You love it or you hate it. You simply cannot have it any other way. The .300 Blackout is one of the most unique frangible projectiles currently featured in the gun industry, and this non-mainstream bullet has people buying into the Blackout Fever recently. Meh Many are falling in love with the .300 Blackout, but it certainly has its own set of disadvantages. First and foremost, this is a non-versatile cartridge, which means that it never gives you a rifle-like feel. And that is the whole essence of shooting, isn’t it? Moreover, it isn’t as good over distances greater than a few hundred yards. Going Ga-Ga At the other end of the spectrum, it is common to see people call the .300 Blackout the ‘best carbine cartridge in the world’. Sure, it isn’t the best option over a long range, but you aren’t Chris Kyle are you? When it comes to gun range and individual use, the .300 Blackout presents a greater impact authority than the 5.56 mm. In fact, the .300 Blackout turns out to be one of the most versatile cartridges, particularly when it is hand-loaded. Here are a few reasons why this non-mainstream frangible projectile stands out. 1. Versatile – Its versatility is undeniably its greatest asset. It can shoot bullets from the 110-grain at 2400 fps and the 220-grain at 1050 fps. The lighter grain bullet is perfect for deer and hog hunting, while the heavier ones are ideal with a good suppressor. 2. Modified .223 cases – The .300 Blackout uses the 5.56 mm/ .223 case, one of the prime choices for inexpensive, extensive hand-loading. 3. Compatible to suppressors – You may not need one, but you always want one. Who doesn’t dream of a gun where the only sound you have to deal with is the bolt cycling. 4. More authority – The 5.56 gets excellent mileage from your cartridge, but the .300 Blackout isn’t about mileage. It is designed to shoot projectiles with an energy that is close to the AK-47. 5. Cheap ammunition – A number of companies present excellent .300 Blackout loads at $1.5 a pop. And you can reduce that by one-thirds by hand-loading.6. M16 parts – The 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC doesn’t work properly with M16-type magazines, but that’s not the case with a .300 Blackout. It uses the same gas system and bolt and cycles beautifully with standard M16 magazines. This means that you never have a problem transforming a 5.56 AR 15 into a .300 Blackout. I Can’t Deal with Lead Companies like Ecomass Compounds offer lead-free alternatives for the .300 Blackout. The recent crisis in Flint showed us just how susceptible we are as a society to the dangers of lead, and you can certainly do your bit by going for lead-free ammunition. Not all .300 Blackout cartridges are lead-free, but certain companies are offering green ammo to those wanting to join the Blackout Fever without compromising on their promise to avoid the use of lead. Hunting is as thrilling as a sport can be, but the more one hunts, the more one comes to realize just how unforgiving this ancient art really is. The sport can be incredibly unpredictable and split-second decisions usually end up being the difference between a successful kill and a miss. The modern man has a number of technologies to aid him while hunting, but this very technology also made hunting more unpredictable than ever. Well, at least until man discovered the frangible bullet and more specifically the ballistic tip! Blow a Gasket, No More The biggest advantage of using ballistic tips is that they make the hunting bullet incredibly predictable and improve performance. Whether you’re chasing blacktails, whitetails, deer or antelopes, this proprietary matrix tip provides energy retention as well as high downrange velocity without compromising on precision accuracy. In other words, the ballistic tip provides the kind of consistency, accuracy and punch you need to put down the buck, irrespective of the situation. Ballistic tips are essentially wind-defying flat-shooting bullets which use polymer tips and ballistic boat-tails to protect the tip from damage and increase long-range efficiency. The tapered jacket also allows for controlled expansion at all velocities and practical ranges. Simply put, the reason ballistic tips exist is to equip bullet tips with frangible ammunition that helps in creating a larger wound cavity, thereby making the hunting round more effective than usual. The Hunter’s Perspective The advantage of using a ballistic tip is two-fold. Firstly, the top covers the hollow cavity, thereby making the bullet more aerodynamic in nature. This means that the velocity the bullet is able to retain is far greater than a standard hollow point. Secondly, the ballistic tip expands upon impact because the tip gets pushed back into the cavity, thereby forcing the bullet to expand. This allows for precision accuracy and increased kill efficiency, a common problem with the standard bullet. Penetration Vs Expansion The old argument that ‘complete penetration presents a better blood trail to follow’ may have complicated things a bit, but hunters are finally beginning to see the light offered by bullets that enter, expand and expend all their energy inside the deer. Most hunters start off old-school, but soon come to terms with the advantages offered by expanding bullets and ballistic tips. The biggest issue with penetrating bullets is that apart from causing internal damage, the bullet also expends a lot of energy in the shrubbery behind the deer, thereby making it a dangerous tool to play with. In fact, many jurisdictions have actually banned the use of such bullets due to the dangers they pose. Moreover, expansion is a good thing because the transfer of energy allows for a larger wound channel and makes the hit more effective by disrupting vital functions. And the hunter never cares whether the bullet exited the deer or not. What the hunter ultimately cares about is whether it managed to hit the vitals. Going Ballistic The traditional focus of materials created by Ecomass Compounds was to offer lead-free ammunition, green bullets and safer training ammunition. However, we also began to concentrate on creating applications for the hunting industry and were successful in coming up with ballistic tips. We mold #high-density materials such as copper polymer composites into ballistic tips and add them to standard hunting rounds to present new ways and solutions in ammunition space. They might have been around for decades, but ballistic tips are still seen as the next best thing, and we are delighted to be a part of this world. Injection molding is the go-to for thermoplastic composite materials because it is simpler, faster and easier. However, injection molding isn’t the only way to go about composite plastics. These polymers can also be produced with the help of pre-impregnated layups, a resin system which already has