A method for predicting effects of military rifles

Comparative analysis of penetration of military bullets through soap blocks and an average 220 mm long trajectory through live muscle in pigs, at 50 m range, using Yugoslav M 48 cal. 7.9 mm and M 70 cal. 7.62 mm, Belgian FAL cal. 7.62 mm and American M 16 A 1 cal. 5.56 mm rifles were performed. The volume of residual cavity in soap (Z) and the mass of surgically excised dead tissue (G) were inter-related and a power curve G = a Zb was determined, yielding a coefficient of correlation 1.00. Another series of tests using two Soviet rifles - M 1891/30 cal 7.62 mm and Dragunov cal. 7.62 mm with average trajectory length in pigs 160 mm, was effected. Applying the same regression coefficients "a" and "b" from previous studies, a prediction of G from Z was found to be correct with less than 10% error, as compared to really excised tissue by a surgeon. In conclusion, a mathematical model derived from soap tests can be reliably applied for predicting injury made in vivo by standard military rifles.