Blended Metal Technology Projectiles Review and Analysis - Redacted

AD-E403 121
Technical Report ARAET-TR-07009

BLENDED METAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECTILES
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

Shawn P. Spickert-Fulton
J effrey Schutz

J une 2007

Further dissemination only as directed by U.S. Army ARDEC, ATTN: AMSRD-AAR-EMK, Picatinny
Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000; J une 2007; or higher DoD authority.

AD
ARMAMENT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND
ENGINEERING CENTER

Armaments Engineering & Technology Center

Picatinny Arsenal, New J ersey

The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this
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June2007
2.REPORTTYPE
3.DATESCOVERED(FromTo)
5a.CONTRACTNUMBER
5b.GRANTNUMBER
4.TITLEANDSUBTITLE
BLENDEDMETALTECHNOLOGYPROJECTILESREVIEWAND
ANALYSIS
5c.PROGRAMELEMENTNUMBER
5d.PROJECTNUMBER
5e.TASKNUMBER
6.AUTHORS
ShawnP.Spickert-FultonandJeffreySchutz
5f.WORKUNITNUMBER
7.PERFORMINGORGANIZATIONNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES)
U.S.ArmyARDEC,AETC
MunitionsSystemsandTechnology(AMSRD-ARR-AEM-I)
PicatinnyArsenal,NJ07806-5000
8.PERFORMINGORGANIZATION
REPORTNUMBER
10.SPONSOR/MONITORSACRONYM(S)
9.SPONSORING/MONITORINGAGENCYNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES)
U.S.ArmyARDEC,EM
TechnicalResearchCenter(AMSRD-AAR-EMK)
11.SPONSOR/MONITORSREPORT
NUMBER(S)
TechnicalReportARAET-TR-07009
12.DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITYSTATEMENT
FurtherdisseminationonlyasdirectedbyU.S.ArmyARDEC,ATTN:AMSRD-AAR-EMK,PicatinnyArsenal,NJ
07806-5000;June2007;orhigherDoDauthority.
13.SUPPLEMENTARYNOTES
14.ABSTRACT
LeMasLtd.promotedaseriesofpatentedblendedmetaltechnology(BMT)RBCDprojectilesandassertedthattheyaresuperiorto
militaryandlawenforcementalternatives.Thislightweight,highvelocity,smallarmsammunitionperformedwellatshooting
competitionswhereitexhibitedtheabilitytoperforateasteelplate,automobileglass,andselecttargets.TheLeMascartridgeswere
marketedwithclay,meat,andliveanimalteststhatprovedthepurportedeffectivenessoftheproduct.Theclaimsofcontrolled,but
effectivepenetrationgainedtheattentionofCongress,whichissueda$1,050,000defenseappropriationtoUSSOCOMtosupport
government-widetestingofrevolutionarysmallarmsammunitionwithfullspectrumoflethalandpenetratingeffects.USSOCOMtook
themandateandformedajointserviceIPTthatincludedparticipationfromtheNavy,Army,USSOCOM,FBI,andOSD.ThisIPTthen
proceededtoprocureandtestseveralmodelsofLeMasammunitionincluding9mm,5.56mm,and7.62mmvariants.Thetestshowed
thattheLeMasriflecartridgeswereconstructedwithcommercialbulletsthatweremarkedwithathincoatingofmolybdenumdisulfide
(adrylubricant).OperationaltestswiththeammunitionshowedthattheLeMasprojectilesperformedwellagainstspecifictargetsin
specificscenarios,butdonotmeettherangeofrequirements,specifications,andoperationalneedsthatarerequired.Additionally,
LeMasammunitioncomeswithadditionallogisticalcomplexitiesandahighcomparativecost.Thissurveyreportsummarizesthe
effortsofCrane,ARDEC,theFBEAcademy,USSOCOM,andotherstotestLeMasammunitioninafairandunbiasedmanner.It
outlineswhatLeMasammunitionis;isitsafe;howitperforms;andhowitcompareswiththeM855,M118LR,M882,andsome
commercialequivalents.Someeffortisalsomadetoshowthecomparativeperformanceofpowdermetallurgyprojectilestocurrent
options.
15.SUBJECTTERMS
LeMas,RBCD,Blendedmetaltechnology(BMT),Molybdenum,Gelatin,Clay,Liveanimal,Steel,Armor,Glass,Pig,Goat,Hardtarget,
Softtarget,Exteriorballistics,Woundballistics,Terminalballistics,Lethality,Smallarms,Ammunition,Pistol,Sierra,Nosler,Speer,
ARL,FBI,Crane,M855,M882,M118LR,5.56mm,7.62mm,9mm,EPVAT,(P/M),Lightweight,Softpoint,andBallistictip.
16.SECURITYCLASSIFICATIONOF: 19a.NAMEOFRESPONSIBEPERSON
ShawnSpickert-Fulton/JeffreySchutz
a.REPORT
U
b.ABSTRACT
U
c.THISPAGE
U
17.LIMITATIONOF
ABSTRACT
SAR
18.NUMBER
OF
PAGES
169
19b.TELEPHONENUMBER(Includearea
code)(973)724-
StandardForm298(Rev.8/98)
PrescribedbyANSIStd.Z39.18
(b) (6)
CONTENTS
Page
ExecutiveSummary 1
PreliminaryIPTMeetingwithLeMasLtd. 2
InitialTests 3
PreludetoOperationalandSafetyTests 5
ExecutiveSummaryConclusions 7
Introduction 8
InitialIPTMeeting(February2004) 8
2004JS-IPTProposedPlan 9
TaskDistribution 10
FundingandCosts 11
LeMasLTD.MarketingClaims 11
MostSignificantTechnologicalAdvancement 11
ProduceImmediateZeroMissionCapability 12
Non-comparablePerformanceinLivingTissue 13
ProduceEnhancedFragmentationPatterns 14
UniqueManufacturingProcess 15
UsedLeadFreeComponents 15
PatentedAmmunitionProducts 15
WhatisBlendedMetalTechnology(BMT) 15
LeMasLtd.DefinitionofBMT 15
AmericanSocietyofMetals(ASM)DefinitionofBlendingMetals 16
UnitedStatesPatentNo.US6,363,856B1 16
AnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)Projectiles 18
VisualTests 19
MetallurgicalandStructuralTests 35
SpectrometryandX-rayTests 52
PerformanceAnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)Projectiles 57
AmmunitionPerformanceStatistics 57
SafetyandOperationalTests 62
AccuracyandDispersionTests 84
ArmorPenetrationTests 100
SoftTarget/TissueSimulant(BallisticGelatin)Tests 104
HistoricalAnimalTestswithSoftPointProjectiles 127
CONTENTS
Page
ReviewAvailableInformationonGovernmentTestsDoneonTrue(P/M)Type 129
Projectiles
PowderMetallurgyIronFrangibleBulletTest 130
ControlledPenetration(PressedMetalPowder)ProjectileTest 130
ARDEC2002TerminalBallisticsEffort 131
ComparisonofLeMasProjectilePerformanceand(P/M)ProjectilePerformance 132
AssessmentofLeMasMarketingClaims 132
MostSignificantTechnologicalAdvancement 132
ProduceImmediateZeroMissionCapability 133
VariedPenetrationBasedonTarget 133
Non-comparablePerformanceinLivingTissue 134
ProducedEnhancedFragmentationPatterns 136
CauseHeatGeneratedBlisteringinSoftOrganStructures 137
UniqueManufacturingProcess 37
UseLeadFreeComponents 137
PatentedAmmunitionProducts 138
Conclusions 138
References 139
Appendices
ABasicWeaponStatistics 141
BIndependentTesting 147
DistributionList 153
FIGURES
1 LeMasUWandNoslerballistictipprojectilecrosssectionsandmoldnumber 4
2 LeMasUWcartridgewithNoslerballistictipbulletcoatedwithmolybdenumdisulfide 4
3 Sample7.62-mmhardtargetpenetrationphotographs 6
4 Cranehardtargettest 7
5 LeMasLtd.marketingpictureshowingarmorplatepenetration 13
ii
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
6 PurportedeffectoftemperatureonBMTperformance 14
7 RoscoeStokerspatentedprojectilediagram 16
8 RoscoeStokerspatentedprojectiledesign 18
9 Breakoutofammunitionforthiseffort 19
10 LeMas5.56-mmblendedmetalprojectiles[UW(left)andLW(right) 19
11 FBIvisualinspectionoftheLeMasUWcartridge 20
12 InitialFIcomparisonofLeMas/RBCDUWtosimilarprojectiles 20
13 FBIweightcomparisonbetweenUWandNoslerprojectiles 21
14 VisualcomparisonbetweenNoslerballistictipandLeMasUWdesign 21
15 FBIphotographshowingNoslerstylemoldnumbersonLeMasUWprojectiles 22
16 SidebysideNoslerandUWprojectilecrosssectionvisualinspection 22
17 NoslerandLeMasblendedmetalUWprojectiles(moldnumbersfoundonboth 23
projectilestested)(ARDECphotograph)
18 AsReceivedLeMasprojectilepictures 24
19 SidebysideSierraandLWprojectileas-isvisualinspection 25
20 SidebysideSierraandLWprojectilecrosssectionvisualinspection 26
21 7.62-mmLeMasLWprojectile(ARDECasreceived) 27
22 LeMasUW(left)andLeMasLW(right)jacketexamination 27
23 Dimensionalmeasurementsofcrosssectioned5.56-mmprojectiles 28
24 USSOCOM5.56-mmvisualinspectiontests 29
25 Basicdescriptionofthe7.62x51-mmtestammunition 30
26 Basicdescriptionandphotographsofthe9x19-mmtestammunition 31
27 Dimensionalmeasurementstakenontestammunition 32
iii
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
28 UWcrosssectionimageshowinglocationsofmicrostructureanalyzed 36
29 LeMasUWleadcoremicrostructure 36
30 UW(Nosler)copperjacketmicrostructureimages 37
31 UWcartridgemicrostructure 37
32 Noslerballistictipmicrostructure 38
33 LWcrosssectionimageshowinglocationsofmicrostructureanalyzed 39
34 LWleadcoremicrostructure 39
35 LW(Sierra)copperjacketmicrostructureimages 40
36 LWcartridgemicrostructure 40
37 SierraVarmintemicrostructure 41
38 ResultsofthreeseparatemicrohardnessreadingsonNoslerandLeMas 43
ammunitionsamples
39 Repeatabilityofmachinescriteriaformicrohardnesstests 43
40 ResultsofthreeseparatemicrohardnessreadingsonSierraandLeMas 45
ammunitionsamples
41 Bondedtestsamples(NoslerandUW) 46
42 Bondedtestsamples(SierraandLW) 47
43 LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurements5.56-mmcartridgecases 48
44 LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurements7.62-mmcartridgecases 49
45 LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurement9-mmcartridgecases 50
46 Illustrationofbulletcrimp 51
47 ExampleUW(Nosler)corechemistryspectrumresult 52
48 ExampleUWjacketchemistryspectrumresult 53
iv
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
49 UWjacketcoatingchemistryspectrumresult 53
50 UWandNoslerballistictipcomparativechemicalanalysis 54
51 LWcorechemistryspectrumresult 54
52 LWjacketchemistryspectrumresult 55
53 LWjacketcoatingchemistryspectrumresult 55
54 LeMasLWandSierraVarmintercomparativechemicalanalysis 56
55 Averagecasemouthpressureversustemperaturefor9-mmammunition 69
56 TestsheetshowingM9weapondamage 70
57 BlownprimersandextrudedbulletcorematerialLeMas9-mmEPVATtest-40F 71
58 SampleARDECEPVATcurvesforLeMasLW(Sierra)ammunition 72
59 Additionalblownprimers(9-mmLeMas)observedduring-40Fvelocitytesting 76
60 Bubbletestresults(5.56mm) 78
61 Bubbletestresults(7.62mm) 79
62 Bubbletestresults(9mm) 79
63 5.56-mmFNM16A4bulletbreak-upresults 82
64 BulletRPMversustwistrate(M16A4andM4A1) 82
65 Universalbondreceiver/Mann-typebarrel 84
66 Dispersion/accuracyrelationship 85
67 Definitionsofdispersionmeasurements 85
68 5.56-mmextremespreadresults(100mand300m) 87
69 7.62-mmextremespreadresults(100mand300m) 88
70 9-mmextremespreadresults(25mand50m) 88
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
71 Pistolandrifleweaponmounts 89
72 Average5.56-mmextremespreadM4A1dataonscaledtargets 92
73 7.62-mm(Mk11)extremespreadonscaledtargets 95
74 9-mmextremespreadonscaledtargets(25m) 98
75 Armorpenetrationtestsetup 100
76 Cardboardwitnessmaterials 100
77 Example5.56-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500(steelplate) 101
78 Example7.62-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500steelplate 102
79 Example9-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500steelplate 103
80 Cranehardtarget(R50)testdata 104
81 Dziemanscomparisonofbulletwoundtractdimensions(ingoats)andenergy 106
absorptionfrombulletsby20%gelatintissuemodels
82 Velocitydecaycurvedataformahistorical1960scomparativetest 106
83 Historicalcomparisonsofgelatinandtissue 107
84 Samplevelocitydecaycurves(m/s)versusdepthofpenetration(cm)forSierra 108
andM855projectilewhenfiredinto10%gelatinsimulant
85 Sampleenergydepositcurves(J/cm)versusdepthofpenetration(cm)forSierra 109
andM855projectileswhenfiredinto10%gelatinsimulantattworanges
86 Relevantgelatinblockfeatures 111
87 SampleM4A15-mbaregelatinresults 112
90 SampleM16A4baregelatinshots 115
vi
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
91 Theshotthatchangedlawenforcementammunitioncriteria 115
92 SampleMk115-mbaregelatin 116
95 SampleM8pistol5-mbaregelatin 118
96 SampleM9pistol25-mbaregelatin 118
97 SampleM4A15-mautoglassresults 119
103 Non-lethaldesignsthatdonotpenetrateskin,butdopenetrategelatin(about3in.) 122
104 SampleMk115-mautoglasstarget 123
107 SampleM9pistol5-mautoglasstarget 125
108 SampleM9pistol25-mautoglasstarget 125
109 .220Winchestersoftpoint 128
110 Sampledamagepictures 129
111 Sample.220Winchestershotintogelatin 129
112 SNCCPApenetrationresultsagainstvariousbarriersandgelatinat25and300m 131
vii
FIGURES
(continued)
Page
113 JohnHamilton(right)talksafterdemonstratingablendedmetalroundagainstclay 134
114 SamplemaximumdynamiccavityimageM855andLeMasLW(Sierra)(5mtest 135

withM4)
115 Easonsstrikingenergyversusenergyabsorbedforchromesteelspheres 135
TABLES
1 CartridgedesignspurchasedfromLeMasLtd. 3
2 Costcomparisons 3
3 Projectilesurrogates 6
4 Proposedtestbreakdownbyorganization 10
5 QuantitiesandtypesofammunitionpurchasedfromLeMasLtd.withcomparisons 11
data
6 Weightsanddimensions(NoslerballistictipandUWprojectiles) 25
7 Weightsanddimensions(SierraandLW) 26
8 Testammunitioncharacteristics 28
9 Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof5.56x45mmtest 33
ammunition
10 Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof7.62x51mmtest 33
ammunition
11 Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof9x19mmtest 34
ammunition
12 Samplemicro-hardnessvaluesobtainedforLeMasUWandNoslerballistictip 42
projectiles
13 Samplemicro-hardnessvaluedobtainedforLeMasLWandSierraprojectiles 44
14 EstimatedmechanicalpropertiesofprojectilessuppliedbyLeMasLtd. 46
15 AverageVickersDPNhardnessmeasurementsfor5.56x45-mmcartridgecases 48
viii
TABLES
(continued)
Page
16 AverageVickersDPNhardnessmeasurementsfor7.62x51-mmcartridgescases 49
17 AverageVickershardnessmeasurementsfor9x19-mmcartridgecases 50
18 Summaryofbullet(highlightedresultsareoutsideofspecification) 51
19 Calculatedsectionaldensitiesoftestammunition 58
20 EstimatedBCoftestprojectiles 58
21 5.56-mmmuzzlevelocity 59
22 7.62-mmmuzzlevelocitytest 59
23 9-mmmuzzlevelocitytest 60
24 5.56-mmimpactenergyandmomentumstatistics 60
25 7.62-mmimpactenergyandmomentumstatistics 61
26 9-mmmuzzleenergyandmomentumstatistics 61
27 5.56-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition 62
28 7.62-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition 63
29 9-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition 63
30 MIL-STDpressurespecifications 65
31 SAAMIpressurespecifications 65
32 MIL-STDpressureresultsfor5.56-mmcartridgestested 66
33 SAMMIpressureresultsfor5.56-mmcartridgestested 66
34 MIL-STDpressureresultsfor7.62-mmcartridgestested 67
35 SAMMIpressureresultsfor7.62-mmcartridgestested 67
36 MIL-STDpressureresultsfor9-mmcartridgestested 68
37 SAMMIpressureresultsfor9-mmcartridgestested 68
38 SummaryofLeMas9-mmpressureissues 69
ix
TABLES
(continued)
Page
39 MIL-STD(left)andSAAMI(right)velocityspecifications 73
40 MIL-STD5.56-mmvelocitytestresults 74
41 SAAMI5.56-mmvelocitytestresults 74
42 MIL-STD7.62-mmvelocitytestresults 75
43 SAAMI7.62-mmvelocitytestresults 75
44 MIL-STD9-mmvelocitytestresults 76
45 SAAMI9-mmvelocitytestresults 76
46 5.56-mmand7.62-mmWaterproofnesstestresults 77
47 9-mmWaterproofnesstestresults 78
48 9-mmmalfunctionchart(functionandcasualty) 83
49 Testbarrelinformation 86
50 Accuracydata(averageofthree10-shotgroups) 86
51 Standarddeviationofdispersiontests 87
52 Statisticalcomparisonoftestammunitionextremespread(Mannbarrel) 89
53 100m5.56-mmM4A1dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons) 90
54 300m5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontestresults(averageofthreeweapons) 91
55 Standarddeviationsof100mand300m5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest 91
56 100mANOVAresultsfor5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest 92
57 300mANOVAresultsfor5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest 93
58 100m7.62-mmMk11dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons) 93
59 300m7.62-mmMk11dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons) 94
60 Standarddeviationsof7.62-mmMk11100mand300mdispersionresults 94
61 Differencebetween100mMannbarreland100mMk11results(averageof 94
threeweapons)
TABLES
(continued)
Page
62 Differencebetween300mMannbarreland100mMk11results(averageof 95
threeweapons)
63 100-mANOVAresultsfor7.62-mmMk11dispersiontest 96
64 300mANOVAresultsfor7.62-mmMk11dispersiontest 96
65 25m9-mmBerettadispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons) 97
66 Standarddeviationsof9-mmM9Beretta25mdispersionresults 97
67 Differencebetween25m9-mmMannbarrelandM9Berettadispersionresults 97
(averageofthreeweapons)
68 ANOVAresultsfor9-mmBerettadispersionresults 98
69 Statisticalcomparisonoftestammunitionextremespread(fieldweapons) 99
70 300-yarddispersiondata(Cranetest) 99
71 5.56-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/8-in.and5/8-in.steelplate(5and100m) 101
72 7.62-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/in.and5/8-in.AR-500(steelplate) 102
73 9-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/8-in.and5/8in.steelplate 103
74 Criticaldimensionsofhumanmales 110
75 5.56-mmbaregelatinresultsat5m 113
78 7.62mm5-mbaregelatinresults 116
81 5.56-mm5-mautoglassresults 120
82 5.56-mm100-mautoglassresults 121
83 5.56mm300-mautoglassresults 122
xi
TABLES
(continued)
Page
87 ARDEC2004statictestdatavaluesonrelevanttesting 126
xii
BottomLineUpFront
1.LeMasLtd.promotedaseriesofBlendedMetal
TechnologyRBCDprojectilesandassertedthattheyare
uniqueinconstructionandsuperiortocurrentmilitaryand
lawenforcementalternatives.
2.TestingrequestedbyCongressthrougha$1,050,000
DefenseappropriationissuedforFiscalYear2003was
conductedbyUSSOCOMIPT.
3.LeMasriflebulletswerefoundtobecomposedof
routineandcommonlyavailablecommercialprojectilesof
othermanufacturersthathadbeencoatedwithadry
lubricant(molybdenumdisulfide).
4.AlloftheproductspurchasedfromLeMaswerefound
nottofulfillexistingDoDneeds,requirements,and
specifications.
5.LeMasproductsaresignificantlymoreexpensivethan
existingmilitaryalternatives.
6.Alegalreviewbasedonthisreportisinprogress.
EXECUTIVESUMMARY
TheHouseofRepresentativesConferenceReporttotheFiscalYear2003Defense
AppropriationActcontaineda$1,050,000appropriationfortheDepartmentofDefense(DoD)to
testblendedmetaltechnology(BMT)bulletstosupportgovernment-widetestingofrevolution-
arysmallarmsammunitionwithfullspectrumoflethalandpenetratingeffects.Further
clarificationoftheappropriationrevealedthatthebulletstheDoDweretotestwerethose
producedbyLawEnforcementMilitaryAmmunitionSales(LeMas)ofLittleRock,Arkansas.
LeMashasbeenpromotingavarietyofBMTprojectilesthatitclaimstobesuperiorto
currentmilitaryandlawenforcementsmallarmsammunition.Theseblendedmetalprojectiles
weredemonstratedatanumberofshootingcompetitions.Severalgovernmentagencies
evaluatedthemusingnationallyandinternationally(NATO)-acceptedevaluationprotocols
1
.This
testingdidnotsupportLeMasclaimsandthetechnologywasnotpursued.However,LeMas
Ltd.objectedtothemannerinwhichtheroundsweretested.
_______________________
1
BoththeArmyandtheNavylookedatseveralLeMascartridgesintheyearspriorto2003.
Inresponse,theUnitedStatesSpecialOperationsCommand(USSOCOM)formedan
integratedproductteam(IPT)totestbulletsmarketedbyLeMasLtd.asBMT.TheIPT
consistedofrepresentativesfromtheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenter,CraneDivision(NSWC
Crane);theU.S.ArmyArmamentsResearch,Development,andEngineeringCenter(ARDEC),
PicatinnyArsenal,NewJersey;theFederalBureauofInvestigations(FBI);theOfficeofthe
SecretaryofDefense(OSD),aswellassubjectmatterexpertsupportcontractors.
Thescopeoftheinvestigationwasfourfold.Inshortwhatisit,isitsafe,doesitwork,and
canweuseit?Thisreportdiscussesthetestresultsthatwereobtainedtoanswerthose
questions.Thelegal(lawofwar)reviewrequiredbyDoDInstruction5000.2(12May2003),
ArmyRegulation27-53(1January1979),andUSSOCOMDirective525-27(14February2001)
willbeperformedbytheOfficeofGeneralCounsel,DoD,basedonthetestresultscontained
withinthisreport.
PreliminaryIPTMeetingwithLeMasLtd.
ThestudyoftheBMTstartedwithanIPTmeetingwithLeMasLtd.sPresident,John
Hamilton.Mr.HamiltonstatedthatitsammunitionwasmanufacturedbyRBCDPerformance
Plus,Inc.toLeMasLtd.sspecifications.HealsoclarifiedLeMasLtd.smarketingclaimssothat
theIPTcouldaccuratelycomparethebulletsperformancetotheirassertions.
FromtheLeMaspresentation,fourclaimsrequiredparticularattention:
1. LeMasmadetheassertionthatitsammunitionwasmadeusingBMT.
2. LeMasclaimedthatitsroundsproduceimmediatezeromissioncapability,
thatis,immediateincapacitation.
3. LeMasLtd.claimedthatitsprojectileshadunusualpyrophoricproperties,
whichworkedwellinwarm,oxygenated,tissue,butreacteddifferentlyin
chilledballisticgelatin.
4. LeMasclaimedthattheirbulletsfullypenetrateatargetbehindin.AR500
steelplate,butdonotoverpenetratehumantargets.
Mr.HamiltonshowedvideosofliveanimaltestsconductedbyLeMasLtd.
2
Infact;the
LeMasvideoscontradictedHamiltonszeromissioncapabilityassertion,astheanimalsclearly
wereobservedaliveandmovingforanextendedtimeafterbeingshot.
Followingthisinitialmeeting,USSOCOMformulatedatestplantoassessLeMas
assertions.USSOCOMpurchasedstocksofavarietyofLeMasammunitionfromLeMasLtd.
(table1).
_______________________
2
LeMasLtd.sliveanimaltestingwasnotdoneatthebehestoftheU.S.GovernmentorbyanymemberoftheIPT.
LeMasLtd.waslaterbroughttocourtandfinedfortheirtestingpractices.ReferenceUSDA,APHIS,IESCase
NumberAR5002-AC,whichlistednumerouscitationsincluding2.38(f)2(i)physicalabuse.
Table1
CartridgedesignspurchasedfromLeMasLtd.

