From:	"Dark Thought Publications." <JEK5313@*****.TAMU.EDU>
Subject:	Diamond-tipped ammo?!? Watch out Tiffany's!!!!
Date:	Mon, 12 Apr 93 00:40:12 CET

Trilobite:
]Diamond is much harder than vanadium, and
]I think you have to Dikote (at least) the inside of the barrel before
]you could use this ammo. (or is that what you meant by "specially
]modified"?)


Besides the hardness of diamond cleaning out your barrel for you, there is
another problem. When measuring strength of industrial compounds, at least on
the layman level (no, Trilo, I don't want a mechie level right now), there are
two guides: strength and brittleness. Now, diamond, and specifically bort
(industrial quality diamond) are very strong in the strength category and
really weak in the brittle category. You see, the stronger you get, the more
brittle you also get, and vice versa. Well, to my point -diamonds of this
quality are handled fairly carefully because, although incredibly strong, one
sharp crack will shatter them into so much dust. This also works with
engagement rings (trust me on this one). Something makes me wonder about these
people who are trying to DiKote bullets, as I would think that the expanding
gases from the combustion of the propellants would count as a _big_ crash,
thereby stripping the bullets of their layer of protective diamond, and
showering anyone within about six feet with many diamond pricklies.

-Ethan Court