Injected molded bullets and non reusable cases... The polymer bullets fragment and turn into dust when they hit the steel backstops, the bullet materials have a small carbon footprint and bullet raw materials are readily available and include very little metals. The cases are one time use only and made of a high strength nylon, once ejected from the firearm they can be collected and recycled or thrown away. I like the idea that the only part of this new twist on ammo is the primers and powder, that won't change. Once this is fine tuned, the availability of this new ammo should not be an issue like the metal ammo is now, raw materials is not key anymore. The cost should be a lot less and that may eventually drive a lot of the ammo factories to change their manufacturing process.
Question is will they clear a metal detector? There is a lot of talk about banning plastic guns, but so far I hadn't heard of a plastic bullet. Bad potential combo.
I agree with you Grizz, in the negative sense it would be hard to track and detect but for guys like you and I, I think it's a good thing. I believe there is a trace amount of copper in the bullets, not sure if it's enough to see with a metal detector or not.
My hunting buddy told me about this. Not reloadable means you will be at the ammo manufacturers mercy on price and availability. Won't see me buying any. I almost guarantee that the bottom portion of the case will be metal. Powder degrades plastics over time so if it's plastic, life span of the ammo is also an issue. As far as the metal detector, primers are metal and contain lead in the priming compound so it'll show up. Not to mention, the cases like I said above will more than likely be metal like a shotgun shell. As far as recycling, ranges recycle lead, brass and steel so the only real benefits I see are environmental getting rid of lead.
I'd be interested in seeing the final cost, and if it'd be cheaper than steel cased ammo. I think innovation of any type is good, so while the first go-round of this may not be ideal, who knows what it'll be like in 20 years.
Since the non-metallic cases haven't been tested and approved in all handgun calibres yet they haven't introduced the nylons based cases with the polymer bullets to market. However, the "plastic" bullet and the zinc and brass cases are being offered on the market in defense rounds only, no target type rounds as far as I can see. They want $25 per 25 in a package...so it's a buck a round retail. Kinda pricey.
I agree, but not all plastic is immune to the nitro that's in powder. Some powders do it faster than others. I guess I just don't trust new things until time has proven them. Call me old school.
Plastic ammo is not new its been around for various uses and calibers for quite some time- mostly practice type round in hand or long gun centerfire units
