A full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet is a small-arms projectile consisting of a soft core (often lead) encased in an outer shell ("jacket") of harder metal, such as gilding metal, cupronickel, or, less commonly, a steel alloy. A bullet jacket usually allows higher muzzle velocities than bare lead without depositing significant amounts of metal in the bore. It also prevents damage to bores from hard steel or armor-piercing core materials.
These .30-caliber (7.62 mm) full metal jacket bullets show the typical jacket openings exposing the lead alloy core on the base of the bullet to illustrate that a full metal jacket may not completely enclose the core.Examples of FMJ bullets in their usual shapes: pointed ("spitzer") loaded in the 7.62×39mmrifle and round-nosed loaded in the 7.62×25mmpistol cartridges
The full metal jacket bullet was invented in 1882 by Swiss Colonel Eduard Rubin while he was working for the Swiss Federal Ammunition Factory and Research Center, which developed ammunition for the Swiss military.[1][2][3][4]
The use of full metal jacketing in military ammunition came about in part because of the need for improved feeding characteristics in small arms that used internal mechanical manipulation of the cartridge in order to chamber rounds as opposed to externally hand-reloading single-shot firearms. The harder metal used in bullet jackets was less prone to deformation than softer exposed lead, which improved feeding. That also allowed bullets to withstand much higher velocities caused by the decrease of the caliber.[5]
It is sometimes thought that military use of FMJ ammunition was the result of The Hague Convention of 1899, Declaration III, prohibiting the use in international warfare of bullets that easily expand or flatten in the body. However, jacketed bullets were adopted by most European militaries during the late 1880s and early 1890s, about a decade prior to the Hague Convention.[citation needed]
Impact characteristicsedit
By design, fully jacketed projectiles have less capacity to expand after contact with the target than a hollow-point projectile. While this can be an advantage when engaging targets behind cover, it can also be a disadvantage as an FMJ bullet may pierce completely through a target, leading to less severe wounding, and possibly failing to disable the target. Furthermore, a projectile that goes completely through a target can cause unintentional damage behind the target.[6]
^Holt Bobinson (November 2008). "The model 1911 Schmidt Rubin: the other Switzer". Guns Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15 – via FindArticles.com - CBS Interactive.
^Wood, J. B. (2003). (2nd ed.). Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN0873496310. OCLC 52359378. Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
^Ramage, C. Kenneth (1980). Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (3rd ed.). Middlefield, Connecticut: Lyman Publications. pp. 27 & 28.
"Declaration (IV, 3) concerning Expanding Bullets". UMN.edu. International Peace Conference at The Hague, which entered into force on September 4, 1900. 1899.
"Photos showing terminal effects of British Mark 7 .303 bullets". TheBoxTruth.com. 13 June 2014.
February 23, 2024
full, metal, jacket, ammunition, 1987, film, full, metal, jacket, movie, full, metal, jacket, bullet, small, arms, projectile, consisting, soft, core, often, lead, encased, outer, shell, jacket, harder, metal, such, gilding, metal, cupronickel, less, commonly,. For the 1987 film see Full Metal Jacket movie A full metal jacket FMJ bullet is a small arms projectile consisting of a soft core often lead encased in an outer shell jacket of harder metal such as gilding metal cupronickel or less commonly a steel alloy A bullet jacket usually allows higher muzzle velocities than bare lead without depositing significant amounts of metal in the bore It also prevents damage to bores from hard steel or armor piercing core materials These 30 caliber 7 62 mm full metal jacket bullets show the typical jacket openings exposing the lead alloy core on the base of the bullet to illustrate that a full metal jacket may not completely enclose the core Examples of FMJ bullets in their usual shapes pointed spitzer loaded in the 7 62 39mm rifle and round nosed loaded in the 7 62 25mm pistol cartridges Contents 1 History 2 Impact characteristics 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe full metal jacket bullet was invented in 1882 by Swiss Colonel Eduard Rubin while he was working for the Swiss Federal Ammunition Factory and Research Center which developed ammunition for the Swiss military 1 2 3 4 The use of full metal jacketing in military ammunition came about in part because of the need for improved feeding characteristics in small arms that used internal mechanical manipulation of the cartridge in order to chamber rounds as opposed to externally hand reloading single shot firearms The harder metal used in bullet jackets was less prone to deformation than softer exposed lead which improved feeding That also allowed bullets to withstand much higher velocities caused by the decrease of the caliber 5 It is sometimes thought that military use of FMJ ammunition was the result of The Hague Convention of 1899 Declaration III prohibiting the use in international warfare of bullets that easily expand or flatten in the body However jacketed bullets were adopted by most European militaries during the late 1880s and early 1890s about a decade prior to the Hague Convention citation needed Impact characteristics editBy design fully jacketed projectiles have less capacity to expand after contact with the target than a hollow point projectile While this can be an advantage when engaging targets behind cover it can also be a disadvantage as an FMJ bullet may pierce completely through a target leading to less severe wounding and possibly failing to disable the target Furthermore a projectile that goes completely through a target can cause unintentional damage behind the target 6 See also editSoft point bullet Total metal jacketReferences edit Huon Jean 1988 Military Rifle and Machine Gun Cartridges Alexandria Va Ironside International ISBN 0 935554 05 X OCLC 24498827 Swiss Handguns 1882 Holt Bobinson November 2008 The model 1911 Schmidt Rubin the other Switzer Guns Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 07 15 via FindArticles com CBS Interactive Wood J B 2003 The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly Disassembly Centerfire Rifles Volume 4 2nd ed Iola WI Krause Publications ISBN 0873496310 OCLC 52359378 Archived from the original on 2016 05 07 Retrieved 2015 09 07 Ramage C Kenneth 1980 Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd ed Middlefield Connecticut Lyman Publications pp 27 amp 28 The Belding amp Mull Handbook Philipsburg Pennsylvania Belding amp Mull 1949 pp 39 amp 40 External links edit Declaration IV 3 concerning Expanding Bullets UMN edu International Peace Conference at The Hague which entered into force on September 4 1900 1899 European Ammunition Box Translations FAQ Rawles to Photos showing terminal effects of British Mark 7 303 bullets TheBoxTruth com 13 June 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Full metal jacket ammunition amp oldid 1204642346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