Caliber(mm) Nomenclature Projectileweight
5.56
RBCD/LeMas"UrbanWarfare"cartridge
37grain
5.56
RBCD/LeMas"LandWarfare"cartridge
45grain
7.62
RBCD/LeMas"LandWarfare"cartridge
110grain
9
RBCD/LeMas"CQBSPLP(H)"cartridge
58grain
LeMasrecommendstheLandWarfare(LW)5.56-mmcartridgeformilitaryuseintheM4
andthe5.56-mmUrbanWarfare(UW)cartridgeforlawenforcementuse
3
.Thesecartridges
weresubstantiallymoreexpensivethantheM855cartridgethattheU.S.Armycurrently
purchasesforalloftheServices(table2).
Table2
Costcomparisons

Nomenclature Individualcartridgeprice
Noslerballistictipcartridge(websurvey) $.50to$.79
Sierra1310cartridge(websurvey) $.50to$.80
MilitaryM855(withpackaging)estimated $.20to$.30
LeMasUWcartridge(actualcostpaid)
LeMasLWcartridge(actualcostpaid)
InitialTests
Initialvisualanddimensionalinspections(fig.1)ledtheIPTtosuspectthattherifle
bullets,providedbyLeMas,werenotmadeofblendedmetalsormadebyRBCD.Therifle
bulletsthatLeMassoldUSSOCOMwerestandardcommercialprojectiles(ofothermanu-
facturers
4
)thatweregivenathincoatingofmolybdenumdisulfide[adrylubricant(fig.2)].These
conclusionswereverifiedbymetallurgical,visual,andspectrometricanalysisconductedat
severalindependenttestsites.
_______________________
3
Militaryandlawenforcementammunitionmaydifferbecauseofdifferentrequirements,restrictions,andneeds.In
particular,militaryammunitionmustadheretoU.S.Treatyobligations.
4
Threeprojectilemanufacturerswerepositivelyidentified:Speer,Nosler,andSierra.
3
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Figure1
LeMasUWandNoslerballistictipprojectilecrosssectionsandmoldnumber
Figure2
LeMasUWcartridgewithNoslerballistictipbulletcoatedwithmolybdenumdisulfide
Spectrometricanalysisrevealedthatthesebulletswerecomposedprimarilyofleadand
antimony,likeordinarybullets.AftercuttingtheLeMasLtd.bulletsinhalf,ARDECmetallurgists
determinedthatthemicrostructuresoftheriflebulletswereconsistentwithswagingmanu-
facturingtechniquesandnotwithpowdermetallurgytechniques.TheFBIsforensicanalysis
revealedthatthelistedprojectileweightsdifferedfromUWprojectileweightsandthatthese
projectilescontaineddistinctiveorangeNoslerstylemoldnumbersthatmatchedthosefoundon
Noslersballistictipprojectiledesign.TheactualweightoftheLeMasUWbulletsmatchedthe
weightoftheNoslerballistictipbullets.
Ogiveradius,thicknessofthebaseofthejacket,andthicknessofthejacketwallwere
alsomeasuredonbothdesigns.Matchinganyofthesedimensionsisoftensufficienttoidentify
themanufacturerofabullet.Opticalcomparatormeasurementsrevealedthattheother5.56-mm
submission,theLWbullet,wasamatchtotheSierra1310Varminterbulletonallthree
dimensions.
Whenaskeddirectly,LeMasLtddeniedthattheirprojectileswereanythingotherthan
RBCDsownuniqueproprietaryblendedmetaldesign
5
.RequestsbytheIPTtotourthe
LeMas/RBCDmanufacturingfacilitywererefused.LeMasLtdinsistedthattheIPTcontinuetheir
effortstovalidatetherealworldoperationalcapabilityofBMT.Notwithstanding,LeMasdenials
andclaimstothecontrary,theIPTconcludedthatthe5.56-mmUWprojectileswereleadcore
Noslerballistictipprojectilesthatwerecoatedwithathinfilmofmolybdenumdisulfideandthat
the5.56-mmLWprojectileswereleadcoreSierraprojectilesthathadlikewisebeencoated.
TheIPTinvestigationprovedscientificallythatthecartridgespurchasedfromLeMas
containedcommercially-availableprojectilesnotdesignedormanufacturedbyLeMasorRBCD.
AsLeMas/RBCDneverclaimedtomanufacturethecartridgecase,primer,orpowder,theonly
logicalconclusionwasthatLeMas/RBCDassembledammunitionfrompartsitpurchasedtosell
asitsowndesignandproduct.
PreludetoOperationalandSafetyTests
AfterdeterminingthattheLeMas5.56-mmprojectileswereordinaryleadcorebullets,the
IPTconductedadditionaloperationalandsafetytestingtoevaluateoverallcartridge
performancewiththe5.56mm,7.62mm,and9-mmLeMassubmissions.USSOCOMtested
andcomparedtheperformanceofthesecartridgeswithcurrentmilitaryalternatives,andwith
theanalogouscommercialbulletdesigns(Sierra,Nosler,andSpeer).Theseanalogous
commercialdesignswerethenloadedtothesamevelocitiesandchamberpressuresasthe
equivalentLeMascartridge.
_______________________
5
LeMasLtd.istheexclusivedistributorofRBCDBMTprojectiles.
Itwasproposedthatifthecommercialbulletsdemonstratedthesameperformanceasthe
LeMasbullet,thenGovernmenttestinghadnotoverlookedanythingsignificant.Thesesurrogate
bulletswereofknownorigin,notblendedmetals,andappearedidenticaltotheLeMas-furnished
bullets(table3)
6
.ThesesurrogatesservedasadirectgaugeoftheuniquenessoftheLeMas
bullets.Testresultsshowedthatboththe5.56mmand7.62-mmsurrogatesperformance
matchedtheLeMas-furnishedbulletsperformance.The9-mmpistolresultsdiffered,butnot
overwhelminglyandwerediscontinuedaftersafetyissueswhenthepressuretestsresultedin
damagebeingdonetotwotestweapons.
Table3
Projectilesurrogates

Caliber
Projectileclass
5.56mm 7.62mm 9mm
Militarydesigntested M855 M118LR M882
LeMasproductstested UW,LW LW CQBSPLP
Commercialsurrogatestested
Sierra"Varminter",
Nosler"BT"
Speer Aguila
OperationalandSafetyTests
Thissectionisnotmeanttobeallencompassing.Severalareasofthefollowingsection
areverycomplexandsimplificationsweremadetopromoteunderstanding.Additionaldetails
arefoundinthebodyofthereportandinthesupportingmaterial.
Thehardtargetpenetrationtestsconductedaspartofthisinvestigationshowedthatsome
oftheLeMasammunitionismoreeffectivethanthetestedmilitaryalternativesagainstthinsteel
barriersatshortranges.Forexample,the7.62-mmLeMascartridgeperformedbetterinthistest
thantheM118LRagainst3/8in.AR500steelplateat5m(fig.3).
Figure3
Sample7.62-mmhardtargetpenetrationphotographs
7
_______________________
6
Therifleprojectileswereexactlyanalogous.The9-mmprojectilewasnot.Referencelatersectionsfordetails.
7
DODIC:DoDIdentificationcode,OTM:Opentipmatch,SP:Softpoint,LCAAP:LakeCityArmyAmmunitionPlant,
BRC:n/a
However,thetestingalsoshowedthattheLeMasalternativeslostvelocityquicklyand
werenoteffectiveagainstthesametargetsatlongerranges.Inshort,theLeMasalternatives
haveanarroweroveralloperationalband.Additionally,theLeMasprojectileswerelesseffective
againstthickertargetsandbehindwindshieldsthatwereslopedtoanobliquityof45deg.
Figure4
Cranehardtargettest
LeMasclaimthatitsbulletpenetratesarmorbutdoesnotover-penetratesofttargetsis
notcontested.Thisisbecauseofthebulletdesign(lightweightandexposedsoftleador
polymertip)andbecauseofitsimpactvelocity,notbecauseofanyuniqueconstructionofthe
bullet.
Lastly,theIPTaddressedthequestion,isitsafeanddoesLeMasammunitionfulfillDoD
needs,requirements,andspecifications?Inshort,theanswerisno.Functiontestsconducted
withthe9-mmLeMaspistolcartridgesresultedinnumeroushighpressureproblems(observed
duringcoldtemperaturetests).Thesetestseventuallydamagedtwotestweaponsandhalted
additionalpressuretestswiththatdesign.Accuracytestsonthesamecartridgeshowedthatthe
LeMasproductwasnotablylessaccuratethancurrentoptions.
Additionally,bulletintegritytestsconductedwiththe5.56-mmLW(Sierra)cartridgeand
theM16showedthattheLeMasalternativebroke-upafterlaunch.Bulletbreak-updegrades
accuracy.Waterproofnessfailuresonmultipledesignsfurtherreinforcedthepositionthat
numerousmodificationswouldhavetobemadebeforeaLeMasroundfieldingcouldevenbe
considered.Thesubstantialcostpercartridgeincreaseisalsonoted.
ExecutiveSummaryConclusions
Periodically,theGovernmentreceivesclaimsofrevolutionarybulletdesigns.Theseare
frequentlylightweightdesignswithsofttips,firedathighvelocities.Thesedesigncharacteristics
typicallyyieldimpressiveresultsinspecifictestscenarios,normallyatshorterranges;however,
comprehensivetestinginevitablydemonstratesthattheirperformanceistoonarrowlyfocused
andnoteffectiveacrossthebroadspectrumofmilitaryrequirementsthatmustbemet.LeMas
submissionfallsintothisgeneralcategory.
INTRODUCTION
LeMasLtd,ismarketingseveraltypesofcartridges.Inmarketingbrochures,developedby
LeMasLtd,theseproductsaredescribedasusingBMT,whichispurportedbyLeMasLtd.to:
Produceimmediatezeromissioncapabilitywithrapidterminalresults(ref.1)
Notexhibitover-penetration
8
inwarm,soft,oxygenatedtissue(ref.1)
Produceenhancedfragmentationpatterns(ref.1)
Causeheatgeneratedblisteringinsoftorganstructures(ref.2)
In2002,CongressmandatedthattheDODtestBMTSmallArmsAmmunition.Asaresult,
USSOCOMputtogetheraJointServiceIPT(JS-IPT)tocarryoutthedirective.ThisIPThad
participationandinputfrommultiplesourcesincluding:USSOCOM,U.S.Army,U.S.Navy,
FederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI),andtheOfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense(OSD).This
jointservice,jointagency,approachwasdeemeddesirable,as:
Suchapanelofdiverseballisticexpertswouldbringskills,knowledge,
experience,andresourcesthatwouldenhancetheeffortandotherwisebe
unobtainable.
Testcredibilityandobjectivitywereconsideredkeyandessential
BMTprojectilesmightbeprohibitedformilitaryuseunderU.S.treaty
obligations.Thelegal(lawofwar)reviewrequiredbyDoDInstruction5000.2
(12May2003),ArmyRegulation27-53(1January1979),andUSSOCOM
Directive525-27(14February2001)willbeperformedbytheOfficeof
GeneralCounsel,DoD,basedonthisreport.
InitialIPTMeeting(February2004)
TheIPTmetinitiallyon19February2004to:
DiscussBMTprojectileswithLeMasPresidentJohnHamilton
DiscussUSSOCOMtestersandprocedures
_______________________
8
Projectiledoesnotexitthetarget.
Mr.Hamiltonpresentedseveralvideoclipsandphotographsshowingvariousteststhat
wereconductedbyLeMasLtd.Includedinthevideoclipswereaseriesofliveanimalteststhat
wereconductedbyLeMasLtd.topromotetheirproduct.
LeMasconductedtheseliveanimaltestsindependently,withoutanygovernmentrequest
oroversight.ItistheopinionoftheIPTthatLeMasdidnotadheretocurrentorhistoricalanimal
testingprotocols,andconductedthesetestsinanunethicalmanner
9,10,11,12
(refs.1,3,and4).
Followingthevideoclips,Mr.HamiltonpresentedtheIPTwithtestimonialsfromthetwo
attendingphysicianswhoperformednecropsiesonfourofthepigsdestroyed.
2004JS-IPTProposedPlan
FollowingthemeetingwithLeMasLtd.,apathforwardwasoutlinedbytheIPT.
ReviewanddiscussLeMasLtd.marketingclaims(referenceLeMasLtd.
MarketingClaimssection)
DeterminewhatconstitutesBMTasitpertainstotheCongressionalmandate
(referenceWhatisBMT?section)
ReviewanddiscusshowBMTpertainstoLeMasammunition(reference
AnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)Projectilessection)
ReviewavailableinformationongovernmenttestsdonewithLeMasprojectiles
(referencePerformanceAnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)Projectilessection6)
_______________________
9
LegalactionwastakenagainstLeMasLtd.byPETA.ReferenceUSDA,APHIS,IESCaseNumberAR5002-AC,
whichlistednumerouscitationsincluding2.38(f)2(i)physicalabuse.ReferencethenotedPETAwebsitefor
additionalinformation.
10
Currenttestprotocolstypicallyusetissuesimulantssuchasballisticgelatintomeasureterminaleffectiveness.
TheseprotocolswereextensivelyrefinedandvalidatedinthedecadesfollowingWorldWarIIandminimizetheneed
foradditionalanimaltesting.
11
LegalactionwastakenagainstLeMasLtd.byPETA.ReferenceUSDA,APHIS,IESCaseNumberAR5002-AC,
whichlistednumerouscitationsincluding2.38(f)2(i)physicalabuse.ReferencethenotedPETAwebsitefor
additionalinformation.
12
LeMasLtd.objectstootherthanliveanimalorwarmoxygenatedtissuetesting,statingthattheirprojectilesonly
reactwhenimpactingthatmedium(asopposedtoballisticgelatin).
ReviewanddiscusshistoricaltestsconductedonotherBMTtypeprojectiles
(referenceHistoricalAnimalTestswithSoftPointProjectilessection)
Research,review,andevaluatecurrentlyavailableBMT)typeprojectiles
(formand/orfunction)(referencePerformanceAnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)
Projectilessection).
BenchmarkBMT(referencePerformanceAnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)
Projectilessection):
Tocurrentmilitarycartridgeperformance
Tomilitaryrequirements
Costconsiderations(referenceIntroductionsection)
ConducttestsonotherprojectilessimilartoLeMasLtd.BMTprojectilestosee
ifBMTammunitionperformanceisuniquetoLeMasLtd.designs(reference
PerformanceAnalysisofLeMas(RBCD)Projectilessection).
EvaluatepossibleprosandconsofBMTtocurrentmilitaryalternatives
(referenceAssessmentofLeMasMarketingClaimsandConclusions
sections)
ReportResults(thisreport)
TaskDistribution
Thetasksjustoutlinedweredistributedappropriatelyacrossmultipletestcenters,withthe
ideabeingthataparallelapproachwouldbemorecomprehensiveandmorethoroughthana
serialone.
13
Asaresult,theArmy,Navy,andFBItestedLeMasammunitionintheirinternal
facilities,whileUSSOCOMcontractedanindependentorganizationtotesttheLeMasammuni-
tion(table4).
Table4
Proposedtestbreakdownbyorganization
_______________________
13
Inadditiontosomespecifictestsets,ARDECwastaskedwithwritingthefinalreportfromthedatathatwas
gatheredfromtheotherservices.
10
Uponconclusionofthisstudy,alegalreviewofsubjectammunitionwillbeconductedby
theOfficeofGeneralCounsel,DoD,todeterminecomplianceofsubjectammunitionwiththe
lawofwarobligationsoftheUnitedStates.

FundingandCosts
Aformal$1,050,000CongressionalappropriationtotestBMTsmallarmsammunitionwas
issuedbytheHouseofRepresentatives107
th
Congress2dSessionattheendof2002.This
fundingwasthenissuedtothevariousgovernmenttestcenterstocoordinateandperformtests
onBMTsmallarmsammunition.Inmostcases,contractualagreementswereinitiatedandfunds
wereobligatedearlyintheeffort
14
(table5).
Table5
QuantitiesandtypesofammunitionpurchasedfromLeMasLtd.withcomparativedata
1516

LEMASLTD.MARKETINGCLAIMS
LeMasLtd.istheexclusivelawenforcementandmilitarydistributorofRBCDBMTsmall
armsammunition(ref.5).AstheexclusivedistributorofRBCDBMT,LeMasammunitionhas
madeanumberofclaimsadvancingtheirproduct.Theseclaims(outlinednext)areinitiallylisted
heretoprovidethereaderwithinsightintotheexpectedperformancethatwasadvancedby
LeMas.Followingthetestresults,anassessmentoftheseclaimswillbeperformedbasedon
thedataandinformationtodate.
MostSignificantTechnologicalAdvancement
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsBMTisthemostsignificanttechnologicaladvancement
insmallarmssincetheadventofthe20
th
century(ref.5).
Thesenewblendedmetalspayloadsdepartradicallybothinconstructionand
capability,fromthehistoricallymanufacturedleadbulletammunitionsofthe
last100years(ref.5).
_______________________
14
Forthisreason,alloftheindividualtestswerecontinuedtocompletion,eventhoughvalidquestionsandconcerns
wereraisedaboutwhetheradditionalinformationwasnecessary.
15
Aspartoftheprocurementprocess,newammunitionDODICsweregenerated.
16
Commercialcalibernomenclaturesarenotthesameasthemilitary.SAAMIusesthefollowing:.223Remington
insteadof5.56mmx45mm,.308Winchesterinsteadof7.62x51mm,and9-mmLugerinsteadof9x19mm.
11
(b) (4)
TheRBCD.223StateDepartment39grainSpecialPurposeLimited
Penetration(SPLP)armorpenetratingroundoffersexceptionalincapacitation
terminalperformanceinrealtissue,defyingtheconventionalmaximum
wound/minimumvelocityrequirementsoftraditional.223bulletdesigns(ref.
5).
Reference:AssessmentofLeMasMarketingClaimssection.
ProduceImmediateZeroMissionCapability
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsammunitionproducesimmediatezeromission
capability,whichrapidlyleadstoterminalresults(ref.1).
Basedonvarioustestsinlivingandnon-livingtissue,webelievethatany
impacttothetorsowithanySPLPbulletdesignwillproduce"zeromission
capabilityinthattarget.Wealsobelievethatanyhittoanappendagewill
causeanincapacitatingwoundresultinginthethreattargetsinabilityto
continuehismission(ref.5).
VariedPenetrationBasedonTarget
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsammunitionwilldefeatavarietyofbarrierobstaclessuch
asglass,bodyarmor,andin.AR500steelplate(fig.5),butnotoverpenetratewarm,
soft,oxygenatedtargets(ref.5).
17
WhatmakesLeMasammospecialisitsabilitytopenetratehardbarriers,
suchasbodyarmorandsteelplate,yetnotpassthroughasoftmedium,such
asahumantorso(ref.6).
TheSpecialPurposeLimitedPenetration9mmLE-HwhenfiredfromaGlock-
17willpenetrate5mmofheattreatedhardenedaluminumarmor,thecurrent
M882willnotpenetratethisarmorwhenfiredfromaMP-5platform.Thesame
SPLP9mmLE-Hwillinflicttraumaticlivetissuedestruction,deployingasa
frangiblebulletwithlimitedpenetration,afterdefeatingthishardened
aluminumarmorbarrier(ref.7)
18
_______________________
17
LeMasisinferringthattheoxygencontentthatispresentwithinalivinganimalisdifferentthantheoxygencontent
thatispresentinagelatinblock.
18
TheHeckler&Koch(HK)MP5isafamilyofclosedboltsubmachinegunsdevelopedbyHKinthe1960s.
12
Figure5
LeMasLtd.marketingpictureshowingarmorplatepenetration(ref.8)

IamattachingsomehardbarrierteststhatwereconductedinthePhilippines
recentlywithourammunition.Theyhavepromisedsome2leggedlivetissue
necropsieswithawidevarietyofourAPLPproducts.Iwillforwardthoseto
youiftheycometome.Wehaveyettoseeanycurrentlyusednondedicated
APammunitionthatwillpenetratethesetypesofbarriers,andcertainlyno
ammunitiontodatethatwilloptimizelivetissuedestruction's(sic)aswellas
penetratethesetypesofhardarmors(ref.8).
Non-comparablePerformanceinLivingTissue
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatballisticgelatintestsarenotrepresentativeoftheresults
thattheyhaveseenintheirliveanimaltests(fig.6).
The5.56mmLandWarfarebulletwhenimpactingcalibrated10%ballistic
gelatindemonstratesshallowpenetration,smallpermanentwoundchannel,
andverylittlefragmentation.However,whenimpactinglivetissue,thesame
landwarfarebulletdeployswithdramaticdimensionsoffragmentation,large
permanentwoundchannelandgreaterdepthofpenetration(ref.1)
13
TheseSPLPBMTmunitionsweredesignedtodeployinrealtissuemediums.
Optimalperformancecanonlyberealizedinlivingtemperaturetissue.Cold
gelatinblocksortissue,farbelowlivingtemperatures,isnotadesign
parameterofthesemunitions(ref.5)
Ourpositionisthatthenewtechnologyofourproductsperformanceisnot
completelyaccurateunlessevaluatedintissue(ref.5)
Figure6
PurportedeffectoftemperatureonBMTperformance

