Plastic bullet
Encyclopedia
A plastic bullet or plastic baton round (PBR) is a non-lethal projectile fired from a specialised gun. Although designed as a non-lethal weapon they have still caused several deaths. They are generally used for riot control
(notably in Northern Ireland
). Plastic bullets were developed by the British security forces to replace their rubber bullet
s in an attempt to reduce fatalities. If misused they can still cause fatal injury.
An unrelated small-calibre handgun bullet made of plastic is sometimes used for short range target practice (see recreational use).
s in the United Kingdom.
: training doctrine was to fire these rounds below waist level, to reduce the risk of lethal injury. Rubber bullets would ricochet uncontrollably from the ground, if fired too low. The intention of the plastic bullet was to produce a projectile of similar effect on its target, with less risk of ricochet than rubber.
It was introduced in 1972 and initially was used alongside the rubber bullet, which it replaced completely in 1975. The first plastic bullet was made of PVC
, was 89 mm (3.5 inches) long and 38 mm (1.5 in.) in diameter, and weighed approximately 131 g (4.6 oz). The weight was similar to the rubber bullet but the new projectile had a lower muzzle velocity.
The British Government pioneered the use of plastic bullets. Used extensively in Northern Ireland, it was discovered they were lethal at certain ranges.
From 1973 to 1981, over 42,000 plastic bullets were fired in Northern Ireland
. Fourteen people were killed by plastic bullet impacts, including nine children. Most of the deaths were allegedly caused by the British security services misusing the weapon, firing at close range and at chest or head level rather than targeting below the waist.
One of the victims, 12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly from Twinbrook in west Belfast died on 22 May, having been struck by a plastic bullet fired by a member of the Royal Fusiliers on 19 May 1981. These concerns led to campaigners such as Emma Groves
founding the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets
, to call for tighter immediate controls on their use, more accountability after such shootings and even a total ban on their use in Northern Ireland.
The latest variant of the L5 PBR—the L5A7—was introduced in 1994 along with a new more accurate launcher, the HK
L104 riot gun
. The L5 was followed by the L21A1 in 2001. The L21 PBR is fired from a rifled weapon which gives greater accuracy when used with an optical sight. The L21 was replaced by the Attenuated Energy Projectile in June 2005.
beating students with batons. A fleeing female student was shot in the stomach with a plastic bullet. Plastic bullets were used against protestors at a protest against globalization
in Quebec
in 2001. Plastic bullets were approved for policing in England and Wales in June 2001. Plastic bullets were also authorized for G8 summit protests in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005. In September 2004, seven picketing shipbuilders were injured in a tear-gas and plastic bullet assault in Cadiz, Spain. Foam-tipped plastic bullets were employed by U.S. Marines in a trial in the Iraq War but were determined to be ineffectual. A plastic bullet was successfully used to disarm a hostage taker armed with a machete
in Dorchester, England in November 2002. Venezuelan police and soldiers fired plastic bullets at student protestors in Caracas in December 2010. Israeli security forces used non-lethal weapons such as plastic bullets in an eviction of settlers in the West Bank
settlement of Havat Gilad
.
calibers, and are designed for use in handguns, primarily revolvers, as the flat nose of the bullet does not feed well in most magazine fed actions. The propulsion is provided only by the primer, and the slow moving plastic bullets may be captured undamaged and reused numerous times if a suitable backstop is used. For use in revolvers, .38 Special
and .44 Special
versions also include plastic cases, which can be primed and de-primed by hand with minimal tools. For other calibers, standard brass
cases are used.
Riot control
Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
(notably in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
). Plastic bullets were developed by the British security forces to replace their rubber bullet
Rubber bullet
Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be fired from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns. They are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to metal projectiles...
s in an attempt to reduce fatalities. If misused they can still cause fatal injury.
An unrelated small-calibre handgun bullet made of plastic is sometimes used for short range target practice (see recreational use).
History
The plastic bullet was developed as a replacement for rubber bulletRubber bullet
Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be fired from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns. They are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to metal projectiles...
s in the United Kingdom.
Development
The ammunition was developed by the British as the L5 Plastic Baton Round with a projectile that could be fired directly at targets while also reducing the risk of serious injury or death. It was intended to replace the older rubber bulletRubber bullet
Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be fired from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns. They are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to metal projectiles...
: training doctrine was to fire these rounds below waist level, to reduce the risk of lethal injury. Rubber bullets would ricochet uncontrollably from the ground, if fired too low. The intention of the plastic bullet was to produce a projectile of similar effect on its target, with less risk of ricochet than rubber.
