WWII exploding rifle ammo

[LHS]

https://www.full30.com/video/82efb579fd3c93d177205966ef3d3c9d

The folks behind "Forgotten Weapons" got their hands on some Soviet 7.62x54R "PZ" and German 7.92x57mm B-patrone explosive ammo, and decided to do some (crude) tests to see if they lived up to the hype. I have no idea what 'ballistic soap' is, or how it compares to correct ballistic gel, but it's still interesting to see how the loads perform compared to ball ammo.

I would love to see proper testing on this ammo, if only to put it into perspective compared to modern projectiles. I've seen similar exit wounds while shooting whitetail deer with 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips from my .308 Model Seven, for instance, and with our modern preference for penetration, I'm curious as to how these old 'marking cartridges' would fare.

[lyodbraun]

Interesting for sure..

[JV_]

So ... ballistic soap is designed to show the temporary cavity?

[Chuck Haggard]

In Korea my dad preferred 30-06 in AP or API, he thought "nothing says "F U" like throwing API at a guy"

[LHS]

So ... ballistic soap is designed to show the temporary cavity?

I'd never heard of ballistic soap prior to this video, so your guess is as good as mine.

[Kyle Reese]

Interesting that the German B-Patrone was only permitted for use against the Soviets and not the Western Allies.

[LHS]

Interesting that the German B-Patrone was only permitted for use against the Soviets and not the Western Allies.

Richard Law's book on Kar98k sniper rifles has a translation of Hitler's order, as well as some back story on it.

[Coyotesfan97]

If you have a chance read Sniper on the Eastern Front. Sepp Allerberger who was awarded a Knights Cross used a Mosin sniper rifle before being sent to sniper school. He was always trying to find the explosive rounds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chuck Haggard]

I can see why guys would get the urge to try and make their bad guys explode in a cloud of pink mist, but I have to wonder what accuracy levels this ammo had, and how it effected zero

[Mitchell, Esq.]

Umm...

Anyone know a source for this in .45ACP?

[LHS]

I can see why guys would get the urge to try and make their bad guys explode in a cloud of pink mist, but I have to wonder what accuracy levels this ammo had, and how it effected zero

Given the crappy (by today's standards) accuracy of the average wartime Kar98k and 7.92mm ball ammo, it probably didn't matter much.

[czech6]

Umm...

Anyone know a source for this in .45ACP?

steel hawk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8XcVc_0ykU)

I'd hate to be that guy that was carrying this and got shot or caught some shrapnel in a magazine/stripper clip pouch.

I wonder how much of the purported effectiveness came from guys taking that little bit of extra time and effort to get a solid shot off with their prized ammo, and pass on the low probability shots.

[Coyotesfan97]

U
steel hawk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8XcVc_0ykU)

I'd hate to be that guy that was carrying this and got shot or caught some shrapnel in a magazine/stripper clip pouch.

I wonder how much of the purported effectiveness came from guys taking that little bit of extra time and effort to get a solid shot off with their prized ammo, and pass on the low probability shots.

IIRC Allerberger kept a stash of it and used it on high priority targets.

[littlejerry]

I can see why guys would get the urge to try and make their bad guys explode in a cloud of pink mist, but I have to wonder what accuracy levels this ammo had, and how it effected zero

Yeah, my thought as well. How concentric is the center of mass on one of these rounds?

Also curious how much impulse you need to set one off. Carrying primed explode-on-impact bullets sounds dicey.

[Kyle Reese]

U

IIRC Allerberger kept a stash of it and used it on high priority targets.

The anecdote of the German sniper using B-Patrone on a Soviet target does beg the question: Wouldn't a 7.92mm ball round to the grape be just as detrimental to the health, welfare & general morale of the target?

[Coyotesfan97]

The anecdote of the German sniper using B-Patrone on a Soviet target does beg the question: Wouldn't a 7.92mm ball round to the grape be just as detrimental to the health, welfare & general morale of the target?

I'm checking the book to verify what properties he considered and why the round was favored.