ProduceEnhancedFragmentationPatterns
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatthehighrotationalvelocityofitsammunitionenhancesthe
fragmentationpatternandgivestheadvantagebacktothemarksman(ref.1).
Thisproductsneteffectistoenhancetheoperationalcapabilitiesofcurrent
platforms,totheperformancelevelsofthenextheavierweaponsplatform
(ref.5)
CauseHeatGeneratedBlisteringinSoftOrganStructures
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsammunitionproducesblistersandthirddegreeburnson
interiororganswithinthetarget(ref.1).
14
UniqueManufacturingProcess
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthat:
Ouruniquemanufacturingprocessallowsustheabilitytorapidlyrespondto
emergentmissionrequirements.Ifwecurrentlydonotstockamunitionthat
specificallymeetsyourrequirements,wecanprovide,inaveryshorttime,
missionspecificmunitions,necessarytosatisfyemergentcommandmission
assignments,usuallyeightweeksorless(ref.5)
UseLeadFreeComponents
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthat:AllRBCDmunitionsuseleadfreecomponents(ref.5)
19
PatentedAmmunitionProducts
Allofourproductsarepatentedorpatentpending.Weareahightechnology
companythathastheproductioncapacitytogenerate1,000,000rounds,in
mostofourproductline,withinthreeweeksofnotification(ref.5)
WHATISBLENDEDMETALTECHNOLOGY(BMT)
BlendedMetalTechnology(BMT)offersthemostsignificantadvancementinbullet
capabilitiessincetheadventofsmokelesspowderinthe20
th
century.Blended
Metalspatentedproductionprocessesfacilitatethehomogeneousblendingof
multiplemetalcompositions.LeMasadvertisement
LeMasLtd.DefinitionofBMT
20
ThedefinitionofBMTisdeemedproprietarybyLeMasLtd.InresponsetoIPTrequests,
LeMasLtd.gavethefollowingdefinitionforblendedmetal:
ThetermBlendedMetalisbothamarketingacronymandnomenclature
whichreferstothemanufacturingprocessusedtoassemblethecorebullet
constructionmaterialswhichprovidethespecificoperationalcapabilitieswith
respecttoeachbulletdesign.(ref.9)
_______________________
19
LeMasLtdmadethisclaiminreferencetotheirproduct.ItisunderstoodthatRBCD,whichisthesourceofLeMas
ammunition,wasnotpartytothisclaim.
20
ThemetallurgicalanalysisportionsofthisreportwereconductedbytheMetallicMaterialsTechnologyTeamat
ARDEC.Amoreindepthdiscussionofthosetopicsarecoveredinadditionalreportsthatareavailableupon
request.
15
TheIPTdeterminedthatthisdefinitiondoesnotuseinternationallyrecognizedtermsthat
definethemetallurgical,mechanical,orphysicalpropertiesoftheLeMasbullets.
AmericanSocietyofMetals(ASM)DefinitionofBlendingMetals
AccordingtotheAmericanSocietyofMetals(ASM)andASTMStd.B243-04a,Standard
TechnologyofPowderMetallurgy,thereisnospecificationforthetermblendedmetalor
blendedmetaltechnology.Additionally,asearchofinternationaldatabases,suchas
InfonormeLondonInformation(il.co.uk/en/)hasnotrevealedaspecificationfortheterm
blendedmetalorblendedmetaltechnology.
Aftercombingseveralnationalandinternationalmaterialsdatabases,theclosest
metallurgicaltermthatcouldbefoundwasblendingmetals.Thistermisapowdermetallurgy
termmeaning,thethoroughinterminglingofpowdersofthesamenominalcomposition,for
example,combiningtungstenpowderstogetherthathavedifferentparticlesizesbuthavethe
samechemistry.
TheIPTsinitialpremisewasthatBMTwassimilartopowdermetallurgytechniques.A
patentsearchwasconductedtoverifythispremise
21
.
UnitedStatesPatentNo.US6,363,856B1
RBCDPerformancePlusInc.providesLeMasLtd.withtheirpatentedorpatent
pendingprojectiles(refs.1and5).Assuch,theIPTconductedapatentsearchtoreviewany
andallpatentsthatwereheldbyLeMasLtd.,RBCD,oranyofitsknownassociates.Onlyone
suchpatentwasfound(fig.7).
Figure7
RoscoeStokerspatentedprojectilediagram(ref.10)
_______________________
21
Thisinitialpremisewasoverturnedasaresultofadditionaltesting.
22
Reminder,RBCDprovidesLeMasLtd.withtheirpatentedorpatentpendingprojectiles(refs.1and5).
16
RoscoeR.Stoker,Jr.,ownerofRBCD
22
andinventor,filedpatentnumberU.S.6,363,856
B1on2April2002.Thepatentbackgroundreadsasfollows:
Applicantsinventionrelatestoaprojectile;andmoreparticularly,toa
projectilehavingalowdensitycoredesignedtotravelatanincreasedmuzzle
velocityascomparedtoconventionalbulletdesignswhenfiredfromconven-
tionalsmallarmsunderthesameconditions.Thelighterweightofthe
projectile,duetothelowdensitycore,actstoquicklyreducethevelocityofthe
projectileafterfiring.Thehighmuzzlevelocityoftheprojectileallowsthe
projectiletomoreeffectivelypenetratebodyarmor,andothersolidobjectsat
shortranges,generallyunderfifty(50)yards,whiletherapidvelocityloss
makestheprojectilelessdangeroustoinnocentbystandersifthetargetis
missed,orduetooverpenetration(ref.10).
Thisquote,takendirectlyfromthepatent,providesinsightintothedesignphilosophythat
Mr.Stokerbelievedwasadvantageous.Hisgoalwastopatentalight,fast,projectilethatwas
capableofpenetratingbodyarmoratcloserangewithoutoverpenetration.
ThepatentsdetailsoutlineMr.Stokersprojectiledesign,whichiscomposedofajacket
(firstmetallicalloy),alightweightcorematerial,andaslug(secondmetallicalloy).
Forthejacket,ametallicalloycomposedofcopper,molybdenum,zinc,nickel,andsilicon
isspecifiedasthepreferredcomposition.Thisjacketalloyactstoreducefrictionofthe
projectileagainstthebarrelasittravelsthroughthebarrelascomparedtoaconventional
projectile(ref.10).
Thecorematerialcompositionisnotspecifieddirectlyinthepatent;however,thepatent
indicatesthatthecorematerialshouldhaveadensityoflessthantheslugandpreferablywitha
valueoflessthan7g/cm
3
.Additionally,thecorematerialshouldbemalleableduringacuring
period,andhaveelasticpropertiesaftercuring(refs.10and11).
23,24
Thecorecanbemadefromvariouslightweightsubstancesthathavethe
requiredphysicalpropertyofbeinglessdensethantheslug;however
polymers,epoxies,andplasticsarewellsuitedforuseascorematerials.(ref.
10)
Fortheslug,Mr.Stokeroutlined:
Theslugismadefromasecondmetallicalloy.Apreferredcompositionofthe
slugis30-50%bismuth,upto40%lead,upto20%molybdenum,upto40%
epoxysuchasScotch-Weld
TM
greyorScotch-Weld
TM
translucent,upto15%
aluminum,andupto15%zinc.Theepoxy,suchasScotch-Weld
TM
greyor
Scotch-Weld
TM
translucentisusedtobindthepowderstogether(ref.10).
_________________________
23
Tyically,asthedensityofthematerialgetsclosertothehumantissue(about1g/cm
3
)theamountofx-ray
absorptionfromthatmaterialdecreasesproportionallyassumingthatthereisnochangeinthickness(consultBeers
Law).Thishasdirectimplicationsonhowwellthatmaterialwillshowuponamedicalx-ray,whichgenerallyuses
differencesinabsorptioncharacteristicstodistinguishfeaturesandstructures.
24
Forreferencepurposes,thedensityofleadistypicallytakenas11.34g/cm
3
,copperisabout8.92g/cm
3
,andnylon
isroughly1.15g/cm
3
.
17
Mr.Stokerstated,inthispatent(ref.10),thatthispatenteddesignwasnotmaterielor
caliberspecific(fig.8).
Itshouldbeunderstoodthatthematerialsofthecorecompositionandthe
metallicalloysmaybealteredorsubstitutedforwithothermaterialshaving
similarphysicalproperties.Additionally,thesize(orvolume)oftheprojectiles
coremaybeincreasedordecreasedrelativetothesize(orvolume)ofthe
slug.Theprojectilesotherattributesmayalsobechangeddependingupon
use.Forexample,thesizeoftheprojectilemaybealteredbaseduponthe
caliberofthefirearmthatistobeused(ref.10).
Figure8
RoscoeStoker'spatentedprojectiledesign(ref.10)
AsfarastheIPTcandetermine,thisistheonlypatentonfileforMr.StokerandforRBCD.

ANALYSISOFLEMAS(RBCD)PROJECTILES
25
Aspreviouslymentioned,BMTcartridgeswerepurchaseddirectlyfromLeMasLtd.using
standardDODcontractualprocedures.
26
Thatsingleammunitionpurchasewasthendistributed
tomultiplegovernmentlabsforindependentanalysis(fig.9).
_______________________
25
Thissectionofthereportcontainsinformationthatmaybeconsideredproprietaryinnature.Thisindepthanalysis
intothecharacteristicsofLeMasammunitionwasinitiatedasaresultofrangesafetyconcernsthatweregenerated
asaresultofearliertestingandcorrespondencewithLeMas.Astheanalysisproceeded,itwasexpandedasa
resultofotherconcerns.
26
ThepurchaseisfullydocumentedbySOCOM(ContractagreementH92236-04-P-3245)andisavailableupon
request.
18
Figure9
Breakoutofammunitionforthiseffort
27
VisualTests
Threeindependentgovernmentagenciesperformedvisualanddimensionaltestson
LeMasprojectiles(fig.10).Thesetestswereconductedtodetermineiftheprojectileshada
satisfactorylevelofproductionconsistencyandiftheprojectileswereincompliancewith
applicabledrawings,weapontolerances,performancespecifications,andotherrequirements.
Theresultssuggestthatalthoughconsistencyissatisfactory,therearemorequestionsabout
theoriginsoftheprojectiles(discussedlater).
Figure10
LeMas5.56-mmblendedmetalprojectiles[UW(left)andLW(right)]
FBIUWAnalysis
The5.56-mm37-grainLeMas/RBCDUWcartridge(lot03020113)wasacquiredby
theFBIfromUSSOCOM(fig.11).
28
Initialinspectionoftheprojectilerevealedittobesimilarto
theNosler40-grainballistictip.Followingtheprocurementofadditional40-grainballistictip
Noslerprojectiles,theFBIconductedacomparisonanalysisofthetwoprojectiles(figs.12
through14).The37-graintestprojectiles(sentbyLeMas)werefoundtoweigh40grains.
_______________________
27
ItisnotedthatbothARDECandCranehaveacquiredandtestedLeMasammunitionforotherprograms.
28
Ashasbeenpreviouslymentioned,LeMasmarketsRBCDprojectiles.
19
Figure11
FBIvisualinspectionoftheLeMasUWcartridge
Figure12
InitialFBIcomparisonofLeMas/RBCDUWtosimilarprojectiles
20
Figure13
FBIweightcomparisonbetweenUWandNoslerprojectiles
Figure14
VisualcomparisonbetweenNoslerballistictipandLeMasUWdesign
Noslerwastelephonicallycontactedandaskediftherewereanyidentifyingmarks
ontheir40-grainballistictipprojectiles.AseniormanageratNosleradvisedthattheycould
positivelyidentifyanyprojectilesthatweremanufacturedbyNosler.
29
Noslersresponserevealedthattherewerethreemajormanufacturerswhoproduce
projectilessimilartotheNoslerballistictip.However,Noslerballistictipprojectilesaretheonly
plastictipprojectilesthathaveathickbase.Bothoftheothercompaniesuseadrawncup.
30
_______________________
29
NoslerwasnotadvisedoftheinvestigationbeyondthefactthattheFBIwasattemptingtoproveordisprovethe
originoftheprojectile,andatnotimewastheoriginoftheprojectilerevealedtoNosler.
30
Bulletjacketsproducedusingadrawncupapproachacquiredtheirfinalshapebystretchingacupshapedpieceof
jacketmaterialintoitsfinalform.
21
Noslerballistictipprojectilesaremoldedinagangmold.
31
Consequently,each
projectilehasamoldnumberimprintedonitsbase.IfaNoslerprojectileiscarefully
disassembled,thenthisnumbershouldbecomevisiblewithamagnifyingglass.
TheFBIcarefullyremovedtheplastictipsfromthreeoftheLeMastestprojectiles
andexaminedwhetheraNoslerstylemoldnumberwaspresent.Theiranalysisshowedthat
numbersthatwereconsistentwithNoslersfont,numbersystem,color,andplacementwereon
allthreeRBCDproprietaryprojectiles(figs.15and16).
Figure15
FBIphotographshowingNoslerstylemoldnumbersonLeMasUWprojectiles
Figure16
SidebysideNoslerandUWprojectilecrosssectionvisualinspection
LeMaswasaskedviaemailiftheUWprojectileswereNoslersdesignandthe
responsefromStanBulmerwasanunequivocalno(refs.12and13).
_______________________
31
Asinglemoldhavingmultipleshapingcompartmentsinwhichmultiplearticlesareformedbyoneoperation.
22
AdditionalphotographsweretakenatARDECtosupporttheFBIpositionthatUW
projectileswereNoslerballistictipprojectilesthathadbeencoatedwithmolybdenumdisulfide
(fig.17).
Figure17
NoslerandLeMasblendedmetalUWprojectiles(moldnumbersfoundonbothprojectiles
tested)(ARDECphotograph)
NoslerlaterconfirmedthattheprojectilesthattheFBItestedwere,infact,
molybdenumcoatedNosler40-grainballistictipprojectiles.
FBILWAnalysis
AsaresultofthedisturbinganalysisresultsoftheUW(Nosler)design,andafter
recognizingthesimilaritiesbetweentheLWandtheSierrabullet1310,theFBIinitiated
correspondencewithSierratodetermineiftheLWdesignwasinessence,andinfact,aSierra
projectile.Bulletsamples,withnosourcedata,wereeventuallyprovidedtoSierrawho
confirmedthattheproprietaryLeMas(RBCD)LWprojectilesweremolybdenumcoatedSierra
projectiles.
Sierrahascarefullyexaminedthebulletsamplesyousent.Wearecertain
thattheseareinfactSierraBullets,stocknumber1310.Thereareseveral
reasonswhywebelievethistobetrue.Firstistheogiveradius.When
measuredonanopticalcomparator,thesamplesyousentpreciselymatch
Sierrasprofile.Secondisthejacketsconstruction.Whenmeasuredona
toolmakersmicroscope,thethicknessofthebaseofthejacketusedto
constructthisprojectileisexactlythesameasSierras.Additionallythejacket
wallthickness(measured0.120fromthebase)isalsoidentical.Third,these
bulletsfallwithinSierrasverytightinhousediametertoleranceof
32
.Finally,
everyotherphysicaldimensionisidenticaltoSierrasbullet.Individually,any
ofthesethreedimensionsbeingidenticaltoSierraswouldbeunusual.When
combined,thepreciseduplicationofSierrasdimensionsremovesany
reasonabledoubtthatthesesamplesyousentareSierrabullets.
_______________________
32
Sierrasexacttolerancevaluewasremovedfromthequoteforproprietaryreasons.
23
However,ifthereisanyfurtherquestion,aspectrographofthejacketmaterial
andleadalloywouldprovebeyondanydoubtthatthisisaSierraproduct.One
wouldexaminetheantimonialcontentoftheleadandthecompositionofthe
jacket.SierrausesC210(5%zinc,not10%)initsproduct.Itismostlikelythat
thematerialcompositioncouldnotbetraceddirectlytoaspecificmaterial
certification,butitmaybepossible(ref.14).
33,34
ARDECDimensionalAnalysisTests
The5.56-mmUW[Nosler(left)]and5.56-mmLW[Sierra(right)]projectileswere
removedfromtheircartridgesandwerephotographedintheasreceivedcondition(fig.18).
SlightdifferencesinthenoseshapesoftheLW(Sierra)bulletswereattributedtotheeasily
deformedtip.
Figure18
"Asreceived"LeMasprojectilepictures

_______________________
33
NotethattheARDECchemicalanalysisoftheLWprojectilerevealedthatthejacketcompositionoftheLW
projectilecontainedabout5wt%zinc.
34
Theefforttotracethematerialcompositiondirectlytoaspecificmaterialcertificationwasnotrequestedandwasnot
conducted.
24
Table6showstheresultsofdimensionaltestsdoneontwoLeMasLtd.UW(Aand
B)andonfiveNoslerballistictipprojectiles(AthroughE)(fig.12).
Table6
Weightsanddimensions(NoslerballistictipandUWprojectiles)

Projectiletype
Sample
number
Weight
(gm)
Weight
(gr)
Length
(in.)
Bore
diameter
(in.)
A 2.593 40.0 0.701 0.225
LeMasUWprojectile
B 2.589 39.9 0.702 0.225

A 2.594 40.0 0.702 0.225
B 2.593 40.0 0.703 0.225
C 2.592 40.0 0.703 0.225
D 2.591 40.0 0.704 0.225
Noslerballistictip
E 2.592 40.0 0.702 0.225
Inthistest,theLeMasUWsubmissionandtheNoslerbulletdifferedbynomore
than0.1grainsinweightand0.02in.inlength.Theborediameterswerevirtuallyidenticalfor
bothprojectiletypes(fig.19).
35
Figure19
SidebySideSierraandLWprojectileas-isvisualinspection
_______________________
35
NotethattheminordifferencesbetweentheUWprojectilesandNoslerprojectilesareattributabletothestandard
manufacturingvariationsthatroutinelyoccurondifferentproductionlots.
25
TwoLW(AandB)andfiveSierra(AthroughE)projectileswerealsotested(fig.20
andtable7).
Figure20
SidebysideSierraandLWprojectilecross-sectionvisualinspection
Table7
Weightsanddimensions(SierraandLW)

Projectiletype
Sample
number
Weight
(gm)
Weight
(gr)
Length
(in.)
Bore
diameter
(in.)
A 2.909 44.9 0.605 0.225
LeMasLWprojectile
B 2.911 44.9 0.605 0.225

A 2.916 45.0 0.630 0.225
B 2.926 45.1 0.625 0.225
C 2.911 44.9 0.625 0.225
D 2.916 45.0 0.626 0.225
Sierra1310
E 2.903 44.8 0.631 0.225
TheLeMasLW(Sierra)designandtheSierrabulletdifferedbynomorethan0.2
grainsinweightandby0.026in.inlength.
36
Borediameterswereidentical.
_______________________
36
Thedifferenceinlengthisprimarilyduetodifferencesindeformationintheexposedleadtip.Sinceleadisa
relativelysoftalloy,materialcompressioncaneasilyoccur.Differencesintheassemblyprocess,suchasthe
additionofthemolycoatingstep,(aswellaslottolotdifferences)mayaccountfortheslightdifferenceinlengthas
well.
26
TheLeMas7.62-mmLWprojectilewasalsoexaminedbyARDEC,butonlyona
limitedandpreliminarybasis(fig.21).
Figure21
7.62-mmLeMasLWprojectile(ARDECasreceived)
ARDECCross-SectionVisualInspectionTests
Boththe5.56-mmUW(Nosler)andLW(Sierra)projectileswerecrosssectioned
andmeasured.Bothdesignshavejacketsthatbeartoolmarks.Thisindicatesthatthejacket
wasstretchedorswagedinadietoachieveitsfinalshape.Thisindicatesthatthejacketswere
notproducedusingpowdermetallurgy(P/M)techniquesasa(P/M)partisusuallyproducedin
itsfinalshapeanddoesnothavethetoolingmarksandwrinklesthatwereobservedonthe
jacketsofbothdesigns(figs.22and23).
Figure22
LeMasUW(left)andLeMasLW(right)jacketexamination
27
Figure23
Dimensionalmeasurementsofcrosssectioned5.56-mmprojectiles

USSOCOMPhysicalInspectionofTestAmmunition
AsdidtheFBIandARDEC,USSOCOMperformedasetofroutinevisualand
dimensionaltestspriortoconductingafullsuiteofperformancetests.Theresultsareoutlinedin
thefollowingsectionsandreinforcetheconclusionthatthetestedprojectilesaresimilartoother
commercialprojectiles.
Table8documentsthephysicalcharacteristicsofthetestammunition.

Table8
Testammunitioncharacteristics

Caliber DODIC Model Manufacturer LotNumber
A059 M855
LakeCityAmmunitionPlant
(LCAA) LC-90J082-629
W105 LandWarfare LeMasLtd./RBCD 040401-02
5.56x45mma.k.a.
.223Remington
W141
Sierra
"Varminter" B.R.Consulting(BRC) BRC-May-2005-556mm
AA11 M118LR LakeCityAmmunitionPlant
LC-03D271-012(SubLot
G)
W106 LandWarfare LeMasLtd./RBCD 04041401-02
7.62x51mma.k.a.
.308Winchester
W142 Speer"Hot-Cor" B.R.Consulting(BRC) BRC-May-2005-762mm
A363 M882
WinchesterCartridge
Company WCC03G037-012
W107 CQBSPLP(H) LeMasLtd./RBCD 03013-4
9x19mma.k.a.
9mmLuger
W143 IQ Aguila n/a
Figures24through26documenttheinitialphotographsthatweretakenofthetest
ammunition.Ineachphotograph,theLeMasLtd.ammunitioncartridgescontainaheadstamp,
whichshowsthatthebrasscasewaspurchasedfromanoutsidesource.Itisalsonotedthatthe
photographsalsoshowthebulletsurrogates,whichweredevelopedaspartoftheoperational
testphase.Thiswillbediscussedinlatersections.
28
(b) (4) (b) (4)
(b) (4)
USSOCOM5.56-mmTestAmmunitionVisualInspectionPhotographs.
Figure24
USSOCOM5.56-mmvisualinspectiontests
37,38,39
_______________________
37
Photographsarenottoscaleortosize.
38
LeMasLtd.ammunitionislistedasthemanufacturer,butisactuallythemarketerforRBCDPerformancePlus,Inc.
39
DODICW141(bottomprojectile)arenotcommerciallyavailable.Theyweredevelopedandmanufacturedforthis
testbyBRC(undergovernmentguidance)toprovidetestammunitionofsimilardesignasLeMasLtd.

29
USSOCOM7.62-mmTestAmmunitionVisualInspectionPhotographs.
Figure25
Basicdescriptionofthe7.62x51-mmtestammunition
40,41,42
_______________________
40
Photographsarenottoscaleoractualsize.
41
NotethattheLeMasLtd.cartridgehasaWinchesterheadstamp.ThissuggeststhatWinchestercartridge
componentswereusedintheLeMasproduct.
42
DODICW142(bottomprojectile)arenotcommerciallyavailable.Theyweredevelopedandmanufacturedforthis
testbyBRC(undergovernmentguidance)toprovidetestammunitionofsimilardesignasLeMasLtd.
30
USSOCOM9-mmTestAmmunitionVisualInspectionPhotographs.

Figure26
Basicdescriptionandphotographsofthe9x19mmtestammunition
43,44,45
_______________________
43
NotethatW107(LeMas)projectileshownissimilarinnappearancetothedesigndescribedintheRBCDpatent.
44
NotethattheLeMascartridgehasaLugerheadstamp.ThissuggeststhatLugercartridgecomponentswereused
intheLeMasproduct.
45
DODICW143AguilawasusedintheSOCOM9-mmtests.Fromthecrosssection,itisclearthattherearesome
differencesinthedesignsofthethree9-mmprojectiles.
31
USSOCOMDimensionalAnalysisTests.Whileavisualinspectionwasperformed
todeterminethatthecartridgesareincompliancewithapplicabledrawings,adimensional
inspectiondeterminesthemanufacturersqualitycontrolandconsistencyatmanufacturing
ammunition(fig.27).
References:
MIL-STD-636(VisualInspectionStandards)
ANSI/SAAMIZ299.4-1992(CenterfireRifleSportingAmmunition)
ANSI/SAAMIZ299.3-1993(CenterfirePistolandRevolverAmmunition)
SOP/BRC/2004StandardOperatingProcedure(DimensionalInspectionof
SmallArmsAmmunition)
ARDECDrawing7643674(ClassificationofCartridgeDefects)
Toaccomplishthisrequirement,asampleof40cartridgesofeachammunition
typewasrandomlyselectedforvisualanddimensionalinspection.Eachdimensionwas
measuredtothenearest0.001in.orweighedtothenearest0.1grain(tables9through11).
Observations:Dimensionalmeasurementscaninfluencetheoverall
performanceoftheweaponsystem.Forexample:
Acartridge,whichistoolongmaynotfitinastandardmagazine
Acartridge,whichistoolongortooshortmaynotfeedproperly.
Arimdiameter,whichissmallerthanthespecificationcanresultina
failuretoextract
Acartridgewithamouthdiametergreaterthanthespecificationmay
resultinafailuretochamber.
Figure27
Dimensionalmeasurementstakenontestammunition
32
Table9
Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof5.56x45mmtestammunition
46,47
Table10
Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof7.62x51mmtestammunition

_______________________
46
O.A.L.=Overalllength.
47
SAAMI:SportingArmsandAmmunitionManufacturersInstitute,Inc.

33
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Table11
Summaryofmeasurementsfromthedimensionalinspectionof9x19mmtestammunition

