Beehive Shells -- Size Limitation?

[Tallor]

I really love beehive shells, since their shrapnel does cutting damage and therefore are fully effective against creatures living, unliving, homogenous, or even diffuse (due to so sheer quantity)!

The problem though is that it's a shell, not a bullet. Are there miniature beehive shells? Is such a thing possible?

[Bruno]

I believe Doug mentioned that exploding rounds aren't really practical below 12.5 mm, so that's a reasonable cut-off point.

[Ulzgoroth]

It's a fairly complex shell with an internal bursting charge. I think you'd be lucky to get it down below grenade launcher calibers...and I don't know if it'd be worthwhile in a low-velocity gun either.

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by Bruno

I believe Doug mentioned that exploding rounds aren't really practical below 12.5 mm, so that's a reasonable cut-off point.

Is it possible with TL9+ ultratech? :o

[starslayer]

It's hard to predict what might be developed with higher technology AND the presence of supernatural creatures (ie; diffuse things)

However even with high tech I think that the ballistics for a tiny beehive are still going to be an issue. Bruno's suggestion of 'no smaller than 12.7mm' seems good

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by starslayer

It's hard to predict what might be developed with higher technology AND the presence of supernatural creatures (ie; diffuse things)

However even with high tech I think that the ballistics for a tiny beehive are still going to be an issue. Bruno's suggestion of 'no smaller than 12.7mm' seems good

For diffuse targets, concussion rounds are probably the best. It's unliving (without vitals) and homogeneous that go well with cutting.

...And targets like those that actually warrant shooting at are more supernatural than diffuse targets, because swarms are Diffuse.

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

For diffuse targets, concussion rounds are probably the best. It's unliving (without vitals) and homogeneous that go well with cutting.

...And targets like those that actually warrant shooting at are more supernatural than diffuse targets, because swarms are Diffuse.

Would a concussive round actually explode on a Diffuse target, though..?

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Tallor

Would a concussive round actually explode on a Diffuse target, though..?

Depends on the diffuse target and how it is fused.

[HANS]

Originally Posted by Tallor

Are there miniature beehive shells? Is such a thing possible?

No. If there were and if it was, we would have mentioned it in High-Tech. In general, if something is impossible per High-Tech, you can assume we had a reason for that. We did research the historical and (then) currently available stuff rather thoroughly.

Of course, advances are made. Fuzes have become smaller even in the 10 years since the book was written, explosives more potent, etc, and this will only continue at higher TLs. Beehive rounds, however, will always require a large bore and a large projectile to accommodate not only the fuze but also a substantial charge and of course enough space for the payload. I really can't see how anything smaller than a grenade (30-40mm minimum) can hold all that.

Cheers

HANS

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by HANS

No. If there were and if it was, we would have mentioned it in High-Tech. In general, if something is impossible per High-Tech, you can assume we had a reason for that. We did research the historical and (then) currently available stuff rather thoroughly.

Of course, advances are made. Fuzes have become smaller even in the 10 years since the book was written, explosives more potent, etc, and this will only continue at higher TLs. Beehive rounds, however, will always require a large bore and a large projectile to accommodate not only the fuze but also a substantial charge and of course enough space for the payload. I really can't see how anything smaller than a grenade (30-40mm minimum) can hold all that.

Cheers

HANS

In that case, maybe a 40mm anti-zombie Beehive launcher? :P