NEW PolyCase Ammunition and Injection-Molded Bullets
Georgia-based PolyCase Ammunition has developed innovative polymer-based composite cartridge cases and injection-molded bullets. With a patent-pending design, the polymer cartridge cases are lighter than brass or steel cases, yet are heat-tolerant, and relatively easy to manufacture. These cases will be initially produced for .223 Remington, plus a variety of pistol cartridge types (.380 ACP, .38 SPL, 9mm Luger). PolyCase cartridge cases blend patented heat-resistent polymers with metal elements in the case base. According to the manufacturer, “the net effects are greatly reduced weight (compared to comparable loaded ammunition), durability… and competitive pricing.” Other companies have experimented with polymer cartridge cases in the past — none have successfully perfected the technology in a commercially successful product. Could PolyCase be the first?
PolyCase Ammunition — Material Characteristics
– PolyCase Pistol Cartridge Cases are 11.5 to 20% lighter than brass-cased ammunition.
– PolyCase Rifle Cartridge Cases are 23 to 60% lighter than brass-cased ammunition.
– PolyCase Cartridge Cases are self-lubricating — a positive factor compared to brass or steel cases.
PolyCase Bullets — Injection-Molded Blend of Copper and Plastic
PolyCase has developed its own unique bullets for use in pistol ammunition. PolyCase Cu/P™ bullets are precision injection-molded from a cutting-edge copper-polymer compound. These molded bullets will be offered in both polymer cases and conventional brass cases. (Early in the design process, PolyCase determined that molded bullets work well in both brass and plastic cases). PolyCase co-owner Paul Lemke (Lt. Col. U.S. Army, Ret.) says: “We are able to use essentially the same molds to produce bullets for brass casings and bullets for our polymer casings”.
PolyCase Pioneers Injection-Molded Bullet Technology
Powdered metal has been around for decades, but blending powdered metal with polymers and injection molding precise parts is a fairly modern process. While processes like sintered metal bullets and pressure-formed shotgun pellets have become commonplace, PolyCase is the first American company to produce and sell a completely injection-molded bullet.
For over a century most bullets have been mass-produced with a process called cold-forming. Lead and copper were shaped with brute force in punches and dies to create projectiles. While this is still a viable and effective way to produce bullets, other manufacturing methods are now available. By applying injection-molding technology, Polycase has developed a new type of bullet that has many advantages, as least for handgun applications. Bullets weigh approximately 70% as much as lead bullets with similar profiles. Lighter weight means higher velocities and less recoil. In addition, PolyCase bullets are lead-free, and low ricochet — two qualities important for indoor and close-range training. The injection-molding process also reduces weight variations (compared to cast lead bullets), and ensures excellent concentricity. Molding also allows unique shapes that are impossible to produce with conventional bullet-making methods (see photo).
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Tags: Ammunition, bullet, Georgia, Injection Molding, Lemke, PolyCase, Polymer
This could be something good for military use as weight is a factor, they dont reload so may be perfect.
On that pink case there’s a QR code. What would they want that for?
Approx $1.00 per round for non-expanding 380 ACP – ouch! Hardly price competitive.
PCP has been trying to promote such products for a least the last two years – http://www.pcpammo.com/
Are poly cases reloadable?
PCP’s FAQ on reloading – “We do not recommend reloading our cases. The capacity of our case is different than standard brass cases which can result in unsafe chamber pressures if loaded using standard reloading guidelines. Though our capacity is slightly reduced from that of brass, the efficiency of our cases allows us to maintain SAAMI spec for velocity at safe chamber pressures.”
Which means “BUY THEM FROM US ONLY”
Until the price reflects significant savings of the poly case I don’t see this taking off with the exception of military aviation. That said a faster and lighter weight handgun round does sound interesting.
nomore reloading sounds like government at work have to do all the paperwork and gov approval to buy stay away I like my lead cause you can melt down tire weights and make my own say hell no.thanks jh
then the next step will be to ban lead bullets dry up the supply of re loadable cases further eroding the ammo supply
as for long term storage polymer degrades over time
Can you get bullets in all calibres or are they just handgun calibres. Do they make shotgun bullets to.
Can these projectiles be found for reloading? Info appreciated
CAN I BUY JUST THE BULLET THANKS