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@Jonn5335 do you remember their brand name?
There are a lot of options as far as lead free ammo for defense. However the question is, do you want lead free ammo or lead free bullets? Lead free ammunition uses a non-toxic primer, which tends to degrade over time, and you should shoot some of it regularly to keep track of any deterioration. It's mostly used for training. Notable examples: WinNT, PMC "green range", and many others. Personally, I would not recommend frangible bullets for defense. As much as they are touted as a "great" defense bullet in my experience when they hit soft tissue, water or any "soft" material they perform like ball ammunition. They will fragment if they hit something like bone, but that is not reliable. By comparison, I would highly recommend Barnes, their bullets are designed specifically for expansion and terminal effect. Most frangible bullets are designed for training purposes.
Barnes announced this year they will be producing the TAC-XPD, I saw them at SHOT, and I'm still waiting on a T&E box from my friends over there.
TAC-XPD Ammunition | Barnes Bullets
You must take in consideration that lead-free options will have different characteristics than lead.
Most non-lead projectiles are made from copper or brass, and they have a lighter mass than lead. What this means, is that you need more volume of that material to make up for the weight.
For example, I shoot 147gr 9mm lead rounds. An all copper projectile weighing 115gr will carry a similar velocity, because it's a larger projectile, and will have a similar charge behind it.
Problem number two. Cost. Lead is one of the cheapest materials that you can make a projectile out of. Most cheaper materials are not ideal for high round shooting. Yellow metals do not have this low cost associated with them. It will cost you at least twice as much to shoot unleaded.
You must take in consideration that lead-free options will have different characteristics than lead.
Most non-lead projectiles are made from copper or brass, and they have a lighter mass than lead. What this means, is that you need more volume of that material to make up for the weight.
For example, I shoot 147gr 9mm lead rounds. An all copper projectile weighing 115gr will carry a similar velocity, because it's a larger projectile, and will have a similar charge behind it.
Problem number two. Cost. Lead is one of the cheapest materials that you can make a projectile out of. Most cheaper materials are not ideal for high round shooting. Yellow metals do not have this low cost associated with them. It will cost you at least twice as much to shoot unleaded.
I wasn't sure if someone had figured out a cost effective alternative to lead yet or not. Guess not.
There's another issue with "solid metal" pistol bullets. When I last read the ATF regulations re: AP bullets, they consider a bullet with the jacket material making up the majority of the bullet weight as an AP type bullet. Several bullets that were made in the past from solid "yellow metals" have been banned due to this regulation.
As I also understand, pistol bullets are the big concern due to their ability to defeat standard body armor. Solids for hunting rounds aren't covered as most vests don't stop a hi-powered rifle round.
Here's an example of one, the French "Arcane":
All copper bullets are still legal. Brass has been banned though. Brass is less prone to deformation, where as copper flattens much like lead does.
18 U.S.C., § 921(a)(17)(B)
A projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium;
or:
A full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.
Seems to be in contradiction to 18 U.S.C., § 921(a)(17)(B)
If the bullet is a "solid" then wouldn't the "jacket" exceed the total weight?
FWIW, Copper is a frequently used element in Armor piercing Ordnance.
Interesting.
I am just wondering why you would want lead free bullets (just my nose is getting in the way again)
I know someone who has a private range, and was worried about long term lead build up. So, was wondering if anyone had developed a non-damaging alternative. I didn't think there was one, but was wondering.