Anyone ever stuff 1" steel flechetts into a 12ga. round and shoot them?

[Stomper]

I'm intrigued by the potential of loading 12ga. shells with milsurp 1" steel flechettes. Has anyone fired these babies from their shotty? If so what's your opinion on their performance, penetration of bio-tissue and obstacles like plywood and sheetmetal (like car bodies)?

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[PaulZ]

Have seen them at gun shows already loaded, sure you can do it yourself.

 

[Key-Hay]

Had to google it to se what they were.

12 GA FLECHETTE SHOTGUN AMMO AMMUNITION FOR SALE

 

[Stomper]

YIKES... the rounds in the link you posted are a bit spendy! (BTW- thanks for posting the link!)

 

[Key-Hay]

They sell the sabots and flechettes for loading your own. So what the heck would you use these for anyway? Might be good for bear protection.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

The reason these are still available is the Vietnam era US military tested them out and found they were not nearly as effective as they initially seemed. They would be a poor choice for a bear compared to heavy buckshot or slugs
As a side note they were even loaded into 40 MM grenade shells for a large shotgun blast effect

 

[Key-Hay]

12 GA FLECHETTE SHOTGUN AMMO AMMUNITION AND BUCKSHOT COMPARISON

I noticed these are made in Medford Oregon.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

12 GA FLECHETTE SHOTGUN AMMO AMMUNITION AND BUCKSHOT COMPARISON

I noticed these are made in Medford Oregon.

Polar opposite of everything I have read on the subject. Note they are selling something..

 

[Stomper]

I was looking at a Cheaper Than Dirt ad, where they are selling 1-lb. (approx 960 darts) for under $20.00. Just thought it was an intriguing idea. I think I'll stick to 00-buck and 1-oz rifled slugs.

 

[Phillyfan]

Just by looking at them it seems like they would tumble, and depending on the distance from the target might be sideways on impact greatly reducing penatration. I'l love to test it out and see what angle most of them are at on impact.

 

[Flopsweat]

A guy over at THR tried this a few years ago. Not very effective. Ballistic gelatin test results : 12 gauge Sabot Designs Flechette Sabot cartridge - THR For penetration in a 12 gauge, nothing beats a good old fashioned hardened slug. The most successful ones I've read about had a relatively high level of antimony in them and were heat treated.

 

[Stomper]

MMMmmmm... antimony is a carcinogen. I wouldn't want to shoot someone with that, you could give them cancer.

 

[EMP9596]

The reason these are still available is the Vietnam era US military tested them out and found they were not nearly as effective as they initially seemed. They would be a poor choice for a bear compared to heavy buckshot or slugs
As a side note they were even loaded into 40 MM grenade shells for a large shotgun blast effect

True, I would not even think of a bear, just piss him off more unless a point blank with the muzzle in his mouth!
I carried the '79' for part of a tour and really liked it a lot other than the humping the ammo, and the flechetts were not useful. However if used in an artillery round at level elevation into an outer perimeter? Bad ju-ju for sappers.

 

[Ought Six]

Flechettes are designed for 'beehive' tank gun rounds or rocket warheads. These have canisters of flechettes with a few pound wad of Composition B (plastic explosives) behind it. The shockwave velocity of Comp B is well over 20,000 fps. It will launch out the cloud of flechettes at very, very high velocities. At comparatively very low shotgun velocities, flechettes are essentially useless.

 

[chemist]

MMMmmmm... antimony is a carcinogen. I wouldn't want to shoot someone with that, you could give them cancer.

I don't think Sb is a carcinogen - although it's toxic. Are you sure you aren't thinking of As? Most hard-cast lead is alloyed with Sb, isn't it?

 

[PaulZ]

Maybe if you are in California where everything seems to cause cancer.
BTW I want to try the "18 thin dimes" load "Please take this badge offa me... I can't use it anymore..."

I don't think Sb is a carcinogen - although it's toxic. Are you sure you aren't thinking of As? Most hard-cast lead is alloyed with Sb, isn't it?

 

[Stomper]

I don't think Sb is a carcinogen - although it's toxic. Are you sure you aren't thinking of As? Most hard-cast lead is alloyed with Sb, isn't it?

Don't remember the elematal shorthand for it... all I know (although I'm not a plumber by trade) is antimony is no longer allowed in "soft solder" for potable water pipes. Perhaps I heard wrong about it being toxic vs. carcinogenic, either way... you could kill somebody with it if you shoot them with contaminated projectiles.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

BTW I want to try the "18 thin dimes" load "Please take this badge offa me... I can't use it anymore..."

The box o truth tried that. Didn't work very well as far as penetration. Would probably hurt though The Box O' Truth #35 - A Load of Dimes Vs. The Box O' Truth - Page 1

 

[mudflatmike]

""Anyone ever stuff 1" steel flechetts into a 12ga. round and shoot them?"


No, but in 1969 I stuffed about a zillion of 'em into some jungle from a 40mm grenade launcher, musta worked, 'cause I'm still here.

 

[Stomper]

""Anyone ever stuff 1" steel flechetts into a 12ga. round and shoot them?"


No, but in 1969 I stuffed about a zillion of 'em into some jungle from a 40mm grenade launcher, musta worked, 'cause I'm still here.

LOL... I don't know you, but I like you anyway.