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