Taiwan ships 1 billion bullets to United States: report

AFP ^ | 06 Nov 2007 | AFP

[Hugin]

Will they be recalled because they contain lead? ;~)

[green iguana]

Thanks - I hadn’t realized the distinction between rifle and handgun ammo.

[tlj18]

I was told in Basic Training, that according to the Geneva Conventions, it is illegal to use .50-cal rounds on personnel, but only on equipment. Now, of course, canteens could be considered to be equipment...

I think it is totally ridiculous. All these rules make me angry, as though warfare is some sort of game like football. You're supposed to do what it takes to win. So what if my weapon inflicts ghastly injuries?

[Pistolshot]

It was an effort to make war more 'humane'. What we learned later is it is better to wound your opponent than take him out. You don't have to be fastidious with the dead, but a wounded combatant can be 'saved'.

And yes, canteens are 'equipment' so using the 50 on it is allowed. Of course, if a wounded combatant poses a threat (still breathing) I think it would be prudent to eliminate the threat.

[tlj18]

What we learned later is it is better to wound your opponent than take him out.

I don't quite understand that statement. A wounded opponent may still be in the fight. I suppose a captured combatant could provide intelligence information, if he felt so inclined. Of course, the purpose of war is not just to kill and destroy everything, but to accomplish an objective.

[AlaskaErik]

20,000 dead enemy combatants, if the 50,000 rounds per dead enemy is to be believed.

[Pistolshot]

A wounded combatant compels you to assist him so he can live. It's human nature. Wound 1 guy...it takes at least 1 more to care for him.

The American way of war is to break things and generally disrupt supplies. A starved enemy doesn't fight quite as hard if he has no place to run to. IF you kill a lot of them on the way to that objective, so much the better.

[El Gato]

Well, I don’t KNOW they’re made of lead.

Considering these are for the US military, most of them will be "ball" made to US/NATO spec, M855 catridge, ball. (Assuming we're really buying loaded ammo, not just bullets, but you can't tell from the article, but even so, the bullets would be the same).

The NATO standard, M855 round is intended for use against light matériel targets and personnel, but not vehicles. Identified by a green tip, the 62 grain projectile is constructed of a lead alloy core topped by a steel penetrator, the whole contained within a gilding (copper alloy) metal jacket.

So, lead and steel.

More infomation in the manual (PDF file).

[Petronski]

Thank you for the comprehensive answer. I’m going to read that pdf.

[El Gato]

mil spec includes the steel being made in USA.

No the spec itself would only specify the type of steel, not the source. The laws may require use of US components, but often, by necessity, those are waived. I say "by necessity" because often US made components are not available. It's as true of electronics as bullets, more true in fact.

[El Gato]

IED's are a terrorist weapon. There are no rules for them.

That's OK, there aren't any Geneva convention limitations on 500, 1000, 2000 or 5000 lb precision guided bombs either.

[El Gato]

This contract was initiated from a U.S. military subcontractor and not directly from the DOD

Generally that doesn't matter, the requirements flow down to subcontractors and suppliers.

[traumer]

the chinese ammo contained TOO MUCH LEAD !

[El Gato]

Never. Bullets have to be heavy and soft to keep from destroying the barrel of the rifle.

Neither statement is absolutely true. The bullets can be coated with a softer material to protect the barrel, and they are. Heavy is good, lighter is faster, and steel penetrates better than lead. As it turns out, the SS-109 projectile loaded into the M855 standard round, is made of lead and steel, and is coated with copper.

[El Gato]

Unless they are steel core, they aren't different. NATO specs do include a steel core round which can't be sold to US consumers,

Actually the M855 round can be sold to civilians, under a BATFE waiver. It's doesn't really have a steel "core" in conventional sense, but it does have a steel component.

[norton]

No and no.

[El Gato]

There is no AP ammo ban.

As explained above, the ban only applies to handgun ammunition. Dumb I know, but it was thought up by the likes of Chuckie Schummer, and Diane Frankenstein, so what do expect?

[Pistolshot]

Nope, use liberally, rinse, repeat.