Army giving up stopping power for 'green' bullets?

[Oldgrunt]

I just read this article on Breightbart.com and was puzzled by the change (?) in ammunition by the Army. This change supposedly came about in 2010 for the MP4 and AR-15. I heard of the "frangible bullet" a long time ago which was purportedly used by Air Marshals because the bullet, if fired inside an airplane, would disintegrate if it hit a hard target such as cabin walls and not cause the plane to crash. The round is purported to cause a nasty flesh wound and stop a BG. I can not believe that a bullet similar to this would ever be used in a combat situation and give the advantage to enemy soldiers. In a war, the environment is not, nor has it ever been, considered friendly and the ecology be damned. Has anyone else heard of such a change and, if so, what have been the comments on this type ammunition? I sincerely hope that our military leaders haven't gone along with an idea such as this!




by AWR HAWKINS 25 Jul 2013 404 POST A COMMENT

The Army is switching from lead bullets in many small caliber arms to "environmentally friendly" rounds in 2014, even through the lead bullets are tried and true while the stopping power of the "green" bullets is already being questioned.
The Daily Caller reports that the Army switched to a "green" round for its 5.56 mm ammo in 2010--these are the bullets used in an MP4 or an AR-15.
This ammo is referred to as an "Enhanced Performance Round," even though a Fox News report raises suspicions over just how enhanced the new round will be. They quote "ballistics experts" who say "the new rounds won't be substantially more deadly" than the old ones. Nevertheless, the Army is pressing on and making the 7.62 mm bullet "environmentally friendly" by 2014 as well.
The Army predicts "the use of green 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ammunition could eliminate the purchase of 3,683 metric tons of lead between 2013 and 2018."
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.

 

[vernsimpson]

This sounds like a bunch of lib-o-rat "greenies" are in charge of things now. They do not understand that in war or conflicts that the military's job is to kill people and break things!!!

Just like obummer and his minions to tie the military's hands!

 

[farsidefan1]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the shout but since when did bullets designed to kill ASAP need to be made - and get this wording - "ECO FRIENDLY".
Since when did we want anything FRIENDLY about a bullet? Somebody is massively misunderstanding the primary purpose of a bullet. Somebody in politics, not the military is guiding this missile at our troops.

 

[K7lvo]

Well, we know it's gonna be awhile before the DHS and other domestic alphabet groups switch from lead.

OTOH, it would be typical for them to surplus all the lead ammo for pennies on the dollar and buy the new green stuff with OUR green stuff...

 

[kelcarry]

Hey guys: They are only soldiers and they are volunteers. C'mon--what is more important--the environment or a couple of dead soldiers? Ask the narcissistic moslem communist godking and Hagel and the military biggees, whose noses are getting browner everyday as they push it further up the godking's rear end

 

[JeanP]

Sounds like someone new about the closing of the Doe Run lead smelter ahead of time.

 

[NavyLCDR]

We were on RIMPAC last year for the one flight demonstration.

The Navy is going green too. At a cost of many, many times the normal price of fuel:

Link Removed

We were on RIMPAC last year for the one flight demonstration.

 

[buckey01]

The problem is that we have an administration that has absolutely no understanding of the purpose of the military. They think that it is just a glorified Peace Corps and police force with a little social experimentation thrown in. The real purpose is killing as many of the enemy as possible and destroying property, both civilian and military, seems to be beyond the comprehension of progressives.

Because of the idiocy of progressives, Korea, Vietnam, and the recent wars have been costly military disasters. The military performed magnificently as the U.S. Armed Forces always do. This country accomplished nothing in these conflicts because of the interference of feckless political whores, like those occupying the Whitehouse.

 

[UATKP]

DHS is the whitehouse dumbass's private army. He doesn't want the real army as powerful as his own. His own army will not turn on him. The real army might. He is a fool that is no fool. Think about it.

 

[mappow]

Soooo my potato gun will be finally in fashion? Just to think I've could of cornered the market.......DOD where are ya when I have these insights?

