Flechettes

Blue Grass · October 30, 2009, 08:21 PM

Anyone have any experience with using flechettes ? Would they be an effective home defence load? I've never seen one fired and have no idea how they would compare to buckshot. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

hogdogs · October 30, 2009, 08:25 PM

No use... no consistency in accuracy nor penetration. Viable concept that failed the float or flush test. So it is offered as a "novelty" round.
Brent

nutty ned · October 30, 2009, 08:29 PM

No don't use them.

rantingredneck · October 30, 2009, 08:35 PM

What Brent said.

The indivdual flechette's are very lightweight and lack sufficient mass to really penetrate.

On another note, this is one of those things you don't want introduced into evidence by your DA if God forbid you ever have to defend yourself with a firearm. I'm not one who usually subscribes to "Don't use "X" for HD or the DA will roast you...." arguments, but in this case that's one potential downside, among many, with no potential upsides.

Stick to proven buckshot loads. My personal favorite is Federal's LE12700 offering.

Superhouse 15 · October 30, 2009, 11:47 PM

Look at about 13:10 and 15:15 for flechette stuff. Meh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ

musicmatty · October 31, 2009, 08:54 AM

Great video..thanks for sharing this wealth of knowledge.

fisherman66 · October 31, 2009, 08:58 AM

they work best inside an enclosed shopping area.

Lee Lapin · October 31, 2009, 02:09 PM

Flechettes worked OK when launched by the POUND using artillery rounds and 2.75" FFARs (aircraft-launched rockets). I think the 2.75 rocket had a 10-pound flechette warhead, IIRC. http://www.aircav.com/hydra70.html

Shotguns? Nope.

Flechette loads in shotgun shells are very effective at separating people who don't know any better from their $$$ however.

lpl

Rich Keagy · October 31, 2009, 05:58 PM

But, think of the psychological impact when the BG sees a dozen little arrows sticking out of his chest.
Personally, I have a 45.

fineredmist · October 31, 2009, 06:22 PM

Flechette rounds are illegal in some states, Florida for example.

Dave McC · October 31, 2009, 07:49 PM

I used to have a couple shooting and drinking( Not at the same time) buddies who had worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

They had worked on an ambush buster, two full auto 12 gauges synched with a 9mm Subgun loaded with tracers. It worked, but claymores proved cheaper.

They had nothing but disdain for fletchette ammo for shotguns. No stopping power, no range, no advantage over standard 00 and no reason to use them.

zombieslayer · October 31, 2009, 08:28 PM

Several "specialty" shotgun loads are illegal in FL. Bolo's are, but they sell em at every gunshow.

ADB · November 1, 2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

I used to have a couple shooting and drinking( Not at the same time) buddies who had worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

They had worked on an ambush buster, two full auto 12 gauges synched with a 9mm Subgun loaded with tracers. It worked, but claymores proved cheaper.

Evidently, though, they DID mix drinking and engineering. Yikes!

October 30, 2009, 08:21 PM	#1
Blue Grass Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Posts: 398	Flechettes Anyone have any experience with using flechettes ? Would they be an effective home defence load? I've never seen one fired and have no idea how they would compare to buckshot. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

October 30, 2009, 08:35 PM	#4
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	What Brent said. The indivdual flechette's are very lightweight and lack sufficient mass to really penetrate. On another note, this is one of those things you don't want introduced into evidence by your DA if God forbid you ever have to defend yourself with a firearm. I'm not one who usually subscribes to "Don't use "X" for HD or the DA will roast you...." arguments, but in this case that's one potential downside, among many, with no potential upsides. Stick to proven buckshot loads. My personal favorite is Federal's LE12700 offering. __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

October 31, 2009, 08:58 AM	#7
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	they work best inside an enclosed shopping area. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

October 31, 2009, 02:09 PM	#8
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	Flechettes worked OK when launched by the POUND using artillery rounds and 2.75" FFARs (aircraft-launched rockets). I think the 2.75 rocket had a 10-pound flechette warhead, IIRC. http://www.aircav.com/hydra70.html Shotguns? Nope. Flechette loads in shotgun shells are very effective at separating people who don't know any better from their $$$ however. lpl __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill. Last edited by Lee Lapin; October 31, 2009 at 02:15 PM.

October 31, 2009, 08:28 PM	#12
zombieslayer Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,198	Several "specialty" shotgun loads are illegal in FL. Bolo's are, but they sell em at every gunshow. __________________ "An angry prophet, denouncing the hypocrisies of our time"

October 30, 2009, 08:25 PM	#2
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	No use... no consistency in accuracy nor penetration. Viable concept that failed the float or flush test. So it is offered as a "novelty" round. Brent

October 30, 2009, 08:29 PM	#3
nutty ned Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 765	No don't use them.

October 30, 2009, 11:47 PM	#5
Superhouse 15 Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2007 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 844	Look at about 13:10 and 15:15 for flechette stuff. Meh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ

October 31, 2009, 08:54 AM	#6
musicmatty Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 346	Great video..thanks for sharing this wealth of knowledge.

October 31, 2009, 05:58 PM	#9
Rich Keagy Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: southern California Posts: 48	But, think of the psychological impact when the BG sees a dozen little arrows sticking out of his chest. Personally, I have a 45.

October 31, 2009, 06:22 PM	#10
fineredmist Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2008 Location: Wethersfield, ct Posts: 128	Flechette rounds are illegal in some states, Florida for example.

October 31, 2009, 07:49 PM	#11
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	I used to have a couple shooting and drinking( Not at the same time) buddies who had worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground. They had worked on an ambush buster, two full auto 12 gauges synched with a 9mm Subgun loaded with tracers. It worked, but claymores proved cheaper. They had nothing but disdain for fletchette ammo for shotguns. No stopping power, no range, no advantage over standard 00 and no reason to use them.