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Air rifle ammunition and its influence on wounding potential
Archives of Emergency Medicine
|March 1, 1985
Summary
The new Prometheus air rifle pellet fragments easily, while the Sabo pellet penetrates further than standard types. Sabo pellets pose a greater risk in soft tissues, and Prometheus pellets are more dangerous for head injuries due to steel penetration.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Ballistics
- Materials Science
Background:
- New air rifle pellet types, Prometheus (steel/nylon) and Sabo (lead alloy/plastic), claim enhanced penetration.
- Both pellet types incorporate radio-opaque and radio-lucent materials for imaging purposes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the penetration capabilities of Prometheus and Sabo pellets against standard diablo pellets.
- To evaluate the clinical implications of these new pellet types in tissue simulant.
Main Methods:
- Penetration tests were conducted using 20% gelatin as a tissue simulant.
- Comparison involved diablo, Prometheus, and Sabo pellet types at various ranges.
Main Results:
- Prometheus pellets showed no increased penetration over diablo pellets and fragmented in up to 70% of tests.
- 'Sabo' pellets achieved 46% greater penetration than diablo pellets (p=0.001).
- The plastic component of Sabo pellets failed to penetrate beyond 0.5 m; Prometheus pellets penetrated steel, unlike others.
Conclusions:
- Prometheus pellets pose a significant risk in head injuries due to steel penetration and fragmentation.
- 'Sabo' pellets are identified as the most dangerous in soft and medium-density materials.
- Fragmentation of Prometheus pellets can leave radio-lucent components within wound tracks.