Twists in East and West with conventional arms

The Soviet Union is equipping its infantry with bullets similar to hollow- nosed "dumdums" banned under the Hague and Geneva Conventions, Jane's Infantry Weapons reports. The bullets fit the new Soviet AK-74 Rifle, specimens of which have reached Western intelligence experts. Dumdum bullets, banned in 1899, expand as they hit a body causing worse wounds than solid-nosed bullets.

Jane's also says West Germany has produced a revolutionary submachine gun firing caseless bullets. The weapon was withdrawn from recent trials because of problems, but the manufacturers are confident it will be on trial with the West German Army by 1984, Jane's says, adding that if the new design is successful, it will render all others obsolete.