Why has no one made a Bolter round in RL?

[Xostean]

Now dont get confused, when i say this i am not talking about the size, it is completely unpractical to make a gun large enough to fire coke can size rounds (as the manager of GW described it as when i was a kid)

I mean the mechanics of how the round itself works. The bolter round is described as a bullet that has an extremely thick core with an armor piercing tip along with a timed explosive designed to penetrate the body then detonate, causing the target to explode from the inside.

While the core they use is a fictional material known as diamantine which obviously does not exist we do have something simular which is depleted uranium. Im curious as to why DARPA has not designed a round with a depleted uranium core and a timed explosive on the tip to detonate after penetration.

I feel that would be pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ effective in real life against the fragile body of a human. Not to mention the considerable demoralizing effect it would have. I dont know about you, but if i were to see a comrad in arms get shot then ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ explode, i wouldnt stick around.

Just a random thought.

[[EL] The Emperor of Mankind]

I love random ideas like this because it can make for interesting conversations! xD

[DRT99]

explosive rounds exist. timed explosive rounds would be extremely expensive

[Michael M]

You mean something like the XM-25?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM-25

[Xostean]

Originally posted by Michael B:

You mean something like the XM-25?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM-25

exactly, but only the size of a bullet and automatically explodes right after penetration (as opposed to a round that explodes after a set distance like the airburst rifle does)

[Jimmi Stixx]

Well. I think it's because it would be expencive. After bullets hit a target (human) it usually is enough to do the job. However if we ever have to kill giant alien monsters or demon monstrosities then I'm sure we would look for a round that was a bit more lethal.

[[EL] The Emperor of Mankind]

Yah but I think these "bolter rounds" could even penetrate armored tanks according to description. Another point is many wars have been won through sheer fear rather then force. Me seeing a comrade burst into a red mist would have me surrendering in a heart beat!

[Radmir Rope]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet

[Latharion]

From what I understand about bolters, the projectiles are more like micro-rockets and less akin to bullets. The round is fired from the gun at a low velocity, the round then semi-guides toward the intended target, then a second stage is ignited that propells the round at a much higher veloity once the round is near the target. The reasoning for this whole process would be to lower recoil, and increase accuracy. Some companies have been looking in to this kind of tech for a little while now. So we could, one day soon, see some kind of weapon vaguely resembling our beloved bolters.

[Nabaal]

I'm still wondering why rocket lawn chairs aren't a thing.

[GenericNickname]

Originally posted by Latharion:

From what I understand about bolters, the projectiles are more like micro-rockets and less akin to bullets. The round is fired from the gun at a low velocity, the round then semi-guides toward the intended target, then a second stage is ignited that propells the round at a much higher veloity once the round is near the target. The reasoning for this whole process would be to lower recoil, and increase accuracy. Some companies have been looking in to this kind of tech for a little while now. So we could, one day soon, see some kind of weapon vaguely resembling our beloved bolters.

They actually existed for a while, they were called Gyrojet rounds but never gained popularity due to the expense, low accuracy, and smal range.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet

Basically conventional ammo does it's job fine. If the time comes where the average infantry man needs to routinely blow things up with nothing but his gun, we'll adapt.

[Jimbos]

Until we're actually fighting wars that involve heavily armored infantry, we're not really going to end up advancing to bolter like weapons. Most militaries don't actually provide body armor to soldiers. Most people that are "at war" right now, seem to be rebel factions and terrorist/religious groups. They also cannot afford, and/or do not have access to any real armor. I mean hell they are driving around old trucks with mounted machine guns on them. If the average person with a hunting rifle got the drop on them, they would be able to take them out, let alone trained military personel.

Right now we're using pretty small rounds that travel at high velocities to kill people, aka your standard assault rifle. At least as far as "war" goes.

As for most fatalities that are gun related to the public, most of them are caused by small rounds, such as 9mm and below. Doesn't take much to kill someone, surprisingly.

Killing a space marine though? With back up organs, power armor, modified skeleton? Even if you ran up on the dude with a pistol, and he was naked, and you somehow managed to get a shot off, unless you shot him directly in the eye, and you got real lucky and it bounced around in his skull for a bit, you MIGHT be able to kill him. How many space marines do you know that walk around naked though? Or would let someone run up on them? You'd be dead as soon as your hand even went to your holster/pocket.

When we have heavily armored infantry as a standard, or we start genetic engineering super soldiers, then bolters will probably be invented as a stop gap. Or we'll end up switching to full metal high calibur rounds for everything. But, the normal guy isn't going to be carrying around a 50. cal assault rifle now is he? The recoil would tear him apart, let alone him trying to actually aim the thing. So guess who would be carrying those? Yeah not the "normal" humans.

[Eviscerador]

There are some modern day ordenance that works that way. Armor piercing shells from the old gun cruisers and BB for example. They were piercing rounds, that explode after a delay when they pierced the armor, to explode inside the ship and do more damage. No rocket though...

Modern concrete piercing air bombs have rockets to help with penetrating the concrete of bunkers, to explode inside.

But of course that is practical for a naval gun, or a modern concrete piercing air bomb.

But bullets? You don't need that. In fact, a simple non armored bullet with a copper or lead head will do enough internal damage in any living thing to kill it straightforwardly.

The main problem is that the modern bullets are not made to kill, but to hurt. That is why they have an armored head.

Kill one guy, and only the flies will care about the corpse.

Wound one guy, and 4 others will bring him to the medic, you will need 3 more to take care of him, and when he goes back home mutilated, civilians will request the end of the war.

[Xostean]

Originally posted by Eviscerador:

The main problem is that the modern bullets are not made to kill, but to hurt.

Tell that to the guy who designed the 5.56 which is designed to penetrate the body then tumble around destroying as much of your internal organs as possible.

[Chaoslord 87]

Originally posted by Xostean:

Originally posted by Eviscerador:

The main problem is that the modern bullets are not made to kill, but to hurt.

Tell that to the guy who designed the 5.56 which is designed to penetrate the body then tumble around destroying as much of your internal organs as possible.

Or the Soviets, who used explosive 7,62mm Rounds in WW2(very rare and only by Specialists like Snipers)

[Eviscerador]

Originally posted by Chaoslord 87:

Originally posted by Xostean:

Tell that to the guy who designed the 5.56 which is designed to penetrate the body then tumble around destroying as much of your internal organs as possible.

Or the Soviets, who used explosive 7,62mm Rounds in WW2(very rare and only by Specialists like Snipers)

Of course, there are bullets made for that. As I told you, all you have to do is remove the cover of the standard bullet, make a "cross" mark on the head of the now soft lead head, and you have a bullet that will make you explode from the inside.

But the standard round for most guns today are not meant for killing, but for hurting.