Why are military rifle cartridges steel jacketed?
2006-08-28 16:30:22 · 9 answers · asked by gedanini3@yahoo.com 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I stand corrected on the term, "cartridge", instead of the intended word, "bullet", in my query. I must disagree with the premise that the steel jacketed "bullet" fragments; quite the contrary, it will NOT fragment upon striking the body of a person. That is the reason for my question, "WHY".
2006-08-28 16:51:38 · update #1
Okay, the bullet in a cartridge is steel jacketed. The bullet is that part of the cartridge that exits the firearm by way of the muzzle of the firearm. The casing or the brass is that portion of the cartridge that contains the charge and the primer and is ejected out of the rear of the barrel or the chamber after firing. The bullet is encased in steel so that it does not fragment. This is not sound military sense in that unless it is necessary to preserve yours or a comrades life it is always best to wound an enemy,hopefully one that will cause his death at a later time but one that requires that he be cared for or carried to an aid station in the rear. This care therefore takes up three or more people out of action. One man to care for the wounded man, or two to carry him back to the aid station. The Geneva Convention bans Dum-Dum and fragmentary bullets for military use.Dum-Dums were excellent morale destroyers both of those they hit but anyone near the victim. This applies to even bullets that may fragment although not designed to do it and therefore the steel jacket.
2006-08-28 19:33:00 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So they penetrate, then fragment and cause more damage. (a copper jacket makes one big hole) Actually, the bullet is steel jacketed, the 'cartridge' is the assembly of the casing and the bullet. Casings are sometimes steel, sometimes brass.
2006-08-28 23:36:24 · answer #2 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
MIL-SPEC is a government written standard so that our troops get the very best weapons and ammunition. It specifies the precise grade of steel to be incorporated into our instruments of death. The primary feature of the mil-spec steel is its compliance with international treaties which describe in great detail how the human body may and may not be shredded. Other kinds of metals could be used to jacket soft lead, but they would not be worthy of a target. Steel is a man's metal, which has always been a component of war, and so it shall ever be.
2006-08-28 23:42:55 · answer #3 · answered by Erica C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wrong question ... most rounds are COPPER jacketed, with a steel or lead core. A steel jacket burns the rifling out of a barrel like nothing else.
2006-08-29 10:24:18 · answer #4 · answered by Nat 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some foreign cartridge cases are steel. Cheaper than brass, if you don't mind some of them splitting. Wear safety glasses.
2006-08-28 23:41:15 · answer #5 · answered by senior citizen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the melting point for steel is higher than the civilian alternative... so basically they can maintain a higher rate of fire without the heat causing a malfunction... this is at least what I think is the case
2006-08-28 23:34:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Steel is sturdier than plastic.
2006-08-28 23:32:48 · answer #7 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because cray paper just would not work.
2006-08-28 23:35:28 · answer #8 · answered by Tusker9E 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
what is wrong with that
2006-08-29 03:19:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