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Forensic Analysis Weighing Bullet Lead Evidence
TABLE 4.1 Annual Production of Ammunitions Produced in the United States
Ammunition Type
No. Rounds Produced per Year, billions
No. Boxes Produced per Year, millions
No. Units per Box
Shotgun shells (all gauges)
1.1
44
25
Rifle, center fire
0.25
12.5
20
Pistol and revolver, center fire
0.55
11
50
Rifle and pistol, rimfire
2
40
50
Source: See Footnote 7.
TABLE 4.2 Examples of Various Caliber and Style of Bullets and Estimated Bullet Mass
Caliber
Style
Total Mass of Projectile (Mass of Pb if Jacketed)
Grains
Ounces
Grams
.22 Long rifle
Round nose/Hollow point
40
0.0914
2.59
9 × 19 mm
Lead round nose
124
0.283
8.04
9 × 19 mm
Full metal jacket
124 (103.0)
0.283 (0.237)
8.04 (6.71)
.38 special
Lead round nose
150
0.343
9.72
44 Remington magnum
Lead truncated cone
240
0.549
15.6
5.56 × 45 mm
Full metal jacket
62 (31.6)
0.142 (0.0722)
4.02 (2.05)
5.56 × 45 mm
Full metal jacket
55 (46.1)
0.126 (0.105)
3.56 (2.99)
7.62 × 51 mm
Full metal jacket
145 (93.1)
0.331 (0.213)
9.40 (6.03)
products. Calculations assumed a mass of 40 grains (0.0914 oz, 2.59 g) for a .22 rimfire projectile. The number of projectiles is based on 100 percent yield. Since some material is not converted directly to the final bullets (for example, initial piece of extruded wire, weep from bullet presses), the actual number of projectiles produced will be lower.
In the United States, secondary smelters melt recycled lead (primarily from recycled lead-acid storage batteries) for bullet lead processing in large pots.8 The designation of primary smelter is reserved for manufacturing facilities that produce lead from ores. Such facilities are rarely associated directly with bullet production in the United States, but this is not the case in some foreign countries. Secondary smelting is reported to account for half the lead produced in the
