Frangible Bullets

[Kirby]

Has anyone ever heard of "frangible bullets"? If so, what were they and how were they used?

VBR
Kirby

[stevedrew]

Kirby,
"Frangible" bullets break up upon impact, causing ripping wounds to flesh, and would perhaps have a better chance of cutting a control cable or such. It would do little damage to an engine if it happened to hit there.
VBR
Steve Drew

U.S. issue frangible bullets (circa 40's and 50's) (painted green for identification) were of a chalklike compound that would survive the high velocity trip through a weapon's barrel, but smashed into powder on a matal target. They were used extensively for spotting purposes in sub-caliber devices for larger bore guns, during war games, or to familiarize gunners with the operating characteristics of their weapon.
Frangible bullets as described by Steve work fairly well at magnum revolver velocities. A cast bullet of linotype composition will shatter upon hitting a bone and create much lack of merriment on the part of the medic who has to probe the wound. The frangible bullet leads hell out of a bore at handgun velocities and would be impossible to use at rifle velocities.
Other frangible bullets (lead shot in a cup, for example) will work at rifle velocities. They are not designed for anything but anti-personnel use.
Frangible merely means that the bullet will break up on impact. There have been rounds erroneously called frangible that consisted of a stack of waferlike bullets that separated on impact. The correct term is compound bullet.(Colloquially known as stacked slugs or multiple projectiles.)
I have no idea what kind of frangible bullet was used in WW-I. First, who used them? Second, where can we find a reference to them?

[Graeme]

From the glossary on www.gunnery.net -

GLASER SAFETY SLUG, Inc. developed the first frangible bullet in 1974 to provide reduced ricochet and over-penetration danger with improved stopping power over conventional bullets. In 1987, GLASER developed the round-nose frangible bullet offering guaranteed feeding reliability. In 1988 GLASER introduced the compressed core bullet to maximize bullet weight and the number of bullet fragments. This precision formed bullet also produces target grade accuracy, seldom found in a personal defense bullet. In 1994 GLASER improved fragmentation reliability to below 1000 feet per second through the use of soft, rather than hard plastic in the bullet tip.

Glaser received a patent in '74, for a certain type of frangible bullet, but I used shot packed frangible 45-70 bullets in the 1940's. This is a very old and usually a very poor idea. They simply do not perform as specified.
There were also a number of explosive bullets from the Civil War onward that were, in effect, frangible. In that sense, the Buckingham bullets of WW-I were frangible.

[Barrett]

Today, frangible ammo is widely used in law enforcement training, and presumably in some military areas as well. Its main advantage is that, when loaded in cartridges with noncorrosive primers, it's safe to shoot on indoor ranges with sophisticated air filtration systems. No lead, etc., to pollute the environment so it's EPA approved. At the end of the day/week/whatever you just sweep up the dust- or powder-like residue and dispose of it according to regulations.
Frangible ammo can be lethal to the head and has been advocated for special ops uses where penetration must be avoided. However, it can safely be used in "force on force" training provided that all players have adequate protection. Makes a BIG diff when you know that the penalty for missing your sparring partner is a pistol-caliber round to the torso.

The odd WWII program if utilizing "Pinball" P-63s was to see "frangible" .30 cal. rounds (soft- harmless to the aircraft) fired at the Kingcobras. The ships were arrayed with lights which would flash when hits were scored on the fighter...Lee

[Kirby]

Thanks for the input guys. A bullet collector at the last gun show I went to had some frangible bullets. The casing and bullet shape looked like the old standard .30 caliber '06 and they were definitely GI with a '40s head stamp. Can't remember what arsenal. Frankford maybe. The main difference was the bullet. It was a marbled or mottled green in color. Near turqoise and had the appearance of a hard plastic.

I learn something new from you folks every day.

VBR
Kirby

[stevedrew]

Kirby,
The Navy (USN and RAN both) also use frangible nose-caps on their air-launched anti-submarine torpedoes to give them a more aerodynamic shape for travel through the air, yet to protect the sensitive transponders in the nose of the weapon. The frangible nose cap accompanies the torpedo in flight, giving the weapon less drag, and breaks into pieces upon impact with the sea. Salt water enters the torpedo, and it begins to orient itself and begin its search pattern.
Hope that also helps.
VBR
Steve Drew

Special ammounition used in the Airwar WW I:

RFC
.303 with Pomeroy esplosive bullet
.303 with RTS explosvie bullet
.303 with Buckingham incendiary bullet

Deutsche Fliegertruppe
8x57IS S.Pr. Geschoß (Phosphor-Bullet)

Austria
8mm Adler "B-Patrone", especialy against Luftschiffe

Frangible Bullets in US-Airforce WWII
.30-06 Springfield
.50 BMG
232 P-63 "Kingcobra" where built as RP-63s, which were put to possibly th most unusual use of any production aircraft - flying targets. They were flown against B-17a and other bombers in what had to be the most realistic gunery training ever, because the gunners were able to fire directly at the RP-63 and hits could be seen. A light in the propeller hub would light when a hit was scored giving rise to the "Pinball". How was it done whithout recruiting suicidal pilots? The bullet was a frangible one, mixed of lead and graphite compound. The bullet colours are green-white. Today there is also an 7,62x51 "Nato" bullet for gunnery pratice in use.