Airborne Combat Engineer

The evolution of magnum handgun cartridges

The evolution and development of magnum handgun cartridges, taken as a whole, is quite interesting. This study clearly reflects the development of the American handgunner and innovations within our firearms industry. It's also a good reminder for why we should never say "never."

... the .44 Magnum was just the beginning in the world of handgun power. It's still a wonderful cartridge, and it taught us all about grip design and recoil management. Those lessons learned with the .44 Magnum have paved the way for the current crop of massive, magnum handguns. And while I really can't imagine wanting to shoot a revolver that is more powerful than the big .460 and .500, I'm not about to say that this is where it all ends. Somebody would undoubtedly come along and make a liar out of me.

Sheriff Jim Wilson, Shooting Times

Box of Truth tests RBCD Platinum Plus ammo

Box of Truth #38 test fires some RBCD Platinum Plus ammo into some water jugs.

Primary conclusion:

As is usual with light/fast bullets, these rounds made spectacular explosions on the first water jug. But then they fail to penetrate much farther.

Might these rounds work? Sure, they might. But why trust "might", when bullets are available that will meet the 12 inch minimum penetration standard?

You'll recall RBCD has generated some controversy in the past with seemingly magic bullets which seem to know what whether they are hitting soft tissue (which they make explode into smithereens), or steel plate (which they drill through).

Polywad and Polyshok

Polywad Inc., a small middle-Georgia ammunition manufacturer, is poised for some rapid growth thanks to a recent Department of Defense contract -- and broad-ranging assistance from Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute.

Macon, Ga.-based Polywad, maker of patented Spred-R ammunition and other shotgun products, is gearing up to make specialized rounds for the U.S. military.

Polywad's business began in 1985 when Menefee started selling a unique device he'd invented to people who reload ammunition by hand.  The Spred-R, a plastic insert that makes shot pellets spread quickly, found a market with sportsmen.

But the company also makes a special round, the Polyshok, that's available only to law enforcement and similar agencies.  The unusual shell unites Polywad's shot-spreader device with a metal-powder slug, also known as an impact-reactor projectile, or IRP.  The law-enforcement shell is sold through an associated company, Polyshok Inc.
 
The Polyshok round devastates its target, but only in a limited area. The metal-powder slug's energy disperses so quickly that it's usually harmless even to persons in close proximity or immediately behind the target (the company claims).

Georgia Tech EDI, 26 FEB 2007  Polywad   Polyshok (FL)  Polyshock (NC)

Like TLN mentions in a comment, it sounds a little too good to be true.  We need independent tests.

This "news" is four months old. Stumbled upon it while looking for news on an armor-piercing round GT is working on, as a little birdie told me yesterday.  It sounds like a concept A-C-E reported on some time ago. Didn't find anything, so it will have to wait.