Author Archives: D.E. Watters

Small Arms Historian

The USAF “Super Bullet”

Today’s ammunition data dump has a tangential relationship with the Second Chance Combat Shoot, as one of the designers was a frequent competitor. John C. “Jack” Robbins worked at the US Air Force’s Armament Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. His then 13-year old son, John, even won the 1977 match! Mas AyoobContinue reading “The USAF “Super Bullet””

A Collection of Screwdriver Bit Projectile Patents

You can’t seem to swing a dead cat these days without hitting another scalloped projectile design claimed to promote increased temporary cavitation and tissue disruption. In rifles, the initial blame might be placed upon CETME engineer Gunther Voss who designed the asymmetric löffelspitz (spoon-point) bullet for use with the 4.6x36mm CETME/HK assault rifle cartridge startingContinue reading “A Collection of Screwdriver Bit Projectile Patents”

Watters Custom .38 Super

I am not a professional gunsmith, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. I built this .38 Super pistol in late 2000 for use in IDPA’s Enhanced Service Pistol division. The frame and slide were from Caspian; each made from 416 stainless barstock. This was during the brief period that they offered barstockContinue reading “Watters Custom .38 Super”

Shooting for the Moon – Full Moon, Half-Moon, and Other Schemes for Rimless Revolver Cartridges

Smith & Wesson had full-moon clip patents years before the half-moon clip was patented. Given some of the schemes tried, I suspect that they were worried about how the loaded clips could be carried without damaging them. The most cynical part of my brain wonders if some insisted on them being able to be carriedContinue reading “Shooting for the Moon – Full Moon, Half-Moon, and Other Schemes for Rimless Revolver Cartridges”