Man Blue Trousers
Radio Bob Approved
AMMO AND YOU!
So, you are a aspiring Rebel or CP character, and you look at the ammo boxes in your magazines and inventory and think. Hm- I wonder what these rounds do during flight, trajectory, impact, and post impact. Adding some flavor to roleplay scenarios and immersioness. Well my friend, welcome to the one and only, {AMMO TYPE GUIDE} for flavor, and other ic situations.
This guide does not include DARK ENERGY WEAPONRY, SUCH AS THE OICW AND OSIPR!
The basics
All ammunition types fall into one or multiple categories. Which are outlined below.
Armor Piercing
Desc:
Typically including a hardened metallic core, such as steel or tungsten which improves the penetration capability of rounds, allowing them to defeat various forms of armor. With the effectiveness ranging from minor to major depending on the caliber of said round. Ammunition that is of armor piercing variety, typically has either an exposed tip where the penetrator is visible through the jacket (typically made of copper or some other material). Or has a painted tip over the enclosing jacket, the color of which is usually dependent on the country of origin.
Hollow Point, or Fragmenting
Desc:
Typically a metal or FMJ round that has its core hollowed out. Hence the "Hollow Point" moniker. These rounds are extremely common in most firearm rich regions of the world. Such as the U.S as the quintessential Police or self-defence cartridge. These rounds' primary purpose is to cause invasive damage during post impact. Where the round is caused to fragment, where the "petals" of the rounds are sent splitting from the core of the bullet causing greater internal damage. Sadly, these rounds aren't the best against most body armors and are used to great effect against unarmored targets. Such as a unarmored bluesuit for instance.
Tracer
Desc:
Tracer rounds are a specialized form of ammunition that has a small pyrotechnical chemical mix inside of the base of a given bullet. Which upon firing lights up to allow the shooter to more easily see the trajectory of his rounds. Typically used in machinegun belts to allow for an easier spotting of where your rounds are going. However, these rounds come with a downside, tracers work both ways and will often give away your position. Typical military ammo belts have a 4/5 ratio of tracer to regular ammunition. Where every fifth round is a tracer. Triva, is that these rounds tend to cause fires in dry brush or otherwise flammable material.
Explosive
Desc:
Explosive rounds are considered to be quite rare outside of vehicle mounted or crew served weaponry. However, their primary ability to cause damage is through a small explosive charge located within the core of the bullet which explodes on impact, or shortly after impact causing catastrophic damage to its target. However, due to the rarity of these rounds and the reliability (Most explosive rounds smaller than a 50. caliber round tend to have reliability issues), make these rounds a rarity outside of obscure circles.
Incendiary
Desc:
A common ammunition type that relies on a strong pyrotechnic charge to burn a target or cause ignition of a target through chemical reactions. Typically these rounds cannot ignite a target on its own, only causing clothing to ignite and more often than not are a slightly more specialized version of non-armor piercing rounds. Typically used to cause damage to wide areas, or cause internal damage to vehicles or flammable substances.
FMJ or Sporting
Desc:
FMJ or sporting ammunition covers a wide variety of civilian ammunition. Typically not possessing a armor piercing core but instead, possessing one made of lead or an otherwise softer material, or perhaps no core at all. These rounds are typically used for sporting purposes, such as hunting, target shooting, or otherwise non-military means. These rounds, are by far the most common outside of Military or Police firearms.
Frangible or Defensive rounds
Desc:
Frangible rounds are bullets made of a compressed metallic powder which causes the round to essentially dump all of its energy on impact. Preventing over-penetration effects and- preventing collateral damage post-penetration of a target. The bullets themselves disintegrate on impact, making them unrecoverable but far safer to those who may be beyond the line of fire or as a means to prevent destruction of vital or valuable equipment beyond a target.
So, you are a aspiring Rebel or CP character, and you look at the ammo boxes in your magazines and inventory and think. Hm- I wonder what these rounds do during flight, trajectory, impact, and post impact. Adding some flavor to roleplay scenarios and immersioness. Well my friend, welcome to the one and only, {AMMO TYPE GUIDE} for flavor, and other ic situations.
This guide does not include DARK ENERGY WEAPONRY, SUCH AS THE OICW AND OSIPR!
The basics
All ammunition types fall into one or multiple categories. Which are outlined below.
Armor Piercing
Desc:
Typically including a hardened metallic core, such as steel or tungsten which improves the penetration capability of rounds, allowing them to defeat various forms of armor. With the effectiveness ranging from minor to major depending on the caliber of said round. Ammunition that is of armor piercing variety, typically has either an exposed tip where the penetrator is visible through the jacket (typically made of copper or some other material). Or has a painted tip over the enclosing jacket, the color of which is usually dependent on the country of origin.
