5.56 wounds!

[1lostinspace]

I am trying to get some picture to a friend that thinks 5.56 is way underpowered. He does not understand terminal ballistics. Please PM me any pics you have.


This guy got hit with a m855! the frag destroyed his leg!

PM if you want to see the photo

[DaveInOroValley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBqjAyhs56M

[FNH5-7]

Nice pics. Don't have any 5.56 pics, only have pics of what a .308 can do to the head. Pm me if you want them.

[sherm2954]

Dang...that is gnarly...possibly the most disgusting thing I've seen in ages....he really needs a pedicure...

[1lostinspace]

Dang...that is gnarly...possibly the most disgusting thing I've seen in ages....he really needs a pedicure...

I thought the same thing

[1lostinspace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBqjAyhs56M

yeah looks like the guys leg!

[Cali-Shooter]

Nice pic. In b4 the delete.

[1lostinspace]

Nice pic. In b4 the delete.

you think they will delete it? why it's just a leg wound maybe I should take it down

[Durasteel]

Well, I hope your friend doesn't think the 7.62x39 is deadlier than 5.56. The shaded in area is the permanent cavity, which is what matters. The temporary cavity is just tissue that is stretched, but not destroyed.

[!@#$]

Well, I hope your friend doesn't think the 7.62x39 is deadlier than 5.56. The shaded in area is the permanent cavity, which is what matters. The temporary cavity is just tissue that is stretched, but not destroyed.

with a decent load 762x39 is better than nearly all of the 556 loads.

win sp, lapua sp, uly 8m3 very good x39 ammo. the uly is very cheap too.


7.62x39

In discussing 7.62x39 mm FMJ, the question is always which one, as their characteristics are highly variable.

In fact, there is a bit of a controversy brewing in some of the AAR’s coming in from OCONUS on the effectiveness of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition. Initially, this appears somewhat strange, as there may be more forensic data available regarding wounds caused by the Russian 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ than for any other rifle cartridge. The original 7.62 x 39 mm Russian M43 Type PS 120.5 gr FMJ boat-tail bullet has a copper-plated steel jacket covering a large steel core and a typical muzzle velocity of 2340 f/s. In tissue, it typically travels approximately 9.8 to 10.6" point forward before beginning significant yaw. Most uncomplicated wounds of the torso and extremities have small punctate entrance and exit wounds and exhibit minimal internal tissue disruption since the bullet does not deform or fragment and usually exits before yaw occurs. Total penetration is around 29.1”. WDMET (Wound Data and Munitions Effectiveness Team) collected extensive forensic data on over 700 7.62 x 39 mm gunshot wounds during the Viet Nam war. The predominant feature of this cartridge is the MINIMAL amount of damage it produces in soft tissue wounds, on par with FMJ handgun wounds such as those produced by 9 mm M882 ball. We also have extensive law enforcement data, as this cartridge has been used extensively in illicit activity. For example, in the 17 January 1988 Stockton school shooting, 30 of 35 kids who were shot lived. Of the five that died, all were shot in critical structure––head, heart, spine, aorta and none had damage to any organ not directly hit by a bullet.

However, not all 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ bullets are of the original steel core construction. Significantly increased tissue damage is produced by the early yaw seen with several 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ lead core bullets, including:

–– Yugoslavian M67 124 gr FMJ, flat based, copper-jacketed, lead core bullet which travels only 3.5" in tissue before yawing

–– Chinese (PRC) 7.62 x 39 mm 123 gr FMJ, copper-jacketed, lead core bullets which begin their yaw after only 2 to 2.5" of travel in tissue.

–– Czech and several types of Western commercially produced lead core 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ yaw within the first 2 to 3 inches of travel in tissue.

