Ammunition containing antimony

The nylon-coated bullets from Smith Wesson and the Geco TMJ bul-let/new primer composition, although effective in markedly reducing the lead levels, did not totally eliminate the problem. In 1983, Dynamit Nobel introduced 9 mmP caliber ammunition with a TMJ bullet and a primer free of lead, antimony, barium. The new primer type was called Sintox. A typical Sintox primer composition contains 15% diazodinitrophenol (DDNP) and 3% tetracene as the explosive ingredients, 50% zinc peroxide as the oxidizer, 5% of 40-pm size titanium metal powder, and 27% nitrocellulose as propellant powder.202 As expected, other munitions manufacturers eventually introduced similar ammunition, some with primers that were lead free but containing antimony and barium and others free of lead, antimony, and barium. The objective was to produce ammunition which performed satisfactorily in every way and did not produce any toxic product on discharge. 

The metal also finds appHcations in other alloys. Cable sheaths are made of lead that contains antimony, and lead shot for ammunition is not made of pure lead but of lead alloyed with 1-8% antimony. The American Isaac Babbitt (1798-1862) invented the bearing alloy named babbitt metal. It is an alloy of copper, antimony and tin, characterized by good antifriction properties, and used as the bearing material for axles and crankshafts. Britannia metal is another tin alloy with about 2% copper and 5-10% antimony. It is a silvery white alloy of tin, similar in appearance to pewter but harder. It is used for the manufacture of tableware. 

There is no lead or barium in the primer yet discharge particles from this ammunition frequently contain lead, antimony, and barium. The lead and barium must come from other components in the ammunition (bullet core/propellant) and/or from contamination in the firearm. Tin was also frequently present in the discharge particles and originates from the tinfoil disc used to seal the primer cup in mercury fulminate primers. 

Analysis of the nny 82 ammunition as previously detailed shows that it uses a mercuric corrosive primer. Analysis of the Chinese 351/73 ammunition revealed that it has a copper-coated iron-jacketed bullet with an iron core and a lead tip, the cartridge case is steel with a brown colored lacquered finish, a brass primer cup, and the propellant is single based with DPA, 2 x nitrodiphenylamines, camphor, and contains no inorganic additives, and the discharged primer composition is antimony, potassium, chlorine, mercury, tin, sulfur, iron, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and lead in descending order (lead, antimony, mercury type). 

Analysis of a round of. 38 Special caliber, Smith Wesson Nyclad ammunition revealed that the cartridge case and primer cup are nickel-plated brass, no inorganic additives to the propellant were detected, the primer composition contains lead, antimony, and barium, the bullet core is antimony-hardened lead, and the bullet jacket contains traces of calcium, cobalt, titanium, and phosphorus. 

The next stage in the development of environmentally friendly ammunition was when Geco produced ammunition with a totally jacketed bullet (TMJ) and a primer composition containing much reduced lead, antimony,... 

Micron-sized particles, having a morphology consistent with rapid cooling, form a liquid state. Such GSR particles contain elemental combinations of either lead/ barium/antimony or barium/antimony and are unique to detonation of the primer of a round of ammunition. 

If air quality in indoor ranges concerns you, Speer says, Speer has the ammunition to set your mind at ease. Lawman Clean-Fire is loaded like regular Lawman except for the primer and bullet. The ignition power comes from the patented Clean-Fire primer that contains no lead, barium or antimony. ... 

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