Bullet Lead for Ammunition

Bullet Lead and Bullet Lead Alloys

Since lead is relatively cheap, melts at low temperatures and is very dense it is an ideal material for the production of bullets. In muzzle loaded firearms, that used gun powder for the propellant, the bullet lead was typically cast out of pure lead.

Pure lead as bullet lead works well at low velocities. In more modern firearms that have higher velocities the lead tends to be deposited on the rifling with in the bores. In order to reduce this modern bullet lead is usually made of an alloy of lead and tin or lead and antimony. These lead alloys are harder that pure lead. At the higher velocities a “gas check” made of copper, placed at the back of the bullet lead, reduces the amount of melting that occurs at the back of the lead bullet.

For the highest velocities the bullet lead is encased in cupronickel alloys or steel. A completely encased lead bullet is known as a “full metal jacket” or ball bullet.

The rifling in the gun barrel is one of the major factors that affect the bullet’s flight as it imparts spin that cancels out any asymmetry in the lead bullet. The other major factor is the shape of the bullet, which also affects penetration, so this is typically a compromise. Generally speaking pointed bullets will have the best drag coefficient, compared to a rounded bullet. Some designs for example the Minié ball arrange for the center of mass of the bullet to be as far forward as is practical, this design allows the lead bullet to fly like a shuttlecock and increases impact energy though reduces penetration.

Nuclead offers a wide range of bullet lead including pure lead, lead shot, and lead alloys. Standard lead alloys for bullets are lead/ tin with up to 9% tin, lead antimony with up to 6% antimony and lead/tin/antimony mixes. Nuclead can also offer custom ammunition metal formulations.

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