Lead-free ammunition

Alternative tests for the identification of bullet holes and testing for close range shooting will need to be devised as the use of lead-free ammunition increases.198... 

A selection of lead-free ammunition was dismantled and analyzed and the results are given in Table 23.2. 

Anticipating its use in casework it was decided to look at the nature of discharge particles from lead-free ammunition. Typical results are presented in Table 23.3. 

Table 23.2 Analysis of Lead-Free Ammunition (Continued)... 

Table 23.3 Discharge Particle Types from Lead-Free Ammunition...

Our results show clearly that many shooters have high blood levels some of them are still exceeding threshold limit values for lead exposed workers. Especially for younger women there is a high potential risk if they become pregnant. So there is a clear need for improving the situation whether by use of lead-free ammunition or by better ventilation systems. ... 

The residue on the surface of a discharged bullet appears to originate from the base of the bullet itself, from the primer, and from inorganic additives to the propellant. Firings numbered 8,21,34, and 35 had lead-free primers yet lead was detected on the perimeter of the bullet holes. Ammunition with barium-free primers gave barium on the perimeter. 

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. 

L. Gunaratnam, and K. Himberg, The Identification of Gunshot Residue Particles from Lead-Free Sintox Ammunition, Journal of Forensic Sciences 39, no. 2 (March 1994) 532. 

W. Lichtenberg, Examination of the Powder Smoke of Ammunition with Lead-Free Priming Compositions, Kriminalistik (December 1983) 377. 

The environmental issue has impacted the production system, accelerated the obsolescence of old technology of primary lead production from its ores and triggered the research of new products with lower lead content or absolutely lead-free.Therefore, pigments, paints and anti-detonating compoimds are now lead-free, while the lead content of hunting ammunition has been significantly reduced. 

AFIOH (Air Force Institute for Occupational Health). 2008. Lead Free Frangible Ammunition Exposure at United States Air Force Small Arms Firing Ranges, 2005-2007. IOH-RS-BR-TR-2008-0002. Air Force Institute for Occupational Health, Brooks City-Base, XX [online]. Available ht //www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc AD= ADA487506 [accessed Dec. 19,2011]. 

Juhasz (1977) qualitatively demonstrated that lead-based ammunition was associated with the generation of particles ranging from under 0.3 to 100 pm most of the particles were smaller than 1 pm. That observation is similar to results regarding the particle size of copper associated with the use of lead-based or lead-free frangible ammunition. For example, the Air Force Institute for Occupational Health (AFIOH 2008) reported that most airborne copper particles associated with an M4 rifle muzzle blast have an aerodynamic diameter under 5 pm. The committee was unable to obtain similar quantitative data on particle size distributions associated with lead-based ammunition used in different small-arms weapons. 

Figure 10.11). Concerns about lead toxicity have led to the introduction of lead-free primers, making the rhodizonate test less useful when such ammunition is employed. An alternative is rubeanic acid, which will react with copper.The copper originates from the cartridge casing, bullet, or primer casing, but not from the chemical compounds in the primer. 

Oommen, Z., Pierce, S.M. Lead-free primer residues a qualitative characttaizafitm of Winchester WinClean, Remington/UMC LeadLess, Federal BallistiClean, and Speta- Lawman CleanFire handgun ammunition. J. Forensic Sci. 51,509 (2006)... 

Vice President Dan Smith says ICC is the first U.S. manufacturer to dedicate its facility entirely to lead-free frangible ammunition Conventional ammunition has a significant hazard associated with close range fire, ricochet and over... 

Copper-Matrix NTF Rifle ammo is a totally lead-free bullet equivalent to standard ammunition but with felt recoil equivalence and no-ricochet performance. 

The West-Mullins invention relates to lead-free frangible ammunition [generally practice ammo] wherein the bullets are made of from 85% to 93% by weight of powders of copper, tungsten, ceramic, bismuth, stainless steel or bronze, or blends/alloys of the identified materials, the powder present in a polyester matrix with a small amount of ionomer. 

Air contamination with health-impairing pollutants gave rise to the demand for sport ammunition free from lead, barium and mercury. 

Lead tricinate, -> tetracene, -> Barium Nitrate, lead dioxide, antimony trisulfide and calcium silicide. These components meet all requirements currently applied in ammunition technology. SINOXID compositions feature very good chemical stability and storage life, they are abrasion-, erosion- and corrosion-free and ignite propellants with precision. 

The Czech ammunition manufacturer Sellier Bellot says, After firing the [non-toxic] cartridge is free from toxic exposure to barium, lead, mercury [and] antimony. [They mean the brass, not the bullet.] It does not pollute the environment, does not endanger the shooter s health with combustion products, and does not pollute the gun. It ensures safe shoohng in closed premises and on target ranges. Unique patented primer design. ... 

---