Conclusions:
1. Novisualdefectswerenotedonanyofthetestammunition
2. Everycartridgecompliedwithtolerancelimitsestablishedfor
commercialindustry
3. Thesoftpointdesignswereeasilydeformed.Variationsinnoseshape
canpotentiallyhaveaneffectonvariousperformanceparameterssuch
asdispersionandpenetration.Inaddition,itisnotedthatexposedlead
tipsdonotfeedintoweaponsaswellasotherdesigns.
GeneralizedSummaryofARDEC,FBI,andUSSOCOMTests.Uponfurther
inspectionofthecommonbrass,propellant,andprimercomponents,itisdifficulttodetermine
what(ifanything)makestheoverallLeMasrifleproductdifferentfromsimilarlyloadedNosler
andSierrariflecartridges.ItdoesnotseemlikelythatasupposedproprietaryLeMas(RBCD)
projectiledesignwouldduplicateotherproprietaryprojectilessoprecisely,andyetproducean
extraordinaryincapacitationresultwhenfiredagainstlivingtissue.
48
LeMass9-mmpistolcartridgewasnotpositivelyidentified,andcouldhave
warrantedfurtherscrutiny;however,theresultsoftheoperationalandsafetytestsshowedthat
thecartridgehasotherissues(discussedlater).
_______________________
48
ThisspeculationwaslatertestedbyoneoftheFBIinvestigatorswhousedseveralroundsofLeMasammunition
duringanauthorizedandsuperviseddeerhunt.Twosolidhits(under100yards)wereobservedbytheinvestigator
andbyawitnessinggamewarden.Noinstantincapacitationswereobserved.
34
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Recommendations
TheFBIexaminersrecommendedthefollowingcourseofaction:
1. Ceasealleffortsassociatedwiththistestinguntiltheoriginofthe
projectileswaspositivelyestablished.
2. AdviseRBCDthattheIPTrequeststoviewtheirmanufacturingprocess
3. DonotprovidefurtherinformationtoRBCDuntiltheyhaveproventhat
theymanufacturetheprojectiles.
4. ForwardasampleoftheRBCDprojectilestoNoslerandSierrafor
examination.(Donotindicatethesourceoftheprojectiles.)
5. HaveARDECsmetallurgistteamconductlogical,side-by-side
examinationsoftheRBCDandNosler40-grainballistictipprojectiles.
49
AnIPTsitevisittoLeMaswasrequestedbytheSOCOMlead(viaemail)on16
August2004.LeMasrespondedasfollows:
Therequesttoobserveboththemanufacturingandloadingprocessforthese
bulletdesignsisrespectfullydeclinedatthispointinourrelationship.Both
LeMasLtd.andRBCDconsiderthisinformationmosthighlyproprietary.
LeMasLtd.completelyfailstograspthisrequirementasanelementforany
operationalevaluation,aspromisedbyCol.Spellissy,todeliveratesttogive
usconclusiveevidenceofthesuitabilityandeffectivenessofthisammunition
formilitaryuse(intheArmedForcesJournalMay04letterspage6)
Accesstothemanufacturingfacility,manufacturingprocess,andloading
processwillnotbeprovidedtotheUSgovernmentoranyotherentitywithout
contractualcommitmentsforsustainedprocurement,insubstantive
quantities
Ifyoufeelthatbeingdeniedaccesstothemanufacturingfacilityand
proprietarydesignconstructioninformation,willprohibittheTIPTteamfrom
objectivelyproceedingwitheffortstovalidateandevaluaterealworld
operationalcapabilityfortheBMTammunition,pleaseletusknownow.
LeMasLtd.willforwardthisimpassetoourCongressionalrepresentatives.
50
MetallurgicalandStructuralTests
MetallurgicaltestswereconductedonLeMasprojectilesatARDEC.Thesetestsuse
visualcuesinthemicrostructureofthematerialtoderiveprobableanswerstothequestionof
howtheprojectilewaslikelymanufactured.Inthisinstance,thesetestswereabletoshowthat
LeMasbulletshaveamicrostructurethatisconsistentwithcommon,unbonded,swagedbullets.
_______________________
49
Tothisend,ammunitionfromtheSOCOMprocurementwassenttoARDEC.
50
Emailavailableuponrequest.
35
ARDECMicrostructureandMechanicalPropertyTests
Examiningthemicrostructuresofthematerialspresentprovidesinsightintohowthe
projectilesweremanufacturedandwhether,specifically,theLeMassubmissionswereproduced
using(P/M)techniques.
UrbanWarfareMicrostructure.Figure28showstheUWcross-sectionimageofthe
locationsofmicrostructurethatwereanalyzed.
Figure28
UWcross-sectionimageshowinglocationsofmicrostructureanalyzed
UrbanWarfare(Nosler)LeadCore:Themicrostructureoftheleadcore(fig.
29)containsrecrystallized,equiaxedgrainsthataretypicalofextrudedorswagedlead.The
leadcoremicrostructureisnotconsistentwith(P/M)techniques.Morelikely,thecoreswere
formedbyplacingasmallpieceofleadintoadieandsqueezedintoitsfinalshape(swaging).
Thisisaverycommonpracticeforprojectilecores.
Figure29
LeMasUWleadcoremicrostructure
51
UrbanWarfare(Nosler)CopperJacket(fig.30):Themicrostructureofthe
jacketwasexaminedatdifferentlocationsofthebullet(fig.28).Fromtheresults,itwas
determinedthatthecopperjacketwasformedbyswaging(i.e.,astartingcupwasplacedintoa
dieandsqueezedintoitsfinalshape).Theelongatedgrainsinthesidewallsofthecupsupport
theideathatthejacketwasformedthroughsomesortofswagingoperation(figs.31and32).
52,53
_______________________
51
Thecolorsshownareattributedtothetestprocessandareforillustrativepurposesonly.
52
Therewasaconcernthatthemarkingsmightbemistakenassawmarksfromtheactofcuttingtheprojectile.This
isnotthecase.Foronething,thedirectionofthestretchedgrainsisnotconsistentovertheentirelengthofthe
projectile.Foranother,thesizesvary.Consequently,thisexplanationcanberuledout.
53
Althoughnotuncommon,bulletjacketsaregenerallydrawnandnotswaged.
36
Figure30
UW(Nosler)copperjacketmicrostructureimages
54
UWMicrostructure
Figure31
UWcartridgemicrostructure
_______________________
54
Thelinetypeformationsonthefirsttwopicturesareelongatedgrainsandareessentiallystretchmarks.
37
NoslerMicrostructure.

Figure32
Noslerballistictipmicrostructure
Note:Theminordifferencesinthetwoimages(figs.31and32)areexpectedandarenot
consideredtobesignificant.Therefore,itcanbeconcludedthatthesearethesamebullet
design.
LandWarfare(Sierra)Microstructure.TheLWcross-sectionimageshowing
locationswheremicrostructureswereanalyzedcanbeseeninfigure33.
38
Figure33
LWcross-sectionimageshowinglocationsofmicrostructureanalyzed
LandWarfare(Sierra)LeadCore:Themicrostructure(fig.34)oftheleadcore
containsgrainsthataredark(lead-rich)andwhite(antimony-rich)andisdeemednormalfor
antimoniallead96Pb-4Sb.Theseleadcoreimagesarenotconsistentwithwhatwouldbe
expectedif(P/M)techniqueshadbeenused.
Figure31
LWleadcoremicrostructure
55
LandWarfare(Sierra)CopperJacket:Themicrostructureofthejacketwas
examinedatdifferentlocationsonthebullet(fig.35).Themicrostructurenearthebasedoesnot
showsubstantialgraindeformation.However,thesidewallofthejacketdoesshowelongated
deformedgrains(fig.35).Basedontheseobservations,theLWjacketisconsistentwithajacket
thatwasformedfromastartingcup,whichwassqueezedintoitsfinalshape[swaging(figs.36
and37)].
_______________________
55
Reminder:Thecolorsshownareattributedtothetestprocessandareforillustrativepurposesonly.
39
Figure35
LW(Sierra)copperjacketmicrostructureimages
LWMicrostructure.
Figure36
LWcartridgemicrostructure
40
SierraMicrostructure.
Figure37
Sierra"Varminter"microstructure
Note:Theminordifferencesinthetwoimages(figs.36and37)areexpectedandarenot
consideredtobesignificant.Therefore,itcanbeconcludedthatthesearethesamebullet
design.
41
MicrostructureSummary.BoththeLeMassubmissionmicrostructuressuggestthat
thejacketsandcorewerenotformedusing(P/M)techniques.Thisisreinforcedbythefactthat
thejacketsonbothprojectiledesignsshowevidence(elongatedgrains)ofswaging.Con-
sequently,theresultsofthesetestsconclusivelysupporttheFBIspositionthattheLeMas
projectilessoldtothegovernmentwerenotbasedon(P/M)technology.
56
Micro-hardnessData.Thecombinationofmicrostructurephotographsandmicro-
hardnessvaluescanbeusedtoprovideanestimationofthemechanicalpropertiesofthe
material.FourteenidenticallocationsonboththeLeMasUWbulletandtheNoslerballistictip
bulletwereidentifiedforanalysis(table12).Threemeasurementsweretakenoneachlocation.
Hardnessvalues(VickersHardnessscale)forlocations12through14aresignificantlylower
sincetheyareontheleadportionofthebullet.
Table12
Samplemicro-hardnessvaluesobtainedforLeMasUWandNoslerballistictipprojectiles

_______________________
56
ItalsosupportedtheassertionthatLeMasacquiredprojectilesfromNoslerandSierra.
42
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Differencesbetweenthemicro-hardnessvalues(figs.38and39)forthe
LeMasandNoslerprojectilesfallwithintheexpectedbandofvariationanddonotsuggestany
mechanicalpropertydifferencesbetweenthetwodesigns.Thissuggeststhatthereisno
measurabledifferencebetweentheLeMasprojectileandtheNoslercontrol.
Hardness Values by Location

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Location
V
i
c
k
e
r
s

H
a
r
d
n
e
s
s

V
a
l
u
e

(
D
P
H
)
LeMas Urban Warfare Reading 1 LeMas Urban Warfare Reading 2 LeMas Urban Warfare Reading 3
Nosler "Ballistic Tip" Reading 1 Nosler "Ballistic Tip" Reading 2 Nosler "Ballistic Tip" Reading 3
Figure38
ResultsofthreeseparatemicrohardnessreadingsonNoslerandLeMasammunitionsamples
Figure39
Repeatabilityofmachinescriteriaformicrohardnesstests(ref.15)
43
Themicro-hardnessvaluesshownintable13andfigure40aremeasuredon
theVickersscale
57
andareconsideredtobesimilar.Asaresult,theLeMasLWblendedmetal
projectileandtheSierracontrolwerealsoshowntobeequivalentbythistest.
Table13
Samplemicro-hardnessvaluesobtainedforLeMasLWandSierraprojectiles

_______________________
57
ASTMMethodE384.
44
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Hardness Values by Location

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Location
V
i
c
k
e
r
s

H
a
r
d
n
e
s
s

V
a
l
u
e

(
D
P
H
)
LeMas Land Warfare Reading 1 LeMas Land Warfare Reading 2 LeMas Land Warfare Reading 3
Sierra "Varminter" Reading 1 Sierra "Varminter" Reading 2 Sierra "Varminter" Reading 3
Figure40
Resultsofthreeseparatemicro-hardnessreadingsonSierraandLeMasammunitionsamples
Hardnessvaluesatvariouslocationswerealsousedtoestimatesomeofthe
mechanicalpropertiesoftheprojectiles.Thesepropertiesareanindicationoftheruggednessof
theprojectileandareausefulpartoftheprocessforgauginghoweffectivetheprojectilemight
beagainstvariousintermediatebarriers(cardoors,sand,windows,etc).
Theresultsoutlinedintable14areconsistentwithotherleadbulletsofthis
type.
45
Table14
EstimatedmechanicalpropertiesofprojectilessuppliedbyLeMasLtd.
58
ARDECBondedProjectileTest
TheLeMas5.56-mmsubmissionswerebothtestedtoseeiftheleadcoreswere
chemicallybondedtothecopperjackets.Chemicallybondedbulletsaremoreruggedandare
betterpenetratorsthannon-bondedbullets(fig.41).
Bondingtestscanbeconductedby:
Physicallyattemptingtopulltheleadoutofthecopperjacket
Examiningtheinterfacebetweenthecopperjacketandtheleadcore
materialunderamicroscopetoascertainifleadhaspenetratedthe
copperjacket.
Figure41
Bondedtestsamples(NoslerandUW)
BoththeLeMas(labeledasblendedmetalinfig.42)andNoslerbulletswereeasily
separatedanditwasdeterminedthatthebulletswerenotbonded.
59
_______________________
58
Note:Hardnessvaluesweremeasuredinalaboratoryandusedtoobtainestimatedmechanicalpropertiesfrom
handbookdata.
59
Thiswasnotunexpectedasammunitionmanufacturersgenerallyhighlightandadvertisewhichoftheirbulletsare
bonded.
46
(b) (4)
Figure42
Bondedtestsamples(SierraandLW)
Insummary,bothoftheLeMassubmissionsshowednoevidenceofbeingbonded.
USSOCOMCartridgeCaseHardnessTest
Thecartridgecaseisrequiredtodoavarietyoftasks.Itmustcontainthepropellant
chargeandprimer.Itmustsealofftherearofthechamberwhenfiredandsafelycontainthe
immensepressureinside,yetpermitthecasetoberemovedwitheaseafterfiring.Itmusthold
thebulletinplacetightlyenoughtokeepatmosphericdampnessout,yetreleasethebulletto
traveldowntheboreunderpressureoftheignitedpowder.Itmustholdtheprimertightlyin
placeduringfiring,sothatitdoesntfallouttojamthefiringmechanism.Figures43through45
andtables15to17showwherethehardnessmeasurementsweretakenandtheresults.
Reference:
1. ARDECDrawing11820451(Caliber5.56mmCaseHardnessGradient)
2. ARDECDrawing12977196(Caliber7.62mmHardnessGradient)
3. DTL85797555(MilitarySpecificationfor7.62mm,SpecialBall,Long
Range)
4. MIL-C-63989C(MilitarySpecificationfor5.56mm,M855)
5. SOP/BRC/2004StandardOperatingProcedure(CaseHardnessTestof
9x19mmSmallArmsAmmunition)
6. ASRMMethodE92-82R92(MethodofTestforVickersHardnessof
MetallicMaterials)
47
Figure43
LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurements5.56-mmcartridgecases
Table15
AverageVickersDPNhardnessmeasurementsfor5.56x45-mmcartridgecases
60,61
Note1:M855s(DODICA059)requirementwasusedasthehardnessrequirement.
Allthree5.56x45-mmammunitiontypesfailedtomeetthehardnessrequirement,
asspecifiedinthemilitaryspecification.
62
_______________________
60
Note:DPNvaluesinredfailedtomeetM855(A059)specifications.
61
DODICA059istheM855,DODICW105istheLeMasLWsubmission,DODICW141isaSierra1310Varminter.
62
Whythetestedmilitarycartridgefailedtomeetthehardnessrequirementisunclear,butrupturesgenerallyoccurred
nearoneoftheends,notinthemiddlesoitisquitepossiblethatthislotreceivedawaiverwhichwentunnoticed.
48
Figure44
LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurements7.62-mmcartridgecases
Table16
AverageVickersDPNhardnessmeasurementsfor7.62x51-mmcartridgecases
63
Note2:M118LRs(DODICAA11)requirementwasusedasthehardnessrequirement.
Bothcommercialammunitiontypesfailedtomeetthehardnessrequirement(in
multipleareas),asspecifiedinthemilitaryspecification.
_______________________
63
DODICAA11istheM118LR,DODICW106isthe7.62-mmLeMasLWsubmission,andDODICW142istheSpeer
Hot-Corprojectile.
49
Figure45
LocationsforVickersDPNhardnessmeasurements9-mmcartridgecases
Table17
AverageVickershardnessmeasurementsfor9x19-mmcartridgecases
64
Note3:M882(DODICA363)waschosenasthebaseline9x19mmammunitionforthistest;
however,therearenoestablishedcasehardnessspecificationsfortheM882.Sincethe
objectiveofthistestwastodevelopadatasetforfuturecomparisons,ahybridrequirement
usingtheaveragecasesidewallhardnessresultsfortheM882(+/-3standarddeviations)and
thecaseheadhardnessrequirementsfortheM855wasusedasaguide.
Note4:TheminimumspecificationisbasedontheaveragehardnesslevelforM882(DODIC
A363)minus3standarddeviations.
Note5:ThemaximumspecificationisbasedontheaveragehardnesslevelforM882(DODIC
A363)plus3standarddeviations.
Bothcommercialammunitiontypesfailedtomeettheproposedrequirement.
_______________________
64
DODICA363istheM882,DODICW107isLeMasCQBSPLP(H)andW143isa65-grainnAguilaprojectile.
50
USSOCOMBulletPull(Extraction)Test
Anotherphysicaltestisthebulletpulltest.Thistestdetermines,undercontrolled
conditions,theforcerequiredtoremovetheprojectilefromthecaseofanassembledcartridge
(fig.46).Bulletpulldata(table18)isusedasameasureofuniformityandefficiencyinwhichthe
bulletsaresecuredinthecartridgecases.Consistentbulletpullisnecessaryformaintaining
uniformperformance(velocity,pressure,dispersion,reliability,etc.)fromroundtoround.Bullet
pullisalsoimportanttoensurethatthebulletdoesnotcomeoutofthecasemouth(de-bullet)
whenchambered;orgetpushedintothecaseduringroughhandlingorfeeding.

Figure46
Illustrationofbulletcrimp
Reference:
1. MIL-STD-636
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethods,forcaliber5.56-mm
ammunitionandforcaliber7.62-mmammunition.
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures,9-mm
Cartridges)
4. MIL-C-63989(Specificationfor5.56mm,BallM855).
5. DTL-8597555
6. MIL-C-70508(Specificationfor9mm,Ball,M882)
Table18
Summaryofbulletpullresults(highlightedresultsareoutsideofspecification)
Note:Minimumbullet-pullrequirementsforbaselinesystems:
1. A059(M855)greaterthanorequalto45lb
2. AA11(M118LR)greaterthanorequalto20lb
3. A363(M882)greaterthanorequalto60lb(individual)and80lb(average)
51
Conclusions:SeveraloftheLeMasdesignstestedeitherfailedtomeetexisting
standardsorbarelymetexistingstandards.However,itisnotedthatdifferencesinbulletdesign,
waterproofingcompound,andamountofcrimpmayhavecontributedtotheseresults,andthat
someofthespecificationsarenotabsolutes.
65
SpectrometryandX-rayTests
Semi-quantitativealloyidentificationanalyseswereperformedonthecommercial5.56-
mmprojectiles.
66
Thetestchosen,EnergyDispersiveSpectroscopy(EDS),wasdonein
accordancewithASTME1508,andenablesidentificationofelementsalongwiththeirrelative
proportions.Severalrunsweredoneoneachsample.Theresultsofthisparticulartestingseries
confirmedthattheLeMas5.56-mmriflesubmissionscontainedasubstantialquantityoflead.
5.56mmComponentTesting
UrbanWarfare(Nosler)Core:Thechemistryofthecore(fig.47)materialisaclose
matchtoalloyscontaining96to99weight%leadand1to4weight%antimony(ref.16).This
chemicalrangeencompassestwoantimonialleadalloyscalled:99Pb-1Sband96Pb-4Sb
(whichisalsocalledHardLead96-4).
Figure47
ExampleUW(Nosler)corechemistryspectrumresult
67

_______________________
65
LeMasammunitionisnotmanufacturedtomeetM855requirementsandspecifications.Consequently,failureto
meetunknownrequirementsandqualificationsisnotunexpectedandcouldpossiblybefixed.
66
Specifically,theLeMasUW,LeMasLW,Noslerballistictip,andSierraVarmintercartridgesweretested.
67
Multipleanalyseswereconductedbeforeafinaloveralldeterminationwasmade.Thispictureisanexampleofone
oftherunsthatwasconducted.
52
(b) (4)
UrbanWarfare(Nosler)Jacket: Thechemistryofthejacket(fig.48)isaclosematch
towhatwouldbeexpectedforcopperalloy21000(gildingmetal)(ref.?).
68,69
Figure48
ExampleUWjacketchemistryspectrumresult
69
UrbanWarfare(Nosler)JacketCoating:Thechemistryofthejacketcoating(fig.49)
ismolybdenumdisulfidewhichiscommonlyusedasadrylubricant.
Figure49
UWjacketcoatingchemistryspectrumresult
71

_______________________
68
95%copper5%zinc.
69
Thisisacommonbulletjacketmaterial.
70
Multipleanalyseswereconductedbeforeafinaloveralldeterminationwasmade.Thispictureisjustanexampleof
oneoftherunsthatwasconducted.
71
Ibid.
53
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
UrbanWarfareandNoslerComparison.Side-by-sideresultsshowthatthe
chemicalcompositiondifferencesareminimal(fig.50).
72
Figure50
UWandNoslerballistictipcomparativechemicalanalysis

LandWarfare(Sierra)Core:Thechemistryofthecorematerial(fig.51)isaclose
matchtoliteraturereferencesthatcontain96weight%leadand4weight%antimony.This
chemicalrangeencompassesoneantimonialleadalloycalled:96Pb-4Sb(alsoknownasHard
Lead96-4)(ref.16).
Figure51
LWcorechemistryspectrumresult
73
_______________________
72
Foragivenprojectiledesigntherewillbearangeofresultsthatreflectlottolotproductionvariances.Additionally,
aswithalltests,thereissomeamountofsystemicerrorthatwillresultinminorexperimentaldifferences.Thisisnot
significant,butisnoted.
73
Multipleanalyseswereconductedbeforeafinaloveralldeterminationwasmade.Thispictureisanexampleof
oneoftherunsthatwasconducted.
54
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
LandWarfare(Sierra)Jacket:Thejacketmaterial(fig.52)isaclosematchtothe
literaturereferencefor95%copper5%zincorgildingmetal(ref.16).
Figure52
LWjacketchemistryspectrumresult
74
LandWarfareJacketCoating:Thejacketcoating(fig.53)ismolybdenumdisulfide
whichisacommondrylubricant.
Figure53
LWjacketcoatingchemistryspectrumresult
75

_______________________
74
Ibid.
75
Ibid.
55
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
LandWarfareandSierraComparison.Aswiththeprevioussetoftests,thesideby
sideresults(fig.54)showthatthechemicalcompositiondifferencesbetweenthetwoprojectiles
arewithintheexpectedrangeofmanufacturingvariation.

Figure54
LeMasLWandSierraVarmintercomparativechemicalanalysis
ChemicalAnalysisSummary.Neitherofthe5.56-mmprojectiledesignstestedwere
formedfromtheblendingofmultiplemetals.Chemicalanalysisrevealedthattheprojectiles
weremadefromstandardalloysandmaterials.
BoththeLeMasprojectilesubmissionsusedasimilarcopperalloyasthebase
jacketmaterialandbothusedthesametypeofdrylubricantcoating(molybdenumdisulfide).
ThecorematerialofbothprojectileswasbasicallyanantimonialleadalloywiththeUW(Nosler)
projectilecontainingslightlylessantimonythantheLW(Sierra)whenthechemistrieswere
averagedoverseveralruns.Simplyput,thesearecommercialleadbulletsthatcannotbe
distinguishedfromtheircommercialcounterparts.
76
_______________________
76
AdditionalindependentchemicalanalysisresultsarepresentedinappendixBassupportmaterial.
56
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
PERFORMANCEANALYSISOFLEMAS(RBCD)PROJECTILES
Performancetestingprovidesadditionalinformationthatisofusetodecisionmakers.For
example,ammunitionthatconsistentlyfailstomeetsomemilitaryspecificationmaybesafe,
effective,andofgoodquality,butisnotsuitableforoneormoremilitaryneeds.Asaresult,a
decisionmakermightchoosetoaccepttheammunition,butonlyonalimitedorrestrictedbasis.
GiventhatthescientificevidencetodatesuggestedthattheLeMasprojectileswerenot
(P/M)projectiles,butwererather,inprobablefact,commoncommercialrounds,itwasdeemed
desirabletoperformsidebysidetestcomparisonswiththeircommercialequivalents.Thistype
ofperformancetestingwoulddetermineiftherewassomesubtleLeMasconfigurationdistinction
thatmighthavebeenoverlookedbytheexaminersthatcouldstillproducetheextraordinary
resultsclaimedbyLeMas.
Ingeneral,thegovernmentidentifiedacommerciallyavailablecartridgeorprojectilethat
producedsimilarballistics(velocityandchamberpressure)astheequivalentLeMasLtd.
BlendedMetalsAmmunitionDODIC.Thesesurrogateroundswerethentestedsidebysidewith
theirLeMascounterparts.
AmmunitionPerformanceStatistics

SectionalDensitiesofTestProjectiles
Purpose:Sectionaldensity(SD)istheratioofabulletsweighttoitsdiameter
squared.TheSDstaysthesameforallbulletsofthesameweightinthesamecaliber.Allelse
beingequal
77
,abulletwithahigherSDwill:
Loseenergyataslowerratewhileitisinflight
Droplessonthewaytothetarget
Penetratemoreeffectivelyintothetarget
TheLCAAP(M855)62-grainammunitionhasa38%higherSDthananyofthe45-
graindesigns(LeMasandBRC).Notunexpectantly,theM855wasshown(intheCraneR50
test)topenetratetargetsoverabroadersetofrangesthanthe45-graindesigns.Similar
conclusionscanbehypothesizedforthe7.62mmand9-mmprojectiles(table19)
78
.
_______________________
77
Notallbulletswiththesameweight,diameter,andsectionaldensitywillperformexactlythesameeverytime.Bullet
design,yaw,andotherfactorssignificantlyaffectperformance.TheSDisanestimatorofpossibleperformance
whennootherinformationispresent.
78
Statementassumesthattheimpactvelocitywillbelowerforthe45-grainprojectilethanforthe62-grainprojectile.
Thisisnotalwaysthecase.
57
Table19
Calculatedsectionaldensitiesoftestammunition

