Rifle Bullets Research Articles

Unleaded hunting: Are copper bullets and lead-based bullets equally effective for killing big game?

Semi-jacketed lead-cored or copper-based homogenous rifle bullets are commonly used for hunting big game. Ever since their introduction in the 1990's, copper-based bullets have not been widely accepted by hunters due to limited supply, higher expense, and the perception that they exhibit inferior killing efficiency and correspondingly higher wounding rates. Here, we present data showing that animal flight distances for roe deer, red deer, brown bear, and moose dispatched with lead- or copper-based hunting bullets did not significantly differ from an animal welfare standardized animal flight distance based on body mass. Lead-cored bullets typical fragment on impact, whereas copper-based bullets retain more mass and expand more than their leaden counterparts. Our data demonstrate that the relative killing efficiency of lead and copper bullets is similar in terms of animal flight distance after fatal shots. Hunters that traditionally use lead bullets should consider switching to copper bullets to enhance human and environmental health.

Damage prevention in transformer bushings subjected to high-velocity impact

This paper contributes further to the discussion recently initiated in Ref. [1] regarding the protection of pressurized porcelain bushings against high-velocity impacts on high-voltage (HV) transformers by means of an elastomeric coating. Valuable observations and conclusions were made in our previous work concerning the impact behavior of the bushings and their protection from a unique combination of ballistic air gun tests performed on borosilicate glass cylinders, representing the bushings, and from flat glass plates tested via drop tower. Clearly, the conclusions from our previous work, critical to many utilities world-wide, needed to be independently verified by full-scale ballistic testing performed on the actual bushings under rifle bullet impact. In addition, to complete the impact analysis, the coated borosilicate cylinders were subjected to impact at energies higher than an air gun to demonstrate the energy effect on cylinder failure. Also, the cascading failures of the cylinders was investigated in this work, for the first time, to show what a single unprotected bushing failure could do to surrounding infrastructure. It was shown that the cascading failure of pressurized unprotected bushings could be a real and dangerous threat in a substation. It was also found that the linear extrapolations of fragmentation behavior with respect to energy in [1] is misleading. Most importantly, the unique but slightly speculative predictions of coating protections on the bushings were significantly overestimated, which was clearly demonstrated in this work. The bushings could be protected by an elastomeric coating against rifle bullet impacts with a coating thickness of a few mm instead of 60 mm as previously reported.

Regulations on lead ammunition adopted in Europe and evidence of compliance.

The transition to non-lead ammunition has been enforced by regulations on use and possession of lead shot and rifle bullets. Here we review the scientific and technical literature about this regulatory process in Europe and give some notes of its effectiveness to reduce this source of lead contamination in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Presently, lead shot use has been legally restricted in 23 European countries. Two, Denmark and The Netherlands, have a total ban of lead gunshot use in all types of habitats, 16 countries have a total ban in wetlands and/or for waterbird hunting, and 5 have a partial ban implemented only in some wetlands. The legal regulation of lead bullets is limited to some German regions. This review also highlights the need to know the level of compliance with the ban on lead ammunition and the subsequent benefits for the susceptible species and for game meat safety.

Fragmentation of lead-free and lead-based hunting rifle bullets under real life hunting conditions in Germany.

As lead is a heavy metal showing high toxicity for many organisms, its entry in the ecosystem should be minimised. Nevertheless, considerable quantities are deposited in the environment via hunting ammunition. Such practice is responsible for the occurrence of lead poisoning in many wildlife species and represents a health risk to humans. We assess the differences in the fragmentation patterns of lead-based and lead-free hunting rifle bullets using the radiographic characteristics of gunshot wounds. We took radiographs of 297 wild ungulates shot during regular hunting events in Germany. Compared to lead-free ammunition, both the number of bullet fragments and the maximal distance between fragments and the wound channel increased when bullets were lead-based. Under normal German hunting conditions, the use of lead-based bullets causes a broad contamination of the carcass and the viscera with bullet material. The wide-spread substitution of lead-based bullets through non-lead alternatives should therefore be further encouraged.

