-=> Quoting John Sandow to Vern Humphrey <=-
 VH>DA>In any event, we tried it out. The results were disappointing to say
 JS> the
 VH>DA>least. An ordinary hollow-point works at least as well. The only 
ffect
 VH>DA>that mercury would have on a real wound is to poison the victim 
lowly.
 VH>DA>A slow agonizing death isn't very desirable in a self-defense round
 VH>DA>because he has plenty of time to take you with him.
 
You gotta' make em right.
 VH>As I say -- this issue of mercury-filled bullets is probably a myth.
 VH>There is nothing in the design that would lead anyone familiar with
 VH>firearms to believe you'd get anything special from a "drop of mercury"
 VH>and I believe it started with some BS Forsythe was fed when he was
 VH>writing "Day of the Jackal."
 JS> Vern, it was my understanding that the mercury acted as a hydraulic
 JS> distributer of force on impact.  Oil would have essentially the same 
 JS> effect.  I also remember that a sheet of paper soaked in mercury would
 JS> flame up when shot with a .22, I guess the mercury acts as an oxidizer
 JS> or  accelerant.
Exactly.  The liquid metal would vaporise on impact, sometimes exploding
the bullet, or blowing out the tip as the bullet slowed down or hit
bone.
But, books have sometimes been inaccurate in their descriptions.  One
book described a spy using a .41 magnum with a silencer.
The old Glasers were filled with liquid teflon.  When they were used on
the street, only one failed to kill.  Which reportedly
puzzled doctors.  Since liquid teflon in the blood stream causes instant
heart failure.
... Bad style destroys an otherwise superb program.
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