EstimatedBallisticCoefficientsofTestProjectiles
Purpose:Ballisticcoefficient(BC)isbasicallyameasureofhowstreamlinedabullet
is;thatis,howwellitcutsthroughtheair.Thehigherthenumberthelessdrag,andthemore
efficientlyitcutsthroughtheair.Allelsebeingequal,BCiswhatdeterminestrajectoryandwind
drift.TheBCchangeswiththeshapeofthebulletandwiththespeedatwhichthebulletis
traveling.Pointedprojectilesaremoreaerodynamicallyefficientthanbluntnosedprojectiles.At
theotherend,projectileswithaboattailaremoreefficientthanprojectileswithaflatbase.
TheestimatedBCshownintable20isforreferencepurposesonly.However,itis
notedthatwithallthreecalibers,themilitarycartridgesgenerallyhadahighervaluethaneither
ofthecommercialalternatives.Thissuggeststhatthemilitarycartridgesaremorestreamlined
thanthecommercialrounds,whichsuggeststhat,allelsebeingequal(e.g.,muzzlevelocity),
theywillloselessvelocityastheytravelandgofarther
79
.
Table20
EstimatedBCoftestprojectiles

BasicPerformanceStatistics
Thissectionwilloutlinesomeofthemostfundamentalperformanceparametersofthe
testedammunitioninthetestweapons.
Tables21through23representthemuzzlevelocitystatistics.Tables24through26are
themuzzleenergyandmomentumstatistics.
_______________________
79
Velocityisakeycomponentofeffectiveness.Aprojectilethattravelsfartherisgenerallymoreversatilethanone
thatfallsshort.
58
Table21
5.56-mmmuzzlevelocity

Table22
7.62mmmuzzlevelocitytest
80
_______________________
80
Testsbasedonaverageresultsofthreeweaponswith10roundsperweaponatadistanceof15ftfromthemuzzle
underambient72Fconditionsat18ftabovesealevel.
59
Table23
9-mmmuzzlevelocitytest
Table24
5.56-mmimpactenergyandmomentumstatistics

60
Table25
7.62-mmimpactenergyandmomentumstatistics
Table26
9-mmmuzzleenergyandmomentumstatistics

61
Themuzzleenergy,velocity,andmomentummeasurementslistedareroughindicatorsof
generalperformance
81
.Asexpected,lighterrounds(suchastheLeMasprojectiles)startwith
moreenergy,butloseitmorequicklyastheytraveldownrange.Theirlowermomentumdrives
thisincreasedlossandultimatelyaffectshowandwhentheyareeffective.Goodprojectiles
arethoseprojectilesthatareeffectiveinthebroadestrangeofcircumstances.
SafetyandOperationalTests
Thesafetyandconsistencyevaluationconsistedofdocumentingthebasiccharacteristics
ofthetestammunitiontoincluderecoil,chemicalcompatibility,electronicpressureandvelocity,
waterproofness,bulletintegrity,andfunctionandcasualty.Testfiringswereeitherconductedin
Mann-typetestbarrelsorinactualserviceweapons(asappropriate)andbothArmyandcivilian
testprotocolswereused.Forbasesofcomparison,specificationsandrequirementsweredrawn
fromexistingserviceammunitionrequirements.
Asaresultofthesetests,itwasshownthatseveraltypesofLeMasammunitionproduce
unsafefiringpressuresatcoldoperatingtemperatures.Thisresultedindamagetotwoofthe
testweaponsduringthetestingsequence.
RecoilTest
Recoilisdetrimentaltoshooteraccuracy.Excessiverecoilcanalsobedetrimental
totheshooter.Recoiltestsareroutinelyconductedtoascertaintherelativeamountofrecoilthat
canbeexpectedfromaparticularweapon/ammunitioncombination
82
.Thisinformationisthen
gaugedandassessedaspartoftheoverallperformancepackage(tables27through29).
Table27
5.56-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition

_______________________
81
Thesegeneralindicatorsaregoodstartingpoints,butarenotguaranteesofperformance.Additionalinformation
andtests,suchasmaximumpenetrationdepthintissuesimulant,arerequiredtoassesstheenvelopeof
performancethatcanbeexpectedwitheachround.
82
InaccordancewithArmyregulations,therearenofiringrestrictionswithweaponsystemsproducinglessthan15ft-
lb(20.3J)forfreerecoilenergy.
62
Table28
7.62-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition

Table29
9-mmrecoildatawithtestammunition
Therecoilenergiesdemonstratedbyallofthetestammunition(regardlessof
caliber)arewellwithincurrentrequirementsandaresimilartoothermunitionsofthistype.
CommonChemicalCompatibilityTest
Objective:TodetermineifLeMasBMTprojectiles(includingthemolybdenum
coating)arechemicallyreactivetovariouscommonsolventsfoundinthefield.
Procedure,Data,&Conclusions:Urbanwarfare(Nosler)andLW(Sierra)projectiles
wereimmersedinthefollowingtestfluidsfor386hrsatroomtemperature(75F).
63
Reference:
1. MIL-PRF-63450(CLP),aweaponcleanerandlubricant
2. MIL-L-46000(LSA),aweaponlubricant
3. MIL-PRF-14107(LAW),aweaponlubricant
4. DEET,aninsectrepellent
Avisualinspectionwasthenconducted.Noneoftheprojectilesshowedany
evidenceofchange.However,gentlewipingwithatissuedidremovesomeofthemolybdenum
disulfidecoating.
ChamberPressureandCaseMouthPressureTests
Greatcareistakentoensurethatissuedammunitionissafeammunition.All
weaponsareratedtoamaximumsafechamberpressure.Thisisthepeakpressuregenerated
bythepropellantandismeasuredinfrontofthecasemouth,typicallyjustafterbulletexit.Itis
desirablethatroundtoroundpressurevariationsareminimized,asthisaffectsmuzzlevelocity
andultimatelydispersiondownrange.
USSOCOMPressureTest.Theelectronicpressuretestingoutlinedinthissection
generallyshowsthattheLeMas5.56-mmand7.62-mmammunitionmetgovernmentpressure
specifications.However,9-mmLeMasresultsvariedsignificantlywithtemperatureindicating
thatitwasnotdesignedformilitaryspecifications.
Objective:Toaccuratelydeterminethemaximumpressureexertedbythetest
ammunition,expressedinpoundspersquareinch(psi),whenfiredinthetestweaponsystem.
Theelectronicpressure/velocitytestisperformedasasafetymeasuretoensurethatthe
pressuresdevelopedbytheammunitionaresafeforfiringintheweapon(s)forwhichitis
intended;andtoensurethattheycomplywiththerequirementsoftheapplicablecartridge
specification.
Reference:
1. MIL-STD-636(Visualinspectionstandardsforsmallarmsammunition
throughcaliber.50)
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethodsforcaliber5.56-mmand
7.62-mmammunition.
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallAmmunitionTestProcedures,9mmCartridges).
4. MIL-C-63989(Specificationfor5.56mm,Ball,M855).
5. DTL-8597555(Specificationfor7.62mm,SpecialBall,M118LR).
7. ITOP3-2-810ElectricalMeasurementofWeaponChamberPressure
8. ANSI/SAAMI
83
Z99.4-1992CenterfireRifleSportingAmmunition
9. ANSI/SAAMI
84
Z99.3-1993CenterfirePistolandRevolverAmmunition
_______________________
83
ThetechnicalcommitteemanualoftheSportingArmsandAmmunitionManufacturersInstituteInc.(SAAMI)isa
compendiumofdataonvoluntaryrecommendedpractices,procedures,andproductperformancecriteriausedby
manyoftheleadingAmericanmakersofsportingfirearmsandammunition.Ithasbeenrecognizedbythe
commercialindustryformorethan65yrs.
84
Ibid.
64
Note:Twodifferentprotocols(militaryandcivilian)wereappliedinthispressuretestseries
(tables30and31).
Table30
MIL-STDpressurespecifications
Table31
SAAMI
85
pressurespecifications
Tables32through37showhowthe5.56mmcartridgesperformedatthevarious
temperatures
86
.Redboxesindicatethattheresultsobtainedwereoutsideofthepressure
specificationsthatweresetforthattest.Asexpected,militaryammunitionmeetsmilitary
standards,butexceedscommercialguidelines.

_______________________
85
Ibid.
86
70,125,15,and-40F.
65
Table32
MIL-STDpressureresultsfor5.56-mmcartridgestested
87
Table33
SAAMIpressureresultsfor5.56-mmcartridgestested(noteredboxes
88
)

_______________________
87
Thereaderwillnotetheextensiveuseofthewordcorrectedinthesecharts.Whatthisreferstoisthefactthatthe
averagemeasuredpressurevalueinasetoftestcartridgesisbenchmarkedagainsttheaverageresultobtained
withasetofstandardizedreferenceammunition.Sincenotwotestswillyieldexactlythesameresult,asmall
correctionfactorisemployedtomaketestcomparable.
88
JustasLeMasammunitionwasnotmanufacturedtomeetmilitaryspecifications,Militaryammunitionisnot
manufacturedtomeetcivilian(SAAMI)specifications.
66
Table34
MIL-STDpressureresultsfor7.62-mmcartridgestested(noteredboxes)

Table35
SAAMIpressureresultsfor7.62-mmcartridgestested

Unexpectedly,thislotofM118LR(DODICAA11)failedtomeetcurrentpressure
requirements.
67
Table36
MIL-STDpressureresultsfor9-mmcartridgestested(notered)

Table37
SAAMIpressureresultsfor9-mmcartridgestested

Note:Thatthereweremultipleammunitionpressuretestspecificationfailuresfrommultiple
DODICSinthistestingseries.Theseareoutlinedinred.Pleasereferencetheappropriate
specificationthatwaspresentedpriortothedata.
68
DODICW107(9-mmLeMas)hada46.3%pressureexcursionoverthemaximum
allowableaveragepressurewhentestedat-40F(figs.55and56andtable38).Thisis
consideredamajorsafetyconcern
89
.
Figure55
Averagecasemouthpressureversustemperaturefor9-mmammunition
Table38
SummaryofLeMas9-mmpressureissues

_______________________
89
Highpressuresatlowtemperaturescanoccurwhenusingcompressedloadsoffastburningpropellants.Thisis
usuallyattributedtothepropellantcracking,andthusexposingmoresurfaceareawhichraisestheburnrate.
69

Figure56
TestsheetshowingM9weapondamage
PressureNotes:
1. ThemaximumindividualpressurefortheLeMas9-mmCQBSPLPcartridgewas
recordedashighas51,147psi(table32),whichis14,887psi(or41.1%)overthe
maximumallowablepressureforanindividualcartridgeconditionedat70F.Cold
andhotconditionedammunitionresultedinevenhigherindividualpressures.
2. LeMas9-mmCQBSPLP(DODICW107)exceededtheSAAMImaximumallowable
pressureforanindividualcartridgeby34.3%at15Fand87.4%at-40F.
3. DuringSAAMIEPVAT
90
testingat-40F,14ofthe20LeMas9-mmCQBSPLPtest
cartridgeslosttheirprimers,andall20firedcartridgecasesstuckinthechamber
withenoughforcethattheyhadtoberemovedviaacleaningroddownthebarrel.
Thisalsooccurredat15F,buttoalesserextent.
_______________________
90
EPVAT:Electronic,pressure,velocity,andactiontimetest.
70
4. DuringtheMIL-STDEPVtestingoftheLeMas9-mmCQBSPLPaforeignmaterial
wouldextrudeintoandplugthetransducergashole,thuspreventingasuccessful
pressuremeasurementonthenextshot.Consequently,thetransducerhadtobe
removedandcleanedforeachtestshot.Uponinspection,itwasdeterminedthatthe
foreignmaterialwascomposedofbulletjacketfragmentsandpiecesoftheplastic
likebulletcorematerial(fig.57).

Figure57
BlownprimersandextrudedbulletcorematerialLeMas9-mmEPVATtest-40F
91
ARDECEPVAT(Pressure/Velocity)Test(InitialPressureTests).ARDEC
conductedEPVATtestingontwotypesofLeMas5.56-mmammunition.TwentyroundsofUW
(Nosler)andLW(Sierra)weretestedinaccordancewithstandardEPVATprotocolsatPicatinny
Arsenal.Asaresultofthistesting,itwasdeterminedthatthe5.56-mmLeMasUW(Nosler)
samplewaswithinthepressurespecificationandthattheLeMasLW(Sierra)samplewasclose,
butbarelyexceededthegovernmentpressurelimitonthemaximumindividualchamber
pressure.
Someexamplepressure/timecurvesfortheLW(Sierra)designareshowninfigure58.
_______________________
91
NotetheLugerheadstampthatisclearlyvisibleinthisphotograph.
71
Figure58
SampleARDECEPVATcurvesforLeMasLW(Sierra)ammunition
TheLeMasLW(Sierra)ammunitiontestdemonstratedanaverageambientchamber
pressureof57,000(psi)withamaximumindividualchambermeasurementthatwasinexcessof
59,000(psi)
92
.
TheLeMasUW(Nosler)cartridgeperformedbetterwithanaverageobserved
chamberpressureofjustover50,000(psi)andamaximumindividualchamberpressureofjust
under55,000(psi).
OverallPressureTestSummary.Individualtestsshowedthat:
1. The5.56-mmUW(Nosler)cartridgeandthe7.62-mmLeMasLWcartridges
testedpassedthecommercialandmilitaryspecificationsthatweresetforthis
test.
2. The5.56-mmLW(Sierra)cartridgebeingmarketedexhibitspressuresthatare
closetoorslightlyabovecurrentlimits.
The9-mmLeMasprojectilenotonlyfailedbothmilitaryandcommercialrequire-
ments,butposedasignificantsafetyhazardwhenfiredatcoldtemperatures.
_______________________
92
Itisnotedthatthemaximumallowablesafepressurefor5.56-mmammunitionhasbeensetat58,000psi.
72
VelocityTest
Avelocitytestwasconductedtoascertaintherangeofvelocitiesthatcanbe
expectedwitheachammunitiondesign.Variationsinvelocitycanaffectdispersion,accuracy,
andterminalperformance.Intheory,themoreuniformthestartingvelocitythemoreconsistent
theammunitionshouldperform.Militaryandcommercialguidelineshavesetthemaximum
amountofvelocityvariationthatistypicallyallowedforeachcaliber(table39).Theresultsofthis
testshowedthattheLeMas5.56-mmand7.62-mmroundsmetthevariationrequirements,while
theLeMas9-mmdesigndidnot.Velocitieslistedareinft/sec(tables40through45).
Reference:
1. MIL-STD-636(VisualInspectionStandards)
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethodsforcaliber5.56-mmand7.62-
mmammunition.
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallAmmunitionTestProcedures,9-mmCartridges).
7. TOP4-2-805ProjectileVelocityandTimeofFlightMeasurement
8. ANSI/SAAMI
93
Z99.4-1992CenterfireRifleSportingAmmunition
9. ANSI/SAAMI
94
Z99.3-1993CenterfirePistolandRevolverAmmunition
ApplicableCriteria:
Table39
MIL-STD(left)andSAAMI(right)velocityspecifications
_______________________
93
ThetechnicalcommitteemanualoftheSportingArmsandAmmunitionManufacturersInstituteInc.(SAAMI)isa
compendiumofdataonvoluntaryrecommendedpractices,procedures,andproductperformancecriteriausedby
manyoftheleadingAmericanmakersofsportingfirearmsandammunition.Ithasbeenrecognizedbythe
commercialindustryformorethan65yrs.
94
Ibid.
73
Results:
Table40
MIL-STD5.56-mmvelocitytestresults
95

Table41
SAAMI5.56-mmvelocitytestresults
_______________________
95
Note:Rangeinthesetablesreferstothemaxvaluetheminvalueobserved.Range/2=variation.
74
Table42
MIL-STD7.62-mmvelocitytestresults
Table43
SAAMI7.62-mmvelocitytestresults
75
Table44
MIL-STD9-mmvelocitytestresults
Table45
SAAMI9-mmvelocitytestresults
ItisalsonotedthatthevelocitiesassociatedwithDODICW107(9-mmLeMas)and
DODIC(Aguila)increasedastemperaturedecreased.Thisistotallyexpectedandexplainable
asthepressurewasshowntobehigheratlowtemperatures.Figure59showsadditionalblown
primers(9-mmLeMas)observedduringthe-40Fvelocitytesting.
Figure59
Additionalblownprimers(9-mmLeMas)observedduring-40Fvelocitytesting
76
WaterproofnessTest
Ingeneral,militarycartridgesshouldbewaterprooftotheextentthatfunctioningis
notaffected.Itisdesirablethatthesealsaroundtheprimerandcasemoutharesufficientto
withstandsubmersioninshallowwater.Resultsofthistestshowedthatallofthecommercial
roundsfailedtomeetthisrequirement(tables46and47).
Reference:
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethodsforcaliber5.56mmand
7.62mmammunition.
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallAmmunitionTestProcedures,9mmCartridges).
Criteria:
1. MilitarySpecification:Thecartridgeshallnotreleasemorethanone
bubble.
2. NATOSpecification:Nomorethan15%oftestcartridgescanshow
leaksofanykind.
Results:
Table46
5.56and7.62-mmwaterproofnesstestresults
77
Table47
9-mmwaterproofnesstestresults

Figures60through62clearlyshowthattheLeMasrounds(ingeneral)arenotas
watertightascurrentmilitaryrequirementsdictate.
Figure60
Bubbletestresults(5.56mm)

78
Figure61
Bubbletestresults(7.62mm)

Figure62
Bubbletestresults(9mm)
79
BMTBulletBreakupTest
Objective:Todetermineif,andwithwhatfrequency,thebulletoftheammunition
undertestbreaksupintheboreoftheweaponorduringflightafterithasleftthemuzzleofthe
weapon.Ingeneral,thebulletofthecartridgeshouldnotburstorfragmentinthebarrelorduring
flight.
Reference:
1. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethods,FrankfordArsenal
(SmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures,5.56mmand7.62mm
Cartridges)
2. MIL-STD-636(Visualinspectionstandardsforsmallarmsammunition
throughcaliber.50)
Results:Ammunitionpassedstandardtestcriteria.However,notetheresultsofthe
functionandcasualtysection.
FunctionandCasualtyTests
Objective:Thefunctionandcasualtytestingwasconductedtoensurethatthe
ammunitionwouldhavenoharmfuleffectsonserviceweaponsandassociatedequipment.
Specifically,thecartridgesweretestedinserviceweaponstoensurethatthetestcartridges
wouldnotcauseanysafetyproblemtotheoperatorand/orweapon,orresultinanycritical
defect,whenfiredwithinthestandardtemperatureranges.
Reference:
1. SCATP5.56mmSmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures;5.56mm
Cartridges
Cartridges
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures;9mm
Cartridges
4. TOP4-2-016(SmallArmsAmmunition)
5. TOP3-2-059(SafetyEvaluationofHandandShoulderWeapons)
6. DT8597555(MilitarySpecification;Cartridge,7.62mm,NATO,M118,
SpecialBall)
7. MIL-C-63989C(MilitarySpecification;Cartridge,5.56mm,Ball,NATO,
M855)
8. MIL-C-70508(MilitarySpecification;Cartridge,9mm,Ball,NATO,M882)
9. MIL-STD-636(VisualInspectionstandardsforsmallarmsammunition
throughcaliber.50)
10. ARDECdrawing7643674(ClassificationofCartridgeDefects)
80
Acceptance/FailureCriteria:TheacceptancecriterionofMIL-C-63989C,
DT8597555,orMIL-C-70508(asappropriate)wasappliedtotheresultsofthistestingforall
defects.Ingeneral,testcartridgesshouldsafelyfunctionat-60Fthrough+160Fwithnoneof
thefollowingdefectsoccurring:
Misfiresduetoventholemissingorobstructed
Bulletremaininginbore
Primerleaks
Casecasualties(longitudinalsplitinsectionsI,J,K,LandSand
completeandpartialcircumferentialruptureinsectionsJ,K,L,andSof
thecartridgecase
InaccordancewithARDECdrawing7643674(Classificationof
cartridgedefects)
Detachedmaterialuponfiring(cartridgecase)
Bulletbreakupinboreorinflight
5.56-mmFunctionandCasualtyResults.

ColtM4A1CarbineResults:Nomalfunctionsorcasualtiesoccurredatanytest
temperatureforanyofthethree5.56mmammunitionDODICstested
96
.
FNM16A4Results:
DODICA059(M855)Nomalfunctionsorcasualtiesoccurred.
DODICW105(LeMas)andDODICW141(BRC)-Thebulletwould
breakupintheboreoftheweaponorduringflighttothetarget.Breakup
occurredatallfourtesttemperatures,withallthreeweapons,andwith
bothammunitiontypes.
Thecentrifugalforceproducedonthebullet,asaresultofspinstabilization
canstresslightlyconstructedbulletsbeyondtheirlimits,resultinginbulletbreakupinthebarrel
orinflight(fig.63).The20-in.barreledFNM16A4riflesproduceapproximately6.5%higher
RPMthanthe14.5-in.barreledColtM4A1carbines.
Bulletbreakupoccurredonlywiththecommercialroundsandonlyonthe
M16A4whichcanbeclearlyseeninfigure64tohaveahigherRPMvaluethantheM4A1.This
higherRPMiscreditedwithproducingthelossofbulletintegrity.
_______________________
96
DODICA059(M855),DODICW105(LeMas),DODICW141(BRC).
81
Figure63
5.56-mmFNM16A4bulletbreak-upresults
Comparison of RPM's vs Twist for the M4A1 and M16A4

0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Barrel Twist Rate (1 Rotation per X inches of Travel)
R
e
v
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
s

p
e
r

M
i
n
u
t
e
M4A1 (Muzzle Velocity 3199 ft/sec)
M16A4 (Muzzle Velocity 3401 ft/sec)
Figure64
BulletRPMversustwistrate(M16A4andM4A1)
82
7.62-mmFunctionandCasualtyResults.Nomalfunctionsorcasualtiesoccurredat
anytesttemperatureforanyofthethree7.62-mmammunitionDODICstested
97
.
9-mmFunctionandCasualtyResults(table48).
Table48
9-mmmalfunctionchart(functionandcasualty)
DODICA363:Atotalof1440roundswerefiredthroughthethreetest
weapons.ZerocasualtiesormalfunctionsoccurredwiththisDODIC(alltemperatures).
DODICW107(LeMas):Atotalof1035roundswerefiredthroughthethree
testweapons.Atotalof139malfunctionsoccurredwiththisammunition.Only315of360
cartridgeswerefiredat15F.Amajorityofthefiredcasesat15Fdisplayedoneormoreofthe
followingsignsofexcessivechamberpressure:perforatedprimer,primerleak,looseprimer,
blownprimer,droppedprimer,flow-back,punch-out,andprimersetback.Additionally,the
lockingblockontestweaponSR1105364fracturedduetotheexcessivechamberpressures
producedbythisammunitionat15F.Nofurtherfunctionandcasualtytestingwasconducted
withthisammunitionDODICat15For-40F.
DODICW143(Aguila):Atotalof1440roundswerefiredthroughthethreetest
weapons.Atotalof138malfunctionsoccurredwiththisammunition.Amajorityofthefired
casesat-40Fdisplayedoneormoreofthefollowingsignsofexcessivechamberpressure:
perforatedprimer,primerleak,looseprimer,blownprimer,droppedprimer,flow-back,punch-
out,andprimersetback.
_______________________
97
DODICAA11(M118LR),DODICW106(LeMas),DODICW142(BRC).
83
AccuracyandDispersionTests
LeMasammunitionunderwentmultipleindependentaccuracyanddispersiontestsat
severaltestingagencies.Bothbenchmountedandshoulderfiringtestswereconducted.Results
ofthetestssuggestthattheLeMasammunitioniseithercomparabletoorslightlymoreaccurate
thancurrentlyfieldedalternatives.
USSOCOMMANNBarrelDispersionTest
Objective:Todeterminethedispersioncharacteristicsoftestammunitionwhenfired
throughaMANNbarrel(fig.65).
Figure65
Universal"bond"receiver/Mann-typetestbarrel
Reference:
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethodsfor5.56mmand7.62mm
ammunition
3. DOD-STD-1468(SmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures,9mm
Cartridges).
7. TOP4-2-829(VerticalTargetAccuracyandDispersion)
Explanations/Definitions:Figures66and67andtable49showthedispersion/
accuracyrelationshipanddefinitions,andtestbarrelinformation,respectively.
84
Figure66
Dispersion/accuracyrelationship

Figure67
Definitionsofdispersionmeasurements
85
Table49
Testbarrelinformation
Reportedaccuracyresultsvarysubstantially(tables50and51).Therearea
largenumberofreasonsforthis,notleastofwhichare:shooterorbenchrest,weapon
configuration,indoororoutdoorrange,newweaponorold,etc.Whenviewingtheseaccuracy
results,somecautioniswarranted.
Results:
98,99
Table50
Accuracydata(averageofthree10-shotgroups)
______________________
98
TheaccuracyrequirementfortheM855(AO95)isthatthehorizontalandverticalstandarddeviationsmustbeequal
toorlessthan1.8in.at200ydswhenfiredfromanaccuracybarrel(MIL-C-63989C).
99
TheaccuracyrequirementfortheM118LR(AA11)ismeasuredat1000ydsandisnotdirectlyapplicable.However,
theaccuracyrequirementforthe7.62-mmM80ballisthattheaverageofthemeanradiiofalltestweaponsshallbe
5.0in.orlessat600ydswhenfiredfromanaccuracybarrel.
86
Table51
Standarddeviationofdispersiontests