Hollow Point, or Fragmenting
Desc:
Typically a metal or FMJ round that has its core hollowed out. Hence the "Hollow Point" moniker. These rounds are extremely common in most firearm rich regions of the world. Such as the U.S as the quintessential Police or self-defence cartridge. These rounds' primary purpose is to cause invasive damage during post impact. Where the round is caused to fragment, where the "petals" of the rounds are sent splitting from the core of the bullet causing greater internal damage. Sadly, these rounds aren't the best against most body armors and are used to great effect against unarmored targets. Such as a unarmored bluesuit for instance.
Tracer
Desc:
Tracer rounds are a specialized form of ammunition that has a small pyrotechnical chemical mix inside of the base of a given bullet. Which upon firing lights up to allow the shooter to more easily see the trajectory of his rounds. Typically used in machinegun belts to allow for an easier spotting of where your rounds are going. However, these rounds come with a downside, tracers work both ways and will often give away your position. Typical military ammo belts have a 4/5 ratio of tracer to regular ammunition. Where every fifth round is a tracer. Triva, is that these rounds tend to cause fires in dry brush or otherwise flammable material.
Explosive
Desc:
Explosive rounds are considered to be quite rare outside of vehicle mounted or crew served weaponry. However, their primary ability to cause damage is through a small explosive charge located within the core of the bullet which explodes on impact, or shortly after impact causing catastrophic damage to its target. However, due to the rarity of these rounds and the reliability (Most explosive rounds smaller than a 50. caliber round tend to have reliability issues), make these rounds a rarity outside of obscure circles.
Incendiary
Desc:
A common ammunition type that relies on a strong pyrotechnic charge to burn a target or cause ignition of a target through chemical reactions. Typically these rounds cannot ignite a target on its own, only causing clothing to ignite and more often than not are a slightly more specialized version of non-armor piercing rounds. Typically used to cause damage to wide areas, or cause internal damage to vehicles or flammable substances.
FMJ or Sporting
Desc:
FMJ or sporting ammunition covers a wide variety of civilian ammunition. Typically not possessing a armor piercing core but instead, possessing one made of lead or an otherwise softer material, or perhaps no core at all. These rounds are typically used for sporting purposes, such as hunting, target shooting, or otherwise non-military means. These rounds, are by far the most common outside of Military or Police firearms.
Frangible or Defensive rounds
Desc:
Frangible rounds are bullets made of a compressed metallic powder which causes the round to essentially dump all of its energy on impact. Preventing over-penetration effects and- preventing collateral damage post-penetration of a target. The bullets themselves disintegrate on impact, making them unrecoverable but far safer to those who may be beyond the line of fire or as a means to prevent destruction of vital or valuable equipment beyond a target.
Common Calibers used in the Cities
Handgun
Starting smallest and going to largest:
4.6x30: Used typically in the MP-7 submachine guns commonly seen in the hands of Civil Protection and Rebels alike. 4.6x30 is at its core a high-velocity pistol caliber round. Which a great variety of ammunition types for many circumstances. Even when using standard full metal jacket ammunition 4.6x30 can defeat light body armor and cause substantial adverse post-penetration effects. However, due to its nature- it has a high chance of causing collateral damage after exiting a given target. FMJ, Hollow Points, and Armor Piercing are common ammunition types used by Civil Protection and lower ranking Combine soldiers.
FN 5.7x28: Seen commonly in the magazines of more experienced Civil Protection officers in the ranks of i4 to i1. These rounds are commonly seen in the magazines of its namesake FN 5.7 pistol. Often chosen over 9x19 for its increased armor penetrating ability and variety of ammunition types. CP officers carrying these rounds tend to favor armor penetration against all else, as well as its ease of use and adverse effects on a given target. Common types are Hollow point, FMJ, AP, and sometimes tracer.
9MM Parabellum, or 9x19: Nine millimeter is commonly used by Civil Protection as the primary ammo in their HK-USP Match sidearms and MP5 Submachine guns. These rounds are used as a jack of all trades ammunition for Civil Protection because of its ease of manufacture, and capacity inside of magazines. These rounds are commonly used by Civil Protection and the Resistance to its versatility, commonality with other weapons, and sheer variety of ammunition types. Encompassing many niche roles and non niche roles. The most common type of 9MM parabellum is Full-Metal-Jacket and Hollowpoints.
