WWII HOLMAN PROJECTOR - Anti-Aircraft Airgun & The NORTHOVER PROJECTOR:

It's weird what you find when you look eh ..

Back in 1962(ish) when I was a 18 y.o. testosterone packed lad - three or four of us London Boys would pack into an old car and set-off into the night after the pub closed - heading for a wee seaside cove of Porthtowan about 12 hours drive away in Cornwall. We did this, camping there and on Bodmin Moor, three or four years running. (Motorways have reduced this journey now, 56 years later, to around a five hour drive).

.. That first trip the clapped-out old motor couldn't pull our weight up several hills .. so the running was everybody other than the driver out to run beside the car - something like the old stagecoach days eh 😁)  Anyway - Here's an image taken at Porthtowan .. a few years earlier during the second world war.

A Prototype Holman Projector On Test At Porthtowan 1941

- Around 4,500 were issued.

Holmans - a Cornish air compressor manufacturer, developed this cheap'n'nasty pneumatic mortar tube to throw MILLS BOMBS at Heinkel He 111 aircraft from ships ! You pulled the grenades pin - stuffed it into an open topped can - dropped it down the tube where it popped the air-valve at the bottom and was "projected" up and out towards attacking planes. Where hopefully it frightened the enemy pilots three and a half seconds later. I read that two aircraft were actually successfully shot-down.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holman_Projector

The Holman Projectors were a low cost option and were fitted to many ships as a defensive measure. Later models were developed to run on steam pressure instead of compressed air - but the pneumatics worked OK until they ran out of pressure. This could be disastrous as per this linked tale:

http://www.67notout.com/2016/07/the-holman-projector-coincidence-from.html

Navy Holman Projector or Potato Launcher.

While chucking Mills bombs at flying aircraft sounds a bit doubtful - try this next perhaps even more dubious effort ..

  The Northover Projector:

1941 Homeguard Training With the NORTHOVER PROJECTOR.

This simple metal tube gun was designed as an ANTI-TANK weapon that used black powder to propel glass bottles filled with a form of napalm (- rubber dissolved in gasoline) and phosphorus to ignite it.

No. 76 Special Phosphous Incendiary Grenade

Despite being prone to breaking or exploding on the ground & in the weapons - nearly 19,000 of these were brought into service by 1943. - Use too much black powder and you've got an explosion in your face ... too little gun powder and the phosphorus napalm grenade will fall short and then explode!
Read all about the British Northover Anti-Tank Projector here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northover_Projector

No.76 Phosphorus / Napalm Grenade.

Handle With Care.

"Dads Army" Ready For Invasion By Enemy Tanks.

Both of these WWII 'Projectors' were pretty much emergency expedient tools that seem fairly risky & suicidal to their users - so much so that they bring to mind the 1960s 'cold war era'  US 'Davy Crocket Nuclear Recoilless Rifles'  - short range nukes that when fired from their smooth-bore launch tubes by a three man team to 1 or 2 miles would tend to seriously shorten their own life expectancies.

Davy Crockett .. Same Basic Idea eh.

Mind you, the USA made 2,100 of these "rifles" and only 400 Mk 54 20 ton nuclear warheads for deployment on the Korean Peninsular and in Germany.

Marty K.

Tywarnhayle Mine, Porthtowan 

- Where We Camped & Looked For 

Rabbits With Webley Under-Lever Air Rifles!

CASELESS Ammunition Five Examples & Images:

This caseless cartridge information was found on the 'Internet' by simply looking. - While I have been called some things by some people .. "ballistician" is not one of them - I'm just a joker (ex-forklift driver) who's interested in stuff.

Back in 1848 Walter Hunt invented a caseless bullet system and guns to use it - that became the VOLCANIC Rocket-Ball marketed by the original Smith & Wesson partnership (& Winchester Repeating Arms):

This worked reasonably well when you consider the technology of that era .. but was very low powered by our modern standards - their .31" and .41" caliber slugs only making mild 260 foot per second velocities. That's sling-shot velocity .. so it would have definitely hurt but not necessarily have been fatal.

