martini-henry vs kevlar

[TehK1w1]

I was under the impression that in clusters they were referred to as flechettes, but when fired singly with a plastic sabot they were referred to as sabot rounds.

Sabot rounds do have impressive AP capability, probably in large part because of their very high sectional density (especially when formed from depleted uranium or tungsten).

 

[atblis]

I think fletchette is simply the dimunitive form of the French word for arrow. "little arrow". Sabot in general refers to the casing around the outside of a projectile.

 

[HorseSoldier]

What atblis said. A sabot round can be anything with a sabot attached to it, be it a tank round or a small arms cartridge.

"Flechette" these days means tiny caliber, fin stabilized projectile, though I think in very early WW1 it referred to a yard-dart looking contraption that pilots would chuck overboard while flying over enemy troops. Don't think they had a good track record for lethality, but sure they sucked pretty wildly if you were unlucky enough to get hit by one . . .

 

[Kernel]

I smell a bar bet:

“Say, I wonder what would of happened if the Zulus had had level IIIA body armor at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift?”

At least that’s slightly more plausible than the ever popular, “What if Napoleon had a B-52 at the battle of Waterloo?”

Rorke's Drift, South Africa, 1879

PS. For the record, I think Napoleaon would of won.

 

[Maverick223]

I have little faith in the wee little 577-450 punching through...but even less faith in the guy behind the vest. One interesting aspect of body armor is that [when working as designed] despite stopping the round and distributing the payload over a broad area...it captures ALL of the energy of the bullet impact, in the case of the 577-450 that is around 1 ton of force...not all that bad, and would not likely kill the person, but could if it broke a rib and punctured a lung. In short I'll volunteer...but only for pulling the trigger.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Kernel, that's easy- the same thing that happened at Isandlwana.

 

[Coronach]

In short I'll volunteer...but only for pulling the trigger.

I'll run the camcorder.

 

[Maverick223]

I'll run the camcorder.

Sounds like we only need a vest and another volunteer for a party...anyone interested?

 

[alemonkey]

I agree with the earlier post...someone needs to send this to the Box O Truth!

 

[GunTech]

Flechette does indeed mean 'little arrow' while sabot means 'shoe'. A sabot is a carrier for a subcaliber prjectile. Flechette rifles used sabots to carry the flechette down the barrel. A tanks long rod penetrator like APFSDS uses a sabot.

Here is a subcaliber bullet and its sabot



Here is a penetrator separating from it's sabot