Editing Rubber bullet (section)

{{short description|Less-lethal projectile}}
{{Redirect|Rubber bullets|the song by 10cc|Rubber Bullets}}
{{use dmy dates |date=August 2020}}
[[File:Rubber bullet.jpg|thumb|"Round, Anti-Riot, 1.5in Baton" 37 mm British Army rubber bullet, as used [[The Troubles|in Northern Ireland]] from 1970 to 1975]]

'''Rubber bullets''' (also called '''rubber baton rounds''') are a type of [[baton round]].<ref>Hogg (1985) p.67</ref>  Despite the name, rubber bullets typically have either a metal core with a rubber coating, or are a homogeneous admixture with rubber being a minority component. Although they are considered a less lethal alternative to metal projectiles, rubber bullets can still cause fatal injuries as well as other [[Baton round#Injuries|serious injuries]] such as blindness or other permanent disabilities.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Injuries caused by rubber bullets: A report on 90 patients |first1=R. |last1=Millar |first2=W. H. |last2=Rutherford |first3=S. |last3=Johnston |first4=V. J. |last4=Malhotra |volume=62  |issue=6 |pages=480–486 |doi=10.1002/bjs.1800620613 |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112190390/abstract |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130106045139/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112190390/abstract |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-06 |pmid=1148650 |year=1975 |journal=British Journal of Surgery|s2cid=20892343 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="BMJ-Open">{{cite journal |author1=Haar RJ |author2=Iacopino V |author3=Ranadive N |date=2017 |title=Death, injury and disability from kinetic impact projectiles in crowd-control settings: a systematic review |journal=BMJ Open |volume=7 |issue=12 |pages= e018154|doi=10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018154 |pmid=29255079 |pmc=5736036 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Like other similar projectiles made from [[plastic bullet|plastic]], [[wax bullet|wax]], and [[wooden bullet|wood]], rubber bullets may be used for short range practice and animal control, but are most commonly used in [[riot control]] and to disperse [[protest]]s.<ref name=slate>{{cite magazine
  |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2000/10/what-are-rubber-bullets.html
  |title=What Are Rubber Bullets?
  |author=Emily Yoffe
  |date=October 4, 2000
  |magazine=[[Slate.com]]
}}</ref><ref name=officer>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.officer.com/web/online/Industry-Business-Wire/Meister-Bullets--Inc--Purchases-X-Ring-/9$35502
 |title       = Meister Bullets, Inc. Purchases 'X-Ring' Primer powered rubber bullet company
 |publisher   = Officer.com
 |author      = WILLIAM D. CASEY
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100429091933/http://www.officer.com/web/online/Industry-Business-Wire/Meister-Bullets--Inc--Purchases-X-Ring-/9$35502
 |archive-date = 2010-04-29
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
  |title=Less-lethal Ammunition
  |url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/baton.htm
  |author=Anthony G Williams
}}</ref>

Rubber bullets were invented by the British [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] for [[riot control]] purposes in [[Northern Ireland]] during [[the Troubles]],<ref>''[[New Scientist]]'' – 3 February 1983. p.292</ref> and were first used there in 1970.<ref name=cainchron>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch70.htm#Aug A Chronology of the Conflict - August 1970]. [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN).</ref>

Rubber projectiles have largely been replaced by other materials, as rubber tends to bounce uncontrollably.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hogg |first=Ian V. |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ammunition |publisher=The Apple Press |isbn=1-85076-043-8 |location=London  |year=1985 }}</ref>