PMC UltraMag? - See Ad

[9x23]

Memory doesn't serve today as exactly when this came out, but a decade ago foggily seems right.



See Post #3 for the advertisement & picture - thanks!


I cut out the ad to remind me to try some, but it never hit the shelves of our local gun stores.

Why was it supposed to be so effective and what happened to it?

Thanks for any information.....9x23

 

[JR47]

This ammo was designed around the ring-airfoil concept. It was supposed to be terrifically lethal because it literally cut a tubular section of tissue free with it's passage.

Banned-PMC ULTRAMAG .38 Special caliber, constructed entirely of a brass type material, and plastic pusher disc located at the base of the projectile. NOTE: PMC ULTRAMAG 38J late production made of copper with lead alloy projectile is not armor piercing

BATFE banned it due to concerns that it might make a caliber sized hole in soft body armor.

 

[9x23]

Second try at posting the advertisement

 

[Animal Mother]

This ammo was designed around the ring-airfoil concept. It was supposed to be terrifically lethal because it literally cut a tubular section of tissue free with it's passage.

That is a very interesting concept. I'd like to know if it actually worked and if there is any modern version of the "ring-airfoil" bullet still in production.

 

[9x23]

Does it work?

JR47 - Thanks for providing the information. Did any of it ever hit the market?

I, like Animal Mother, was also wondering if it performed as advertised. In order to cut a tubular swath it would have to remain stable after impact and that would require spin. The usual fare of bullets found in rifles and handguns stop spinning almost immediately after contact, so what was the "trick"? .....9x23

 

[atblis]

I think

I think that stuff got banned. Was it for vest pentetrating capabilities?

 

[quaqor]

I ... some time ... some where ... read that the early development was in part a way to keep the .45 ACP in service longer. A promoter demonstrated it to some fairly high brass. The hollow cylindrical bullet was steel with a sharp leading edge, maybe with a gilding metal outer layer for rifling contact. When the projectile penetrated ( I think I remember through and through the other side too ) a U.S. kevlar helmet, the military were clearly horrified rather than impressed.

 

[JR47]

There was actually some of the original ammunition produced, and marketed. Only on .38 Special. It wasn't so much an attempt to keep the .45 in service, as to get the concept into use. Revolver rounds for the .38 Special weren't as advanced then, and subbies were at a marked disadvantage. The revolver was also much more accommodating of the feed profile necessary for use.

The only recollection that I have of them in use was a test involving zero scientific methods. I watched as a man used a 4" K-frame revolver, at 15 yards, destroy a cantaloupe, and cut a caliber size hole through a 6" thick roast. No bone. He was going to use the rounds in his Off-duty weapon.

Note that a modified version, the PMC 38J was allowed by the feds. They are still surfacing occasionally. Shooters are a conservative bunch. Who remembers the .38 ThunderZap, marketed by Rich Davis? Or the Buffalo Bullet Beehive rounds? Or the Exploder rounds? Or Kawser's Pin Grabbers?

 

[9x23]

I remembertwo of the four

JR47 - The two that I remember:

Exploder rounds - they did not consistently go off. A buddy of mine who scrounged lead out of a berm at our police range where the exploder rounds were tested unknowingly put some bullets containing them into a cold lead pot. While he was out of the room waiting for the lead to melt an exploder bullet exploded sending molten lead all over the walls and the ceiling - much the same as adding wet lead into a hot melter. Lucky for him he was not there!

Pin Grabbers - I still have 500 left after we quit shooting bowling pins. It seemed that they were better, but the truly good bowling pin shooters said that they couldn't tell the difference and weren't worth the extra expense. Thanks for the reminder though - think I'll bring some pins out to the range on my next visit and have at them.

I can't say that I ever heard of the other two. If you have the time I'd appreciate it if you would pass on a little info that you might have about them....9x23

 

[SaxonPig]

This ammo was sold for a while before being banned. I recall seeing the ads for it in the periodicals. I found this box of 38 Specials at a show a couple years ago for $5. I'm told collectors will pay a lot for these.

Box says the bullets weigh 66 grains. They are marked +P. I have no idea what other calibers were offered. The price sticker says $13.89 BTW.

 

[JR47]

That's the 38J that BATFE allowed into unrestricted sales. The earlier versions was pulled from shelves soon after going on sale.

The .38 ThunderZap ammo was marketed by Rich Davis, and was a lightweight polymer cartridge driven at impossible speeds. The advertisement showed it being shgot into a side of beef, and opening it explosively. Problems with price, accuracy, and dealing with barriers kept it from s cuccessful launch, and it soon left the market.

The Bee Hive rounds were similar to Glaser Safety Slugs. They were available in multiple calibers, and I have a package of them in .32 ACP. They never seemed to catch on. They were driven at high speeds, and used light weight projectiles.