3D dynamics and morphology of bow-shock pulsar wind nebulae

Bow-shock pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) show a variety of morphological shapes. We attribute this diversity to the geometrical factors: relative orientations of the pulsar rotation axis, proper velocity, and the line of sight (magnetic inclination angle may also have a certain influence on the morphology). We identify three basic types of bow-shock nebulae: (i) a "Rifle Bullet" (pulsar spin axis and proper velocity are aligned); (ii) a "Frisbee" (pulsar spin axis and proper velocity are orthogonal with the spin axis lying in the plane of the sky), and (iii) a Cart Wheel" (like frisbee but the spin axis is perpendicular to the plane of the sky). Using 3D RMHD simulations, as well as analytical calculations, we reproduce the key morphological features of the bow-shock PWNe, as well as variations, are seen across different systems. magnetic stresses within the shocked pulsar wind affect the overall structure strongly, producing "whiskers", "tails", "filled-in" and "mushroom" shapes, as well as non-symmetric morphologies. On the other hand, the interstellar medium inhomogeneities and the anisotropy of the energy flux in the pulsar wind have only a mild impact of the PWN morphology. In a few cases, when we clearly identify specific morphological structures, our results do not favor alignment of the pulsar spin axis and proper velocity. Our calculations of the underlying emission processes explain the low synchrotron X-ray efficiency (in terms of the spin-down luminosity) and imply an energetical subdominant contribution of the inverse Compton process.

ЗАДАЧИ ПРОНИКАНИЯ НЕДЕФОРМИРУЕМОГО УДАРНИКА В ПРЕГРАДУ

This paper presents engineering models for the penetration of undeformable drummers into obstacles: wood, concrete, steel and water. As undeformable drummers used: special sniper rifle bullet VSS, concrete artillery shell caliber of 152 mm, the warhead of a concrete-piercing unguided aviation missile S-8BM caliber of 80 mm, armor-piercing shell of 30 mm caliber, bullet of a submarine special APS submachine gun with a caliber of 5,66 mm, bullet of submachine gun special two-mediums ADS with a caliber of 5,45 mm. It is assumed that the resistance force of medium can be represented as the sum of three forces: dynamic drag forces proportional to the square of penetration rate, the velocity of the medium in proportion to the penetration rate and the strength of the static resistance of the medium, which is independent of the penetration rate. Penetration calculations of typical drummers were performed that are in satisfactory agreement with empirical formulas. The listed models are necessary for solving military-applied tasks of penetrating ammunition into obstacles.

Chemical compositional standards for non-lead hunting ammunition and fishing weights

The chemical composition of non-lead, non-toxic, gunshot used for hunting waterfowl is regulated only in Canada and the USA. No nation regulates the composition of non-lead fishing weights, rifle bullets, and gunshot used for upland game hunting. Compositional criteria for these non-lead products are proposed here, based on established experimental toxicity protocols. Because of the demonstrated acute toxicity of ingested zinc shot to birds, fishing weights and gunshot should never be made of this pure metal. Nickel should be avoided as an incidental component of gunshot because of potential carcinogenicity concerns about such embedded shot in birds and other animals. These compositional criteria could be adopted by all nations undertaking the transition to non-lead fishing weights and hunting ammunition. The listed criteria would facilitate production and international trade in non-lead products, and promote easier enforcement and user compliance with non-lead standards.

Intravesical migration of female urethral dilator: a case report of a new urologic emergency in the era of e-commerce

BackgroundThe introduction of foreign bodies in the female urethra for auto-erotic stimulation or in case of psychiatric disorders is not uncommon. The occurrence of intravesical migration of these objects makes it necessary to remove it shortly after insertion, since after long term permanence complications are likely to occurr.Case presentationA 47-year-old white female was referred at our Urology department for migration inside the bladder of a metallic urethral dilator used for sexual stimulation. An ultrasound study and an X-ray plate of the pelvis clearly visualized the presence of an object shaped like a rifle bullet located in the bladder. Twenty-four hours later, the patient reported its spontaneous emission through the urethra during micturition. This was confirmed by US and X-ray imaging.ConclusionsThe retrieval of foreign objects introduced through body orifices with purpose of sexual gratification is a known urological expertise. Curiously, in the case reported, the patient was able to manipulate the object thus facilitating its correct orientation and passage outside the bladder during micturition. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of documented spontaneous emission through the urethra of a sizable intravesical foreign body. Sexual gratification in females though the insertion of urethral dilators is a growing practice, as demonstrated by the broad proposal of such instruments on the web. Therefore, the occurrence of accidental intravesical displacement of such kind of foreign body is increasingly likely, and the Urologists must be aware of this possibility.

