Wooden 8mm Mauser Bullet

[browningautorifle]

It's simple, you want it to be true so it is. Any statements about any experience I have can be questioned because this is the internet.

You, the LEO, are accepting hearsay as fact. You know that's not reliable. My experiences don't matter to you.

[rcathey]

Oh, sorry about that. I was reading on my lunch break. Must’ve combined some of your comments to assume you had first hand knowledge of the wooden bullets. My bad. Carry on, all!

[CINDERS]

In fact my Dad was dropping depth charges on German U-Boats a number of weeks before Pearl Harbor under orders from FDR on U-boats that were firing torpedo's at American flagged shipping. Not a well known fact, but very true.

Just over 3 months prior to Pearl Harbour

September 4th 1941;

At 0840 that morning, Greer, carrying mail and passengers to Iceland, “was informed by a British plane of the presence of a submerged submarine about 10 miles [(16 km)] directly ahead. . . . Acting on the information from the British plane the Greer proceeded to search for the submarine and at 0920 she located the submarine directly ahead by her underwater sound equipment.

The Greer proceeded then to trail the submarine and broadcasted the submarine’s position. This action, taken by the Greer, was in accordance with her orders, that is, to give out information but not to attack.” The British plane continued in the vicinity of the submarine until 1032, but prior to her departure the plane dropped four depth charges in the vicinity of the submarine. The Greer maintained [its] contact until about 1248. During this period (three hours 28 minutes),the Greer maneuvered so as to keep the submarine ahead.

At 1240 the submarine changed course and closed the Greer. At 1245 an impulse bubble (indicating the discharge of a torpedo by the submarine) was sighted close aboard the Greer. At 1249 a torpedo track was sighted crossing the wake of the ship from starboard to port, distant about 100 yards [(100 m)] astern. At this time the Greer lost sound contact with the submarine.

At 1300 the Greer started searching for the submarine and at 1512 . . . the Greer made underwater contact with a submarine. The Greer attacked immediately with depth charges.

[green]

FWIW I conducted experiments with wood bullet ammo, .303" P14 rifle, bullets made from 5/16" solid hardwood dowel and Unique powder.
They were a good blank in that they were loud and fed from the mag.
Accuracy 3 of 5 shots hit 2' square target at 20'.
Penetration 1/4-5/16" at 10' in cardboard box packed with phone books.
Fired over fresh snow max range was about 35 yards and splinters on snow showed some bts were breaking up.

[usabaker]

bullets made from 5/16" solid hardwood dowel

Really cool write up!, did you turn the dowels down on a lathe? Just curious how balanced they were.

[green]

Really cool write up!, did you turn the dowels down on a lathe? Just curious how balanced they were.

Bought the dowels at a lumber yard. Shot some with ends cut square and others sharpened to feed through mag. Made no difference in performance, all struck target sideways.
IMHO combination of battle dress and great coat would be proof against wood bullets.
They might break bare skin.

[browningautorifle]

Penetration 1/4-5/16" at 10' in cardboard box packed with phone books.

all struck target sideways.

So, not much at all then...agreed, any vegetation of the jungle would also disrupt them.

[bob4wd]

So maybe my old veteran friend was right after all. The evidence I see here does seem to support it.

[browningautorifle]

The evidence I see here does seem to support it.

Don't think it does... There's no evidence here anyway, just discussion. One man has first hand testimony disproving feasibility.

[Bruce McAskill]

To me it would indicate that they were being used by the Japanese to launch grenades with and not as normal combat ammo.