Since many in RVN used M2's and I have had occaision to be very close to teh trajectory of a .50 cal projectile passing close and was neither killed or injured in any way unless one counts being a tad surprised by the sound abd impressed with teh results of hits. As I have often said before I once saw a person almost cut in half by M2 rounds take some more steps up to the wire and throw a grenade. Now if by just passing close they could have killed it would have made things a whole lot easier for the defenders of many places.
Since many in RVN used M2's and I have had occaision to be very close to teh trajectory of a .50 cal projectile passing close and was neither killed or injured in any way unless one counts being a tad surprised by the sound abd impressed with teh results of hits. As I have often said before I once saw a person almost cut in half by M2 rounds take some more steps up to the wire and throw a grenade. Now if by just passing close they could have killed it would have made things a whole lot easier for the defenders of many places. I'd agree completely. Sometimes.
And sometimes, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a close one from a .50 would literally scare the intended recipient to death, or similarly accomplish the job through some similar mechanism.
I am not, I say again NOT about to take a chance on stopping any determined individual via a lucky accident or physiological result that works some of the time, but not all/most of the time. But I don't doubt that there are instances in which that result has happened.
Just don't bet your life on it, or those lives depending on you.
-archy-/-