[Calpernia]

I didn’t see lead in the story. How do you know these are made of lead? Do you know what company it is?

[Petronski]

Well, I don’t KNOW they’re made of lead.

I’m just saying that lead is what is almost always used. And where lead is banned for bullet manufacture, they use an alloy of bismuth, of all things.

I’m working from memory here, but I’m fairly certain of this.

[Petronski]

Lead and copper are relatively soft, and won’t eat up the rifling carved inside the barrel.

[BushMeister]

The US Mil uses M855 bullets in the commonly issued 5.56mm round. This bullet consists of copper-jacketed lead with a small steel insert to enhance penetration.

It's a lousy round against personnel, especially coming out of 16" barrels or less.

I doubt much if any of this will be making its way into the hands of civilians.

[Pistolshot]

There are a number of different types of construction for bullets. Most of the commercial ammo is basically lead with a copper jacket. Some defensive ammo uses a different alloy, such as soft aluminum(Silvertips) to aid expansion. None of the civilian ammo is for military use.

Military ammo must meet the Geneva Conventions on construction.

Full metal jacket.

Non-expanding.

This was in response to the use of 'dum-dum' bullets in parts of India and Africa by the Europeans. These were nothing more than large caliber, soft lead projectiles, which expand rapidly and caused horrible wounds.

Now, there are ways to enhance the bullet for the military and still meet the Geneva Convention. Some use a steel core to help penetration through armor and masonry. There is also a 'floating' core of dense materials (tungsten, depleted uranium) in a softer medium so the core goes further into the target.

The 62-gr bullet in the SS109 has a small steel penetrator, while the 55-grain bullet in the M855(most common issue) is mostly copper jacket with a small amount of lead.

The materials will probably go to Winchester, which has the military contract for 5.56 and 7.62 ammo.