[TowerTalk] re:LEAD

Dan Arney kn6di@groupone.net
Fri, 22 May 1998 03:45:19 -0700



Peter Forbes wrote:

> In answer to the question about bullets:
>
> The answers so far have neglected the fact that a rifle bullet gets its
> initial high velocity and distance by the rifling on the barrel, which gives
> it a spin along a horizontal (longitudinal) axis, much like throwing a football.
>
> As a rifle bullet travels a long distance this spin is diminished until
> random perturbations in the air will cause the bullet to begin to tumble,
> hence losing much of its velocity.
>
> In the case of a 38 or similar bullet, this effect occurs much sooner, as
> the horizontal (longitudinal) axis spin is almost non-existent.
>
> Having said that, during World War 1 there were recorded cases of a 303
> rifle bullet killing someone at a distance of 5 miles - from my reading of
> old letters, this was usually where the bullet penetrated through eyes, ears
> or some other weak part of the torso, sufficiently wide enough to take a
> tumbling bullet.
>
> Perhaps this is why we all wear hard hats on building sites - to protect us
> from stray falling bullets!!!!
>
> Cheers
>
> Peter   VK3QI
> Peter you overlooked the big problem you "LIVE DOWN UNDER" where else would you
> expect a bullet to go????   Down right!!!

HiHank KN6DI
73


> --
> FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm




--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm