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There is and has been a growing trend to use certain type of polymers in the build/main frame of the defensive rifle and hand grenade. Imbedded in this matrix is a choice of different size small steel balls all the way up to cut up wire/rod. We are still using the old theory that when our M67 goes off it will seperate into pieces along the lines in between the dimples machined inside.
Using different shapes of the outside body of the grenade can and often does determine how well it fragments. Neglecting the power of the explosive and its contribution in producing casualties and kills, the shape of the unit does to a certain extent dictate how and where the projectiles will go. The grenade in itself goes through a series of tests to determine fragmentative capability, velocity of said fragments and what the radius is in which there will be at least a 50% causalty of close/nearby enemies. Anything else is not acceptable in allot of different manufacturers in Europe. IMHO and little experience, Europe is doing a better job at this than us. England, within a couple of years ago gave up her State made grenade and went with the Swiss HG84 (see my avatar for what it looks like) and other governments have done so too. Frags that are shaped almost in a complete circle and made of a polymer are still the "New Standard" to go by. Now we have wave shapers in grenades that help to produce a more "circular" frag pattern. I believe Belgium and some other European Countries are also implamenting a wave shapper into their designs.
Rocket science, probably not that involved, however, it is still a science.
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