
 
You are talking about physics, momentum specifically. There are no rounds that have the capability to alter the laws of physics. You have mass, and speed. If you want to reduce energy or "effectiveness" you need to reduce one or both of the variables, because gravity will act as a constant on both.
 
This doesn't violate physics, you just need to use a material that isn't very dense but is driven to high speed.

Yes they have been made, but aren't common. Perhaps they don't work... They've been plastic and aluminum. Lead round balls are a current accepted projectile that has this characteristic, but it isn't as drastic as you'd like. A steel or aluminum round ball would be a bit more in line with what you want. Perhaps you need to handload a Taurus Judge with 4 36 caliber steel balls.

However, no matter how light you make the projectile, I think it is still going to be a hazard for some distance. It may not have the weight or speed to penetrate far, but could penetrate skin, an eye, etc and still be a liability for some distance. But certainly a lead projectile will be more hazardous than a less dense one.
 
I have no interest whatsoever in projectiles that are defensively inadequate after 20 yards - that's an IANSA goal, stated by Ms Peters. I cannot guarantee that any defensive encounter I may become an unwilling participant in will never extend before 20 yards, and I practice accuracy with my primary defensive handgun at ranges longer than that.
 
OP-You could use a combination of rocks and unkind words. As far as defensive ammo like you described.......I sure haven't heard of any.

This doesn't violate physics, you just need to use a material that isn't very dense but is driven to high speed.
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That is exactly what I said. You need to change one or both variables. Mass or velocity. Or you can figure out a way to attach tiny parachutes to the back of bullets.

I have no interest whatsoever in projectiles that are defensively inadequate after 20 yards - that's an IANSA goal, stated by Ms Peters. I cannot guarantee that any defensive encounter I may become an unwilling participant in will never extend before 20 yards, and I practice accuracy with my primary defensive handgun at ranges longer than that.
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-An answer to a question that no one asked.
 
This has been done before. Some company made a wadcutter shaped plastic bullet that exited a handgun at rifle velocities yet played out within 100 yards due to its light weight.

I think they were called "Thunderzap".
 
How about rubber bullets made for riot control?

I have 9 rounds in 7.62X39. A guy gave 'em to me at the range. They have a very, very thin copper jacket covering a rubber bullet and are very Soviet Bloc-looking.

I know that rubber bullets for 9MM are being manufactured as well; I've seen them used on the news a few times over the years.
 
There was such ammo available years ago and it was indeed called Thunderzap. It used a very light nylon hollowpoint bullet and IIRC was briefly available in 38 Spl and 45 ACP. Second Chance vests used to distribute it.

Because of the very light bullet, the BC was terrible and even though it exited the muzzle at blazing speeds, it was out of gas within about 100 yards.

The company is long out of business and ammo is a collector's item.
 
Those #12 shot .22 shot capsules are only good out to maybe 10' to kill a chipmunk. Any further and the .410 comes out. Those shot capsules can also be purchased in .38 Special.
 
Oh, sorry.
A face-full of 200 (I counted one) .22 pellets (shot size #12) would be no fun from several to five feet away!

OUCH!
 
Oh, sorry.

A face-full of 200... shot #12 would be no fun from several to five feet away!
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No problem. :)

True, that, but it wouldn't stop a determined attacker and might even just fire them up more. ;)

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DoubleTapDrew... Thanks for the link. I added it to my subscriptions and am reading it now.
 
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Well, let's see: blanks are lethal at contact distance, can damage your eyes at quite a distance, and are harmless at greater distance.

Similarly, any light, low-ballistic coefficent projectile will lose speed fast, especially if it starts out at high speed.

Has anyone tried handloading feathers? Balsa or hollow plastic?
 
I think this qualifies:

Lehigh makes a 100 grain CQB (in .458 diameter) specifically for the 458 SOCOM.

I just got a box of fifty…. and am going to test them soon.

They are made from 7075-T6 aluminum.... then coated with a protective film to eliminate/reduce oxidation.

I expect velocity will drop off sharply after 50 yds. Once I chronograph them….I will know exactly how much.

Lehigh3.jpg

Lehigh2.jpg

Lehigh4.jpg

Lehigh5.jpg

Lehigh10.jpg
 
You want very fast, very low weight, and horrible aerodynamics. Think a almost completely hollowed out 12 ga slug but made from aluminum.

Super light weight... pretty much just a shell that's hard enough to keep from deforming while being shot...maybe using a sabot to help it out (loses even more weight when the sabot falls off) , huge drag but not much momentum due to the massive frontal surface, weight still forward so it works like a shuttlecock. What you'd have is a very light object that will probably kill at 10-20y with proper shot placement... but be worthless on any heavy coat.
 
A bullet with lower mass is much less "powerful" even at close range.

Just because it is going the same speed as an ordinary bullet doesn't mean it is still as capable of penetrating and injuring someone.

When you lose the ability to penetrate at distance, you also lose the ability to penetrate close up.

This is not a good idea.
 
Lehigh makes a 100 grain CQB (in .458 diameter) specifically for the 458 SOCOM.

I just got a box of fifty…. and am going to test them soon.

They are made from 7075-T6 aluminum.... then coated with a protective film to eliminate/reduce oxidation.

I expect velocity will drop off sharply after 50 yds. Once I chronograph them….I will know exactly how much.
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I strive to even understand the reason for such a bullet. Talk about poor sectional density! They look cool, but man, what are those things designed to be used for?
 
azmjs said:
A bullet with lower mass is much less "powerful" even at close range.

Just because it is going the same speed as an ordinary bullet doesn't mean it is still as capable of penetrating and injuring someone.

When you lose the ability to penetrate at distance, you also lose the ability to penetrate close up.
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You're missing the fact than when you reduce mass, you can increase velocity (it could be double or triple "normal"). Energy will increase, since it goes up via V^2. Momentum should be about the same. What is reduced is sectional density, so it will shed speed quickly. This reduces momentum, and quickly reduces energy as the bullet goes down range.
 
Flintkapper... You're really making want a .458 SOCOM!! Please do post your results from those very kewl aluminum bullets. Better yet, start a thread specifically for that. It would be shame for that info to get burried in here. But post here too!!

scythefwd... I hadn't considered shotgun slugs but that sounds like a very good option.

azmjs... I agree. The idea is to find the right balance of mass/velocity/sectional density/etc.
 
Aguila used to have an "IQ" series of handgun ammo: light aluminum bullets with large HP cavities.

I believe there was some concern as to their effect on soft body armor, and Aguila stopped exporting them.

aguila45iq-1.gif
 
Tallinar wrote:


I strive to even understand the reason for such a bullet. Talk about poor sectional density! They look cool, but man, what are those things designed to be used for?
Click to expand...

Not sure if you caught the acronym "CQB" I posted in the thread.

Close Quarters Battle

Also suitable for home defense circumstances (permitting the use of a rifle).
 
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