.45 ACP: It is said that 9MM kills the body, but 45. ACP kills the soul. A semi-legendary round developed by the famous John Moses Browning, that is large bore compared to 9MM at the cost of recoiling harder and common seen as moving at a subsonic speed compared to 9MM. .45 is famed for its ability to be a manstopper, having far more knockdown ability compared to 9MM. It is said, that 45 can knock a man down every time it hits him. Commonly seen in the 1917 revolvers carried by CP Rank Leaders, and in alternate variations of the HK USP. Common ammo types include FMJ, and Hollow Point. Typically, magazine capacity for .45 is subpar, and typically doesn't exceed 13 in a magazine.
.357 Magnum: The famous Cowboy cartridge. 357 magnum is a venerable but powerful cartridge commonly only seen in the typical revolver. With a massive force of kinetic energy and after effects post impact. 357 is famed for its "stopping power" and swagger that carrying such a powerful cartridge brings. But sadly, ammunition types outside of FMJ or Hollow Point are rare. .357 is commonly seen in the Colt Pythons seen in the holsters of ranking CP Captains or MCP Officers- or certain Rebel personnel as a sidearm.
Intermediate
Starting smallest and going to largest
5.56 NATO: Typically seen used in most NATO weaponry. Such as the M4A1, M16, Steyr AUG, and the L86. 55.6 is considered to be one of the most valued and common intermediate cartridges seen across the world even in the wake of the 7 hour war. Possessing a great post penetrating capability and ammunition variety. One would be hard pressed to find a more versatile intermediate cartridge. 556 is fast, efficient, and high capacity in magazines compared to its counterparts such as the 7.62x39 and 5.45 both typically used by Eastern Bloc countries.
7.62x39: A cartridge used by the famed AK-series of Assault Rifle found throughout the world in the hands of Rebels, Conscripts, and Militiamen the world over. 7.62x39 is considered more powerful at close range compared to 5.56. But rapidly looses accuracy over distance. 7.62x39 is a common round, with a great variety of ammunition types rivaling that of its competitor 5.56 NATO. Carrying with it a slight advantage of kinetic energy at the cost of ranged potential.
RifleStarting smallest and going to largest
7.62x51 NATO: A standardized round used by the FN MAG, M240B, and M14 rifle. One of the first, if not the first standardized NATO round used the world over in machineguns and rifles. With clear lineage from the 8MM Mauser, and 7MM Mauser cartridges used during and prior to World War 2. 7.62 NATO is the everyman's rifle cartridge, common, and with a huge variety of ammo types to suit every which situation. Weapons using 7.62 NATO are commonly seen in the hands of Conscripts or particular Resistance Personnel.
7.62x54r: A round designed in the 1880s for use in the Mosin Nagant rifles in the then Russian Empire. 7.62x54r has become an extremely common round. While understandably slightly outdated. The Mosin round can reliably defeat most body armors used by both the Resistance and Combine handily and with near minimal effort for even non armor piercing ammo types. Versatile and easy to find, the vaunted Mosin round can be fired from a great variety of mostly eastern bloc weaponry including but not limited to machine guns, sniper rifles, and in rare circumstances. Pistols.
BULLET WOUNDS AND YOU!
Preamble
So here you are, looting, beating or hiding away and suddenly you have been shot. A most egregious situation, and a very significant emotional event. Now you are left bleeding with the question being: How dead or not dead am I? Well- I will outline the calibers and their post penetration effects, wound channels and expected outcomes for shots to various spots of the body. (Head, Neck, Chest, Stomach, Arms, Hands, Groin, Legs, and Feet)
Addendum: As Pistol weaponry is the most common, I will only list down Pistol wounds for the time being)
Pistol:
Preamble
So here you are, looting, beating or hiding away and suddenly you have been shot. A most egregious situation, and a very significant emotional event. Now you are left bleeding with the question being: How dead or not dead am I? Well- I will outline the calibers and their post penetration effects, wound channels and expected outcomes for shots to various spots of the body. (Head, Neck, Chest, Stomach, Arms, Hands, Groin, Legs, and Feet)
Addendum: As Pistol weaponry is the most common, I will only list down Pistol wounds for the time being)
Starting smallest and going to largest
4.6x30, and 5.7 (As they are fairly similar) :
4.6x30 and 5.7 is a relatively high velocity round. And overpenetration, meaning the bullet enters and exits through the body instead of remaining lodged within the body means that wound channels outside of fragmenting energy dumping round types tend to zip straight through and cause damage along the path of the bullet.