 

[CR Williams]

Off-subject reference: Air Marshalls, IIRC, once used Glaser Safety Slugs, but it was not because of worries about crashing the plane. Pistol rounds, even that penetrate, won't do that. They currently use a normal HP--I want to say Gold Dot, but I may be wrong on that.

On-subject--I'll wait and see. The idea that they won't be "substantially more deadly", whatever that means (How can you kill somebody deader than dead?) doesn't mean that they won't be just as lethal as the round they're replacing. Until we ditch the Geneva Convention protocols (Have we even signed the thing yet? Last I remember, we had not.) and go with HPs all around, I'm not holding my breath on enhanced lethality. Problem I have with the new rounds is they're more expensive.

And is it really going to matter if we're the only ones on a battlefield using unleaded ammunition?

Sorry...I occasionally expect the government to make some sense. I'll have to sign up for another round of therapy. I'll be better soon.

 

[barrygray0]

god i hope O-BOMB-A doesn't read this ! ! ! ! ! what about using PAPER BULLETS cheaper environmental friendly and it easy to make any color ! ! ! !
WELL WHAT DO YOU THINK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

[2nd Amen]

One thing I believe everyone here is forgeting or missing, is the fact the our gooberment (EPA), just recently shut down the last remaining lead smelter in the United States. We have plenty of lead ore, but no more processing! That means that at some point in the future, the US will run out of lead. Lead will only be available from…


…wait for it…


FOREIGN COUNTRIES! Most notably, CHINA!


We will NEED to have a cheap alternative for lead, for the manufacture lead-acid batteries, wheel weights, BB's, and yes, bullets. My guess is that they know they'll never get our guns, so make ammunition impossible for the masses to buy or make.

 

[Warrior1256]

DHS is the whitehouse dumbass's private army. He doesn't want the real army as powerful as his own. His own army will not turn on him. The real army might. He is a fool that is no fool. Think about it.

Yeah, it is something to think about, interesting point.

 

[jcreek]

I'm not sure what this article is referring too. All the bullets I've seen since being in looked like regular bullets to me. The 5.56 green tips have a steel core penetrator and if you cut them open, they actually have very little lead in them. Maybe that's what this is referring too? In the same way steel shot is more environmentally friendly than lead shot?

I'm all for being environmentally responsible and sustainable when possible but a war zone doesn't exactly qualify. Give our guys every advantage possible. However, just from personal experience, I doubt the validity of this article.

 

[NavyLCDR]

the US will run out of EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING will only be available from…


…wait for it…


FOREIGN COUNTRIES! Most notably, CHINA!

The US Government is regulating the US economy out of business across the board. I give this country maybe 50 years before the Federal government collapses the same way the USSR did.

 

[UATKP]

Navy, I give it 3 years at the most...

 

[gunnerbob]

The US Government is regulating the US economy out of business across the board. I give this country maybe 50 years before the Federal government collapses the same way the USSR did.

The optimism is high in this one... Meh, maybe you're right.

 

[SR40c]

Gotta love that name... "Department of Homeland Security" It has such a familiar and comforting ring to it. You know, in Fascist sort of way.

 

[jhodge83]

One thing I believe everyone here is forgeting or missing, is the fact the our gooberment (EPA), just recently shut down the last remaining lead smelter in the United States. We have plenty of lead ore, but no more processing! That means that at some point in the future, the US will run out of lead. Lead will only be available from…


…wait for it…


FOREIGN COUNTRIES! Most notably, CHINA!


We will NEED to have a cheap alternative for lead, for the manufacture lead-acid batteries, wheel weights, BB's, and yes, bullets. My guess is that they know they'll never get our guns, so make ammunition impossible for the masses to buy or make.

you may want to get to re-reading about that plant. it's a primary smelter where no ammo comes from. ammo lead is recycled material. that process isnt done at primary facilities. the same company running Doe Run also runs a secondary smelter that IS staying up along w/ all the others. keeping this BS tinfoil hat mess up is going to push another ammo price run up!

not to mention that the EPA was dealing w/ this plant all the way back in 2003 about upgrading and they chose not to in order to save money.