Tungsten, when combined with other metal powders like nickel, copper, iron, etc., proves to be a suitable material for ammunition due to its exceptional properties, including high density, excellent ultimate tensile strength, impressive machinability, and environmentally friendly characteristics. Utilizing tungsten in ammunition, such as semi-automatic and revolver rounds, enhances its military attributes, particularly its high density. In the case of semi-automatic ammunition, tungsten can be employed to create either rimless or semi-rimmed designs, facilitating smooth feeding through the magazine. For revolver ammunition, while some models may accommodate rimless or semi-rimmed centerfire cartridges, the standard preference is for rimmed cartridges.

Why is Tungsten Ammunition Core But Not Lead Core?

Compared with lead core, depleted uranium, and tungsten ammunition core do not adversely affect groundwater. Soil containing lead stunted the growth of rye grass, but the plant was unaffected by soil containing tungsten. Scientists also exposed earthworms to soil containing the two metals. Studies stated that there was no abnormal growth while using a tungsten ammunition core, and the reproductive patterns were the same. But in the lead-contaminated soil, the plants got smaller, didn’t have any offspring, and died out. Therefore, that’s the most important factor in replacing lead cores with tungsten ammunition cores. The Army wants ammunition that is less likely to cause environmental damage, an alternative to lead-core ammunition of tungsten ammunition core can’t pollute groundwater and solve their cleanup headaches. Environment protection is becoming more and more urgent and important to human beings.

Besides, lead-free ammunition cores are designed for explosive performance; great accuracy and total disruption make it ideal for varmint rounds, with a tungsten-based ammunition core and a poly-tip to provide devastating performance at both short and extended distances. Those properties and military performance are superior to lead cores.

Tungsten Ammunition Core Applications

As the above advantages, tungsten ammunition cores are mainly adopted for the following applications:

• Small caliber ammunition
• Medium caliber ammunition
• Lager caliber ammunition
• Amor piercing ammunition
• Semi-automatic ammunition
• Revolver ammunition
• Bullets for rifle/hunting gun
• Missiles
• Cannon bullets