Are Polymer-Copper Matrix Bullets the Future for Pistol Ammo?
Photo from Ruger ARX Ammo Review in Cheaper Than Dirt Shooter’s Log.
Take a good look at this unusual ammunition. We think you are looking at the future of handgun ammo — at least for range and practice work. This patent-pending ammunition features a 100% lead-free bullet blended from polymer (plastic) and copper powder. The polymer-copper matrix (PCM) composition offers three major benefits: 1. the bullets do not ricochet; 2. the bullets are lighter and therefore faster than conventional projectiles; and 3. the bullets are environmentally friendly. We think this is a big deal — we predict matrix pistol bullets will become extremely popular in the years to come.
At the 2016 SHOT Show Media Day, we shot ammo with PCM bullets in a half-dozen handguns. The ammo performed flawlessly, without a hitch. In .40 SW and .45 ACP pistols, the felt recoil was considerably less than with conventional lead-core ammo (the difference was less noticeable with .380 ACP and 9mm Luger).
Ruger is now offering Ruger-branded ARX ammo with polymer-copper matrix bullets. This ammo will be produced under a licensing agreement with PolyCase Ammunition, the Georgia-based business that originally developed this bullet technology.
While Ruger is touting this ammo as a self-defense solution, we think the most common use of this new ammo will be for indoor practice, plinking, gun games such as IDPA, and use on steel and reactive targets. If you like to shoot steel, matrix bullets make sense. The polymer-copper matrix bullet basically disintegrates into very small fragments when it hits metal.
This video includes extensive tests of Ruger 9mm ARX ammo:
Ruger ARX Ammo with Injection-Molded Matrix Bullets
The fluted projectiles are injection-molded from a polymer-copper matrix. This offers many advantages. First, being completely lead-free, these bullets can be used at indoor facilities that prohibit lead-based ammo. Second, because the composite bullets weigh 30% less than comparable lead-based projectiles, shooters experience less recoil (even though velocities are higher). Third, the composite matrix bullet has low-ricochet properties. When these bullets strike metal, they are designed to disintegrate, rather than ricochet. This makes them well-suited for indoor use, or use with metal plates.
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Ruger’s new ARX line of lead-free ammo features injection-molded bullets that are much lighter than conventional projectiles, caliber by caliber: 56 grains for .380 ACP, 74 grains for 9x19mm, 107 grains for .40 SW, and 114 grains for .45 ACP. The lighter bullets fly faster, but ARX ammo still offers reduced perceived recoil. |
Shooting Wire Editor Jim Shepherd reports that ARX ammo delivers on its low-recoil promise: “Having spent time testing the PolyCase ammunition (largely in Ruger firearms), I know the reduction in felt recoil isn’t just hype. While firing PolyCase ARX ammunition in calibers ranging from .380 in small concealed carry pistols (including a Ruger’s LCP) up to .458 SOCOM in modern sporting rifles, the lessened felt recoil was noticeable.”
Polymer-Copper Matrix Bullets Show Good Penetration
Despite their lighter-than-average weight, ARX bullets show good penetration in ballistics gelatin, thanks to their unique, fluted-tip design. This video shows penetration tests:
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Tags: Ammunition, bullets, Matrix, Pistol Ammo, PolyCase, Polymer-Copper, Ruger
115 gr X 1307 fps yeilds a power factor of 150, shy of the 165 required for CDP in IDPA.
“2. the bullets are lighter and therefore faster than conventional projectiles;”
How, exactly, is this a benefit over conventional ammo when shooting at 25 yards or less?
Editor: Fair point… but not all pistol work (even plinking) is “at 25 yards or less”. We regularly shoot steel at fifty yards for fun and challenge, and it’s fun to hit a gong at 100.
The loaded defensive ammo will have to be around for a while before I would trust it.
I’d like to see them offer the projectile for sale. For USPSA type shooting it might be a good alternative to coated lead.
Further to FightFireJay,
Faster and lighter bullets for calibre (aka low density) and a poor ballistic shape means these bullets will have a very high level of drag, slowing them down rapidly. None of their marketing media seems to show velocity over distance.
Also, once a subsonic, the flutes will more than likely spin up or spin down the projectile. A similar fluting technology is used to deliberately destabilise training projectiles, limiting their range.
Whether this is a problem at the ranges pistols are normally used at, 0-25 yards, is another matter entirely.
Neil
Spencer,
The two major problems with offering the projectiles for reloading are this:
To get a bullet that performs and is shaped like a 115gr in 9mm, it must weigh 85-90grs.
If it were made at 115grs, the length would be nearly identical to a 154gr.
Secondly, the bullets are designed to break apart at impact. This means conventional roll crimp dies would break the nose of the bullet right at the case mouth. They must be taper crimped and to the proper amount to stress the bullet but not fracture it.
Add these two factors together and we generate a new set of problems for the reloader.
I realize people have been loading Barnes bullets for decades and they have a much longer bearing surface. This is different.
We don’t want the 90gr bullet loaded into Joe’s 380 at max pressure for 90’s. Big problems.
Learning to properly crimp, well a smart guy could figure it out, but bullets get wasted doing so. It’s actually kind of comical how we used to test ours to see if the crimp was correct…
If the components became available, reloaders would need to take a small step back and learn a few different things. Powders and primers that work BEST with these bullets are also slightly different.
One other thing not pointed out in the article is this. If the only type of bullet used at these indoor ranges are copper frangible, then the entire amount shot is recyclable. Sweep it up, put it in a barrel and make new bullets out of it.
Or, .. sell it as scrap copper.
Editor: Mike wrote: “Secondly, the bullets are designed to break apart at impact. This means conventional roll crimp dies would break the nose of the bullet right at the case mouth. They must be taper crimped and to the proper amount to stress the bullet but not fracture it”. I’m not convinced this is true at all. These are not soft like gum drops or really brittle like hard plastic. I think most of the negatives discussed relating to these matrix bullets are offered by people who have never touched them, loaded them, or shot them.
The cost will be the driving factor to grab market share. If Ruger thinks a slick marketing campaign, a few gun mag articles and a fancy box are all that are required to mainstream this product they will be sadly disappointed.
When professional shooters begin to win with it and when the consumer at median wage can afford to choose between projectiles then it has a chance at being the future. Till then its just another shiny object to most.
Editor: These bullets were developed before Ruger, and there are versions of Polymer-Copper Matrix bullets with conventional conical shapes. I have loaded just about every kind of pistol bullet you can name, and shot lots of matches with steel plates. I can tell you, I’d much rather handle these than lead bullets and I would much rather have these impacting close-range steel than jacketed bullets. Bottom line, as far as I’m concerned, these bullets offer a lot of benefits for training and gun games. I’m not so convinced they are as good or better than conventional bullets for self-defense purposes… but so what? Over the last decade I’ve probably shot 50,000 pistol rounds… and not one was intended to kill. The overwhelming majority of pistol bullets are shot in training, for fun plinking, or in gun games such as IDPA and Cowboy action.
Wonder how much MORE this ammo will cost? I’ll stick with what isn’t broken and doesn’t need to be fixed.
where can I buy the copper-polymer bullets ?
Will these ever be probably superior for self defense purposes , as in lead hollow point s or are they intended as a range tool ? ?Thanks.