- Head: Depending on where the round impacts. A shot to the braincase will cause complete and instant loss of consciousness as the vital brain tissue is destroyed or displaced. The round will impact, and zip straight through the soft brain matter. Causing it to expand and rapidly contract through cavitation. In rare circumstances, a shot to the brain can be survived, but the after-effects can be chronic or permanent. Resulting in brain damage, or traumatic brain injuries that will have permanent after effects. Such as tremors, hallucinations, or severe and unpredictable behavioral changes. Jaw and otherwise non brain shots: The bone will not break. It will shatter as the round zips through and causes catastrophic damage along its wound channel- and depending on the thickness of the bone in the head, such as the jaw and the front of the spine. The round may lodge between vertebrae and will require surgical intervention to remove the bullet.
- Neck: A shot directly to the trachea will require immediate medical attention, including that of intubation by a first responder to prevent you from suffocating from the newfound hole in your throat. Many vital arteries and veins are located at the sides of the neck and if severed, or destroyed. You can expect unconsciousness in as little as three minutes and death within ten without medical attention. The 4.6 and 5.7 round will not cause damage outside of its intended trajectory and may be considered. /Slightly/ more survivable than other shots.
-Chest: A single shot from a high velocity pistol round to the chest may not cause instant death in otherwise extreme circumstances. Such as a heart or aorta shot, but even then after getting hit a man can still walk for a few feet, or even shoot back while bleeding from a heart shot. A shot which penetrates the lung will cause an instant pneumothorax, which is when blood and air enters the lung cavity and causes said lung to collapse which can kill in as little as ten minutes in conjunction with blood loss.
Stomach: A shot in the stomach by a high velocity pistol round will cause debilitating pain, but is not immediately lethal. Often times it will take days to die from a gunshot wound to the stomach. Often times, a gut shot from a HVP (High Velocity Pistol) may be repairable with minimal recovery times. Usually up to six to eight weeks.
Arms: A shot by a HVP to the upper arm will tend to cause extreme pain, limiting the mobility of the limb should the round be stuck within the joint of the upper arm and elbow. However, arm bones can shatter or chip on impact which will require medical intervention. Shots to the upper and lower limbs tend to not be lethal on its own, however with volume of fire and many impacts. The limb can be lost or damaged irreparably.
- Hands: Extreme nerve damage will result, while you may be able to keep your hand. The small bones in the fingers or palm can shatter and require surgical intervention. After repair, your hand will never be the same again and will be effected generally negatively. Shots to the fingers may cause traumatic amputation and require medical attention.
-Groin: A shot to the groin is extremely debilitating, and considered one of the most painful places to be shot. A shot that enters the pelvic bowl, which is the inside of your pelvis will cause you to lose stability in your legs and make it nearly impossible to walk. As there are also many arteries and blood vessels in the region. Your chances of dying due to uncontrollable blood loss are quite high. Even for a HVP round. But typically the flesh and muscles infront of the blood vessels will save you when getting shot with a HVP
- Legs: A HVP round will cause minor damage to the large muscles of the legs unless hit with concentrated automatic fire. Great care must be taken as the inner thighs hold the femoral artery which is notoriously difficult to stop bleeding and can cause death within 3 minutes. If your femoral artery is severed, and the fight has just started. You will not survive. A shot to the shins are easier to manage, as they are located distally (Meaning far) from the trunk of the body and bleeding can be easily rectified with a tournequet. But even still, a shot to the shin is extremely painful and will likely require buddy assistance.
-Feet: Even with a HVP round, a shot to the foot may cause permanent mobility issues. Such as limps, or chronic pain. But often, HVP rounds hitting here tend to be easily treated and not immediately lethal.
9MM Parabellum and its derivatives:
9 Mil is typically considered to be the gold standard for lethality. And is likely the most common round you can be shot by. Typical 9 Mil is survivable, but still can be incredibly lethal.
-Head: A shot to the brain will cause near instant death or be the cause of lifelong health concerns, such as mental retardation, and instability or the cause of a Traumatic Brain Injury. A shot to the face, not contacting the brain will likely break the jaw and destroy a portion of the facial bone which will require reconstructive surgery. Great care must be taken as the round impacting the brain may not completely sail through and may bounce within the skull increasing lethality and causing a complete lights out effect (Stiffening up, and falling over).
-Neck: A Shot to the trachea will cause tearing of the tissue to the point that survival without medical assistance is near zero. Unconsciousness can be expected within 30 seconds and death within two minutes due to oxygen loss and blood loss. A shot which penetrates and severs the spinal cord can cause instant death or more likely. Permanent, chronic paralysis from the neck down. Typically a 9 Mil hitting the neck is a game over for most individuals, but is survivable if treated quickly.