There's a lot of detailed history on this Volcanic - Rocket Ball and the guns that used it here - LINK:

https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1369

The next caseless rifle & ammunition that I've found is the DAISY V/L .22" caliber which is said by some "experts" to be the first production rifle for caseless ammunition - made from 1968 to 1969 until discontinued under a ruling by the US BATF & E.

Daisy-Heddon Caseless .22" Rounds.

Next in rough chronological order comes the Heckler & Koch G11 .. 1960s/1970s to 1989 - if you want full historic context just Google it:

H&K developed a high-temperature HMX or 'Octogen' propellant to remedy 'cook-off' issues.

In 1991 Austrian manufacturer Voere GMBH introduced their beautifully made Voere VEC-91 caseless rifle & ammunition.

I read that Voere made three calibers .. 5.6 mm, 5.7 mm, & 6 mm.

The VEC-91 rifle bolt contained no firing pin or striker, just a ceramic cap that would electronically detonate the primer via the battery charge. The cartridge was designed by Hubert Usel and is known as the Usel Caseless Cartridge (UCC). The round was encased in a block of solid nitrocellulose and because it was not an automatic rifle it did not have the problems with cooking-off that plagued earlier military attempts such as the Heckler & Koch G11,

- Little Old ex-warehouse-man me is thinking that one way to go might be other than the recent external propellant designs .. maybe I'd think about an updated version of the internal charged 'Rocket-Ball' bullet .. a combined bullet-casing something like below maybe:

Please excuse my imperfect imaging - but I'm trying to preserve my amateur status eh.

.. Without the shoulder formed by the external propellant material - how would an internal charged bullet head-space for ignition? .. maybe it might be held in position by a spring loaded extractor bearing on the rearmost ribbing groove.

NOW that I've worked all that out - I've discovered the Benelli CB-M2 Caseless design developed with Fiocchi that looks suspiciously like my sketch above .. but the cartridge is of two piece construction from the 1980s and is a variety of RIMFIRE that fired from a fairly simple blow-back sub-machine gun. 

Fiocchi/Benelli Semi-Caseless AUPO ammunition is a 9 mm "Rimfire" Round fired by a SIDE-MOUNTED Firing Pin.

The Middle Round Is A Recovered Fired Example

You Can See The Gentle Forming Of The Rims.

"Semi-Caseless" because the rim-fire powder container detaches from the 9 mm bullet .. but it follows up the barrel like a sabot does. This cartridge worked and might be great in a handgun too - provided it produced other functional advantages.

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Here's a link to an article about some other "exotic" varieties of self contained ammunition systems:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/WorldArmedForcesForum/exotic-ammunition-t66435.html

- So maybe that's four different ignition systems? - Mechanical strike on a primer, - mechanical strike on a rim-fire, - electronic ignition, - & a jet of super-heated gas .. any more possibilities?

Marty K.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745

The Case For A Caseless Pistol Round - Not Much New Here Then:

Am I alone here or does anyone one else think this too .. I recall hardly ANY innovation in small arms development in the last five years.

Now I am thinking about this as I key it - so there may be something that I'm forgetting - but all I can recall is double barreled old dog 1911s (2011s?), double barreled heavyweight pump-action 12 Gauge shotguns, and new, bigger chamberings of existing gun models .. not exactly "cutting edge".

There must be a heap of frustrated inventors somewhere mumbling into their powder tins 😏.

 - Oh yeah - that interesting part-polymer Ruger LCR revolver was way back in 2008-2009 - & then Kimber astonished the world in 2016 by introducing their snubby  K6 .. a S.S. 357 revolver no less .. that caliber and design dates from 1934 !

Kimber K6S - Really Innovative.
- Well The Grip Uses Blue Rubber.

