In the 1920s an increasing number of corporations were acquiring machine guns for labor relations related reasons. Deterring striking employees.

Did you know that the Peters company made ammunition specifically for riot control for the Thompson submachine gun in the 1920s? And it wasn’t rubber bullets, either – it was paper-wrapped snakeshot. The cartridges were actually longer than a standard magazine would accept, necessitating the production of a special longer magazine to fit them. That magazine would hold 18 rounds, and was specially marked as such…

… At about 8 feet it made a pattern about 18 inches in diameter (from a rifled Tommy Gun barrel), and did not cycle the action… the proper way to use this ammo for crowd control: fire it into the pavement in front of the crowd, allowing it to ricochet up into the crowd at a lower velocity. It would be less lethal that way, but still a great way to lose an eye!

Ian’s video: [5:30] https://youtu.be/ud3Csq6568k?si=

Old Popular Mechanics article that mentions this type of ammo.

  • andrew_bidlawEnglish
    9·
    10 months ago

    the proper way to use this ammo for crowd control: fire it into the pavement in front of the crowd, allowing it to ricochet up into the crowd at a lower velocity.

    I doubt they were intended or instructed to use these like that.

    • BakerBagel@midwest.socialEnglish
      17·
      10 months ago

      Thats how modern rubber bullets ate intended to be used and i have never seen footage of cops doing that either

        • Tar_AlcaranEnglish
          7·
          10 months ago

          “Less lethal” in the same way stabbing someone with a pocket knife is less lethal than with a sabre.

          • andrew_bidlawEnglish
            31·
            10 months ago

            What’s your point?

            Mine is - ‘non-lethal’ was a scam to sell this idea to public, and then purchase weapons that are still capable to do a lot of damage, carry them around and shooting people like they are nothing, under that veil of them being safe.