kBob
Member
During the VN war, in the summer of 1969 the US Army tested a modified S&W M29 revolver for use by troopers entering tunnels to search out enemy, equipment, and intel materials.
This revolver had the barrel bobbed almost right at the frame and the chambers in the cylinder bored through to allow the use of a cylinder length metal cased cartridge.
The cartridge launched 15 metal pellets at about 700 FPS that could each fully penetrate a 3/4 inch plywood board at 15 feet. During the test only one enemy was killed actually in a tunnel, however several were killed at close range elsewhere. Kills or disables were made up to 20 feet away with this gun.
The ammunition used a captive piston design so the weapons sound signature was reported as being much like the suppressed .22 pistol in use by the Ranger Companies up to that of a toy cap pistol of the time.
There were issues with the ammunition misfiring, but the concept of the sealed piston and quiet nature of the ammunition was proven.
Made me do some -kBob thinking.
First, does anyone around here have hands on experience or atleast info about the system. I seem to recall that either Guns & Ammo or Shooting TImes had an article about them I believe in the 1970s.
Second, although the ammunition might be comparitavely expensive to traditional ammunition, might not this design be an excellent candidate for use in the various .410 revolvers? The reduction of noise levels to the firer, especially when used inside a vehicle or bedroom would be a tremendous benefit to the firer.
Thought? Comments?
-kBob
This revolver had the barrel bobbed almost right at the frame and the chambers in the cylinder bored through to allow the use of a cylinder length metal cased cartridge.
The cartridge launched 15 metal pellets at about 700 FPS that could each fully penetrate a 3/4 inch plywood board at 15 feet. During the test only one enemy was killed actually in a tunnel, however several were killed at close range elsewhere. Kills or disables were made up to 20 feet away with this gun.
The ammunition used a captive piston design so the weapons sound signature was reported as being much like the suppressed .22 pistol in use by the Ranger Companies up to that of a toy cap pistol of the time.
There were issues with the ammunition misfiring, but the concept of the sealed piston and quiet nature of the ammunition was proven.
Made me do some -kBob thinking.
First, does anyone around here have hands on experience or atleast info about the system. I seem to recall that either Guns & Ammo or Shooting TImes had an article about them I believe in the 1970s.
Second, although the ammunition might be comparitavely expensive to traditional ammunition, might not this design be an excellent candidate for use in the various .410 revolvers? The reduction of noise levels to the firer, especially when used inside a vehicle or bedroom would be a tremendous benefit to the firer.
Thought? Comments?
-kBob
