9mm ammunition question re: 'leadless', FNEB, etc.

[SFsc616171]

Hi folks!

'Ya know how ya's get those questions that rattle around'?
I got a few.

Beyond, (please?), this or that hollow point, that may fail to do as advertised, I'm not yet there, but looking into those newer 'leadless' rounds put out by most of the ammo manufacturers. I saw the late Steve Camp's article about such, on his website, shooting them through his BHP, and before I do with mine, I am curious:

1. Has anyone examined them, to see if they expand, since they are not a 'full metal jacket'?
2. Has anyone considered them, in a response to the 'All I carry is ball (ammo)' crowd?
3. Has anyone found fault with them, at all, FTE, FTF, mfgr's casing damage?

I am looking at both the 124 and 147 grain loads.

Thanks.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've shot a LOT of the 124 Remington "leadless" loads. They have exposed lead at the nose of the bullet (basically the reverse of JHP) that's supposed to reduce airborne lead (along with the lead-free primers). All went bang, no malfunctions through a Glock 25, Glock 19, SIG 226, and Beretta 92FS. The .40 and .45 varieties worked well also other than a couple of failure to chamber the first round when loading in my Taurus PT101 and Dan Wesson using 10-round CMC mags. The flat nose perhaps.

I've also shot quite a bit of Winchester Ranger reduced lead (fully enclosed lead bullet, lead free primers) and they functioned flawlessly as well.

Shooting them back to back with "standard" factory ball they feel identical.

As for using any of them as a defense round, I wouldn't recommend it. Use defense ammo that's built for the job IMO. I'd treat them in the same category of effectiveness as FMJ.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not clear on what the question is?

Are you asking about solid copper hollow-point SD ammo like the Cor-Bon DPX?

Or lead-free practice ball ammo?

rc

 

[JTQ]

I'm not clear on what the question is?

Are you asking about solid copper hollow-point SD ammo like the Cor-Bon DPX?

Or lead-free practice ball ammo?

rc

I had the same question.

I've spent a lot of time on Mr. Camp's site and I don't know what round you are talking about.

Could you link us to the specific article, or tell us more specifically what round you are referring to?

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/index.html

 

[MedWheeler]

I carried Remington-UMC FNEB rounds in my Bersa Thunder .380 one season when I couldn't get my hands readily on the JHP stuff. At the time, I was also concerned with lack of penetration with the JHP ammo in heavier clothing (it was winter then.) As has been pointed out, the FNEB rounds are copper-jacketed with an exposed flat lead tip. Beyond that, I don't know what you're asking. I imagine that there is more potential for penetration over a similar JHP, and more potential for expansion over FMJ or RN ammo.
If I had a gun I carried for defense that would only reliably run FMJ/RN, and would also run FNEB, then I would go with the latter. I don't these days only because I have an amply supply of JHP ammo that runs reliably in both that gun and my more-commonly carried 9mm gun.

 

[Silent Bob]

Ammo like Remington UMC Leadless FNEB and Winchester WinClean BEB (Brass-Enclosed Base) are chiefly intended for use in indoor ranges. The bases of the bullets are enclosed and they feature lead-free primers. Nothing else really special about them.

 

[JTQ]

Now I'm beginning to wonder if the OP is not really asking about "leadless" or the brass enclosed base, indoor safe rounds, but rather truncated cone bullets as championed by Jeff Cooper as a way to improve "ball" ammo performance.

I guess well have to wait for him to chime back in to find out.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yeh... or maybe sintered or solid copper?

Now I'm confused as well...