Message no. 1

From:	Malcolm Shaw <malhms@*********.COM.AU>
Subject:	RE Rocket Pistol
Date:	Mon, 26 Oct 1998 12:49:50 +1100

SNIP SNIP

If one was to design a rocket pistol - and I believe fairly possible in
those advance years then
A) the shell would need to be approximately the size of a 303 shell to
have sufficient propellant
B) the material of the shell would not have to be too hard or else one
would need to replace the barrel frequently - rifling in the barrel is
needed to spin the projectile to retain some accuracy and to stop
tumbling
C) the shell would start slow - no recoil and would accelerate until the
fuel was expended then speed would fall away very rapidly

Therefore taking the above into consideration and allowing for a rocket
fuel of say hydrazine
the shell would leave the pistol at an increasing velocity so that say
within 3 meters it would have a damage code of 5L
Then for the next 10 meters have a damage code of 9S - average velocity
over this distance assumed for easy game play one cannot have the
player calculating the velocity and damage for each meter of travel
At the end of the second 10 meters the fuel would be spent and the
velocity fall rapidly so allow 2 meters at 5L

Impact would be greater than a normal slug in the 3 to 10 meter range as
the propellant would be driving the rocket further when it struck -
consider the difference when a .45 slug hits armour compared to a cloth
yard arrow - the .45 slug has less inertia and deflects the cloth yard
arrow even though slower has greater inertia and would penetrate - a
fact shadowrun and other gaming systems do not take into account. The
rocket projectile would have greater inertia so to speak on impact as
the propellant would continue to push it forward.

A note of caution to those who would use such a weapon - the ammo would
be extremely sensitive to heat - loose shells would set off like a
firework display and those in the rocket gun magazine - well LOOK MA NO
HAND!!

The FOOL
a wise man learns from others mistakes, a dedicated man from his own
mistakes and a fool never learns - perhaps a FOOL can?