a curing agent, and is able to lay into a particular mold, without depending on additional resin. Injection molding certainly has its specialization. After all, it offers high-volume molding, it is cheaper than its counterpart and also has lower mechanical properties. On the other hand, pre-impregnated layups are incredibly expensive to make, but the composite polymers are far stronger. The process is incredibly labor intensive as well, thereby limiting its application. Thus came about a need for a third process, a material that helped to bridge the gap between these two technologies and allow for high-volume injection molding without having to compromise on the strength that pre-impregnated layup thermoplastic composite materials tend to offer. Replacing Metals: Easier Said Than Done It is easy to say that high-density plastics are suitable replacements for metals, but the strength offered by a moldable plastic is far lesser than that of a metal. As a result, the geometry concepts used for part design need to be re-engineered so that they utilize plastic materials. To do so, one must add more volume of plastics to the material, thereby having to compromise on the cost as well as the weight. Defeats the entire purpose, doesn’t it? This is where new material technologies made all the difference. Today, it is possible to create high-density materials that offer mechanical properties which can not only meet, but also exceed the strength offered by metals without making you compromise on weight. As a result, it becomes easier to replace metal designs and reduce the volume of materials used while using plastic materials in a more efficient injection molding production process. Thermoplastic Composites in Our Everyday Lives
Original equipment manufacturers from the aerospace industry have been depending on injection molded thermoplastic composite screws which are as strong as a metal. The need of the hour was to replace traditional titanium fasteners with plastic fasteners so as to enjoy weight savings. However, until now, thermoplastic polymers failed to deliver the desired mechanical performance or were simply not economical. New and emerging technologies allowed thermoplastic composite materialmanufacturers to design plastic bolts which managed to meet the desired strength without sending budgetsthrough the roof. Perhaps the biggest difference that these bolts brought about was that they managed to reduce the weight by as much as 60% when compared to titanium bolts. The Future Today it is entirely possible to substitute metals with high-density plasticsto enjoy cost and weight savings. Despite being in the market for decades, heavy plastics were considered to be a niche product, but as the world wakes up to the benefits of substituting metals, these high-density materials are expected to onlyincrease in demand and in use. Despite being around for 20 years ago, high gravity compounds haven’t been able to shed off their ‘niche’ image. The world has always seen plastic as a cheaper and lighter alternative, but heavy plastics may finally be changing the way we look at plastics. Building a Brand Despite being the perfect solution, densified materials are often overlooked by original equipment manufacturers and processors because many are still unaware of these materials or are inexperienced to deal with them. Some might not even be aware of the use of such materials by their competitors. This is where branding comes into play. Once a manufacturer is made aware of these materials and sees them being used as material solutions, it is easy to make the connection with one’s own applications. Lead Replacements Run the Show Lead replacements continue to win hearts with safer and more durable solutions as the world tries to get rid of the dangers posed by lead. The regulatory pressure against the disposal of lead continues to increase and the growing awareness of alternate solutions allows manufacturers to transition to heavy plastics. The medical and nuclear industries have already seen this switch, but everyday consumer products and electronics are also waking up to the benefits of using high-gravity compounds. Weight Might Just Be a Good Thing Customers are constantly searching for innovations when it comes to things like plumbing fixtures, razor handles and cosmetic packaging. Products using densified materials are often seen as quality products with a sense of luxury being portrayed through higher weight. Many of these products use thermoplastics as they are cost-effective as well as efficient, and are then plated to replicate the look and feel of metals. Selecting the Right High-Density Compound High-gravity compoundsoffer an excellent alternative to metals, but there are a few things to consider while choosing a compound for your application requirements. The compound density is essential to getting it right. Ecomass Compounds offer a density 1-11 g/cm3 to allow for a wide range of applications. Choosing the right base resin is equally essential and this depends on several requirements such as rigidity, operating temperature, tensile strength and exposure to chemicals. Other factors to consider include UV stabilization, color and bonding with different materials. How Can Ecomass Compounds Help? Ecomass Compounds can offer densified material solutions across four application areas – weighting, balancing, vibration dampening and radiation shielding. Weighting solutions include dishware, casino chips and plumbing fixtures. In all such cases, the material is designed to offer mass in places it is needed the most. Vibration dampening plays an essential role in audio headphones, golf shaft weights and acoustic probes. In fact, EcomassTechnologies is already supplying materials to renowned golf club manufacturer PING. Balancing applications include counterweights and inertia discs. In these cases, the high-density material can easily compete with traditional metals and offer solutions which can be customized to suit injection moulding production. Radiation shielding is a must for x-ray devices, collimators and backscatter shields. When it comes to radiation shielding, the biggest competition comes in the form of lead, and due to regulatory pressures against the use and disposal of the material, the world is slowly opening up to using lead replacements. A Peek into the Future High-gravity compoundsare finally making the switch from representing niche products to offering solutions for every-day applications. And as the world wakes up to 3D printing, the future looks quite bright for these metal replacements. The biggest hurdle the industry faces today is the inability to prototype using thermoplastics and 3D printing could help solve this problem by the end of 2016, without having to depend on expensive tooling. |
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