Cavity dynamics in 10 wt% gelatin penetration of rifle bullet

In wound ballistics, modeling the penetration-cavitation dynamics will set the basis for evaluating the damaging efficiency of projectiles. In our previous study, a motion model to characterize the behavior of rifle bullets has been established and verified in the gelatin penetration. In order to reveal the cavity production analytically, in combination with parameters obtained from the motion model of rifle bullet, cavity dynamics in gelatin was studied and a motion model of temporary cavity in gelatin penetrations of rifle bullets was proposed and verified by comparison with experimental results in terms of maximum cavity wall radius, radial movement along the penetration trajectory and temporary cavity profiles. It can be concluded that calculated results of the cavity motion model agree well with experiment data for penetration of 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm rifle bullets. And the radial movement of cavity can be characterized by the behavior of bullet and the characteristic velocity. It is significant for the trauma assessment to develop an appropriate cavitation model in gelatin for penetrations of rifle bullet.

Rifle bullet deflection through a soft tissue simulant

Trajectory deflections of 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39mm rifle bullets, fired through 7.5, 15 and 22.5cm of gelatine, were studied. The magnitude of the deflections from the bullets’ original trajectories after perforation are related to the length and the profile of the (wound) channels through gelatine. After 7.5cm of penetration depth, deflection was less than 1°. With the longer channel lengths, bullet instability set in and subsequently, deflection was much larger. Deflection was highest with fragmented 5.56 NATO bullets after perforating 22.5cm of gelatine. The data from this study can be used to assess the degree of bullet deflection in trajectory reconstructions after incidents where human bodies were perforated with rifle bullets of the respective calibres and cartridge types.

Rationale for the regulated transition to non-lead products in Canada: A policy discussion paper

Lead gunshot, rifle bullets, and fishing weights are still allowed in Canadian provincially-regulated hunting and fishing, despite the contribution to lead exposure in humans, wildlife, and the environment. Non-lead gunshot and fishing weights are required in Canada only for waterfowl hunting, and angling in national parks and national wildlife areas. Lead wheel weights are also allowed and comprise a majority of the Canadian market. Effective non-lead substitutes for these products exist, and are already required in various American and European jurisdictions. Several analyses commissioned by the Canadian government in 2018 identified the problems of lead exposure attributable to these four lead products. Lead is already listed under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) that authorizes the government to undertake measures to reduce exposure. CEPA could require, simultaneously, use of non-lead ammunition, fishing weights and wheel weights at the national level, following an appropriate phase-in period. The low provincial and territorial licence fees for hunting and fishing in Canada would offset any costs associated with use of lead substitutes. Costs for non-lead wheel weights would comprise a small percentage of the costs of new vehicles and new tire purchases. This regulatory initiative would complement other Canadian national bans on lead products. Because there is no safe threshold level for blood lead, use of non-lead products would benefit the health of humans, scavengers, upland game species, and fish-eating birds.

THE USE OF KALASHNIKOV (AK-47) IN ‘NDRANGHETA MURDERS: THE FIREARM OF THE CLAN.

‘Ndrangheta is a mafia criminal organization, hailing from Calabria, Italy. This organization is able to use any kind of weapon and the choise depends on the type of murder to commit. So, even bazooka have been used when the victims, judges or rival mafia clan boss, travelled by armored cars. Kalashnikov is not only used “normally” to commit mafia ambushes, but often it has been found carbonized with the car used by killers. This act confirm that mafia clan have available vast arsenals of weapons and it is a demonstration of what this organization is able to do. Gunshot wounds cause significant mortality and morbidity. The analysis of the features of injuries makes it possible to establish which kind of weapon has been used. The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated assault rifle and it uses a long stroke gas system. In order to shoot, who uses a AK-47, inserts a loaded magazine, pulls back and releases the charging handle, and then pulls the trigger. It can be semi-automatic, when the firearm fires only once, or full-automatic, if the rifle continues to fire automatically and cyclically fresh rounds into the chamber. AK-47 rifle bullet injuries present with uncharacteristically large entry wounds and cause complex structural injuries. The consequent trajectory is difficult to predict making regional examination and radiological investigations. Bullets may be retained, leaving no exit wound. We report a case of an AK-47 murder. An autopsy was performed and documented the external lesions. Terminal ballistic reconstructions were carried out. The results of the forensic investigations revealed a mafia matrix in the genesis of the homicide. Kalashnikov is not a frequent weapon, so the wounds are not so common to see in the forensic practice. But, in ‘ndrangheta homicides, this firearm is preferred for its high harmful power that ensure a murder “without mistakes” and with devastating consequences on the shot body. Normal 0 14 false false false IT X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabella normale; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:6.0pt; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:0cm; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-indent:8.5pt; mso-line-height-alt:10.0pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Heads in the sand: public health and ecological risks of lead-based bullets for wildlife shooting in Australia