I've become so bored with yet another (& another !) - one after the other - 'improved' AR15 type rifle being lauded as *NEW* when everyone should know that the design originates from the late 1950s .. or, then yet another "new" historical 1911 iteration from the same old metal hackers.

- So some 1911s can be tuned to a nice trigger feel ... Get over it.

 Here's a service announcement - different shaped lightening holes in a trigger or strange patterns of checkering-stippling on the front-strap DON'T MAKE FOR A NEWSWORTHY GUN.

I do appreciate that "there is nothing new under the stars" - but this is ridiculous.

 It's saying a lot when the nearest thing to something 'innovative' as heralded by the 2017 shooting writers was *"A NEW 1911"* - the H9 from Hudson - surely neither new nor a 1911.. a high capacity striker-fired 9 mm that features an attempt to combine a straight-back trigger action with a bottom hinged safety insert.

"The Truth About Guns" .. This is New?

- Have you ever wondered how it is that 15 or 17+ rounds of 9mm will double stack into a center-fire pistol's grip - but those weedy "two-two" magazines only take ten tiny cartridges? - Well one clever chap has designed a 'divider' to keep two lines of rimmed rounds separated until they emerge at the top feed lips & get stripped-out .. at Kel-Tec.
Kel-Tec may be the one bright innovative spark .. their double stacked .22"WMR magazines for their PMR-30 pistols may lead the way to double-stacked high capacity .22" LR magazines for handgun grips - they've certainly patented one such (US 8,776,419B2) - all we need now are the 33 round pistols to emerge soon. (and for them to work).

It seems that they are making & selling 500 PMR-30s every week - despite it not being easy for shooters to get the full load of 22 Magnums into the mags.

Kel-Tec PMR-30 Certainly Is INNOVATIVE.

That's 120 rounds In Four Mags of 'Two-Two-Magnum' Shown.

Now - What about "Caseless" ammunition ? .. surely this is a neglected opportunity for something really new in handgun design. We all know that caseless rounds may "cook-off" when blasted by the hundreds in continuous rifle fire - but in a handgun?? - They could do it back in 1856! - Think of a really low fixed barrel axis with high capacity feed systems .. no slides banging to-and-fro - no ejection port 'stovepipe jams' !

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We all must be concerned about criminal nutter killers and possible new limitations & Bans imposed on lawful shooters - but is there a parallel risk - of shooting sports dying here from boredom and a serious lack of new young shooters?

We seem to be experiencing 'conservative' governments with no new ideas legislating conservative shooters, who use the products of a conservative industry. - If they & the industry and retailers don't start to invest in new developments and to put some support out into the shooting world - they risk continued mergers and 'rationalization' - why do we need 100 odd makers to build three or four only gun designs?

If I was an executive of a profitable gun maker / seller I'd be searching for new ideas - & I'd be sponsoring and building shooting ranges and promoting fun competitions such as "bowling pins matches" and "Cowboy Shooting" at reactive targets with prizes and entry fees donated to worthy charities doing free medical & eye surgery etc. - something like "GlockSport" with the Junior grades supplied with free match ammunition.

.. But that's just me.

P.S. If you think 'Caseless Ammunition' is interesting - check-out the Voere Vec-91 rifle linked here:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/04/09/caseless-wonder-vec-91/

- It's worth also reading the comments below the main story & adverts.

And the Daisy V/L Rifle story Link here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_V/L

- And the Heckler & Koch G11 here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G11

It seems that the caseless propellant can be ignited at least three different ways .. by a primer, by electric ignition, or by 'hot air' 😁 Maybe the antique 'Volcanic' rounds with primer & powder both wholly contained in the hollow base of the bullet might be modernized nicely.

http://www.guns.com/2011/04/19/the-case-for-caselessness-the-volcanic-rifle/

VOLCANIC Pocket Pistol 1854ish.

Caseless Ammo. Repeater

Marty K.

Military Tests For 6.5 Grendell (6.5x39mm now SAAMI):

I'm shifting my allegiance from thinking that the 6.5 CREEDMOOR is the way to go .. to the 6.5 Grendell.

