The R.I.P. cartridge (Round Irritant Personnel) 12-gauge ammunition comprises cartridges filled with a mixture of
micronized
Micronization is the process of reducing the average diameter of a solid material's particles. Traditional techniques for micronization focus on mechanical means, such as milling and grinding. Modern techniques make use of the properties of superc ...
CS gas
The compound 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called ''o''-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent ...
, an inert powder to add weight, and a further non-toxic powder which, on compression and friction, produces a large amount of
carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is transpar ...
gas on exiting the barrel of the shotgun.
These specialist rounds are used in situations such as hostage rescue, where a
less-than-lethal
Non-lethal weapons, also called nonlethal weapons, less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than conventional ...
approach is required in order to resolve an incident.
Persons subject to the dispersed contents of an R.I.P. round will be incapacitated for a given amount of time, depending on the precise content of the round.
On 9 June 2008 English firearms officer PC Ian Terry was accidentally shot at point-blank range and killed by a R.I.P. round, in this instance filled with an inert white powder rather than CS gas, fired by a colleague whilst on a training exercise.
References
Shotgun shells
Non-lethal projectiles
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