FullMetal*Panic!

Over the years many different "non-lethal" rounds have been used by law enforcement and civilians but with the growing popularity and increasing types of non lethal rounds its difficult to determine the advanges and disadvantages of each. Can those who know more about the subject than I shed some light on the differences....or even discuss those which you prefer


Although I posted this topic to discuss the ongoing debate between plastic, beanbag, wax, wood, and rubber baton rounds please feel free to discuss any I have failed to mention. including the differences in each catagory of weapons "rifles, handguns, shotguns"

Wood? WOOD!? You can't shoot someone with wood! Wood is banned from actual warfare by the Geneva Convention because it splinters when it goes into the body and makes it very difficult to remove. Leads to infection and a very slow death.

So I wouldn't recommend it as a non-lethal option.

Never heard of plastic or wax bullets. "Stun rounds" are usually made of rubber, unless I'm mistaken. They're not as fast as a real bullet, but faster than the human eye can see travel. Unlike beanbags, they can be shaped into rounds for just about any type of gun. You can also load more than one round at a time with rubber bullets. They function just like real bullets except they don't kill, unless you hit someone in a very dangerous spot like the side of the head.

The differences in classes of weapons are the same as they are with live rounds. Handguns are compact, concealable, and might offer and advantage in tight quarters. Rifles are more accurate, while shotguns have more kick at closer range. This is, of course, a generalization. I'm sure there are exceptions with different sized rounds, barrel lengths, etc.

EDIT: Actually, I should clarify that the part about the wooden bullets being banned is something I've heard over the years. I can't really be sure that's accurate.

Weltall Elite wrote:Wood? WOOD!? You can't shoot someone with wood! Wood is banned from actual warfare by the Geneva Convention because it splinters when it goes into the body and makes it very difficult to remove. Leads to infection and a very slow death.

So I wouldn't recommend it as a non-lethal option.

Hague Conventions actually, not Geneva. It's part of Declaration III - On Bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body

Never heard of plastic or wax bullets.

"Red Jets." The US Army uses them as training rounds. Not as lethal as the real deal, but meh, a 3-round burst is still likely to kill you anyway.

EDIT: Actually, I should clarify that the part about the wooden bullets being banned is something I've heard over the years. I can't really be sure that's accurate.

Yeah it's covered.. wrong convention though.