-Chest: Nine mil to the chest is considered to be an efficient way to put down a raging criminal or druggie. However, 9 Mils lethality here isn't that it can one shot someone. It requires more rounds on target to be lethal than its bigger counterparts such as 45. ACP or 357 Magnum. And magdumps by skittish Rebels or Cops can be immediately lethal. But survivable if the person hit is lucky or is treated an hours timespan.
- Stomach: A 9 Mil round to the gut is ill advised, and is extremely painful. A person hit in the gut by 9 Mil can expect profuse bleeding and internal damage, As the round will divert or tumble as it looses velocity causing additional damage on impact. Again, gut shots take days to die from and every minute of it untreated will result in a painful agonizing death from infection should no treatment be acquired.
- Arms: A 9 Mil round will cause the hit limb to be disabled, but not completely unusable. If a nerve bundle is hit the damage can be permanent. Care must be taken to shoot the arms, because the bones hit can fracture and break easily especially if the bullet begins to tumble.
-Hands: I will keep it short and say that a 9 mil round to the hand is survivable with minimal injuries. But if a finger is hit, you will certainly lose a finger, or if the palm is struck you will lost complete control of the hand until you receive reconstructive surgery. But again still, you will need many months of therapy to approach normal function and the hand will never be the same again.
-Groin: A single 9 Mil round can put a man on his ass if hit in the pelvic bowl. Especially with the volume of fired rounds from a 9 Mil causing catastrophic damage to the blood vessels behind the groin and ab muscles. Causing profuse bleeding and a heightened chance of bleeding to death. Shots to the pelvic bowl will instantly cause loss of motor functions to the legs and cause a target to fall on the ground.
-Legs: 9 Mil's volume of fire can cause the femoral arteries to be hit and severed, and as outlined with the High Velocity pistol rounds. Cause death within minutes. Shots to the shins can cause fractures and extreme pain.
-Feet: The foot will be rendered completely inactive, and any movement on that limb will be hampered similarly to the HVP rounds.
.45 ACP:
.45 ACP was choice for many military personnel for its kinetic energy. Able to quote "Knock a Man down every time it hits him." .45 is a considerable man stopper and extremely lethal to vital areas.
-Head: A shot to the brain will cause the skull to shatter and fragment inside of the cranial cavity. As with the .45's wound channel causing the brain to liquify on impact. Typically the round carries out through the back of the skull carrying with it fragments of skull and gray matter. It is a messy death, and not "Clinical" as the aforementioned rounds are. A shot to the face will almost certainly require facial reconstruction surgery, and severe facial lacerations.
-Neck: Frankly, unless you are shot next to a team of medics. You will not survive a .45 caliber round through the trachea. Bleeding will be profuse and unconscious setting in shockingly quickly. It will be fortunate that you wont be conscious long enough to choke to death on your own blood. It will be messy, and non clean.
-Chest: A shot to the chest can damn well knock you down, the kinetic energy behind a .45 caliber round can cause severe wound cavitation which can tear the internal structures of the torso. Such as blood vessels and muscle fibers. While dangerous, a 45 caliber round to the chest can be treated quite well with basic medical knowledge. But beware of multiple gunshot wounds.
-Stomach: As outlined before, the .45 caliber round will enter the gut tear up a few feet of it before getting lodged deep inside of the stomach region and require removal of several feet of intestines and require an invasive surgery to remove the bullet, or if it is dangerous to get. Simply left inside. You can be expected to survive a few days, but recovery will last a long time. Possibly a few months.
-Arms: A .45 caliber round to the arm can cause total loss of limb control, but you can be expected to still fight somewhat effectively. The pain will be extreme and your ability to grasp or move it will be hampered to near uselessness.
- Hands: Simply put, your hand bones will be shattered beyond repair and may require amputation. Even if you keep the hand, the nerve damage and subsequent chronic pain will forever hamper your ability to grab and be dexterous again.
-Groin: A shot to the pelvic bowl will instantly cause you to loose control of your legs and lower abdomen muscles. Meaning, there is a very good chance your bowel muscle will give out and you shit yourself embarrassingly as you die from the blood loss.
-Legs: Expect severe damage, and a quick bleed out if hit in the femoral artery. Fortunately the femur is thick enough to prevent the bone from shattering completely but still expect a long recovery time and extreme debilitating pain.
-Foot: Your foot will be completely destroyed, and unable to bear your weight. Without surgical intervention and therapy. You may never walk the same again.
~[WIP]~
(Please leave potential additions and tidbits below
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(Please leave potential additions and tidbits below
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