Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game .223 for Sherman tank

Seems to work for everything else.

I dunno that's gonna work out well. Here's what I do know about bustin' tanks with other than standard methodologies.

1. See a tank runnin' down a dirt road and ID it as a NVA T-54. See also that it is approaching a crossing road in a couple of miles.
2. Cuss up the blue blazes ''cause all you have on board your Cobra are flechettes and 17# HE 2.75" FFAR.
3. Say WTF, fly to the intersection and approach to a hover about 150 yards from where the tank will cross your line of sight.
4. Pickle a pair of 17 pounders when he shows up and note A) they do not detonate, but B) the tank slows and runs off the road coming to a stop.
5. There is no sign of life, so you head for the O'Club.

After action report from infantry unit:
1. both rockets impacted between the tread and fender of the tank, one in vicinity of the turret and the other adjacent to the crew compartment
2. Neither rocket detonated, but the one that impacted the crew compartment passed thru completely.
3. The crew was turned into splattered mush worthy of Freddy Kruger's imagination, this attributed to the rocket motor exhaust stream and direct impact of parts and pieces of stuff.


Conclusions:
1. Sectional density matters
2. Energy can overcome armor
3. It's better to be lucky than good. (The 2.75" FFAR does not arm until motor burnout which typically occurs around 300 meters from launch.) Apparently the fuse was mangled during penetration, ensuring the warhead did not detonate.
4. Sectional Density Matters.
5. The Sherman tank armor was not robust by today's standards but I cannot recommend use of the .223 for engaging them. It is possible that a well timed and aimed shot could cause a shell from the main gun to detonate however. How lucky do you feel?

Hell ya, Mercia!! Thanks for the share.

And, like everything esle, placement would be key Just take out the CNS. (In this case, maybe the fuel line.).

funny how speech develops... "like a sherman tank" denoting toughness and after reading "spearhead" (a ww2 tank book) The people who drove them were certainly not on board with this idea and considered them to be about as bulletproof as a pair of long johns. Not sure Jerry tore them up with a 223 tho

dd you are good & lucky

Dan, thinkin da truck gun should work !

You got to hit a tank right behind his ear to bring him down effectively

I was young then and didn't have a truck gun. I rarely leave home without it anymore.

.223 won't do it. Ya needs a Creedmoor!

Creedmoor, schmeedmoor! 450 Bushmaster is more better!
--Bob
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African American please.... Well duh... Not long ago a SW Washington archery elk hunter put down a helicopter with a bow. So yea FS([bleep]) only someone that couldn't shoot worth a piss couldn't take out a tank with a .223....

Probably, especially on a bull tank! But I only take my tank shots broadside or quartering away!

If you handload and do your part it should work.

Back in 1972, as a soldier in Germany, we actually had classes on "How to take out a tank with small arms". I kid you not. it was in no way shape or form realistic. We were an 8 inch Artillery Unit, with Tactical nuke warheads. No way Russia was going to allow us to even get out of the city, the jets would get us first. That came straight from the First Sergeant! ha What joy.

A real sportsman would use a 4" knife.

We are all wimps today.........................

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I think a 40S&W worked to stop this one.
It wasn't a Sherman.

^ Yup, just gotta shoot em where the brain should be.

Probably need a 223 A.I. with an 8 inch twist, heavy bullets, and some precision handloading....

Dad got in a bit of a jam at the Kasserine Pass. Actually was the only man from his squad to walk out of there on his own two feet. His bazookaman and loader both were killed. He picked up the bazooka and got a very lucky shot on a charging German tank, stopping it so close to him he said he felt the concussion from the shot. I wonder where that round found a spot to penetrate on a tank coming at him. Must have been some weird angle or something, as I don't think a straight on front hit would penetrate the armor.