.308 duplex round

jastr

Anyone ever seen what these things can do. I was given a few of them, and was told they are not legal in my state, but the sheer curiosity is killin me, so if someone can please explain the reason for this rounds existense I would be appreciative.

lets all be responsible! shoot a criminal! Remember 0% of firearms pull there own trigger!

Iconoclast

OK, long story, but here goes.

Our military has long experimented with multiple projectile small arms ammo - even back as far as muzzle loaders ("buck & ball loads, for example). Can't remember if it was ever tried in .50-70, but starting with .45-70, every caliber adopted, and several which were not, have had multiball loads - sometimes strictly experimental, sometimes limited issue.

Following WW2, analysts determined that (a) the vast majority of small arms wounds occurred at much shorter distances than had been commonly believed - well inside one hundred yards, more like inside 100 feet. Further analysis also showed that multiple hits were often required to be sure the target had been sufficiently incapacitated to not pose an additional threat.

Out of this work came the most ambitious multi projectile development program attempted to this day - Project Salvo. This program was running at the same time the military was engaged in the work which led to the adaption of the 7.62x51. There are duplex and triplex rounds in .30-06, .22/.30-06, duplex rounds in several experimental types and in the 7.62x51. There were electric primed rounds, .25 & .27 rounds . . . they tried just about everything under the sun. The upshot was that the multiball rounds simply were not sufficiently accurate. Several types of the '06 rounds will be found w/ red tips. These are not tracer. Rather, the red is a soft material designed to leave a ring on the target so the researchers could determine which hole was made by which projectile.

During the early stages of the Vietnam War, further trials were conducted, largely by Colt. These are known as the Salvo Squeezebore (SSB) types. There were some .50 BMG actually evaluated by the USN in use on the riverine patrols. The other calibers didn't get so far.

The most recent experiments (of which I'm aware) were conducted by Colt in the mid-80s on 5.56 . . . again, never went past the military trial stage.

Now, if your rounds have Winchester or Western headstamps with dates from the 50s, they are from the first series. If in VG or better condition, they are worth $10 to $25 each. If your rounds have a commercial Remington headstamp, extended neck and a strange looking truncated cone style bullet, they are from the SSB series and start at $30 each on the collector market.

Bearing in mind that the military spent untold millions on research and was not impressed enough to ever do more than produce trial quantities, do you *really* want to shoot that stuff up? I have no idea why these would be illegal in any jurisdiction, but then I don't pretend to understand the logic (?!) behind most restrictions on firearms and ammunition.



Edited by - Iconoclast on 08/05/2002 18:55:09