Posted on 07/24/2013 8:17:04 PM PDT by dennisw
The U.S. Army is taking the expression get the lead out quite literally and switching to lead-free, environmentally-friendly bullets.
The Armys Picatinny Arsenal is working on a green version of the M80A1 7.62 mm bullet, which troops are supposed to start being issued in 2014, according to an Army press release.
The Army has been looking to green small caliber ammo for some time now. In 2010, the Army began switched to the greener 5.56 mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round. Ads by Google
The EPR replaces the lead slug with a copper slug, said Lt. Col. Phil Clark, product manager for small caliber ammunition in the Program Executive Officer Ammunition. This makes the projectile environmentally-friendly, while still giving soldiers the performance capabilities they need on the battlefield. So far we have eliminated 1,994 metric tons of lead from 5.56 ammunition production.
Thirty-two grains of lead are eliminated per M855A1 projectile, and 114.5 grains of lead will be eliminated per M80A1 projectile, according to the Army.
The Army projects that the use of green 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ammunition could eliminate the purchase of 3,683 metric tons of lead between 2013 and 2018.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
More lead for civilian ammo?
watch the price of copper go through the roof... que bono?
Of course, it will cost twice as much.
Cheap surplus ammo? (dream on)
I feel SO much safer knowing my Green Army is protecting me. Just like I feel all warm and fuzzy when the Air Force and Navy spend billions on green replacement fuels that cost 10x normal fuels.
So, I guess depleted Uranusium rounds are right out, then?
I had plans to exterminate a few squirrels in the ‘hood. Bummer.
California is already working on banning lead.
Copper slugs are worse for the environment, as well as more poisonouus for animal life, than lead.
Commie Obama and wussy John Boehner continue the wussification of America.
I seem to recall reading where ATF ruled solid copper to be armor piercing which would mean the end of surplus ammo.
Since when is copper environmentally friendly?
Jocelyn Elders’ “safer bullets”?
Boy copper is going to just go straight through with minimal damage. I don’t think that will be very effective in a battle situation.
Copper combines with acid rain and makes cupric cyanate sufate , deadly poisonous
Sure, why not?
The taxpayers will foot the difference in cost. /s
Tofu bullets are next.
This figures, right now copper cost is about 3.5 times more than lead.
Or rubber ones
I would hope Congress would look into this. It’s one thing for civilians to be forced to deal with green fools, but the military is another thing entirely.
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