[archy]

To cause reliable detonation in such a case one needs either a hypervelocity projectile [not available]

Yes it is. Works just fine in 7.62x51mm NATO and .50x99mm Browning-family weapons, other than those with a muzzle break, which unfortunately includes the M107 Barrett semiauto .50 AMR.

But for most explosive charges, the Mk211 Mod 0 .50 Raufoss ammunition will do just fine, and nicely detonates either high explosive or flammible targets, including JP4 and JP8 jet fuel. Shooting old Soviet TM46 and TM57 15-pound antitank mines at a couple of hundred meters with .50 Raufoss is great sport, and spectacular.

[GSlob]

Do not forget the pile of bricks or other garbage which has to be punctured through before hitting the IED, and the side wall of, say, 152mm shell in that IED as well. When I was shooting at TNT bricks ages ago [7.62mm at ca. 2500fps], there was nothing spectacular. A saboted round at 4000+fps worked fine, though. But the target was just a "naked" TNT brick - how much energy would I be able to deliver to it through a substantial metal or brick wall?