Re: Shoulder Launched SAM\'s
 

Good point Plasma. On the other hand AA guns aren't going up your tailpipe or probably bursting as close to the aircraft as a missile would.
For sheer damage I'd agree a hand grenade is probably about right . . . question is tho . . . is that a good comparison to the effects of an explosion near a fast moving relatively fragile aircraft?

Re: Shoulder Launched SAM\'s
 

It should be.
If you take into account that for example the newer russian AA guns fire more then 16 rounds per barrel and second you can imagine the number of hits spread over the aircraft... On the other hand a singel MANPADs Fragementation warhead will punch a number of "small" holes in a rather small area.

Re: Shoulder Launched SAM\'s
 

True.
But that's one of the reasons I was looking at the WWII and Vietnam era 40mm guns. While say a Vulcan might get multiple hits it's unlikely one of those would get more then one and the warhead is fairly similar size wise.