Lead (Pb) is a toxic element banned from fuel, paint and many other products in most developed countries. Nonetheless, it is still widely used in ammunition, including rifle bullets, and Pb-based bullets are almost universally used in Australia. For decades, poisoning from Pb shot (shotguns) has been recognised as a cause of disease in waterfowl and Pb shot has been subsequently banned for waterfowl hunting in many jurisdictions. However, the risks posed by Pb-based bullets (rifles) have not been similarly recognised in Australia. Pb-based rifle bullets frequently fragment, contaminating the tissue of shot animals. Consuming this Pb-contaminated tissue risks harmful Pb exposure and, thus, the health of wildlife scavengers (carrion eaters) and humans and their companion animals who consume harvested meat (game eaters). In Europe, North America and elsewhere, the environmental and human health risks of Pb-based bullets are widely recognised, and non-toxic alternatives (e.g. copper-based bullets) are increasingly being used. However, Australia has no comparable research despite widespread use of shooting, common scavenging by potentially susceptible wildlife species, and people regularly consuming shot meat. We conclude that Australia has its collective ‘head in the sand’ on this pressing worldwide One Health issue. We present the need for urgent research into this field in Australia.

Assessment of bullet effectiveness based on a human vulnerability model

IntroductionPenetrating wounds from explosively propelled fragments and bullets are the most common causes of combat injury. There is a requirement to assess the potential effectiveness of bullets penetrating human tissues...

A theoretical model of non-deforming bullets penetrating ballistic gelatin

To investigate the interaction mechanisms between bullets and living tissues, ballistic gelatin is used as the tissue simulant and a theoretical ballistic model is established. The drag force, the lift force and the overturning moment on the bullet are obtained based on the assumption that the pressure on the wetted area is consisted of a dynamic term and a static term. To verify the ballistic model, a non-deforming 7.62 × 39 mm rifle bullet is fired in the gelatin block. Spatial positions and orientations of the bullet are obtained through the reflective mirror system. The calculated displacements of the center of mass agree well with the experimental data. Both the yaw angles and the elevation angles of the bullet coincide well with the corresponding experimental data in the first 250 mm of penetration. As shape parameters of the bullet are integrated in the forces and in the moment in the model, the model is expected to be used in the motion predictions of different bullets.

DETERMINATION OF THE BALLISTIC CHARACTERISTICS AND THE DAMAGING PROPERTIES OF SELF-MADE LOADING CARTRIDGES OF 7.62*39 CALIBER

In practice of forensic medicine and forensic ballistics there are quite often the cases of different types ofgunshot wounds infliction by atypical damaging elements which were used in illegal independent loading of cartridges to the rifle weapon. The purpose of the researches being performed - studying on a concrete example from criminalistics practice of damaging properties of 7.62 mm rifle bullets of type FMJBT (Full Metal Jacketed Boat Tail) which were used for loading by self-made way cartridges of 7.62 * 39 caliber. Originally, during natural tests in the conditions of a ballistic track the ballistic characteristics of the shot bullets and the value of their ballistic coefficient were established. At the following stage of researches the losses of kinetic energy of rifle bullets on punching blocks of ballistic plasticine with the thickness of 100-140 mm were determined. As a result of tests the character of formation of the damage channel in the thickness of biological tissues simulator is established at the stable and unstable movement of the bullets in the visco elastic medium. Besides, during the researches the values of the parameters necessary for calculations ofpenetration depth of the bullets into a fabric of biological object depending on their speed at the moment of hit in the target, were determined. In particular it was established that at unstable movement of an investigated bullet in thickness of the simulator the value of boundary speed amounts 138.1 m/s, and the value of the medium drag factor - 1.782. Using estimated values offlight speed of the bullets in the trajectory the values of depth wound channels in biological tissues were calculated and the conclusion was drawn on the guaranteed causing of penetrating wounds in all established distances of shooting. Thus, use of the methodfor estimation of damaging properties of investigated bullets, the criterion of which is the length of the wound channel and its boundary value was obviously demonstrated.

