Polymer bullets

Bucksnort1 · November 25, 2015, 11:54 AM

Any experience with polymer bullets?

**Unclenick** · November 25, 2015, 12:28 PM

The only ones I've ever had were the plastic wadcutters Speer used to make for firing by primer-only through a revolver. Polymers are, in general, too low in density to fly very far or penetrate very well.

If, instead, you meant polymer-tipped or polymer-coated (H&N pistol bullets, for example) or lead that has a polymer powder coat application, you'll need to specify it.

If you are looking at the PolyCase bullets, they have copper for mass, bonded in a polymer. Their GRX design takes advantage of the fact a mold is easily made to give you any shape. Will it actually do anything a flat meplat or truncated cone won't do? I'd have to be convinced. A bullet only completes a revolution once in multiple bullet lengths of travel. It's not like a spinning blade being slowly pressed into something, so the idea appears to me to be a large percent hype. Their .380 bullet only weighs 56 grains, so the density is about half that of a same dimension conventional bullet. This may create stability problems in slower twist barrels. I don't have enough information to tell.

T. O'Heir · November 25, 2015, 01:51 PM

There's no such thing as a completely polymer bullet. There are polymer coated bullets and polymer cased ammo though. And rubber bullets for controlling riots.

cc-hangfire · November 25, 2015, 02:23 PM

Short answer, no.

But there is at least one manufacturer making polymer/copper bullets. See:

http://www.polycaseammo.com/wp-conte...Year-20151.png

I will try some when I can find some.

Bucksnort1 · November 25, 2015, 02:27 PM

I will clarify. These are lead bullets coated with polymer.

CherokeeT · November 25, 2015, 10:43 PM

I tried some poly coated bullets in 9mm. Shot fine, functioned and all that, nothing different. Accuracy was not the same as my normal cast bullets, but close. I did notice a burning plastic smell when shooting them at the indoor range.

tangolima · November 25, 2015, 10:55 PM

I made hot glue bullets with cast bullet moulds. Fun to shoot. Either primer only or a tiny amount of powder.

-TL

BillM · November 26, 2015, 12:00 AM

[QUOTEI will clarify. These are lead bullets coated with polymer.][/QUOTE]

I've ran around 20,000 Bayou poly coated bullets in the last year or so.
Most of them 9mm 147 gr, some 200 gr 40 cal, all with N320 powder.

No problems. My powder charge for 9mm dropped .3 gr with the polymer
compared to Montana Gold for the same velocity.

They do have a little odor---I've heard it described as burning plastic,
burning rubber, and singed wet cat fur.

DarthNul · November 27, 2015, 10:48 PM

I've fired a bunch of poly coated pistol bullets in 9x19, 40 S&W, 45 Auto and 44 Rem magnum.

They smoke less than plain lead but more than jacketed or plated bullets, although with 44 Rem magnum there's so much smoke from the powder that it's hard to tell.

I do not run them in hot 44 magnum loads, just target loads. I find barrel cleanup to be pretty easy and haven't had to deal with lead buildup which is sometimes the case with cast lead. If you like semi-wadcutters it's the way to go. A little cheaper than plated and bunch cheaper than jacketed.

November 25, 2015, 11:54 AM	#1
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,121	Polymer bullets Any experience with polymer bullets?

November 25, 2015, 12:28 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The only ones I've ever had were the plastic wadcutters Speer used to make for firing by primer-only through a revolver. Polymers are, in general, too low in density to fly very far or penetrate very well. If, instead, you meant polymer-tipped or polymer-coated (H&N pistol bullets, for example) or lead that has a polymer powder coat application, you'll need to specify it. If you are looking at the PolyCase bullets, they have copper for mass, bonded in a polymer. Their GRX design takes advantage of the fact a mold is easily made to give you any shape. Will it actually do anything a flat meplat or truncated cone won't do? I'd have to be convinced. A bullet only completes a revolution once in multiple bullet lengths of travel. It's not like a spinning blade being slowly pressed into something, so the idea appears to me to be a large percent hype. Their .380 bullet only weighs 56 grains, so the density is about half that of a same dimension conventional bullet. This may create stability problems in slower twist barrels. I don't have enough information to tell. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 25, 2015, 01:51 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	There's no such thing as a completely polymer bullet. There are polymer coated bullets and polymer cased ammo though. And rubber bullets for controlling riots. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 25, 2015, 10:43 PM	#6
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I tried some poly coated bullets in 9mm. Shot fine, functioned and all that, nothing different. Accuracy was not the same as my normal cast bullets, but close. I did notice a burning plastic smell when shooting them at the indoor range. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

November 27, 2015, 10:48 PM	#9
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	I've fired a bunch of poly coated pistol bullets in 9x19, 40 S&W, 45 Auto and 44 Rem magnum. They smoke less than plain lead but more than jacketed or plated bullets, although with 44 Rem magnum there's so much smoke from the powder that it's hard to tell. I do not run them in hot 44 magnum loads, just target loads. I find barrel cleanup to be pretty easy and haven't had to deal with lead buildup which is sometimes the case with cast lead. If you like semi-wadcutters it's the way to go. A little cheaper than plated and bunch cheaper than jacketed. __________________ The most feared gun control law proposal: Require buyers to register all gun purchases with their wives

November 25, 2015, 02:23 PM	#4
cc-hangfire Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2014 Posts: 304	Short answer, no. But there is at least one manufacturer making polymer/copper bullets. See: http://www.polycaseammo.com/wp-conte...Year-20151.png I will try some when I can find some.

November 25, 2015, 02:27 PM	#5
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,121	I will clarify. These are lead bullets coated with polymer.

November 25, 2015, 10:55 PM	#7
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,824	I made hot glue bullets with cast bullet moulds. Fun to shoot. Either primer only or a tiny amount of powder. -TL

November 26, 2015, 12:00 AM	#8
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	[QUOTEI will clarify. These are lead bullets coated with polymer.][/QUOTE] I've ran around 20,000 Bayou poly coated bullets in the last year or so. Most of them 9mm 147 gr, some 200 gr 40 cal, all with N320 powder. No problems. My powder charge for 9mm dropped .3 gr with the polymer compared to Montana Gold for the same velocity. They do have a little odor---I've heard it described as burning plastic, burning rubber, and singed wet cat fur.