View Full Version : Anybody have any experience with the Scimitar shells?

August 16, 2002, 12:20 PM
In the book "World's Fighting Shotguns" by Sweregen (sp?) there is some discussion of experimental shotgun ammo used in Vietnam.

Flechette rounds were experimented with. It was found that they had much greater effective range than buck, but the flechettes lacked in the stopping department. (Flechette rounds work like tiny little fin stabilized arrows for those of you not familiar with them). The flechettes would hit, but just go straight through, causing a ice pick like wound.

The Scimitar worked on the same principle as the flechette, but instead of being a tiny arrow, it was wide and flat (looked kind of like a disposable razor blade with fins) IIRC a shell would hold 16 of these. They had a much greater effective range than buck, but would yaw and tumble on impact. Supposedly they were very effective.

So what ever happened to these?

The idea sounds like it would be pretty effective still. Anybody with any more information/first hand experience?

March 3, 2005, 08:04 PM
I have talked to a USMC veteran who actually used them in combat. He was stationed "up North", and acquired some from the only guys further North than his unit that didn't report to Hanoi.

Since this is an old, old thread, let me know if you are still interested in hearing the particulars, and I will be glad to oblige.