Carotid tree changes of Maxillofacial Missile injuries by Doppler sonographay - an Iraqi study

Background: Injuries of the carotid artery caused by penetrating wounds of the neck are nearly 10 times as common as those caused by non penetrating trauma (1), over 10% of all penetrating neck wounds result in significant carotid artery(2) ,and more than 90% of such injuries are secondary to gunshot wounds (3). Injuries to the extra cranial carotid arteries from penetrating trauma is more likely to cause a dissection through intimae disruption and subsequent formation of a false channel and thrombus (4).Patients: Patients were selected from Maxillofacial department in the Specialized Surgeries Hospital in Baghdad . thirty patients were examined , twenty nine were male ( mean 96,66% ) ,only one female was examined ( 3,34% ) . We prepared a specially designed case sheet including , life saving procedures , type of missile , clinical examination include site of missile injuries according to Saletta JD et al 1976 (5) who classified the neck Into three zones , investigation X- ray ,C T scan. .The ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid arteries was performed, the Doppler machine was -SIEMENS – sonoline ELEGRA . Using a highfrequency linear array imaging probe or transducer 7,5- 9 ( MHz) with a Hewlett packard scanner.
 Methods : The ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid arteries was performed with the patient in the supine position , the examination takes 30 to 60 minutes (6,7) . Using a highfrequency= linear array imaging probe (7.5- 9 MHz) .Results : Patients age ranging from 15 – 57 years and the mean was 36 years ,most cases were from age range 20-29 years ( 40%) .Eighteen patients ( 60%) were injured with bullets , twelve were injured with shell fragments ( 40 % ) , twelve ( 40%) were hand gun bullets and six ( 20%) were rifle bullets. Intimae media thicknesses of common carotid arteries were measured .Mean of IMT right was 0.7 mm and left side was 0.71 mm . While IMT of right external carotid artery was 0.71 mm , IMT of left external carotid artery was 0.75 mm . IMT of right internal carotid artery was 0.8 mm ,IMT of left internal carotid artery was 0.78 mm .Results reveled that mean of IMT of Ext. carotid artery at injured side was more thicker ( 0.79 mm) than non injured side and the mean of IMT of common carotid artery was also thicker at injured side 0.8 mm .
 Conclusion: Ultrasound scanning is noninvasive, and usually painless . , there are no known harmful effects on humans , carotid Ultrasound has to be a risk free procedure . Further Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on X- ray images . Mean of IMT of Ext. carotid artery at injured side was more thicker ( 0.79 mm) than non injured side and the mean of IMT of common carotid artery was also thicker at injured side 0.8 mm .

Nickel and copper residues in meat from wild artiodactyls hunted with nickel-plated non-lead rifle bullets

A nickel (Ni)-plated copper-solid bullet type released up to 93 μg Ni /10 g bullet mass when immersed into meat juice for 7 days (to simulate fragments remaining in venison). A non-nickel-plated counterpart of identical construction released no Ni, but up to 250 μg copper. During thermal processing of pork cubes with embedded bullets, an average of 2.8 and up to 4.3 (maximum) μg Ni were released from the Ni-plated bullet to the surrounding meat. Average nickel and copper content in meat samples (taken in 2–3 cm distance from the shot wounds) from 30 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 3 sika deer (Cervus nippon) killed with nickel-plated copper bullets did not differ significantly from those in controls (roe deer haunch). Contamination scenarios would Cu and Ni contents per portion increase moderately by 20 and 3.3 μg, respectively. In order to limit alimentary Ni uptake, the technological need for Ni-plating of bullets should be carefully evaluated.

From Head to Head: An Emergy Analysis of a War Rifle Bullet

AbstractEmergy (spelled with an “m”) analysis is a method for environmental and systemic accounting in terms of sustainability and quality of resources used for a product, service or process. In this paper, it is applied to the assault rifles projectiles used in war battlefields. The specific emergy is evaluated in terms of sej/bullet, pointing out the upstream investment made by both the environment and the human society to produce the bullet in its operating war conditions. Comparison is made with alternative uses of the same resources when addressed to the support of development and wellbeing.

Abnormal Trajectory of an Air Rifle Bullet in the Body: An Atypical Case

Abnormal Trajectory of an Air Rifle Bullet in the Body: An Atypical Case