It was introduced in 1972 and initially was used alongside the rubber bullet, which it replaced completely in 1975. The first plastic bullet was made of PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
, was 89 mm (3.5 inches) long and 38 mm (1.5 in.) in diameter, and weighed approximately 131 g (4.6 oz). The weight was similar to the rubber bullet but the new projectile had a lower muzzle velocity.
Use in Northern Ireland
| Year | Rubber bullets | Plastic bullets |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 238 | |
| 1971 | 16,752 | |
| 1972 | 23,363 | |
| 1973 | 12,724 | 42 |
| 1974 | 2,612 | 216 |
| 1975 | 145 | 3,556 |
| 1976 | 3,464 | |
| 1977 | 1,490 | |
| 1978 | 1,734 | |
| 1979 | 1,271 | |
| 1980 | 1,231 | |
| 1981 | 29,665 | |
| Total | 55,834 | 42,669 |
| Total rubber and plastic bullets 98,503 |
||
The British Government pioneered the use of plastic bullets. Used extensively in Northern Ireland, it was discovered they were lethal at certain ranges.
From 1973 to 1981, over 42,000 plastic bullets were fired in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Fourteen people were killed by plastic bullet impacts, including nine children. Most of the deaths were allegedly caused by the British security services misusing the weapon, firing at close range and at chest or head level rather than targeting below the waist.
One of the victims, 12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly from Twinbrook in west Belfast died on 22 May, having been struck by a plastic bullet fired by a member of the Royal Fusiliers on 19 May 1981. These concerns led to campaigners such as Emma Groves
Emma Groves
Emma Groves was a leading campaigner for banning the use of plastic bullets and a co-founder of the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets. She began her campaign after she was blinded from being struck in the face by a rubber bullet in 1971.-Shooting incident:Groves was Belfast mother of 11...
founding the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets
United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets
United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets is an organization based in Belfast, Northern Ireland that opposes the use of plastic bullets by the British army and police....
, to call for tighter immediate controls on their use, more accountability after such shootings and even a total ban on their use in Northern Ireland.
The latest variant of the L5 PBR—the L5A7—was introduced in 1994 along with a new more accurate launcher, the HK
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
L104 riot gun
Riot gun
A riot gun or less-lethal launcher is a type of firearm that is used to fire "non-lethal" ammunition for the purpose of suppressing riots. Less-lethal launchers may be special purpose firearms designed for riot control use, or standard firearms, usually shotguns and grenade launchers, adapted to...
. The L5 was followed by the L21A1 in 2001. The L21 PBR is fired from a rifled weapon which gives greater accuracy when used with an optical sight. The L21 was replaced by the Attenuated Energy Projectile in June 2005.
Use elsewhere
In 1990, Kenyan riot police raided a room at the University of NairobiUniversity of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
beating students with batons. A fleeing female student was shot in the stomach with a plastic bullet. Plastic bullets were used against protestors at a protest against globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 2001. Plastic bullets were approved for policing in England and Wales in June 2001. Plastic bullets were also authorized for G8 summit protests in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005. In September 2004, seven picketing shipbuilders were injured in a tear-gas and plastic bullet assault in Cadiz, Spain. Foam-tipped plastic bullets were employed by U.S. Marines in a trial in the Iraq War but were determined to be ineffectual. A plastic bullet was successfully used to disarm a hostage taker armed with a machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
in Dorchester, England in November 2002. Venezuelan police and soldiers fired plastic bullets at student protestors in Caracas in December 2010. Israeli security forces used non-lethal weapons such as plastic bullets in an eviction of settlers in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
settlement of Havat Gilad
Havat Gilad
Havat Gilad is an Israeli settlement outpost in the West Bank, beyond the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council. It was established in 2002 in memory of Gilad Zar, security coordinator of the Shomron Regional Council, who was shot and killed in 2001. It is considered an un-authorized...
.
Design
A typical plastic bullet weighs around 130g. The bullets were originally intended to be effective from 33m–64m.Recreational use
Speer plastic bullets, the only widely available brand, are hollow based plastic cylinders, and are available in .357/.38/9 mm, .44, and .45.45
.45 may refer to:* .45 ACP, a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911* .45-70, a cartridge developed at the U.S...
calibers, and are designed for use in handguns, primarily revolvers, as the flat nose of the bullet does not feed well in most magazine fed actions. The propulsion is provided only by the primer, and the slow moving plastic bullets may be captured undamaged and reused numerous times if a suitable backstop is used. For use in revolvers, .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
and .44 Special
.44 Special
The .44 Special or .44 S&W Special is a smokeless powder center fire metallic cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.-Development history:...
versions also include plastic cases, which can be primed and de-primed by hand with minimal tools. For other calibers, standard brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
cases are used.