5.56mmExtremeSpreadDiscussion:AswasseenwiththebeforementionedCrane
accuracytest,theLeMas5.56-mmammunitionhadalowerextremespreadthantheM855(fig.
68).
Figure68
5.56-mmextremespreadresults(100mand300m)
87
7.62mmExtremeSpreadDiscussion:TheLeMas7.62-mmammunitionwasslightly
lessaccuratethanthemilitaryM118LRcartridgethatwastested(fig.69).
Figure69
7.62-mmextremespreadresults(100mand300m)
9-mmExtremeSpreadDiscussion:TheLeMas9-mmammunitionwassignificantly
lessaccuratethanthemilitarycartridgethatwastested(fig.70).
Figure70
9-mmextremespreadresults(25mand50m)
88
Table52isthestatisticalcomparisonoftestammunitionextremespread(Mann
barrel).
Table52
Statisticalcomparisonoftestammunitionextremespread(Mannbarrel)
100
USSOCOMWeaponDispersionTest(fig.71)
Figure71
Pistolandrifleweaponmounts
_______________________
100
Basedontheassumptionthatthedistributionsoftheextremespreadsarenormal,thetwo-samplestudentst-test
andanAnalysisofVariance(ANOVA)comparisonmethodwith95%confidenceintervalwasused.
89
Objective:Todeterminethedispersioncharacteristicsoftestammunitionwhenfired
throughfieldweapons
101
.
Reference:
2. AmmunitionBallisticAcceptanceTestMethodsfor5.56mmand7.62mm
ammunition
Cartridges
4. DOD-STD-1468(SmallCaliberAmmunitionTestProcedures;9mm
Cartridges
5. MIL-C-63989(Specificationfor5.56mm,Ball,M855)
8. TOP/MTP3-2-045(AutomaticWeaponsMachineGuns,Handand
ShoulderWeapons)
9. TOP4-2-829(VerticalTargetAccuracyandDispersion)
5.56-mmDispersionResults[100mand300m(tables53through57andfig.72)]
102
.
Table53
100m5.56-mmM4A1dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons)
103,104
_______________________
101
Dispersontestsonthe5.56-mmammunitionwereconductedwiththeM4A1only.Itwasshowninthebullet
integritytestportionofthisreportthattheLeMas5.57-mmammunitionbreaksupwhenfiredfromtheM16A4.
102
SomereadersmaypickupthefactthattheMOAcalculationlookoff.At100yardstheequationis1.047in.1
MOA.However,thesetestsweredoneat100m,whichchangestheconversionslightly.
103
MOA=minuteofangle.
104
BRCloadedcartridgeswithSierraprojectiles.
90
Table54
300m5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontestresults(averageofthreeweapons)

Table55
Standarddeviationsof100mand300m5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest

91
Figure72
Average5.56-mmextremespreadM4A1dataonscaledtargets
Table56
100mANOVAResultsfor5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest
92
Table57
300mANOVAresultsfor5.56-mmM4A1dispersiontest
7.62-mmDispersionResults[100mand300m(tables58through64andfig.73)].
Table58
100m7.62-mmMk11dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons)

93
Table59
300m7.62-mmMk11dispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons)

Table60
Standarddeviationsof7.62-mmMk11100mand300mdispersionresults

Table61
Differencebetween100mMannbarreland100mMk11results(averageofthreeweapons)

94
Table62
Differencebetween300mMannbarreland100mMk11results(averageofthreeweapons)

Figure73
7.62-mm(Mk11)extremespreadonscaledtargets
95
Table63
100-mANOVAresultsfor7.62-mmMk11dispersiontest

Table64
300mANOVAresultsfor7.62-mmMk11dispersiontest

96
9-mmDispersionResults[25m(tables65through68andfigure74)].
Table65
25m9-mmBerettadispersionresults(averageofthreeweapons)

Table66
Standarddeviationsof9-mmM9Beretta25mdispersionresults

Table67
Differencebetween25m9-mmMannbarrelandM9Berettadispersionresults
(averageofthreeweapons)

97
Figure74
9-mmextremespreadonscaledtargets(25m)
Table68
ANOVAresultsfor9-mmBerettadispersionresults

98
GeneralizedWeaponDispersionResults(table69).
Table69
Statisticalcomparisonoftestammunitionextremespread(fieldweapons)
105,106
Crane300-YardDispersionTest(Shoulder-Fired)
The300-yarddispersiontestoutlinedherewasconductedwiththeassistanceof
NSWCatCrane.Thistestconsistedoffiringthree10-roundgroupspercartridgetypeat300
yardsbyexpertlevelcertifiedshooters
107
.Theextremespread,meanradius,horizontalSD,
verticalSD,andremainingvelocityofeachgroupwasrecordedusingtheNSWCCraneCode
408OutdoorTestFacilityacoustictargetingsystem(table70).Eachweaponwascleaned,
inspected,andlubricatedpriortothebeginningofthetest.
Table70
300-yarddispersiondata(Cranetest)

_______________________
105
Basedontheassumptionthatthedistributionsoftheextremespreadsarenormal,thetwo-samplestudentst-test
andanAnalysisofVariance(ANOVA)comparisonmethodwith95%confidenceintervalwasused.
106
Dispersiontestsonthe5.56mmammunitionwereconductedwiththeM4A1only.Itwasshowninthebullet
integritytestportionofthisreportthattheLeMas5.56-mmammunitionbreaksupwhenfiredfromtheM16A4.
107
Notethatcertificationisconductedonanannualbasis.
99
DispersionConclusions(Summary):
The5.56mmand7.62mmLeMasammunitionlotstestedcontinuallyperformedwell
inalltheaccuracyteststhatwereconducted.The9-mmLeMasammunitionwaslessaccurate
thanthemilitaryalternativesthatweretested.
ArmorPenetrationTests
Defeatingintermediatebarriersisavitalaspectofdeterminingprojectileeffectiveness.
Threehardtarget(armorgradesteelplates)
108
penetrationtestswereconducted(figs.75and
76).Armorplatesareusedforavarietyofarmoringapplications,includingbodyarmorinsert
plates,ballisticshields,armorupgradekitsforvehicles,andprotectiveguardbuildings.
ResultsshowedthatalthoughtheLeMasammunitionoutperformedthemilitaryroundsin
somespecificcircumstances.Itwaslesseffectiveoverall.
Reference:
TOP2-2-710(BallisticTestsofArmorMaterials)
TOP4-2-016(SmallArmsAmmunition)
Figure75
Armorpenetrationtestsetup

Figure76
Cardboardwitnessmaterials
_______________________
108
ThesteelplatesusedinthistestweremanufacturedbyAlgomasteelandconsistedoftheAlgomaAlgoTuf-500line
ofAR-500steel(surfacehardnessbetween477and545Brinell).Itisacknowledgedthatnotalsteelplatesfrom
thissourcewillbeexactlyequivalent.
100
Criteria:
NoPenetration(NoLightcanbeseen)
PartialPenetration(Smallholeorcrackinbackplate;somelightcanbeseen)
CompletePenetration(Visibleholeinplate)
USSOCOM5.56-mmArmorPenetrationResults(5and100m)
Inthistest,bothofthecommercialroundsdemonstratedenhancedarmor
penetratingcapability(against3/8-in.AR-500steelplate)overtheM855whenfiredfromthe
M16A4at5m(fig.77andtable71).

Figure77
Example5.56-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500steelplate
Table71
5.56-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/8in.and5/8-in.steelplate(5and100m)

101
USSOCOM7.62-mmArmorPenetrationResults(5and100m)
Aswasseenwiththe5.56-mmcaliber,thecommercialDODICsoutperformedthe
militarycartridgesinthesespecificsituations.Inthesecases,thecommercialroundswere
superioragainstthe3/8-in.AR-500targetat5m(fig.78andtable72).

Figure78
Example7.62-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500steelplate
Table72
7.62-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/8-in.and5/8-in.AR-500steelplate

USSOCOM9-mmArmorPenetrationResults(5and25m)
Inthistest,allofthecartridgesfailedtoperforatethetargetandtherewasno
measurableperformancedifferencebetweenthecommercialandmilitarycartridges(fig.79and
table73).
102
Figure79
Example9-mmshotsagainst3/8-in.AR-500steelplate
Table73
9-mmpenetrationresultsagainst3/8-in.and5/8-in.steelplate

CraneHardTarget(R50)Test(fig.80)
Hardtargetpenetrationtestingwasconductedonmanyoftheammunitionsystems
thatwereevaluatedbyNSWCCrane.Thetargetmaterialwas-in.mildsteelplatein
accordancewithASTMA36,hotrolledsteel
109
.Knownmaterialpropertiesofthismetal
included:HardnessRockwellB79orBrinellhardnessratingof143.
_______________________
109
Note:TheArmyrecognizesthatprojectilesandfragmentsthatperforate-in.thickmildsteelisgenerallyeffective
againststandardtrucks(1963era).Damageinwhichthereisperforationof-in.thickmildsteelisgenerally
effectiveagainstlightlyarmoredvehicles,railwayrollingstock,andtargetsofsimilarnature.Onamorecontem-
porarynote,itisalsonotedthattheFBIandtheDepartmentofHomelandSecurityusetwothinsheetsof
galvanizedsteel(generallyaround20-gaugeorabout0.0359in.thick)set3in.aparttosimulatethepenetrationof
cardoors.
103
TheR50specificationusedrequiresaholethatlightcanpassthroughforthe
penetrationorimpacttobeconsideredaperforation.R50isthedistancewhere50%ofthe
projectilesareexpectedtopenetratethespecifiedtargetorbarrier.Largervalues(distances)
equatetoabroadersetofoperationalranges.
Figure80
Cranehardtarget(R50)testdata
Conclusions:TheLeMasprojectileshavebetterpenetrationcapabilitiesagainstthin
targetsatcloseranges,butthisfallsoffastherangeisincreased.Thispenetrationpatternisthe
resultoffiringalightbulletathighvelocity.Lightbulletsdeceleratequickly,butinitiallycan
impartsubstantiallylargeramountsofenergy(force)thantheirheaviercousins.Depending
upontheparticulars(targetthicknessinparticular),thiscanandwillaffectperformance.
SoftTarget/TissueSimulant(BallisticGelatin)Tests

WhyGelatin?
LeMasLtd.claimsthatballisticgelatintestsarenotrepresentativeoftheresultsthat
theyhaveseenintheirliveanimaltests.
The5.56mmLandWarfarebulletwhenimpactingcalibrated10%
ballisticgelatindemonstratesshallowpenetration,smallpermanent
woundchannel,andverylittlefragmentation.However,whenimpacting
livetissue,thesamelandwarfarebulletdeployswithdramatic
dimensionsoffragmentation,largepermanentwoundchannelsand
greaterdepthofpenetration.(ref.17)
Inordertounderstandwhyweusetissuesimulants,youmustfirstbeintroducedto
thecomplexitiesofwoundballistics.Thestudyofterminaleffectsspansthespectrumof
academicdisciplinesfrombiologytophysics,withahealthydoseofengineering,computer
science,materialscience,mathematics,andchemistrythrownin.Asaresultofthebroadnessof
thefield,therehavebeenamultitudeofsimplifications,fromsupposedexperts,thatwere
employedtotryandunderstandwhatisreallygoingon.Theideaistosimplifysimplify
simplify.
104
Asmallsimplificationoftheproblemistousedatafromcadaversthatwererecently
shotwiththeammunitioninquestion.Cadaverswereshotinthe1800s,butdeadtissueismuch
stiffer,lackselasticity,andtendstobedisruptedbypressuresthatwouldsimplypushliving
tissueaside.Thus,thedamageproducedincadaverscanbefarmoreextensivethanthat
producedinlivingtissues,makingcadavershotstechnicallymisleading.Ofcourse,thisfact
leadstothequestionofwhetherdataobservationsincadaversareerroneous,orwhetherthey
arerepresentativeoflivingtissue.Additionalquestionsinclude:Whatiftherangehad
beendifferent?Whatifthetargethadbeeninbetterorworsephysicalshape?Whatifthe
ammunitionhadbeenheavierorfasterorofahighercaliber?Whatifthetargethadbeenunder
theinfluenceofdrugsormedication?WhatifThelistgoesonandonandonandduetothe
shottoshotandcadavertocadaverdifferences,measuredresultscanneverbeadequatelyand
preciselyrepeated.Repeatedresultsfromrepeatedtestsarethecornerstoneofscience.
Onesolutiontothisistosimplyshootmanynewtargetsunderapproximatelysimilar
conditions.Forobviousreasons,livestockhavehistoricallybeenemployedforthistask.Of
course,thisleadstoquestionsaboutthedifferencesinsize,motivation,anatomy,andthe
overallmoralityofthetesting.Ethicsaside,thereareseriousbiologicaldifferencesbetween
four-leggedbeastsandhumans.Additionally,thecostofanimaltestingisparticularlyhighand
thedatacollectedisstilloverlycomplex,whichimpedesunderstanding.
Inthe1930s,itwasnotedbyR.H.Kentthattherewasafairdegreeofcorrelation
betweentheeffectsofbulletsfiredintoanimaltissuesandtotheeffectsseeninwatercans.
Kentwenttosomelengthtoexplainwhythereweresimilaritiesandimpliedthatnon-living
biologicalmattercouldbeusedinballisticresearch.
Thegovernmentconductedextensiveanimalandgelatincomparativetestinginthe
1960s(refs.18through23)
110
.Thisearlyworkeventuallyallowedthegovernmenttomoveinto
othertypesofordnancetestingandeventuallyledtogeneralizedgelatintestmetrics.
PicturefromEvanMarshallsbook
Note:Gelatin,aswithmostfibrouspolymers,includingthosefoundinthehumanbody,has
positivestrainratedependence.Thatis,thefasterthematerialisloaded,themoreitresists.
Thissuggeststhatthedegreeofcorrelationbetweengelatinandtissuewillvarywithimpact
velocity,geometry,andotherfactors.
_______________________
110
Thesereferencesarenotanexhaustivelistofthetestthatoccurredinthistimeperiod,butaresufficienttogetthe
pointacross.
105
Currentgelatinprotocolsarenot100%representativeofthoseearlytests.Theyare
notintendedtobe.Simulanttestingduplicatescertainspecifickeyaspectsofanimaltestsand
providesonlyimpreciseinsightintootheraspectsofperformance
111
.Inshort,gelatinisa
scientificreproducibletestingtoolthat,wheninterpretedcorrectly,isusedtogaugespecific
measurablesoftheroundsperformanceunderspecificconditions.
Infigure81(ref.23),agoatwoundtract
112
iscomparedtotheresultobservedin20%
gelatin.Notethattherelativebroadeningofthewoundtracthappenedinroughlythesame
positionasthelocationofthemeasuredincreaseinenergydeposit/cm(i.e.,force)ingelatin.
Extensiveenergydeposittestsofthistypehaveshowngelatintobeafairlygoodindicatorof
regionalwoundingpotential.
Figure81
Dziemianscomparisonofbulletwoundtractdimensions(ingoats)andenergyabsorptionfrom
bulletsby20%gelatintissuemodels(ref.24)

Acomparisonofvarioustissueteststogelatinhaveshownthathomogeneous
gelatinblocksaremostsimilartomuscletissue,andareleastsimilartolungorbonetissue(fig.
82).
Figure82
Velocitydecaycurvedatafromahistorical1960'scomparativetest(ref.20)
_______________________
111
Itisnotedthatnotwoanimaltestsareexactlyidentical;shotswillbeplacedindifferentareas;shotswillhave
differentimpactconditions;animalswillresponddifferently.Allofthesefactors,plustheothergeneraldifferences
betweenhumansandfourleggedanimals,toincludemotivationalfactors,alllendtothenecessityofareproducible,
ifimprecise,test.
112
Historicaldatathatwastakenfroma1960serareport.
106
(b) (3) (A)
(b) (3) (A)
Thistypeoftestinghasalsoshownthathighspeeddifferencesarelesspronounced
inalltissuetypesthanlowspeedones
113
.Thisimpliesthatgelatinenergydeposittestsbecome
lessgeneralandlessapplicableatlowerimpactvelocities.
Onefinalnote,researcherslikegelatinbecauseitishomogeneous,presentingthe
samephysicalcharacteristicsblockafterblock;becauseitistransparent,sothateventsinside
theblockcanberecordedbyhigh-speedvideo;becauseitsretardingpropertiesanddensity
havebeenshowntobesufficientlysimilartomuscletissue;becausethewoundprofileingelatin
hasbeenshowntobecomparabletopenetration,expansion,andfragmentationpatterns
observedduringmoreexpensiveanimaltests;andbecausethepropertiesofthemediumand
theircorrelationtoballisticshavebeenrigorouslyevaluatedandindependentlyvalidatedand
debatedforover70yrs.
Figure83showsresultsfromtwodifferenttests.One(left)comesfromDr.Fackler
114
,
whoconductedindependentresearchintothesuitabilityofgelatinasatissuesimulant.The
other(right)isanindependentassessmentofthesuitabilityofgelatinasabackingmaterial.
Figure83
Historicalcomparisonsofgelatinandtissue
Ithasbeenshownthatgelatin,whenusedproperly,isausefultissuesimulantfor
evaluationpurposes.
CurrentRoundofGelatinTests
Forthepurposesofthiseffort,projectedprojectileperformanceinsofttissuewas
examinedwithclassicalandcontemporarytechniques.Thesearenotwithoutcontroversy,but,
whentakenincontext,andwhenappliedcorrectly,areusefulgaugesofrelativeperformance.
_______________________
113
Athighspeeds,velocitydecayisdrivenprimarilybytargetdensity,asthespeedisdecreasedotherfactors
(viscosity,materialstrength)becomemoreinfluential.Sincemosttissueshavedensitiescloseto1,theybehave
similarlytowaterandgelatin(both10and20%)athighspeeds.Atlowerspeeds,otherfactors(projectileand
target)dominateanddifferencesbecomemoreclear.
114
Dr.Fracklerhaspublisheddozensofarticlesoverthelastcoupleofdecadesandhascontributedgreatlytothe
overallunderstandingofwoundballistics.
107
ARDECDynamicTests.Usinghighspeedvideototracktheleadingedgeofthe
projectile,anincrementalvelocitydecayrecordoftheprojectile,asitpassesthroughballistic
gelatincanbeobtained.Theseresultsshowhowrapidlytheprojectileslowsafterimpactand
areanindicationofhowfasttheprojectiletransfersitsenergy/momentumtothetarget.Itis
desirablethattheprojectileshedthemajorityofthiswoundingpotentialatdepthswhichare
likelytostillbeinsidethetarget(regardlessofshot-line).Itisalsodesirablethattheprojectile,or
itsresultingfragments,penetratedeeplyenoughtoreachandbeeffectiveagainstthevital
organsandstructuresthatareresponsibleforrapidincapacitation;e.g.,centralnervous
system
115,116,117
.
Thevelocitycurvesinfigure84showthat(atshortranges)theSierra
projectileimpactswithahighervelocitythanM855.Thecurvesalsoshowthattheadvantageis
rapidlylostastherangeisincreased
118
.
Figure84
Samplevelocitydecaycurves(m/s)versusdepthofpenetration(cm)forSierraandM855
projectileswhenfiredinto10%gelatinsimulant

_______________________
115
TheFBIbelievesthatapenetrationvalueof12to18in.(30to45cm)in10%ballisticgelatinisagoodbenchmark
ofeffectiveness.
116
Itisnotedthatthevastmajority(over90%)ofdocumentedhistorical(pre-1970)instantincapacitations(lessthan5
sec)againstanimaltargets(primarilygoats)involvehitstothecentralnervoussystem.Theremainingcasesare
largelyattributabletodamagedoneagainstmajorregionsofthecirculatorysystem;e.g.,aorta.
117
Theamountofsofttissuethatmustbetraversedbeforereachingthemajorwoundingcentersishighlyvaried.
However,giventhatnotallshotlinesarehorizontalandarmsandotherinterveningstructuresmustfirstbe
overcome,andthatsometissuesarehardertopenetratethanothers(bone);itisnotunreasonabletoassumethat
thedepthofeffectivedamagemustbegreaterthanonemightcommonlyassociatewiththehumantorso.
118
Atsomerangethevelocitiesofthetwoprojectiles,onavelocityversusrangecurve,crosstheM855hasthehigher
velocity.Wherethisoccursisdependentuponthingssuchasmuzzlevelocity,whichisweapondependent.
108
Aswaspreviouslystated,theheavierM855,whenfiredoutofanM4,
impactedthegelatintargetatalowervelocitythaneitheroftheLeMasprojectilestestedat5m,
andatacomparativevelocityat100m.
The2-dimensionalenergydepositpercentimeteroftravelcurvesshownin
figure85serveasageneralindicatoroftheamountofforcethatispotentiallyimpartedtothe
gelatintargetatthelisteddepths
119
.Higherpeakvalueswithlargercurvevolumes(areaunder
thecurve)aregenerallymoreadvantageous
120
thanlowerpeakvalueswithsmallercurve
volumes
121
.
Figure85
Sampleenergydepositcurves(J/cm)versusdepthofpenetration(cm)forSierraandM855
projectileswhenfiredinto10%gelatinsimulantattworanges
Themeasurementsofenergydepositpercentimeteroftravel(force)suggest
thattheSierraprojectilehasasubstantiallyhigherpeakvaluethantheM855(closelylookatthe
scales),andgenerallydisplaysmoreconsistentperformance,forthismetric,overall.However,
theM855ismoreeffectiveoverabroaderrangeofpenetrationdepthsthantheSierraprojectile.
Thisbroaderrangeofeffectivenessisnecessarywhenasubstantialthicknessofmaterialoran
intermediatebarriermustfirstbeovercomebeforevitalorgansandstructuresarereached;e.g.,
armblockingacentralnervoussystemshot.Whatyouhitandreachisasimportantashowhard
youhitit(table74).
_______________________
119
Thereaderisremindedthatthecurvesshownweregeneratedwithgelatinthatisauniformmusclesimulant.At
lowervelocities,againstactualtissue,theexactvaluesthatmightbeexpectedcananddovarysomewhat.
120
Tissueis,ingeneral,highlyelasticandtheamountofforcenecessarytoinflictactualdamagecanbesubstantial.
121
ThecurrentofficialmetricsusedbytheArmytogaugeoveralleffectivenessarenotincludedinthisreport.That
information,ifneeded,canbedeterminedbycontactingtheappropriateofficesatArmyResearchLabsin
Aberdeen,Maryland.
109
Table74
Criticaldimensionsofhumanmales
122
Adultmaletorso(nude)dimensionsabovediaphragm
Dimension
Population
percentile
Atheightof
armpits(in.)
Atheightof
armpits(cm)
Atheightof
nipples(in.)
Atheightof
nipples(cm)
1
st
6.2 15.7 7.3 18.5
50th 7 17.8 9.1 23.1 Chestdepth
99th 9.4 23.9 10.9 27.7
1
st
2.2 5.6 1.6 4.1
50th 3.5 8.9 3.1 7.9
Ventraldepthto
proximalsurface
ofheart
99th 4.6 11.7 4.6 11.7
1
st
2 5.1 3.2 8.1
50th 2.5 6.4 4 10.2
Ventraldepthto
proximalsurface
oflungs
99th 3 7.6 4.8 12.2
1
st
4.2 10.7 4.1 10.4
50th 5.3 13.5 5.1 13
Dorsaldepthto
distalsurfaceof
lungs
99th 6.4 16.3 6.1 15.5
1
st
2.1 5.3 5.7 14.5
50th 2.7 6.9 7.1 18
Ventraldepthto
proximalsurface
ofspinalchord
99th 3.3 8.4 8.5 21.6
1
st
4.1 10.4 6.1 15.5
50th 5.1 13 7.5 19.1
Dorsaldepthto
distalsurfaceof
spinalchord
99th 6.1 15.5 9 22.9
USSOCOMBareGelatinTest.

