"Thomas J. Paladino Jr." wrote in message
news

"Paul F Austin" wrote in message
. ..

I've read that the training darts include a pyrotechnic that deploys
drag
features after about 2Km of flight so that smaller ranges can be used.
Is
there anything to that?


Yes, the sabot practice round is indeed range-limited, however not through
a
pyrotechnic (as far as I know).

The M865/E2 is the current sabot training round, and it uses a slotted
tail
cone instead of tail fins on the projectile in order to limit its range.
Performance-wise, the round itself is 'functionally indistinguishable'
from
the live round, in that the round weighs, looks and feels the same (for
the
loader) as the live round, and it will fire and travel the same as the
live
round as well (for the gunner). The only difference from the crews point
of
view is the range. Beyond that, they work with the training round in
exactly
the same manner as they would a real one. The M1 computer systems will
compensate automatically for any ballistic differences between the two
rounds, so the crew will not see any major difference while training.

More info on the subject:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...tions/m865.htm

Thanks.