Didnt realise just how big a bullet from the Warthog was!!

[parxuk]

Love this game and the Hog itself, and decided my office just wasnt complete without a bullet from the GAU-8 (dont ask me why). I had no idea how big and heavy this thing was gonna be - no wonder it kills tanks.

 

 

Dont think the wife will be quite so impressed, but never mind.

 

Sorry for the massively off-topic thread, but in the A10 section seemed best.

[MTFDarkEagle]

Where did you get one? I'd love to get hold of one :D

[Slap_Chop]

Pretty Cool ! Have you put your Geiger Counter next to it yet ?

 

 

 

 

The AN/GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gun system was specifically built to serve as a Close Air Support ""Tank Buster."" Similar to the earlier M61 20mm Vulcan design, the Avenger uses seven barrels to achieve a rate of fire of 3,900 rounds per minute. The Avenger fires a mix of 30mm electrically primed PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds and PGU-14/B Armor Piercing Incendiary (API) rounds. While the HEI rounds provide the Avenger the ability to destroy light skinned vehicles, the weapon's real punch is delivered by the API rounds, each of which incorporates over half a pound of super-dense Depleted Uranium (DU.) At 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) a 2 second burst from the AN/GAU-8 will deliver 100 rounds containing 65 pounds of DU and place 80 percent of these projectiles within 20 feet of the target.

[112th_Rossi]

Contary to popular beleif depleted uranium is not that radioactive. It's a relatively stable isotope unlike what people think it is, which is Uranium-235 used in nuclear warheads and reactors.

 

It's only cause for concern when it's vapourised or ingested somehow as the alpha particles emitted from the atoms as they breakdown don't travel very far.

 

There are probably things around your house which are more radioactive.

 

Nice thing to have, more than likely not a DU round anyway :)

 

DU rounds are used because they are dense, which allows easier penetration through armour :)

[parxuk]

No, just an inert round. Has some scratches etc. on it, so its had some form of use. Though i cant imagine it would have been fired as wouldnt it have been dented/mashed up a bit??

 

MTFDarkEagle i got it from here: http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/acatalog/The_Secret_Shop_Bullets_2.html

 

Whole transaction was very easy, and it was posted and delivered quickly.

 

At the very least it makes a good paperweight!

[cichlidfan]

Though i cant imagine it would have been fired as wouldnt it have been dented/mashed up a bit??

 

 

If it had been fired, all you would have is a shell casing (which are not too difficult to come by).

[EtherealN]

I've never done it with a round of this type, but it's actually not too difficult to "replace" a round into a used casing. (I've done it with 7,62's as a kid.) It will however show on the ignition surface.

[cichlidfan]

I've never done it with a round of this type, but it's actually not too difficult to "replace" a round into a used casing. (I've done it with 7,62's as a kid.) It will however show on the ignition surface.

 

Do they reload the brass for the A-10? It all comes back with the aircraft instead of being ejected into the air, though I imagine that would be mostly to keep the shells out of the engines.

[Cali]

I have a picture floating around here showing a soda can, 20mm and 30mm rounds all next to each other. Big difference between the 2.

[Speed]

Contary to popular beleif depleted uranium is not that radioactive. It's a relatively stable isotope unlike what people think it is, which is Uranium-235 used in nuclear warheads and reactors.

 

It's only cause for concern when it's vapourised or ingested somehow as the alpha particles emitted from the atoms as they breakdown don't travel very far.

 

There are probably things around your house which are more radioactive.

 

Nice thing to have, more than likely not a DU round anyway :)

 

DU rounds are used because they are dense, which allows easier penetration through armour :)

 

Actually, I believe what's so dangerous about depleted uranium is its chemical toxicity, not its slight radioactivity. I think it's a lot worse than lead. At least, people keep making a big fuss about it. Then again, people make big fusses about utterly irrelevant things all the time, so I might just be getting the wrong impression.

[112th_Rossi]

Yes, it degrades over time and releases lots of nasty chemicals.

[marcos]

Actually, I believe what's so dangerous about depleted uranium is its chemical toxicity, not its slight radioactivity. I think it's a lot worse than lead. At least, people keep making a big fuss about it. Then again, people make big fusses about utterly irrelevant things all the time, so I might just be getting the wrong impression.

The DU slug is probably sealed inside the outer case though, no?

 

A relatively tiny round compared to the Rheinmetall-Borsig 37x263mm autocannon rounds:

 

 

 

 

 

The Ju-87G is briefly mentioned in the A-10 flight manual:

 

 

Only fires at 250rpm but 2 cannons were carried, one either side.

 

Nudelmann-Suranov NS-45 on right (45x186mm), 2nd from left is a .50BMG:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 2012 by marcos

[winz]

I think it's a lot worse than lead.

I think it has more to do with us beeing used on the fact that lead is toxic. And the uranium = radioactivity implication.

I cannot see this to be harmfull, if the DU core is sealed inside and doesn't corrode overtime.

[Jona33]

The DU slug is probably sealed inside the outer case though, no?

 

A relatively tiny round compared to the Rheinmetall-Borsig 37x263mm autocannon rounds.

Only fires at 250rpm but 2 cannons were carried, one either side.

 

There's a book called Stuka Pilot out there that's mentioned in Warthog written by a pilot he killed dozens of tanks with those things. Just remember though the A-10's got 1150 rounds and can fire 250 in 4-5 seconds as opposed to a minute.

[WildBillKelsoe]

The Ju-87G is briefly mentioned in the A-10 flight manual:

 

 

Only fires at 250rpm but 2 cannons were carried, one either side.

 

They call it "Shtooka"..

 

You shtook my wife??? :D EPIC!

[marcos]

From left, 7.62x51mm, 20x102mm vulcan, 25x137mm equaliser (AC-130U), 40x311mm (AC-130U), 105x371mm (AC-130U):

 

 

30x173mm (A-10) relative to 25x137mm for reference:

 

Edited August 16, 2012 by marcos

[marcos]

Huuricane MkIID with 40mm Vickers Class S x2

 

 

2 x 106mm M40 RR

 

 

Mosquito with 4x20mm and 57mm autoloading 6lb gun:

 

 

B-25G 75mm

 

 

Interesting read about how important big a/c guns still are due to the relatively cheap cost vs missiles and guided bombs:

 

http://www.combatreform.org/cannonfighter.htm

Edited August 16, 2012 by marcos

[112th_Rossi]

Ha, Mosquito, what an awesome aircraft. Flying Legend?

[Cali]

[112th_Rossi]

Those Root Beer rounds are deadly!

[marcos]

What round is that Cali? A-10 again?