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DAGNY DAGGER
The first Atlas Arms project to be released, the Dagny Dagger is a new type of legally-unrestricted handgun ammunition which in 9mm Luger is able to penetrate all pistol-rated and some rifle-rated armor (yes, it is possible). This will allow citizens the first legal access to armor-penetrating ammunition since 1986.
The projectiles are intended to be more readily home-manufactured than traditional AP ammo, and all research and data including Ghost Gunner code will be released open-source, free and available to the public. Projectile development of some 9mm Luger variants is complete with future plans for Dagny Dagger loadings in 10mm, .40SW, 5.56, .300BLK, .308, and possibly 5.7. The Dagger also debuts APHP (Armor-Penetrating Hollow Point) bullets, a novel projectile design which boasts superior armor penetration while expanding and fragmenting on soft, unarmored targets for multirole performance.
Motivation
In the mid-1980's, the United States federal government passed legislation to kill general availability of a few technologies critical to a well-regulated militia, while exempting government personnel. One of these technologies is "armor piercing ammunition". Such property restriction is ethically unacceptable and even illegal by this federal government's own charter document, and the explicit wisdom and wishes of the nation's founders. But we will reclaim the forbidden fire, by outflanking the regulators' definitions and imaginations.
We at Atlas Arms recognize the most revered principle of justice, equality under the law, which in turn recognizes no authority for any government to deny to its constituents any rights reserved for its own agents.
Legality
The definition of "armor piercing ammunition" established by the prohibiting legislation is any projectile or projectile core which is characterized by either of two criteria:
1. Composition entirely of tungsten alloys, iron alloys, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium
2. A full jacket which comprises more than a quarter of total projectile mass
While manufacturing or importing "armor piercing ammunition" remains illegal, the Dagny Dagger escapes these criteria by use of obscure alloys. To ensure federal legality, we have retained a well-respected firearms attorney. Local laws vary, but the Dagger is legal for individuals to manufacture and possess in most of the 50 states.
Features
Notably novel in design and approach, both project and projectile boast an impressive pedigree of unique and innovative methods, features, and abilities. Grouped in order of completion (for 9mm) and struck-through when accomplished:
Federally Legal
IIIA Soft Penetration
APHP Multirole Bullet
IIIA+ Soft Penetration
IIIA Plate Penetration
Published Loading Data
Published Manufacturing Specs
Ghost Gunner Code
3D Printable Jackets
III Plate Penetration
Additional Calibers
Logistics - We Need Your Donation!
At project launch, development of the 9mm variant of the Dagger was estimated to cost $30k, including prototyping, testing equipment and materials, and legal counsel, with an additional $30k to develop mass-manufacturing methods and equipment for a manufacturing operation to fill demand and fund continuing research and development efforts. To deliver on our goals as soon as possible, a couple of our team generously donated the initial $30k at considerable personal burden. This was enough in addition to only $3K of the crowdfunds yet raised to bring the cartridge to its current state of development, near-completion.
Now we need your help to meet the rest of the $30k crowdfunding goal to help us place the Dagger into your hands and those of the general public. This will fund the development of tools and software to enable simple DIY manufacture and industrial equipment to fill commercial demand. The Dagny Dagger is real and increasingly performs as promised. Now we need to make it available.
You can donate via credit card here, BTC here, or even use your Amazon purchases to help fund us via Amazon Smile. Your donation is vital to the project, ensuring we can stay independent and place publication above profit. We are honored by your faith in us to deliver on our claims.
Atlas Arms cannot accept preorders, but tokens of our appreciation are available for significant donations.
FAQs
Q: Are you looking for investment partners?
A: This organization, Atlas Arms Research is a non-profit research and education firm which carries no market value. You can reach the for-profit commercial branch, Atlas Arms Manufacturing, at atlasarms.com.
Q: Can I help the project in addition to funding and spreading the word?
A: Possibly. Atlas Arms could use some more like-minded, principled professionals at low or no cost, as well as extra hands, to improve and hasten development of this and other projects. Email us.
Q: Is this legal?
A: Yes. We are in contact with the ATF and have retained a well-respected firearms attorney for compliance confirmation. No federal law restricts the manufacture and sale of ammunition of this form.
Q: What if the federal government bans this AP ammo also?
A: Federal prohibition of this technology is very unlikely in the foreseeable future, at the executive level because of the uniquely specific language of the AP ammo ban, and at the legislative level because of magnanimity of effort required to pass an act of congress which would very likely also harm NRA- and NSSF-protected weapons companies. But if it does happen, grab some popcorn; we are innovators and have already beaten their game once.
Q: What about the safety of X?
A: Simplistically, for {−∞<X<∞}, Liberty(x)>Security(X). If you would like more nuance than this, check-out some of the plentiful reporting and podcasts published featuring our work.
Q: When/where can I buy this?
A: You can’t yet. But you can donate to help our continuing R&D efforts on Dagny Dagger and other technologies. Donors of at least $100 will receive advanced access.
When ready, Atlas Arms Manufacturing will be selling loose projectiles and loaded cartridges at atlasarms.com/shop. Feel free to contact them for notification of commercial availability. Projectile development was completed over a year ago. Manufacturing process development has severely lagged due to the economic dilapidation of the past few years, but is coming to a close and the 9mm economy variants of Dagny Dagger tech on the market by Q2 2023. However, such estimation is and has been dependent on contract manufacturing lead times and is largely out of our control.
Q: How much will the ammunition cost?
A: Eventually, costs will be comparable to high-grade defensive or match ammunition, around $2/loaded cartridge after some market scaling. Initially, consumers may expect less than $3/cartridge. Obviously, home manufacture can reduce these costs, and we may offer a cheaper, lower-tier option.
Q: Will you make a .45ACP Dagny Dagger?
A: No. It's an under-pressured, fat, obsolete cartridge too slow to defeat armor well, even in our APHP design. We do look forward to a 10mm loading for those who like it big. However, we have been asked to reconsider in light of .460 Rowland, so if you also would like to see the Dagny Dagger in .45 caliber despite the inherent limitations of the cartridge, please send us an email and make your case.
Q: Where do the company and project names come from?
A: A long, beautiful, and romantic classic novel Atlas Shrugged, and the main heroine, Dagny Taggart. Read it.