Yes I know I'm fickle - as an example .. every new motorbike review I read has me going "Mmmm YEAH - that's the one." (Triumph, Suzuki, Ducati, BMW, KTM ..) - but anyway the Grendell does seem to be close to the answer to a maidens dream.

7.62x51 NATO - 6.5x39 GRENDELL - 5.56x45 mm NATO.

"Middle For Diddle"

Well this 'intermediate' cartridge is said to work fine in AR15 platforms, Kalashnikov AK platforms, and does well in a bolt-action rifle delivering the goods from 200 out to 800 yards and is now an official SAAMI spec. cartridge.

'Flat Shooting' and easy recoiling - with similar ability to a 30:30 - and can hold it's head up in target shooting - it's also becoming adopted (Serbia) and considered for further military use by both Russia & US - & it seems to work fine when loaded in lower cost steel cases .. and you can fit 26 rounds into a current M16 30 round size magazine.

Might be worth buying some shares eh - or if you need a new rifle consider this caliber, because it might be the system that is a practical rifleman's all-round asset.

Link to an interesting assessment:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/6-5mm-grendel-the-round-the-military-ought-to-have/

Marty K.

Reactive & Steel Targets:

Pistol NZ - Our club - is giving it's members comprehensive guidelines (Rules) for using & shooting at steel targets .. which can of course - cause dangerous ricochets and splatter if misused or worn & pitted.

They and we have to be aware of OSH requirements and Police regulation at all times.

https://www.pistolnz.org.nz/

Our NZ Police take their position of control over their paying customers very seriously - as indicated by their guidelines detailed in their Range Manual:

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/range-manual.pdf

Steel targets are a great asset to shooters by being economic and long-lasting - as well as great fun to shoot. There is something very satisfying about that *CLANG*

 - The next two links have lots of ideas for 'GONGS' to ring & plates to swing when hit:

http://www.6mmbr.com/reactivetargets.html

Hickok45  Home On His Range
- Lots Of Steel.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/04/joe-grine/gear-review-cheap-reactive-targets/

You 'mericans sure have lots of choices available - that we can only try to home-make-copy with kiwi ingenuity and "number 8 wire".

NEWBOLD Self-Sealing Polymer Targets .. (NO Hollowpoints).
These Would be Safe & OK .. But Shipping Costs!

Marty K.

The CREEDMOOR Cartridges & Now, 6.5x39 GRENDEL:

I don't know much about what I'm talking about here .. I'm trying to sort it out in my head. - But the other day on the range I said something like "Isn't the 6.5 Creedmoor much like the Russian 7.62x39mm cartridge." and the guys there 'corrected' me. Oh the shame of it - I'm still blushing 😅

6mm Creedmoor - 6.5mm Creedmoor, - & "Parent" Round .308 Winchester.

x

- So yeah they were right for sure - the Creedmoor is definitely bigger & more powerful - and is said to be "boringly accurate" by them-that-know - not a renowned characteristic of the Russian AK47 battle round !!

So the 6.5 mm Creedmoor (short-action) is more like the excellent 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser (long-action dating from 1891) that got 'short'n'fat' .. Take your pick 😎.

I guess that if you were in the market for a "brand new to you" all round rifle .. you might well consider the 'Creedmoors' - on the other hand, if you have a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser nearby, you shouldn't feel disadvantaged by life in any way, eh 😊.

It seems that maybe I was confusing the 6.5mm & 6.mm Creedmoor rounds with the 6mm PPC target shooting round that was developed indirectly from the Russian 7.62x39mm round (via the 22PPC & the .220" Russian). So there you go - proof that I need a kiwi rifleman to write about this rifle stuff.

Marty K.
P.S. Nick says:

Howdy ,

Hope  this  sunny  day  finds  you  well .

There  is  a  6.5 mm  cartridge  based  on  the  7.62x39 .

