Saturday, December 18, 2010
Plastic bullet
A plastic bullet or plastic baton round[4] is a non-lethal projectile fired from a specialised gun. They are generally used for riot control (notably in Northern Ireland) and are sometimes used for short range target practice. Plastic bullets were developed by the British to replace previously used rubber bullets, despite being intended as a non-lethal alternative it was found that they can kill at certain ranges.
History
Development
The plastic bullet was developed as a replacement for rubber bullets in the United Kingdom.
The ammunition was developed by the British as the L5 Plastic Baton Round (PBR) with a projectile that could be fired directly at targets while also reducing the risk of serious injury or death.[5] It was intended to replace the older rubber bullet: training doctrine was to fire these rounds below waist level, to reduce the risk of lethal injury. Rubber bullets would ricochet uncontrollably from the ground, if fired too low. The intention of the plastic bullet was to produce a projectile of similar effect on its target, with less risk of ricochet than rubber.[citation needed]
It was introduced in 1972 and initially was used alongside the rubber bullet, which it replaced completely in 1975. The first plastic bullet was made of PVC,[6] was 89 mm (3.5 inches) long and 38 mm (1.5 in.) in diameter, and weighed approximately 131 g (4.6 oz). The weight was similar to the rubber bullet but the new projectile had a lower muzzle velocity.
The plastic bullet was developed as a replacement for rubber bullets in the United Kingdom.
The ammunition was developed by the British as the L5 Plastic Baton Round (PBR) with a projectile that could be fired directly at targets while also reducing the risk of serious injury or death.[5] It was intended to replace the older rubber bullet: training doctrine was to fire these rounds below waist level, to reduce the risk of lethal injury. Rubber bullets would ricochet uncontrollably from the ground, if fired too low. The intention of the plastic bullet was to produce a projectile of similar effect on its target, with less risk of ricochet than rubber.[citation needed]
It was introduced in 1972 and initially was used alongside the rubber bullet, which it replaced completely in 1975. The first plastic bullet was made of PVC,[6] was 89 mm (3.5 inches) long and 38 mm (1.5 in.) in diameter, and weighed approximately 131 g (4.6 oz). The weight was similar to the rubber bullet but the new projectile had a lower muzzle velocity.
Use in Northern Ireland
Numbers of rubber and plastic bullets fired in Northern Ireland 1970-1981[7][8] Year Rubber bullets Plastic bullets
1970 238
1971 16,752
1972 23,363
1973 12,724 42
1974 2,612 216
1975 145 3,556
1976 3,464
1977 1,490
1978 1,734
1979 1,271
1980 1,231
1981 29,665
Total 55,834 42,669
Total rubber and plastic bullets
98,503
The British Government pioneered the use of plastic bullets. Used extensively in Northern Ireland, it was discovered they were lethal at certain ranges.[9]
From 1973 to 1981, over 42,000 plastic bullets were fired in Northern Ireland. Fourteen people were killed by plastic bullet impacts, including nine children. Most of the deaths were allegedly[10][11][12] caused by the British security services misusing the weapon, firing at close range and at chest or head level rather than targeting below the waist.
One of the victims, 12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly from Twinbrook in west Belfast died on 22 May, having been struck by a plastic bullet fired by a member of the Royal Fusiliers on 19 May 1981.[13][14] These concerns led to campaigners such as Emma Groves founding the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, to call for tighter immediate controls on their use, more accountability after such shootings and even a total ban on their use in Northern Ireland.
1970 238
1971 16,752
1972 23,363
1973 12,724 42
1974 2,612 216
1975 145 3,556
1976 3,464
1977 1,490
1978 1,734
1979 1,271
1980 1,231
1981 29,665
Total 55,834 42,669
Total rubber and plastic bullets
98,503
The British Government pioneered the use of plastic bullets. Used extensively in Northern Ireland, it was discovered they were lethal at certain ranges.[9]
From 1973 to 1981, over 42,000 plastic bullets were fired in Northern Ireland. Fourteen people were killed by plastic bullet impacts, including nine children. Most of the deaths were allegedly[10][11][12] caused by the British security services misusing the weapon, firing at close range and at chest or head level rather than targeting below the waist.
One of the victims, 12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly from Twinbrook in west Belfast died on 22 May, having been struck by a plastic bullet fired by a member of the Royal Fusiliers on 19 May 1981.[13][14] These concerns led to campaigners such as Emma Groves founding the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, to call for tighter immediate controls on their use, more accountability after such shootings and even a total ban on their use in Northern Ireland.
Later use
The last variant of the L5 PBR - the L5A7 - was introduced in 1994 along with a new more accurate launcher, the HK L104 riot gun. The L5 was followed by the L21A1 in 2001. The L21 PBR is fired from a rifled weapon which gives greater accuracy when used with an optical sight.[5] The L21 was replaced by the Attenuated Energy Projectile in June 2005[15]
Plastic bullets were used in a protest against globalization in Quebec in 2001.[16] Plastic bullets were also authorized for G8 summit protests in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005.[17]
Plastic bullets were used in a protest against globalization in Quebec in 2001.[16] Plastic bullets were also authorized for G8 summit protests in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005.[17]
Design
Recreational use
Speer plastic bullets, the only widely available brand, are hollow based plastic cylinders, and are available in .357/.38/9 mm, .44, and .45 calibers, and are designed for use in handguns, primarily revolvers, as the flat nose of the bullet does not feed well in most magazine fed actions. The propulsion is provided only by the primer, and the slow moving plastic bullets may be captured undamaged and reused numerous times if a suitable backstop is used. For use in revolvers, .38 Special and .44 Special versions also include plastic cases, which can be primed and de-primed by hand with minimal tools. For other calibers, standard brass cases are used.[18]v
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