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
III Plate Penetration
3D Printable Jackets
Ghost Gunner Code
Additional Calibers
Variants
The Dagny Dagger exhibits a breadth of capability and advantage entirely separate the superior penetration of body armor, which has inspired additional configurations of the technology. Each is tailored to a different purpose, retaining the superior power, velocity, cartridge weight, recoil dynamics, and soft-target terminal performance of the Dagny Dagger, but trading the Dagger's penetrative potential for enormous cost savings.
The Everyman offers affordable performance against common threats, even through incidental barriers. The Popper induces severe flesh wounds in larger game while also reaching vital organs through hide and bone. The Frangible disintegrates on walls and hard targets, saving bystanders from strays and ricochets.
| Variant | Dagny Dagger | Eddie Everyman | Piggy Popper | Francisco Frangible |
| Type | APHP | EPHP | EPHP | Frangible |
| Purpose | Armor Penetration | EDC | Hunting/Animal Defense | Training/Home Defense |
| Penetration | lv. III UHMWPE | lv. IIIA+ UHMWPE | lv. IIIA+ UHMWPE | Minimal |
| Core | MP35N | Enhanced Copper | Standard Copper | Sintered Brass |
| Cost | Premium (₿₿₿₿₿) | Economical (₿₿₿) | Economical (₿₿₿) | Economical (₿₿) |
Progress
Development of the 9mm Dagny Dagger to its virtually-finished state took place over 3 years and cost only $50k, yielding a remarkably impressive return rate not only for the cause of liberty in negation of an entire act of Congress, but also for creation of arguably the highest-performing combat load ever devised for the world's most popular pistol cartridge. In addition to the penetrative capacity, all variants devastate unarmored targets in excess of standard hollow points and boast a laundry list of superlatives over other 9mm loadings, including "most powerful" at 515ftlbs muzzle energy.
Final development of the proper Dagny Dagger variant is on hold, disfavored due to temporary unavailability and cost inflation of the special cobalt core alloy owing in-turn to pervasive supply chain disruption and the embargo on Russian materials. However, the economy variants are finished and will be commercially available though Atlas Arms Manufacturing in a few months. Until then, you can make it yourself at home according to the first revision of the open-source manual here. You can also read all about the technology, its development, and the background circumstances of the project. The USPTO has also published a patent application here within which is all sufficient information to manufacture and load these projectiles, far more indelible and widely legal to distribute and posses as a government publication.
Come discuss the project with us in the live chat on our Urbit group here.
Donate if you would like to help us fund the remainder of 9mm Dagger development and that of other calibers of Dagny Dagger technology (5.56 is next), and in doing so place this technology into your hands and those of the general public. The Dagger is real and performs as promised. Now we need to make it as potent and widely-available as possible, continuing work with special alloy cores and preparing turn-key DIY solutions to break dependence on commercial production. Your donation is vital to our operation, ensuring we can afford to place publication above profit.
We cannot accept preorders, but tokens of our appreciation are available for significant donations.
FAQs
Q: Is this a sabot round?
A: No. Refer to crowdfunding video, or patent for an explanation of the novel functionality.
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 subscribe to their email list 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: The economy variants will initially cost $1.50-$2.00 per cartridge, on-par with existing premium utility ammunition, before eventually falling to ~$1.00. The premium Dagny Dagger, when available, will cost over $3 per cartridge due to limited supply and high cost of the MP35N core alloy.
Q: Is this legal?
A: Yes. We are in contact with the ATF and have retained a well-known and -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, stand-by and watch; we are innovators, bureaucrats and politicians are not.
Q: Will you make a Dagger in .45ACP?
A: No. It's an under-pressured, fat, obsolete cartridge not presently worth the extreme financial and temporal cost to develop a projectile for it. We do look forward to a 10mm loading for those who like it big. Revolvers are also fun, but it's time to move-on to modern firearms for applications as grave as lethal force. Yes, .460 Rowland is impressively powerful, but it's extremely niche and under-designed/-specified by an illegitimate operation.
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: 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 in-person hands, to improve and hasten development of this and other projects. Email us.
Q: Are you looking for investment partners?
A: This organization, Atlas Arms Research, is a non-profit research and education firm which carries no sale value. You can reach the for-profit commercial branch, Atlas Arms Manufacturing, at atlasarms.com.
Q: Where do the company and project names originate?
A: A long, beautiful, and romantic classic novel Atlas Shrugged, and the main heroine, Dagny Taggart. Read it.