Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Tom Caswell <derpimpkar AT yahoo.com>]

M16/M4 is a 5.56mm weapon.  It's the diameter of the round which is effectively the same as the bore.  The round is unstable in flight due to its power and size.  It tumbles when it enters the body which is supposed to maim the enemy instead of kill them.  This does not always work in practice and is especially inefficient for wounds to the limbs.

 

The AK-47 is a 7.62mm weapon.  Larger rounds have a bigger charge which gives more force when chambering the next round.  The M16/M4 does not provide much force when chambering rounds.  I'm not talking about firing covered in mud either.  Frequent firing without cleaning will build up carbon and if it's not removed, the M16 can get cranky.  The AK-47, however, will fire when covered in mud.

 

There is a weapon called the M249.  It's a belt-fed 5.56mm automatic machine gun.  It fires quite fast but it jams so often because the force provided by the 5.56mm rounds to pull the belt through is so weak.  If you don't feed it perfectly you're hosed.  The M240 replaced the M60, both 7.62mm weapons.  The M240 pulls the belt through with about 20lbs of force.  So much more reliable.

 

Tom

Sil Greene <Sil_greene AT unc.edu> wrote:

> Reported 03.12.09 15:23 from Tom Caswell:
>
> .:Wounding them does not stop them or their buddies. It's time to move 
> .:to a 7.62mm weapon.
>
> >From what exactly? (You've aroused my technical curiosity. Why this 
> particular bore [is that the right term?], and what are we using now? Is 
> this the size of the AK-47 and friends?)
>
> --sg
>
> -- 
> "If you put your supper dish to your ears you can hear the sounds
> of a restaurant." --Snoopy (Charles Schultz 02-12-2000 RIP)
> Sil_Greene AT unc.edu 
>
> ---
> Come and play at the InterNetWorkers Web site! http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> You are currently subscribed to InterNetWorkers mailing list
> To unsubscribe visit http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/internetworkers

---

Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing