12-24-2009, 05:58 PM
Keep in mind that penetration is a characteristic of the cartridge and not the platform.
How the cartridge is jacketed affects it's ability to penetrate the target.
Armor Piercing>Full Metal Jacket/Lead>Hollow Point>Ball
The 5.56x45mm (M-16, AR-15) in a full metal jacket will out pentrate 7.62x39mm (AK-47, SKS) ball ammo. The 7.62x39mm has more than 2x the Joules (Energy) of the 5.56x45mm and all other things being equal will out pentrate the 5.56x45mm.
We can go into the difference between an Armor Piercing round and a Lead round w/Full Metal Jacket if you like.
ETA : I wouldn't refer to the AK-47 as a machine gun. Although it may technically fit in the definition it does not require a support system to fire which is what the military usually uses to classify fully automatic weapons as "machine guns".
How the cartridge is jacketed affects it's ability to penetrate the target.
Armor Piercing>Full Metal Jacket/Lead>Hollow Point>Ball
The 5.56x45mm (M-16, AR-15) in a full metal jacket will out pentrate 7.62x39mm (AK-47, SKS) ball ammo. The 7.62x39mm has more than 2x the Joules (Energy) of the 5.56x45mm and all other things being equal will out pentrate the 5.56x45mm.
We can go into the difference between an Armor Piercing round and a Lead round w/Full Metal Jacket if you like.
ETA : I wouldn't refer to the AK-47 as a machine gun. Although it may technically fit in the definition it does not require a support system to fire which is what the military usually uses to classify fully automatic weapons as "machine guns".
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass." - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
-Thomas Jefferson
Spread my work ethic not my wealth.
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
-Thomas Jefferson
Spread my work ethic not my wealth.