It's  called  the  6.5  Grendal .  And  it's  ideal  in  the  AR 15  and  similar  length  actions .  

Howa  chamber  their  shortest  bolt  actions  for  it  and  performance  is  said  to  be  very  good .

Cheers  Chap ,

6.5x39 Grendel.

- I see Wikipedia says the 6.5x39 Grendel is a sort of improved 6.5 PPC - and that Serbia is adopting this round for it's military main armament .. and that US is testing said 6.5x39 for use by special forces.

Link to a story about 6.5 Grendel and military use:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/6-5mm-grendel-the-round-the-military-ought-to-have/

M.K.

Henry Ford - HOT SHOT American Industrialist & Generally Nasty Person:

British media have been trying to stick an anti-Jewish-racist label on Jeremy Corbin (Britain's next prime minister) - now that their efforts to call the Labour Party politician a communist spy have faded away .. the papers are trying to smear him with some ordure they must have scraped-off of Henry Fords grave.

NEVER Confuse Your 'Ordure' With Your 'Verdure' eh

 - And Never Eat Any Yellow Snow.

- & Eat Your Greens.

- Now there's a bloke who hated "the International Jew" .. so much that he was awarded a medal by Hitler

1938 - Henry Ford Receives 

'Grand Cross Of The Supreme Order Of The German Eagle'

from Nazi German Consol

Henry Ford didn't much like his workers joining a Trade Union either - so much that he set-up 'The Service Department' (Internal Security) - a force of 800 armed thugs to resolve any issues by beating the crap out of them and even shooting them when they got too cheeky. “The most powerful private police force in the world.”

Bennet & Ford:

Harry Bennet - an ex-navy boxer, was appointed as a Ford Executive to recruit mobster muscle following his arrest for a street brawl .. at his interview the only question asked by Henry F was "Can you shoot?"

Harry Bennet's COLT Pocket Positive .32" Police Caliber with 3.5 Inch Barrel.

(- The Original .32" Colt Was a Crappy Cartridge. - They Eventually Adopted The .32" S&W but Called It "The 32 Colt New Police" .. Refusing to Use The S&W Name!)

 Bennett hung a target in his office for .32 caliber target pistols. He and his boss Henry sat for hours firing away. According to Bennett, “Mr. Ford was a dead shot.”

"Bennett liked to talk and act tough. He took target practice by firing BB's from an air pistol at a small target mechanism on a filing cabinet in his basement office at the Rouge. Visitors and co-workers were puzzled by the muffled sounds of pellets striking the target. Bennett furthered his tough guy image by keeping lions as pets at his Ann Arbor estate. He startled fellow executives by bringing the cats to his office and painting their likenesses.

"Harry Bennett used to sit at his desk, with his feet up on the desk, and a target at the other end of the room and fire a 45 target practice in his office and if someone was invited in to have a meeting with him they better make certain that his presence was properly announced or they may have intercepted one of those."

It didn't take Bennett long to assemble a collection of football players, boxers, wrestlers and even Detroit river gang members as Service Department employees. Bennett possessed no car making skills at all. His success with the company came solely from his close relationship with Henry Ford and his ability to get things done. All Henry had to do was ask, "Can you take care of that, Harry?" and it was done."

Bennet continued as a Ford executive for 29 years .. "He got things done."

- I can't exactly remember which unit Henry served with when the USA declared war on Germany on April 6 1917 .. mobilizing over Four Million men ..

 .. was it the 'zBv' or 'Sturm'  - it was too early to be the Volks sturm or the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV)?  - Naah that's not fair really - as Henry would have been too busy checking Germany's Ford-Werk's production figures throughout the war to volunteer for military service eh.

In a wish to be fair to "our 'Enery" I need to declare that I have owned two rusted British Ford Cortinas (a Mk.I & a Mk.II) and a Ford engined Lotus Seven replica and all three engines clapped-out around 100,000 miles.

Marty K.