🚀 go-pugleaf

i have been reading a new book entitled "Prisoner's Dilemna" by
William Poundstone (Doubleday, 1992, ISBN 0-385-41567-2).

at one point (pages 90-91), he discusses the problem faced by RAND Corp.
concerning how nuclear weapons could be used at a distance *without*
intercontinental ballistic missiles.  they came up with 

	one semi-serious idea was californium bullets:
	each bullet would be a barely subcritical mass
	of the highly fissile isotope.  Pop one into a
	heavily shielded, long-range rifle, and when the
	bullet hits its target, it explodes with the force
	of tons of TNT.

i am truly ignorant about the heavy elements, so my questions are:

	1.  is this viable?  if not, how "off-the-wall" is it?

	2.  how much californium would be required for one bullet?

	3.  how difficult would it be to obtain that much?
	    ----> I DO *NOT* WANT TO KNOW HOW TO OBTAIN IT <----

	4.  how much damage would one bullet accomplish?

	5.  how dangerous would it be to transport this item?
	    what materials would be necessary to do so safely?
	
i will greatly appreciate any assistance; even rough estimates are welcome.
i would like answers _purely_ for background information in a "superhero"
role-playing game; if you think i'm a nut, then just ignore me.  thanks.

ok
dpm
-- 
murphy@npri6.npri.com 602 Cameron St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 683-9090

              When every one is dead the Great Game is finished.  Not before.
                              --- Hurree Babu, "Kim"