In both uncomplicated extremity and torso wounds, the very early yaw of these lead core 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ bullets allow the projectiles to travel sideways through the body, substantially increasing permanent tissue destruction and temporary cavitation effects compared to the standard 7.62 x 39 mm Russian M43 Type PS 120.5 gr FMJ. These early yawing lead core 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ bullets cause wounds very similar to the 5.45 x 39 mm Russian M74 53 gr FMJ bullets, however, the larger size of the 7.62 x 39 mm bullets results in a bigger permanent cavity compared to 5.45 x 39 mm bullets.

The differences in terminal effects seen in recent combat with 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ wounds can likely be explained by the different terminal effects caused by the various types of FMJ construction.

When one moves to a expanding/fragmenting design in 7.62 x 39 mm, terminal performance is significantly enhanced. The best 7.62 x 39 mm loads we have tested to date are the Winchester 123 gr JSP (X76239) and the Lapua 125 gr JSP. Out of a 16” barrel they perform somewhat like lightweight .30-30 loads:

Lap 125 gr JSP
Bare Gelatin: vel=2316 f/s, pen=17.3”, RD=.62”, RL=.43”, RW=122.6 gr
Car Windshield: vel=2323 f/s, pen=14.8”, RD=.60”, RL=.40”, RW=110.6 gr

Win 123 gr JSP
Bare Gel: vel=2253 f/s, pen=14.4”, rd=0.56”, rw=90.1gr
Pretty much the same results when going through car windshields.

Of note, most of the "cheap” Russian JHP/JSP ammunition offers poor terminal performance. The one that seems to work is the 7.62x39mm Saspan 124 gr JHP (Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant; 8M3 bullet); from a 16” AKMS the data is:

BG: vel=2297 f/s, pen=15.0”, Max TC=10cm@18cm, RD=0.63”, RW=100.5gr"

Because of the larger permanent cavity and greater bullet mass, the 7.62 x 39 mm JSP’s offer somewhat better performance than the .223 bonded JSP’s, like the Trophy Bonded Bearclaw use in the Federal Tactical loads. These 7.62 x 39 mm JSP loads are a good choice for use against car windows and should also be outstanding for hunting deer and other similar size game.

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=310

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

[1lostinspace]

the thing is that 5.56 is nasty when using FMJ or JHP SP BT.
Other rounds require a non FMJ to be effective. This allows you to penetrate hard targets and frag in soft not to mention the weight, now I am not saying 5.56 is more powerful then .308 just more suited for combat in close range, each round has it's place and 5.56 300 meters on in is hard to beat. .308 is far better choice if your either stationary or shooting medium to long range. So you have to pick the right tool for the job I think we can all agree that 7.62x39 is not very accurate and at around 300 meters is hard to group at MOA but does a great job against walls cars or what ever. For me shot placement and light weight is key follow up shots are far more important then power.

[Cali-Shooter]

you think they will delete it? why it's just a leg wound maybe I should take it down

Sorry, I didn't mean for it to be taken down. Just that you have to thread carefully with certain kinds of threads, otherwise it will go *POOF*. If there is a link to the picture on the net somewhere, I'm sure there is no problem posting that at least.

Yes, 5.56 is nasty, like someone said, it is an ideal war round. It wounds and maims what it doesn't kill, and those wounded casualties suck up more manpower and resources than a dead one, increasing the inflicted side's costs to continue fighting.

[1lostinspace]

Sorry, I didn't mean for it to be taken down. Just that you have to thread carefully with certain kinds of threads, otherwise it will go *POOF*. If there is a link to the picture on the net somewhere, I'm sure there is no problem posting that at least.

Yes, 5.56 is nasty, like someone said, it is an ideal war round. It wounds and maims what it doesn't kill, and those wounded casualties suck up more manpower and resources than a dead one, increasing the inflicted side's costs to continue fighting.

I shot a coyote at about 40 yards with a 55gr SP and it tore it all up! I have also seen a friend put down a dog that had eaten glass and he got sprayed with brain and skull frag! the head was almost off!

[1lostinspace]

PM sent

[SScott]

Shoot your friend with a 5.56 and let him be the judge.