Objective:Thepurposeofthistestistoroughlygaugethesofttargetterminal
characteristicsoftestammunition.Itisacknowledgedthatterminalballisticsisacomplexand
difficultfieldtoassess.Nevertheless,softtargettissueperformance(woundingpotential)isa
vitalandcriticalaspectofammunitionperformancethatmustbegaugedandunderstood
123
.
Reference:
GelatinBlockStandardizationManual(JointServiceWoundBallistics
IPT)
Prelude:Acommonmisconceptionaboutstaticgelatintestingisthatitcanbe
usedtoaccuratelyquantifythewoundingpotentialofammunition.Thatisincorrect.Gelatinisa
transparent,homogeneous,musclesimulantthatprovidesusefulinsightintohowtheprojectile
islikelytointeractwithsofttissue,underspecificconditions.
_______________________
122
Whencomparingthesedimensionstothevariousotherchartsshowninthisreport,itisimportanttorememberthat
notallshotsarehorizontalandarmscananddogetinthewayofactualshots.
123
Note:TheU.S.Militaryfollowsspecificinternationalconventionsthatlimitorprohibittheuseofcertaintypesof
ammunition.
110
Itgivesaroughindicationof(fig.86):
Relativeprojectilemotion(mostsimilartotissueswhicharecomparable
tomuscle)
124
Maximumpenetrationdepthpossible(potentialonly)
Possiblefragmentation(potentialanddegreeinmuscleliketissue)
Location,character,andrelativeamountofdamagepotential
125
(limited)
Figure86
Relevantgelatinblockfeatures
Gelatinindicatorsareusedtoscreenoutammunitionthatislikelytobeless
effectiveorineffectiveinawiderangeofprobablecircumstances.
Considerations:
Projectilesthatbegintodamagethegelatinquickly(smallnecklengths)
aremoreadvantageousthanprojectilesthatgodeeperbeforedamage
reallybegins(longernecklengths).Thisisparticularlyimportanton
frontalshots(thintargets)andonshotlineswherethetissuebreached
hasrelativelylowresistance.
Projectilesthatdamagealargervolumeofgelatin(onaverage)are
morelikelytobemoreeffectivethanprojectilesthatdamageasmaller
volumeofgelatin(onaverage)
126
.
_______________________
124
Projectilemotioninformationisusedtotellhowstabletheprojectilesorientationisasittravelsthroughthe
medium.Thisaffectsdragandaffectshowfastenergy/momentumislostbytheprojectilethatisanindicatorof
damagepotential.Themoreenergythatislostbytheprojectileperunitofdistancethemoredamagethatwilllikely
resultinthatarea.
125
Itisimportanttorealizethatdamagedonetogelatinisnotequivalenttodamagedonetotissue.Tissuesarehighly
variableintermsofstructureandmechanicalproperties.That,plustherelativeinteractionbetweendifferenttissue
typeswillhaveaprofoundimpactontheconditionsthatwillberequiredtodamagethattissueorstructure.What
gelatindamagevolumestellsyouis,allelsebeingequal(includingimpactyawconditions),whichprojectileislikely
toproducemoredamage.
126
Note:Damagelocationisalsoimportant.Damagethatismorelikelytobeinvitalregionsismoreeffectivethan
damagethatisdoneinlesslikelyareas.
111
Projectilesmustpossessenoughpenetrationpotentialtoconsistently
reachthevitalareasofthebody(e.g.,heartandcentralnervoussystem)
regardlessofshot-lineandregardlessofthepresenceofprobable
intermediatebarriers(suchasautoglassandarms).
Projectilesthatfragmentwillprobablycoveragreaterspreadofarea
thanprojectilesthatdonot.Thisincreasesthelikelihoodthatthe
projectilewillinterceptanddamagevitalregionssuchastheheartor
centralnervoussystem.
Allofthesepointsarestatedwiththeunderstandingthatgoodshotplacement
is,byfar,themostimportantconsideration
127
.Yousimplycantaffectwhatyoudonthit.
5.56-mmResults(BareGelatinTargetwithM16A4andM4A1at5,100,and300m)
(figs.87through99andtables75through77)
128
.
5-mbaregelatindata
Figure87
SampleM4A15-mbaregelatinresults(left:M855,Center:LeMasLW,right:Sierra)
_______________________
127
Byfar,themosteffectivehitsarethosethatengagethebrainortheuppercentralnervoussystem.Theheartand
themajorveinsandarteriesofthecirculatorysystemratesecond.
128
Note:Therecanbeconsiderableshottoshotvariationingelatintests.Multipleshotsarerequiredtounderstand
theexpectedbandofperformancethatistypicalforeachround.
112
Table75
5.56-mmbaregelatinresultsat5m
129
100-mbaregelatindata
Figure88
SampleM4A1100-mbaregelatinresults(left:M855,center:LeMasLW,right:Sierra)

Table76
_______________________
129
Theaveragethatislistedhereisnottheaverageoftheminandmaxshown,butratheristheaverageofthetotal
numberofshotsthatweretakenineachsetofdata.Thenumberofshotsvariedbytestset.
113
Figure89
SampleM4A1300-mbaregelatinresults(left:M855,center:LeMasLW,right:Sierra)
Table77
M16A4baregelatincomparisondata(allranges)
114
Figure90
SampleM16A4baregelatinshots(top:5m,middle:100m,bottom:300m,left:M855,center:
LeMasLW,right:Sierra)
Summaryof5.56-mmObservations
Allofthecommercialammunitiontestedsufferedfromlackluster
penetration(lessthan12in.)at5and100m.Thiswouldsuggestthatit
wouldbeoflimitedeffectivenesswhenlongershotlinesarerequiredto
hitanddamagevitalregionsofthebody;e.g.,interveningarminfrontof
body(fig.91).
Figure91
Theshotthatchangedlawenforcementammunitioncriteria
TheM855(atallranges)andthecommercialrounds(atlongerranges)
demonstratednecklengthsthatweresometimesinexcessof4in.This
suggeststhattheammunitionsperformancewouldbelesseffectivein
somesituationstoincludeshortershotlinesandthroughregionsofthe
bodythatofferlessresistance
130
.
_______________________
130
Inthesecases,thebulletmayexitthebodywithminimaldamage.
115
7.62-mmResults(BareGelatinTargetwithMK11at5,100,and300m)(figs.92
through94andtables78to80)
131
.
5-mbaregelatindata
Figure92
SampleMK115-mbaregelatin(left:M118LR,center:LeMasLW,right:Speer)

Table78
7.62mm5-mbaregelatinresults

Figure93
_______________________
131
theexpectedbandofperformancethatistypicalforeachround.
116
Table79
Figure94

Table80

Summaryof7.62-mmObservations.

ThemilitaryM118LRdemonstratednecklengthsthatwereinexcessof
6in.Thissuggeststhattheammunitionsperformancewouldbeless
effectiveinthosesituationswheretheprojectilemustquicklyaffectthe
target.
Thecommercial7.62-mmroundsinteractedquickly(shortnecklength)
withthetarget,penetrateddeeply,andproduceddamagecavity
volumesthatwereequaltoorgreaterthanthoseseenwiththemilitary
cartridgesthatweretested
132
.
_______________________
132
Note:The7.62-mmprojectiledeformationshapeinthe300-mimagesshown.
117
Inlawenforcement,thetargetfrequentlyisataquarterangleor
sidewaystotheshooter.Vitaltissueliesmuchdeeperonatransverse
shotthanonafrontalshot.Forexample,thedistancetotheheart
increasesfrom2to4inchesforafrontalshotto8to10inchesona
transverseshot.Sameforthelargecardiacandpulmonaryarteriesand
veinsandfortheverysignificantliver.Vitaltissuealsoliesrelatively
deeponanabdominalshot,wherethebulletmustpassthroughagreat
dealofrelativelyinsignificantintestinestoreachthethoracicor
abdominalaortaandinferiorvenacava.
(ref.25)
9-mmResults(BareGelatinTargetat5and25m)(figs.95and96).
Figure95
SampleM9pistol5-mbaregelatin(left:M882,center:LeMas,right:Aguila)
Figure96
SampleM9pistol25-mbaregelatin(left:M882,center:LeMas,right:Aguila)

Summaryof9-mmObservations

Asistypicalofpistolcartridges,alloftheprojectiledesignstested
producedverylittleinthewayofdamagecavities.Assuch,severalof
thestandardparameterswereeitherirrelevantorimpossibleto
measure;e.g.,necklength.

118
Inthisinstance,itwasobservedthattheLeMasprojectileandthe
resultingcartridgeperformancewerevisiblydifferentthantheAguila
designtested
133
.ItisnotedthattheAguilaroundwaschosen,asaround
ofknownconstruction,thatwasexpectedtoperformcomparablytothe
LeMasround.Inthisinstance,thiswasnotthecase.Thereasonwhy
wasnotdeterminedandisnoted.
Themilitarycartridgetesteddemonstratedpenetrationpotentialofmore
than12in.atallrangestested.TheLeMasprojectilepenetrationwas
adequateat5m,butdroppedtojustunder12in.at25m.(TheFBI
wouldconsiderthisunacceptable).Finally,theAguilaprojectile
penetrationwasdemonstratedtobeconsistentlylessthan9in.atall
rangestested
134
.
USSOCOMAutoGlasswithGelatinTests
5.56-mmResults(BareGelatinafter45-degAutoGlassBarrierTargetwithM16A4
andM4A1at5,100,and300m)(figs.97through102and81to83)
135,136
.
5m5.56-mmautoglassdata
Figure97
SampleM4A15-mautoglassresults(left:M855,center:LeMasLW,right:Sierra)
137
_______________________
133
Themostdistinctiveperformancedifferenceisthefragmentationpattern.TheAguilaprojectileclearlyfracturesinto
multiplechunksthathaveatendencytospreadout.TheLeMasprojectilealsofragments,butthesepiecestendto
stayincloseproximity.Itisnotedthatfragmentsthatspreadoutaremathematicallymorelikelytoengagevital
organsandstructuresthatfragmentsthatfollowthesamepath(assumingsimilarpenetration).
134
ReportcomparestoFBIstandardsbecausethe9-mmLeMasbulletcontainsamaterialthatisnon-radioopaque.
135
Foravarietyofreasons,automobileglass(setat45deg)isadifficultbarrierthatgreatlyreducesthepenetration
performanceofmanyrounds.
136
theexpectedbandtoperformancethatistypicalforeachround.
137
NotetherelativedepthsofthecalibrationBBscomparedtotheoverallpenetrationoftheprojectile.Itisarguable
astohoweffective(ingeneral)shallowpenetratorsare.
119
Figure98
Table81
5.56mm5-mautoglassresults
100m5.56-mmautoglassdata
Figure99
Figure100
120
Table82
300-mautoglassdata
Figure101
Figure102
121
Table83

Summaryof5.56-mmAutoGlassTestObservations
Allofthe5.56-mmprojectilestestedfailedtomeetthe12-in.penetration
guidelinesetbytheFBI.Inmanycases,5.56-mmpenetrationwas
similartooronlyslightlygreaterthanthatobservedwithprojectilesthat
areknownnottopenetratetheskinandareconsiderednon-lethal.Note
theimage(fig.103),whichshowstheresultsofseveralnon-lethal
impactsconductedagainstagelatintarget.
Figure103
Non-lethaldesignsthatdonotpenetrateskin,butdopenetrategelatin(about3in.)
138
_______________________
138
Penetrationishighlyimpactvelocitydependent.Gelatinandmosttissuesresistfastermovingprojectilesmorethan
similarmovingslowerprojectiles.Thatiswhypistolandlongrangepenetrationdepthsarefrequentlygreaterthan
riflesandshortrangepenetrationdepths.Correlationbetweengelatinandtissueisnotoneforoneinallinstances
anddiffersmoreasvelocityisdecreased.
122
Inmanyinstances,afterskinpenetration,thereisacertainamountof
non-essentialtissuewhichmustfirstbetraversed(shotlinedependent
butusuallyaninchormore)beforemorevitalorgansandstructuresare
encountered.Thisconsiderationdiminishestheprobableeffectiveness
ofprojectilesthatexhibitonlyshallowpenetrationingelatin.
Thecavityvolumesproducedbythecommercialroundswerenotably
smallerthanthecavityvolumesproducedbytheM855atallranges.
ThisisattributabletotheeffectofthepenetratorintheM855design.
Fragmentation,inthisscenario,wasevidentinalltheroundstested.
7.62-mmResults(BareGelatinafter45-degreeAutoGlassBarrierTargetwith
MK11at5,100,and300m)(figs.104through106andtables84to86)
139,140
.
5-mautoglassdata
Figure104
SampleMK115-mautoglasstarget(left:M118LR,center:LeMasLW,right:Speer)

Table84

_______________________
139
Foravarietyofreasons,automobileglass(setat45-deg)isadifficultbarrierthatgreatlyreducesthepenetration
performanceofmanyrounds.
140
theentirebandofexpectedperformancethatistypicalforeachround.
123
100-mautoglassdata
Figure105
Table85
300-mautoglassdata
Figure106

Table86
124
Summaryof5.56-mmAutoGlassTestObservations
Observed7.62-mmcavitieswerelargerthan5.56-mmcavities.M118LR
cavitiesweregenerallylargerthanthecommercialroundstested.This
suggests-allelsebeingequal-thatthe7.62-mmM118LRroundswere
potentiallymoreeffectiveagainstautoglasstargetsthantheother
projectiles tested.
Penetrationdepthsstillfellshortofthe12-in.guidelineinmost
instances,butwerelongerthanthoseobservedwiththe5.56mm.In
general,themilitaryvariantsoutpenetratedthecommercialalternatives
at5and100m,butnotat300m.
Against45-degautomobileglass,LeMasandSpeerprojectiles
performed similarlyattherangestested.
9-mmResults[BareGelatinafter45-degAutoGlassBarrierTargetwithM9Pistolat
5(fig.107)and25m(fig.108)].Noneofthe9-mmprojectilestestedwereeffectiveintheauto
glasstestatallranges.Oftheprojectilestested,theM882wastheonlyprojectilethatmetthe
FBIcriterionof12in.ofpenetrationatanytestrange.Cavityvolumeswereinconsequential,and
aregenerallyconsideredirrelevantinpistoltests.
Figure107
SampleM9pistol5-mautoglasstarget(left:M882,center:LeMas,right:Aguila)

Figure108
SampleM9pistol25-mautoglasstarget(left:M882,center:LeMas,right:Aguila)
125
ARDECStaticGelatinTestData
In2005,PM-MASsponsoredanengineeringstudy(previouslymentioned)that
conductedextensive10%gelatintestingonavarietyofsystemsatthreeranges;5-marray(15
shotspersystem),100-m(5shots),and300-m(20shots).Variousstaticmeasurementswere
takentoroughlygaugeterminaleffectiveness.Relevantmeasurementsfromthattestingseries
arepresentedintable87(notethattheabbreviationsarelistedinthefootnotebelow):
141
Table87
ARDEC2004statictestdatavaluesonrelevanttesting
Averagevalueswithminandmaxobserved
Quick
reference
Range
(m)
Impact
velocity
(ft/sec)
Ammunition
type&lot
Weapon
type&lot
Caliber
(mm)
Maximum
penetration
depth(in.)
(1)
Necklength
(in.)
(5)
Significant
fracturelength
(in.)
(6)
Fracture
profilemax
diam(in.)
(7)
FPmaxdiam
location(in.)
(8)
M855R11/M4-
144-6m
5 2827
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
M855R11/M4-
14100m
100 2631
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
M855R11/M4-
14300m
300 1893
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
M855
R11/M16A4-20
4-6m
5 3056
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
R11/M16A4-20
100m
100 2746
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
R11/M16A4-20
300m
300 2083
M855Ref.Lot
LC87F00R011
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
CRN/M16A4-
204-6m
5 3052
M855Crane
Submission(Lot
LC-97B106-057)
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
CRN/M16A4-
20100m
100 2874
M855Crane
Submission(Lot
LC-97B106-057)
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
R2L(P/M)16A4-
204-6m
5 3037
R2LPAA17
Reduced
RicochetLot
BLH03D020-
001
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
R2L(P/M)16A4-
20100m
100 2703
R2LPAA17
Reduced
RicochetLot
BLH03D020-
001
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
Pica/M16A4-20
4-6m
5 3079
M855Picatinny
SubmissionLC-
01H108-175
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
Pica/M16A4-20
100m
100 2874
M855Picatinny
SubmissionLC-
01H108-175
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
M855
Pica/M16A4-20
300m
300 2057
M855Picatinny
SubmissionLC-
01H108-175
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
Sierra
#1310/M4-14
4-6m
5 3539
MolyCoated
Sierra5.56mm
ProjectileLot
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
_______________________
141
NL(necklength),MFD(maximumfracturediameter),FDL(maximumfracturediameterlocationordepth),SFL
(significantfracturelength),andPD(maximumpenetrationdepth).
126
(b) (3) (A)
Table87
(continued)
Averagevalueswithminandmaxobserved
Quick
reference
Range
(m)
Impact
velocity
(ft/sec)
Ammunition
type&lot
Weapon
type&lot
Caliber
(mm)
Maximum
penetration
depth(in.)
(1)
Significant
fracturelength
(in.)
(5)
Significant
fracturelength
(in.)
(6)
Fractureprofile
maxdiam.(in.)
(7)
FPmaxdiam.
location(in.)
(8)
Sierra
#1310/M4-14
100m
100 3080
MolyCoated
Sierra
5.56mm
ProjectileLot
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
NoslerBT/M4-
144-6m
5 3485
MolyCoated
Nosler
5.56mmBT
ProjectileLot
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
NoslerBT/M4-
14100m
100 3133
MolyCoated
Nosler
5.56mmBT
ProjectileLot
M4
Carbine
(SN
6190998)
5.56
M80
7.62mm/M14-
224-6m
5 2852
M80
(7.62mm)Lot
LC89D103-
589
M14(S/N
1462345)
7.62
M80
7.62mm/M14-
22100m
100 2712
M80
(7.62mm)Lot
LC89D103-
589
M14(S/N
1462345)
7.62
M80
7.62mm/M14-
22300m
300 2185
M80
(7.62mm)Lot
LC89D103-
589
M14(S/N
1462345)
7.62
M118LR
7.62/M14-22
4-6m
5 2661
M118LR
(7.62mm)Lot
LC01C174006
M14(S/N
1462345)
7.62
M118LR
7.62/M14-22
100m
100 2534
M118LR
(7.62mm)Lot
LC01C174006
M14(S/N
1462345)
7.62
M856
Tracer/M16A4-
204-6m
5 3097
M856Tracer
Lot
LC90G094-
252
M16A4
(SN
10008311)
5.56
Afewwordsareinorderhere.First,thevalueslistedintable87donotrepresentthe
entirespanofvaluesthatarepossiblewiththelistedammunition.Thesearejustwhatwere
recordedinthisparticulartestingsequence.Thisgivesanindicationofwhatmightbeexpected
withthatweaponsystemundersimilarconditions.Thisistrueofallthegelatindatapresentedin
thisreport.
Second,withregardstothetestsconductedwithLeMasprojectiles,itwasobserved
thattheLeMasdesignstestedgenerallyreactedveryquicklywiththetargetandessentially
brokeuponimpact.
HISTORICALANIMALTESTSWITHSOFTPOINTPROJECTILES
OneoftheclaimsmadebyLeMasLtd.isthattheU.S.Armygelatintestprotocolsarenot
representativeoflivetissuetests.Toaddressthatclaim,ARDECfoundsome1960stestdata
thatwasconductedwithliveanimals,aswellas,gelatintestsubjects.Someofthebullet
designswereverysimilartoLeMasLtd.ThetestwasaimedatdeterminingUnitedStates
vulnerabilitytoenemybulletsthatwereinviolationofthelawsoflandwarfare
142
.
_______________________
142
Guerrillawarfareconcernsspawnedtheneedforthistest.
127
(b) (3) (A)
Multiplecalibers(fig.109)weretestedwithresultsthatwereverysimilartowhatLeMasis
suggestinginitsmarketingclaims.
Figure109
.220Winchestersoftpoint(sampleammunitionpicturefromhistorical1963test)
Withtheexceptionofthecal.257Robertsat10-mrange,thesoft-point
huntingbulletswereequaltoorsuperiortothe7.62-mmball,M80.(ref.26)
woundsproducedingoatsbythesoft-nosehuntingbulletswerelargerand
moreseverethanwoundscausedbythe7.62-mmball,M80(ref.26)
Deathsoccurredmorefrequentlyingoatsshotwithsoft-pointhuntingbullets
thaninanimalsshotwithfull-jacketedriflebulletsundersimilarconditions.
(ref.26)
NoexitwoundswiththeCal.220Swift(100mtest)(ref.26)
Reportedpermanentcollapsetimesof15secondsorless(100mtestwith.220
Swift)(ref.26)
Rapidbreakupoftheprojectilewithinthetarget
143
Largeholesinvariousstructureswithintheanimals
Ascanbeseeninfigures110and111,thedatathatwascollectedfromhistoric(1960s
andbefore)eraanimaltests(suchastheoneshownhere)wascombinedwithparallelgelatin
testdatatoascertainboththeeffectivenessofammunition(ofvarioustypes),aswellastotune
ourunderstandingofterminalballisticsandapplythatknowledgetonon-animaltesting
techniques(suchasgelatin).
_______________________
143
Thisincludesfrequentexamplesofprojectilesthatfailedtoexitthetarget.
128
Figure110
Sampledamagepictures(historical1963tests)
144
Figure111
Sample.220Winchestershotintogelatin(historical1963test)
REVIEWAVAILABLEINFORMATIONONGOVERNMENTTESTSDONEONTRUE(P/M)
TYPEPROJECTILES
Atthispointinthereport,wehaveforensicallyshownthatthetestedLeMasprojectiles
werenotmanufacturedusing(P/M)techniques.However,giventhatthespiritofthe
Congressionalmandatewastoevaluatethemeritsofblendedmetalprojectiles,wewilldevote
asmallportionofthisreporttopastevaluationsoftrue(P/M)projectiles.Thisisnotan
exhaustivelist;rather,thisisasamplingoftheworkandtheresultsthathavebeenseenwith
thistypeofprojectile.
_______________________
144
Note:Similarimagesarefrequentlyobtainedwithothertypesofprojectiles.Thisisnotuniquetothistypeof
projectile.
129
PowderMetallurgyIronFrangibleBulletTest
Thistestreport,dated1980,investigatedthepossibilityofusingapowderedironfrangible
bullet.Thegoalofthiseffortwastoproduceabulletwithafinaldensityofaround7.05g/cm
3
.
Preliminaryandlimitedfiringtestsoftheerasuggestedthatthe(P/M)conceptheldpromiseand
thatthedesireddensitycouldbereached
145
.
ControlledPenetration(PressedMetalPowder)ProjectileTest
In1993,ARDECwastaskedtoinitiateaninvestigationofcontrolledpenetration
ammunition
146
,theprimaryobjectiveofthiseffortwastodevelopa5.56-mmroundthatcouldbe
usedagainsthostileforcesinclosequarterenvironmentswithmaximumsofttargeteffects
combinedwithreducedhardtargetpenetration.SNCIndustrialTechnologiestestedthree
conceptswithmultipledesignseach:
)(37designs)
(20
designs)
(26designs)
Bulletdesignsforeachconceptweregeneratedbyvaryingdifferentdesignparametersto
evaluatetheireffectonpenetrationperformanceagainsthardandsofttargets.Asummaryofthe
relevantresultsisoutlined:
_______________________
145
NotethattheoneRBCDpatentfoundimpliedthatthecorematerialshouldhaveadensityoflessthan7.0g/cm
3
.
146
Fromtimetotime,thereisapushtoacquireammunitionwithlimitedpenetrationcharacteristics.Thisisgenerally
notdone,becausetherearealargenumberofcircumstances(shotlines,intermediatebarriers,etc.)wherelimited
penetrationisdetrimentaltooverallammunitioneffectiveness.
130
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
Figure112
SNCCPApenetrationresultsagainstvariousbarriersandgelatinat25and300m
ARDEC2002TerminalBallisticsEffort
In2002,ARDECwasinvolvedinashortseparateeffortthatinvestigatedthe
characteristicsofvariousammunitionimpactsagainstgelatin.Theseeffortsincludedsomework
withthebeforementionedCPAprototyperoundbySNC.
131
(b) (4)
ThefinalCPAprototyperound,shownhere,rapidlydeceleratedinthe17%(nominal20%)
gelatinblocks.PenetrationdepthswerefoundtobebelowtheFBIrecommended12to18in.
markinthismedium.Recoveredprojectilefragmentswereminimalastheroundessentially
powderedonimpact.
COMPARISONOFLEMASPROJECTILEPERFORMANCEAND(P/M)PROJECTILE
PERFORMANCE
Areviewofthetestingdataoutlinedshowsthatboth(P/M)andLeMasprojectilesshare
certaincommonperformancecharacteristics.Forexample,athighimpactvelocitiesbothtypes
ofprojectilesdemonstrated:
Theabilitytopenetrate(thin)hardtargetsatshortranges
Interactquicklywithsofttargets(powderorbreakuponimpact)
Demonstratelacklusterpenetration
ASSESSMENTOFLEMASMARKETINGCLAIMS

