Will U.S. Military Start Using Ammunition with Composite Cases?
True Velocity is a Texas-based ammo-maker with 145 issued patents on its products and technologies. More than 1 million rounds of True Velocity composite-cased cartridges will be delivered through 2020-2021 to the U.S. Army. This revolutionary new ammo will be tested by the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program. The advantage of the composite cases, which employ various polymers, is primarily weight savings. True Velocity-made ammo is 30% lighter than conventional ammunition. That means that a typical soldier’s load-out can be reduced by many POUNDS with this innovative ammo. And the military can transport much more ammo with existing vehicles and aircraft.
The company claims: “True Velocity’s precision engineering and manufacturing capabilities allow for substantial improvements in consistency over brass. Our proprietary technology and manufacturing process, combined with progressive process and quality control standards … yields a cartridge of unparalleled performance.” In addition, True Velocity can produce ammo in smaller facilities than a typical large ammo plant. The company states: “The company’s manufacturing capabilities can power customizable and highly-portable ‘cells’, allowing for decentralized and automated ammunition production.”
True Velocity’s modern composite cases withstand temperature changes very well and can function well even in sub-zero environments (however you still may have issues with the powder inside at super-low temps). In addition, the composite cases are 100% recyclable. This can make a difference for shooting ranges and training facilities. One question we have, however, is long-term durability. Brass cartridges can remain strong and functional for decades. Some plastics degrade in just a few years. It will be interesting to see how the True Velocity composite cases hold up over time.
True Velocity is an advanced technology and composite manufacturing company based in Garland, Texas. Founded in 2010, True Velocity has more than 250 patents pending or issued on its products, technology, and manufacturing processes. True Velocity products are manufactured in the U.S. in a state-of-the-art, 66,000-square-foot facility and are currently available to public agencies, with consumer products available soon. For more information, visit TVammo.com.
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Tags: Composite Ammo, Composite Cartridge Case, Garland TX, Polymer rifle case, True Velocity
I’ll be waiting with interest to see SD/ES numbers on these.
They talked about weight , accuracy , and being re-cyclable . But not a syllable about RELOADABLE . And not sure about long term heat / Sun exposure . Think I’ll stick with my low-tech , old fashioned brass . It won’t melt or rot in the Az. desert sun . Newer ; ain’t always better . Just newer . They played this same song about the M-16 too . And we all know how that worked out in Nam .
Their FAQ page states that their ammo is NOT reloadable.
“Is your composite ammunition reloadable?
No. True Velocity ammunition is not designed to be reloaded using commercially available reloading equipment. We do not recommend attempting to reload our cartridge cases”
“Not reloadable” That means target shooters are out unless they are incredibly accurate off the shelf.
Great innovation for certain purposes, time will tell if they catch on.
The new rounds aren’t going to be better than the old ones without a lot of development. The M4 works well but it took a long time and a lot of product evolution from the original M16. Same thing applies to ammo.
Better to not rush adoption of a technology until it’s ready.
What matters is that the new rounds work better for the troopers. Everything else is noise.
Last time I looked, standard brass cases are perfectly recyclable. Mercuric priming has not been a thing for quite a while now, and even when it was “standard” for Britain and the Empire / Commonwealth, the brass was salvaged and recycled (not reloaded, however).
Polymers? In extreme cold?
One of the useful functions of metallic cases is to carry heat away from auto / semi-auto firearm mechanisms when ejected.
Also, if the working dimensions are similar, will there be enough material in the neck to solidly constrain a projectile being cycled through, say the M-240 / M-249?
In the event of a “misfeed”, will the bullet still be retained, even if the case is “bent” or will the bullet depart and propellant be spilled into the mechanism?
Will a polymer case provide the same ‘grab-curve’ in the chamber to moderate back-thrust on the bolt? The Russians have been doing interesting things with polymer coatings on mild-steel cases for quite a while. The ONLY real problem with steel cases is that the case-making tooling has traditionally been Tungsten Carbide because it handles the much greater wear forces better than hardened steel, even when specially treated. During WW2, the German tank and anti-tank gunners wanted all the Tungsten Carbide AP ammo they could get. However, the makers of the extensive range of steel cartridge cases in use by just about every arm of their military, wanted the Tungsten Carbide to make tooling for those cartridge cases. Where is most of the world’s Tungsten? Russia, for starters.
Could be interesting to see what happens in systems using “delayed blowback” where the characteristic combination of plasticity and elasticity of brass is central to the system. OK, there are not as many such firearms in front-line service these days; just musing.
Then, some bozo will mandate lead right out of the bullet-core business, sectional density and ballistic coefficients be damned. Solid Bronze bullet? CNC machine turned? Hello Balle D, 1898!
Having worked directly for Polycase, I would be inclined to avoid any plastic cartridge cases operating at rifle pressures.
I applaud this innovative development. I’m please to also read the dismissive comments.This means they are on to something. Innovation always afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted.
I wonder if they have any interest in selling single use primed cases. I doubt they would be cheaper than brass so long as the military is buying their product. I also wonder if they have subsumed with patents the entirety of the single use market.
“Where is most of the world’s Tungsten? Russia, for starters.”
Actually China holds the world’s largest reserve, Russia is second:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/270453/distribution-of-tungsten-reserves-worldwide-by-country/
Innovation is necessary or we stagnate. Without innovation, where would we as shooters be?