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Dirty Harry round

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dirty Harry round
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Production history
DesignerBAE Systems
Specifications
Parent case5.56×45mm
Bullet diameter5.56 mm (0.219 in)
Overall length45 mm (1.8 in)

Dirty Harry is the name given to the special round chambered 5.56×45mm. The rounds are designed by BAE Systems and were safety and performance tested by QinetiQ to supplement the existing 5.56 standard NATO ammunition issued to British Forces.

Background

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The necessity to use a more powerful round in place of regular 5.56mm NATO round was felt due to its unsatisfactory performance in medium-range engagements.

This resulted in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) requesting the development of a special round to be used from the existing SA80 rifles resulting in Dirty Harry.[citation needed]

The reference inaccurately refers to the bullet fired by Clint Eastwood's fictional character Dirty Harry in the eponymous movie series. Eastwood's character actually fired a .44 magnum load from his iconic Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver, neither the same charge nor the same bullet as any .45 caliber round, including the 5.56×45mm. Still, the Ministry of Defence (MoD)'s intent was likely more about shock and awe than it was about the actual ordinance characteristics itself.

Status

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The ammunition was tested in 2010 in the Future Dismounted Close Combat research program.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "UK military scientists develop 'Dirty Harry' bullet for Brit troops to fight Taliban in Afghanistan". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 7 September 2010.