MostSignificantTechnologicalAdvancement
TheballisticwoundmaximumeffectiverangepotentialfromBlendedMetal
Bulletdesignsinlivetissueisnotdrivenbythesamelimitationsinherentin
currentjacketedleadbulletconstructs.BMTsextendedmaximumeffective
rangetissuedestructioncapabilitiesarevastlysuperiortocurrentlyprocured
bulletdesigns.(ref.7)
132
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsBMTisthemostsignificanttechnologicalAdvancement
inSmallArmssincetheadventofthe20
th
century.
Assessment:Basedontheevidencepresentedinthisdocument,thisclaimseemstohave
littlebasisinfact.LeMasBMTwasshowntobeidentical(metallurgically,chemically,and
functionally)toothercommerciallyavailableproductsthathavebeenaroundfordecades.The
BMTprojectilesthatweretestedarenotuniquetoLeMasLtd.Infact,therifleroundstested
wereshowntobefromothercommercialmanufacturers(Sierra,Nosler,andSpeer).
ProduceImmediateZeroMissionCapability
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsammunitionproducesimmediatezeromission
capability,whichrapidlyleadstoterminalresults.
Assessment:Althoughtheclaimthatthistypeofammunitionismoreeffectiveincertain
situationswassubstantiatedbyhistoricaltests,itwasalsoshownthatincapacitationratesare
mainlyattributabletoshotplacement.Historicaltests(ref.26),aswellasLeMasLtd.advertise-
ments(ref.1),showthatasubstantialnumberofsecondscan,andoftendo,elapsebeforethe
targetsuccumbstoitsinjuries
147,148
.
VariedPenetrationBasedonTarget
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatitsammunitionlinewilldefeatavarietyofbarrierobstacles
suchasglass,bodyarmor,and-in.AR-500steelplate,butnotoverpenetratewarm,soft,
oxygenatedtargets.
Assessment:Substantiatedbutwithcaveats
149
.TheLeMas5.56-mmammunitiondid
defeat-in.AR-500steelplateanddidnotoverpenetratethesofttargetstestedatshort
ranges.However,tiltedautomobileglass(whichiscommon),wasshowntovirtuallydefeat
LeMas5.56-mmammunition.Additionally,theR50testagainst-in.steelplate,conductedat
Crane,showedthattheLeMasammunitionwillpenetrate-in.steelplateoveranarrowerband
ofrangesthanthecurrentlyfieldedM855munition.Itisalsonotedthatnoneofthe9-mmrounds
penetratedthesteelbarriersthatweretested.
_______________________
147
Notesimilarratesofincapacitationhavebeendocumentedinothertestsandhavebeenattributedtoinjuries
againstspecificstructures;e.g.,aorta.
148
Some(veryfew)instantincapacitationsareattributabletotargetpsychologicalfactors.However,thisisnotthe
normand,ingeneral,arenotapredictableoccurrence.
149
ItisnotedthatalloftheLeMasequivalents(Sierra,Nosler,etc.)wouldbehaveinasimilarfashion,assuming
analogousimpactconditions.
133
Non-comparablePerformanceinLivingTissue(fig.113)
Figure113
JohnHamilton(right)talksafterdemonstratingablendedmetalroundagainstclay(ref.27)
LeMas,adistributorforRBCDAmmo,istestingfrangiblerounds-which
disintegrateonimpact-rippingcratersinblocksofclaybutbarelypiercingthe
backstops.Largeslabsofwholetoproundmeat,suspendedfromhooks,melt
whenhitbyavarietyofpowerfulrounds-expensivechunksofbeefruinedfor
agreatergood.Thebulletsleaveholesyoucouldthrowarockthrough,and
piecesoffleshflyintothecrowd.(ref.27)
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatballisticgelatintestsarenotrepresentativeoftheresults
thattheyhaveseenintheirliveanimal,clay,andmeatblocktests.
Assessment:
Gelatintestsarenotintendedtobe100%comparabletoanimaltests.
However,extensivetestinghasbeenconductedtoascertainwhetherornot
theyaresufficientlysuitablegaugesforammunitionperformance.Within
certainguidelines,andforspecificmeasureables,theyhavebeenfoundtobe
suitablysimilar.
ClayandMeatTestResults:Whenabullethitsatarget,beitclay,meat,
gelatin,newspaper,tissue,orwhatever,itimpartsacertainamountofforce
againstit.Theimpartedforcecausesthematerialimpactedtomoveaway(ifit
isable).Themoreforcethatisimparted,themorematerialthatisgenerally
displacedinthetarget.
Whathappensnextisdependentuponthematerial.Ifthematerialisinelastic,likeclay,
thenitneverreturnstoitspreviousposition.Ifthematerialiselastic,likemosttissuesand
gelatin,andhasnotdeformedpastitselasticlimit,thenitwillreturntoitspreviousposition
(moreorless).Ifithasbeenstretchedbeyondthatelasticlimit,thenitwilldeformandpossibly
rupture.Agoodanalogyisaballoon.Whenyoublowalimitedamountofairintotheballoon,it
expandstosomevolumeandstaysthere.Ifyouletthatairout,itreturnstoitsprevioussmaller
state.Blowtoomuchanditpops.Thesamevolumeofaircanhavedifferentresultsdepending
uponthesizeandnatureoftheballoonthatisused.Asmallballoonwillpopifthemaximum
volumeisexceededbyeventhesmallestamount(verydramatic),whilealargeballoonmight
notevenexpand(uninteresting).
134
Figure114showsthemaximumdynamiccavityimageM855andLeMasLW(Sierra)5m
testwithM4.
Figure114
SamplemaximumdynamiccavityimageM855andLeMasLW(Sierra)(5-mtestwithM4)
150,151
Testswithporcinetissue(fig.115)haveshownthatanappreciableamountofenergy
mustbeabsorbedbeforethetemporarystretchingofthemuscletissuecausesmeaningful
rupturedamagebeyondthepermanentwoundtract(ref.28).
Eason's Striking Energy vs. Energy Absorbed for Chrome Steel Spheres
Figure115
Eason'sstrikingenergyversusenergyabsorbedforchromesteelspheres
152,153
_______________________
150
Maximumcavityvolumeiscloselytiedtoenergydepositandimpactyawconsiderations.Roundswhichdeposit
lessoftheirenergy(byexitingthetarget)ordeposittheirenergyslower(e.g.,notbreakinguponimpact)arelikely
toproducesmallercavitiesthanthosethatdepositmoreorsooner.
151
Carefullynotetheoverallsizedifferencebetweenthesetwodynamiccavities.
152
Unlikeunstableprojectiles,non-deformingspheresalwayspresentthesamephysicalareatothetarget.This
simplificationisdoneforunderstandingpurposes.
153
Notethatliver,whichisamoreinelastictissuerupturesmoreeasilythanmuscle.
135
(b) (3) (A)
Attheirabsolutepeak,LeMasLW(Sierra)projectileswereshownto,at5m,impartless
than300J/cmofpenetration
154
.Thispeakvaluerapidlydeclinedasthefragmentingprojectile
quicklyslowed.Formostelastictissues,thisamountofstretchingforce(alone)isinsufficientto
breaktheelasticstructureofthetissueandcauseadditionaldamage
155
.Thesameamountof
force,however,isquitedramaticininelasticclayblocks,certaininelastictissues,andmeat
blocksofsmallishsize
156
.
ProduceEnhancedFragmentationPatterns
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthatthehighrotationalvelocityofitsammunitionenhancesthe
fragmentationpatternandgivestheadvantagebacktothemarksman.
Assessment:
Certaintypesof5.56-mmLeMasammunitionwereobservedtobreak-upafter
launchfromtheM16A4
157
.Althoughthismightenhanceincapacitationinsome
circumstances,itisnotacceptablefornumerousreasons;e.g.,longrange
dispersion)
158
.
RapidfragmentationwasconsistentlyobservedfromtheLeMasprojectiles
uponimpactwithdensetestmedium(gelatin)atshortranges.Rapideffects
arenotundesirable,andarenecessaryalongsomeshotlines(thinfrontal
target).However,notenextassessment.
Fragmentationreducespenetration.Insomeinstances,andalongsomeshot
lines,someminimalamountofpenetrationisnecessarytoobtainthedesired
effect.The5.56-mmLeMasammunitionwasshownnottomeetthe
recommendedFBIguidelinesforpenetration.
Assumingadequatepenetrationisobtained,fragmentationdoesincreasethe
probabilityofhittingavitalorganorstructure.Thisincreasestheprobabilityof
adesiredresult,andmightincreaseincapacitationrateinthosescenarios
(duetoenhancedbloodloss)wheremultipleinjuriesoccur.
Fragmentationvariessubstantiallywithimpactconditions(e.g.,structureshit
orimpactvelocitywhichvarieswithrange)andisnotaphenomenathatis
uniquetoLeMasammunition.
_______________________
154
KeepinmindthatsomeoftheenergylostbytheLeMasprojectilegoesintobreakinguptheprojectileandnotjust
intothetarget.
155
Itistheorizedthatfragmentspenetratingstretchedtissuemightcausesomerupturesinspecificcases.
156
Meatblocksyieldinconsistentresults,asthespecificsofthemechanicalstrengthoftheparticularslabwillvary
fromtargettotarget.
157
Referencethebulletintegritytestsection.
158
Simplyput,youcanthurtwhatyoucanthit.
136
CauseHeatGeneratedBlisteringinSoftOrganStructures
VariousBMTbulletdesigns,whenimpactinglivingtissuemediumsoften
demonstratesecondaryballisticsignaturesduringbulletdeployment.Certain
typesofsecondaryballisticsignaturesoftenaremanifestedasheatgenerated
blisteringinsoftorganstructures.(ref.29)
Claim:CauseHeatgeneratedblisteringinsoftorganstructures
Assessment:Currentmilitarytracerroundscontainamagnesiummixwhichburnsatover2000
degreesformultipleseconds.Theseroundscananddobreakupwithinsofttargetsunder
certainconditions.Thiscanexposetheburningtracermixtotheinteriorofthetarget.Itis
unlikelythatnon-burningLeMasstyleammunitionwouldproduceaburningeffectwhichismore
substantiveandeffectivethanaburningtracermixoranincendiaryround
159,160,161
.
Forexample,tracersdonotcontainwhitephosphorus(contrarytocommon
belief),andordinarybullet-woundmanagementisappropriateforcasualties
whohavebeenhitbythem.(ref.30)
Theincendiaryroundisdesignedtoignitecombustibles,suchasgasoline
Thereisnoevidencethatincendiaryroundscauseunusualtreatment
problems.(ref.30)
UniqueManufacturingProcess
Claim:Uniquemanufacturingprocess
Assessment:ItwasforensicallyproventhatLeMasLtd.usescommoncommercial
componentsintheircartridges.ThereislittletonoevidencetosupporttheclaimthatLeMas
cartridgescontainanythingbutcommonlyavailablecommercialcomponents.Furthermore,the
assembledprojectilesweredemonstratedtobehaveinacommonandexpectedmanner.
UseLeadFreeComponents
Claim:LeMasLtd.claimsthat:AllRBCDmunitionsuseleadfreecomponents.
Assessment:
AllofthegovernmenttestedLeMasprojectilescontainedsubstantial
percentagesoflead
162
.
AllLeMascartridgestestedbythegovernmenthadstandardLead
Styphnateprimers.
_______________________
159
Asfarasisknown,therehavenotbeenreportsofsoldiersusingtracerammunitiontoincreaseeffectiveness.
160
Theprimarymechanismsofincapacitationareusuallyattributableeithertocentralnervoussystemdamageorto
bloodloss.Woundcauterization,ifitoccurs,mightinhibitbloodloss.
161
Themeltingpointofleadis621F.
162
Therewasoneprojectiledesignthatisprobablymadeofbrass,butthiswasnottested.
137
PatentedAmmunitionProducts
Allofourproductsarepatentedorpatentpending.Weareahightechnology
companythathastheproductioncapacitytogenerate1,000,000rounds,in
mostofourproductline,withinthreeweeksofnotification.
Assessment:ApatentsearchwasconductedandonlyoneRBCDpatentwasfound.The
rifleprojectilesdonotconformtothespecificationsinthepatentfound;however,thepistol
projectiletestedmayhavebeen.Requeststoconfirmfactoryproductioncapacityweredenied.
EvidencesuggeststhatRBCDrifleproductsareassembledratherthanmanufactured.
CONCLUSIONS
BlendedMetalTechnologyhasbeenextensivelyexaminedinthisreport.Theevidence
presentedhereconclusivelyshowsthattherifleammunitionpurportedbyLeMasLtd.tobestate
oftheartpatentedtechnologyisnothingmorethancommoncommercialprojectiles,generally
composedoflead,whichwerethinlycoatedwithmolybdenumdisulfideandloadedforhigh
velocity.LeMasLtd.s9-mmpistolroundsaremorecomplexstructurally
163
,butwereshowntobe
lessaccurate,producedangerouspressuresatlowtemperatures,notbewaterproof,and
performsimilarlytomilitaryalternativesagainsthardandsofttargets.
Theextensiverangeofconditionsandscenariosunderwhichammunitionmustperform
adequatelyprohibitsthefinetuningofammunitionforparticularorspecificscenarios.Some-
timeslongshotlinesarerequired.Sometimestheyarenot.Sometimesyouhavethinbarriersto
perforate.Sometimesyouhavethickbarriers.Ineverycase,ineffectiveammunitionis
ineffective.Ageneralizedsolutionthatiseffectiveacrossthebroadestspectrumofengagement
scenariosremainstheDepartmentofDefenseapproachtosmallcaliberammunition.
Forthesereasons,theIntegratedProductTeamfeelsthatthistechnologydoesnotoffera
viablealternativetocurrentlyfieldedmunitions,andthatfurthermilitarytestingisnotwarranted
atthistime.
_______________________
163
Alegal(lawofwar)reviewasrequiredbyDepartmentofDefenseInstruction5000.2(12May2003),Army
Regulation27-53(1January1979),andUSSOCOMDirective525-27(14February2001)willbeperformedbythe
OfficeofGeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense,basedonthisreport.
138
REFERENCES
1. LeMasLtd.,ParadigmLeMasLtd.LawEnforcementMilitaryAmmunitionSales,2004,
videoCD.
2. E-mailsentbyStanBulmertoShawnSpickert-Fulton,BMT9mmMP-5subgunhog
tissueimpact,14December2003.
3. LeMasLtd.ShootsLivePigstoSellAmmo,http://www.stopanimaltests.com/f-
lemasPigs.asp.
4. E-mailsentbyStanBulmertoMarkMinisi,Re:BlendedMetalBullet,26November
2003.
5. LeMasLtd.,LeMasLtd.isitFactorFiction?,Volume3,02December2002,dataCD.
6. Roos,J.,TheRealDealLeMasBlendedMetalcontinuestoImpress,
http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/blackwater/?s=2005_slide1.
7. E-mailsentbyRalphMaxeskitoMichaelPrussack,BlendedMetalImpactStatementsfor
U.S.DepartmentofDefense,7January2003.
8. E-mailsentbyStanBulmertoChadSensenig,Re:PressureSpecs/LeMasLtd.BMT,2
March2004.
9. Kerwien,S.,MetallurgicalCharacterizationoftheUrbanWarfareandLandWarfare
BlendedMetalTechnologyBulletsManufacturedbyLeMasLtd.,TechnicalReportdated
29July2004.
10. Stoker,Jr.etal.,ProjectileforaSmallArmsCartridgeandMethodforMakingSame,
UnitedStatesPatent,Patentnumber:US6,363,856Bi,2April2002.
11. Skoog,D.,PrinciplesofInstrumentalAnalysis,FourthEdition,LibraryofCongress4071
98765.
12. E-mailsentbyBillCardenastoStanBulmer,Re:ArmedForcesJournal,6August2004.
13. E-mailsentbyStandBulmertoBillCardenas,Re:ArmedForcesJournal,6August
2004.
14. E-mailsentbyPatrickDalytoBufordBoone,AmessagefromPatrickDalyatSierra
Bullets,30August2004.
15. ASMHandbook.
16. MetalsHandbook,Deskedition,eds.Boyer&GallASMInternational,pp1-5,1-29,1-38,
1985.
17. LeMasLtd.,ParadigmLeMasLtd.LawEnforcementMilitaryAmmunitionSales,video
CD,2004.
139
18. Jameson,J.W.,EnergyLossesinGelatin,CRDLR3201,U.S.ArmyChemicalWarfare
Laboratory,AberdeenProvingGround,MD.
19. Jameson,J.W.andLilly,C.,Retardationofthe2.1GrainSteelCubebyGoatTissuesand
GelatinTissueModels,ReportEA-TR-4296,EdgewoodArsenal,AberdeenProving
Ground,MD,1969.
20. Jameson,J.W.;Lilly,C.;andJamison,L.C.,Retardationof-.5GrainSteelandTungsten
CylindersbyGoatTissuesandGelatinTissueModels,ReportCRDLR3215,Chemical
ResearchandDevelopmentLabs,EdgewoodArsenal,MD,1964.
21. Jameson,J.W.andLilly,C.,Retardationof16GRTungstenCubebyGoatTissuesand
GelatinTissueModels,ReportCRCLR3271,ChemicalResearchandDevelopment
Labs,EdgewoodArsenal,MD,1965.
22. Dziemian,A.andMcDonald,W.,TheEffectsofMissilesonAnimalTissuesandGelatin
TissueModels,ReportCWLR2349,ChemicalWarfareLabsArmyChemicalCenter,MD,
1960.
23. Dziemian,A.;Medelson,J.;andLindsey,D.,ComparisonoftheWoundingCharacter-
isticsofSomeCommonlyEncounteredBullets,ReadbeforetheTwentiethAnnual
SessionoftheAmericanAssociationofTrauma,Coronado,CA,5-7October1961.
24. Dziemian,A.J.,SomeAspectsoftheWoundBallisticsofMilitaryBullets,ReportCWLR
2316,Aberdeen,MD,1959.
25. Marshal,EvanandSanow,Edwin,HandgunStoppingPower,theDefinitiveStudy,
PaladinPressISBN0-87364-653-3,1992.
26. Dziemian,A.J.,WoodBallisticsofSoft-PointHuntingBullets,ReportCRDLR3192,
EdgewoodArsenal,MD,November1963.
27. http://www.militaycity.com/blackwater/blackwater/html.
28. Eason,RobertL.,WoundStudiesinPorcineSkin,MuscleandLiverasRelatedto
VariationofVelocitiesofSphericalMissiles,NavalMedicalFieldResearchLaboratory,
January1975.
29. E-mailsentbyStanBulmertoBCCIPT,BMT9mmMP-5subgunhogtissueimpact,
December2003.
30. OfficeoftheSurgeonGeneral,TextbookofMilitaryMedicine:ConventionalWarfare
Ballistic,Blast,andBurnInjuries,Part1Warfare,Weaponry,andtheCasualty,Library
ofCongressRC971,T481989,Vol5,91-601064,1989.
140
APPENDIXA
BASICWEAPONSTATISTICS
141
Toensurethattestweaponswerewithinnormalmilitaryspecificationsbeforeammunition
testingbegan,aseriesofbasic,routine,testswereconductedoneachtestweapon.That
informationispresentedinthissection.
FigureA-1
5.56-mmtestweaponstatistics(M4A1)
FigureA-2
5.56-mmtestweaponstatistics(M16A4)
143
FigureA-3
7.62-mmtestweaponstatistics
FigureA-4
9-mmtestweaponstatistics(M9pistol)
144
FigureA-5
Triggerpullmeasurements
Allofthetestweaponsmetorexceededexpectationsandwereingoodworkingorderat
thestartofthetestingsequence.
145
APPENDIXB
INDEPENDENTTESTING
147
ThissectionpresentstestdataonLeMasammunitionfromnon-government,butgenerally
accepted(peerreviewed)sources.Itispresentedforcomparativeandinformationalpurposes
only.
IndependentAnalysisofLeMasRBCD.45CaliberBMTProjectile
ThisisanexampleofaLeMas.45CaliberBMTstyleprojectile(fig.B-1).Oncethe
projectileisbrokendownintoitscomponentsandX-rayed,itbecomesobviousthatcertain
componentsofthisLeMasprojectilearenotradio-opaque(fig.B-2).Nonradio-opaque
componentsarenotvisibleontheX-rayandpresentdifficultiestomedicalpersonnel.

FigureB-1
VisualInspectionofLeMasRBCD.45CaliberBMTProjectile
FigureB-2
X-rayof.45LeMasprojectileshowingthatthenylonpolymerusedisnotradioopaque
UsingScanningElectronMicroscopy(SEM),achemicalanalysis(fig.B-3)oftheexterior
surfaceofthegreymetalrevealedthatthemetalinquestionisleadwithasmallamountof
antimony.Aninteriortestonthissamecomponentrevealedasimilarresult.
FigureB-3
Chemicalanalysisof.45LeMasprojectile
Therearwardcomponentwasfoundtobenylon.
149
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4) (b) (4)
IndependentChemicalAnalysisofLeMasRBCD5.56-mmLandWarfareProjectile(figs.B-4
throughB-6)
150
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
IndependentComparativeAnalysisofLeMasProjectileDesignswithCommercialLoads

UsingstereomicroscopycomparativeanalysisandSEMdata,AssociationofFirearmand
ToolMarkExaminers(AFTE)affiliatedforensicscientistswereabletoshowthateachofthe
followingLeMasrifleloadscontainedcommerciallyproducedconventionalriflebullets(figs.B-7
andB-8).

FigureB-7
LeMas.308loads
FigureB-8
AFTEDeterminedLeMasEquivalentsChart

SamplesofthecomparativeSEMsareshowninfigureB-9.
FigureB-9
ComparativeSEMofLeMasUrbanWarfareandNoslerBallisticTip
SimilarcomparativeSEMresultswereobtainedfortheLandWarfareandSierra
Varminterbullets,aswellastheotherbulletpairslisted.
151
Independent(Non-Government)PressureTest
Areviewoftheliteratureshowedthatotherpressuretestinghadbeenpreviously
conductedonLeMasammunition.Oneofthosetestsreportedthatthe10shotaveragepressure
forthe5.56-mmLandWarfare(Sierra)projectilewas63,200(psi).Thishigheraveragesuggests
thatlottolotperformancemayhavevariedovertheyears.
HPWhiteDataGelatinDataPresentedbyLeMasLtd.(fig.B-10)
FigureB-10
HPwhitephotographsjob9321-01(scaledtoshowcomparativesize)
SomeadditionalsofttissuegelatintestdatawaspresentedtotheIPTattheinitialkickoff
meeting.Thedatacollectedandtheparameterssurroundingitarepresentedbelow(fig.B-11).
FigureB-11
HPwhitedata,January2004
152
(b) (4)
(b) (4)
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C.Pluviose
R.Traub
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G.Funcasta
AMSRD-AAR-AIJ,J.Goldman
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V.Shisler
S.Small
K.Spiegel
AMSRD-AAR-AEE-P,J.Schutz
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Blended Metal Technology Projectiles Review and Analysis - Redacted

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Blended Metal Technology Projectiles Review and Analysis - Redacted

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AD-E403 121

Technical Report ARAET-TR-07009

100 SampleM16A4100-mautoglassresults 120

101 SampleM4A1300-mautoglassresults 121

102 SampleM16A4300-mautoglassresults 121

103 Non-lethaldesignsthatdonotpenetrateskin,butdopenetrategelatin(about3in.) 122

104 SampleMk115-mautoglasstarget 123

105 SampleMk11100-mautoglasstarget 124

106 SampleMk11300-mautoglasstarget 124

107 SampleM9pistol5-mautoglasstarget 125

108 SampleM9pistol25-mautoglasstarget 125

109 .220Winchestersoftpoint 128

110 Sampledamagepictures 129

111 Sample.220Winchestershotintogelatin 129

112 SNCCPApenetrationresultsagainstvariousbarriersandgelatinat25and300m 131

113 JohnHamilton(right)talksafterdemonstratingablendedmetalroundagainstclay 134

114 SamplemaximumdynamiccavityimageM855andLeMasLW(Sierra)(5mtest 135

115 Easonsstrikingenergyversusenergyabsorbedforchromesteelspheres 135

Hardness Values by Location

Hardness Values by Location

Comparison of RPM's vs Twist for the M4A1 and M16A4

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