on target shooter nz: Eco 'GREEN' Bullets:

"America today ... New Zealand tomorrow.."

"GREEN" Ammunition Ain't Necessarily Green Colored.

Since 1380 when handguns were widely known across Europe - there have been repeated protests about the use of guns. - From the various (and often spurious) protests - one recent attack stream has been to focus on LEAD CONTAMINATION caused by traditional ammunition (.. ingested lead is nasty stuff.)

Shooting range sites are being threatened with any conceivable form of complaint .. Noise, traffic, pollution, safety, low flying aircraft, fallout-zones, - & the work of the devil - and simple 'NIMBY' .. Not In My Back Yard.

US Ranges are being shut because of lead contamination. Even the US Military who fire 700 MILLION practice rounds each year are being faced with cleaning-up their act.

Lead bullets are the standard heavy metal projectiles - but most modern ammo has the lead core covered by a copper-alloy or nickel 'jacket' or recently a thinner electroplating of copper & polymer coating is being applied to some.

- Whatever kind of jacket material is used to shield the lead core - the fact is that the main mass of the typical bullet remains lead and will likely be exposed to the environment on impact.

All around our planet laws are now being enforced that replace lead shot pellets with steel or other metals intended to be less toxic ... THAT'S IT BOYS. - protest as loud & long as you like - but if you now get caught hunting water birds in New Zealand with lead shot you will be fined and your equipment, guns, gear, and even vehicles may be confiscated.

As previously noted .. "Every practical problem has a practical solution - Your only REAL problem is people."

Well there is a possible solution looking over the wall already .. green bullets. - If the Banners pop-up on the ranges here after "solving" the lead shot issue for the ducks .. we may have to look at solid copper pills OR injection molded CuP bullets .. copper-polymer.

Some Solid Copper projectiles have a distinct performance feature as advertised in this scary video demo for RIP Ammunition. Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIrl8fgvxhA

- And these PolyCase molded CuP bullets are also claiming high performance characteristics from their 'flute' design:

Injection Molded Cu-P Projectiles From PolyCase.

The Future? - Could Be ..

US company ECOMASS, through it's PolyOne Corporation are supplying PolyCase Ammunition with their designer-blend nylon material to inject into multi-cavity molds. PolyCase are in turn supplying their projectiles to shooters via Ruger & under their own brand. Link:

http://www.ecomass.com/wp-content/uploads/Now-they-want-Plastics-to-be-Heavy.pdfhttp://www.ecomass.com/wp-content/uploads/Now-they-want-Plastics-to-be-Heavy.pdf

The use of specially formulated polymers blended with powdered metals - in this case copper blended with nylon 6 plus a small amount of chopped fibers - produces pistol ammunition that while less dense than lead can be driven faster to make good muzzle energy. These ARX rounds are devastating on live targets but break-up on hard surfaces (being frangible).

Projectiles for rifle men are being made using tungsten-polymer molded HGC - High Gravity Compounds. These rounds work well as lead-free 'Green Bullets' at higher velocities but may benefit from different twist rifling than standard to improve stability.

"Guns & Ammo magazine named the PolyCase cartridge “Ammo of the Year.” Now marketed under the Ruger ARX line of ammunition, the projectiles feature a patent pending flute design molded from Gravi-Tech High Density Composite material."

If I were a New Zealand ammunition maker such as Belmont Ammunition - I'd be in contact with raw material supplier PolyOne Corp. and getting injection molding set-up 😁.