Ammo Shortage? Not during Vietnam apparantly....

[Hanse Davion]

I heard on the military channel that the average kill/bullet use ratio was 50,000 bullets per one kill for general infantry during vietnam, while snipers were closer to 1/1. Does anyone know if this is actually correct, and if so, what are the numbers today?

[kygen]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2007/07/robert-higgs/if-you-miss-the-first-time/

this was back in 07, but it was about 250k bullets per insurgent killed

[Hanse Davion]

My god, its 5 times worse?

[kygen]

I'm trying to justify this, or give any sound reasoning for it......but I just can't

[Montu]

its still pretty crazy..however my understanding is that the number is so high because they count all the rounds used for training

[Hanse Davion]

its still pretty crazy..however my understanding is that the number is so high because they count all the rounds used for training

Well if that is the case my ratio as a civilian is a number that doesn't exist.

[kygen]

do they also give ammunition to afghani/Iraqi forces that they trained? That could account for a decent amount

[M1A_KICHI]

its still pretty crazy..however my understanding is that the number is so high because they count all the rounds used for training

I remember having a discussion with one of my old supervisors who retired from the army and when I mentioned this very topic he laughed and said it was and I quote "horse $#%@". He did mention IF in fact it were true it would probably include all ammo in training, given to allies, or lost (tragic boating accidents). Take it for what its worth.

[harmoniums]

lots of indirect fire also, where I came from, we called it "beaten ground".

[kygen]

I remember having a discussion with one of my old supervisors who retired from the army and when I mentioned this very topic he laughed and said it was and I quote "horse $#%@". He did mention IF in fact it were true it would probably include all ammo in training, given to allies, or lost (tragic boating accidents). Take it for what its worth.

makes sense

[IrishJoe3]

This is why

[alfred1222]

Guys, the MAJORITY of rounds expanded in combat are for suppressive fire. That's what causes those numbers.

[HKJay]

Dave Grossman's book "On Killing" has a good discussion about this. Essentially, many people firing were either missing on purpose or doing so at a subconscious level. Soldiers were trained on non-realistic targets and weren't able to actually kill. The military has since modified their training.

[RTE]

I heard on the military channel that the average kill/bullet use ratio was 50,000 bullets per one kill for general infantry during vietnam, while snipers were closer to 1/1. Does anyone know if this is actually correct, and if so, what are the numbers today?

Thats just the ratio the government bought for
Just think IF those numbers were true, there would be no military surplus ammo.

After watching the video
I think we need more snipers in the field ????

[Ford8N]

Guys, the MAJORITY of rounds expanded in combat are for suppressive fire. That's what causes those numbers.

The answer.