Ammunition Sealants and Bullet Pull Strength

枪弹密封剂和拔弹力
UV-curing external ammunition sealants can make bullet pull strength more consistent and
thereby improve performance and accuracy.
紫外光固化外弹药密封剂可以使拔弹力更加一致，从而提高性能和准确性。

Figure 1 External ammunition sealants are applied with noncontact precision yet valves to the joint line of the cartridge
case mouth and bullet.
图 1 采用非接触外弹密封剂精确粘合弹壳口部和弹头结合线

Figure 2 Bullet pull strength is one of the many factors that effect the performance of ammunition
图 2 子弹拔弹力是影响弹药性能的众多因素之一
 Figure 3 External ammunition sealants are available with a range of tested pull strengths. Which to choose depends on
the bullet, the gun, accuracy requirements, and other factors.
图 3 外部弹药密封剂具有一系列经过测试的拉力强度。 选择哪种取决于子弹、枪、精度要求和其
他因素。

Figure 4 New technology has put automated sealing, curing and inspection systems within reach of any ammunition
macufacturer.
图 4 新技术使弹药制造商自动密封、固化和检查系统触手可及。

Bullet pull strength is the force necessary to separate a bullet from the cartridge casing. This force can vary,
depending on the type and size of the ammunition. It can even vary from cartridge to cartridge within the
same type and caliber. UV-curing external ammunition sealants can make bullet pull strength more
consistent and thereby improve performance and accuracy.

拔弹力是将子弹与弹壳分离所必需的力。这个力取决于弹药的类型和尺寸变化。它甚至可以在相同
类型和口径的弹壳之间变化。紫外光固化外弹药密封剂可以使拔弹力更加一致，从而提高性能和准
确性。
Repeatability is core to a user’s experience with ammunition. The last thing you want when firing a gun is a
surprise, and ballistics engineers work tirelessly to produce reliable ammunition that will perform the same
way time and time again. The consistency of ammunition is typically measured by analyzing the “tightness”
of a shot grouping fired under specified conditions. The pattern is judged by measuring the distance between
the most disparate impacts. Anything that can bring the shots into a more concise pattern proves an increase
in precision.

可重复性是用户弹药体验的核心。开枪时您最不想要的就是惊喜，弹道工程师不知疲倦地工作以生
产可靠的弹药，这些弹药将一次又一次地以相同的方式运行。弹药的一致性通常通过分析在特定条
件下发射的一组射击的“紧密度”来衡量。通过测量最不同影响之间的距离来判断模式。任何可以
使射击更简洁的模式都证明了精度的提高

Bullet pull strength is one of the many factors that affect ammunition performance in such a test. If the pull
strengths vary or are inconsistent around the circumference of the bullet, that variation will often translate
into irregular trajectories and impacts for projectiles.

在这种测试中，拔弹力是影响弹药性能的众多因素之一。如果弹丸周围的拔弹力变化或不一致，这
种变化通常会转化为弹丸的不规则轨迹和冲击。

Bullet pull strength is a result of the interaction between the bullet and the case mouth. Several things can
affect bullet pull strength, including:

拔弹力是子弹与弹壳口部相互作用的结果。有几件事会影响拔弹力，包括：

 The relationship between the bullet diameter and the case mouth diameter.子弹直径和弹壳口直径
之间的关系。
 The hardness of the case or the material finish on the inner walls of the case mouth. 弹壳的硬度或
弹壳口内壁的材料光洁度。
 The bullet material.弹头材料
 The presence or absence of a metal jacket. 有无金属被甲。
 The sealant used, such as inner-mouth bitumen.密封剂使用，例如内口沥青
 The mouth crimp.口部变形

Traditionally, the primary method to control bullet pull strength has been to physically alter the casing and
bullet to adjust the fit. For example, the case mouth can be crimped. Crimping is done to set the minimum
force needed to extract the bullet. Crimping also serves to lock the case mouth inside the bullet cannelure.
This system works to protect against both crimp jump and bullet setback, which is particularly important for
ammunition used in automatic weapons. Without crimping, the bullet might be pushed inside the case during
mechanical feeding. This can result in a higher pressure shot, which may be a severe problem during firing. 

传统上，控制拔弹力的主要方法是物理改变弹壳和子弹以调整配合。例如，可以对弹壳口部进行压
接。设置最小拔弹力所需的力进行压接。压接还用于将弹壳口锁定在子弹管内。该系统可防止压接
跳跃和子弹反弹，这对于自动武器中使用的弹药尤为重要。如果没有压接，子弹可能会在机械进给
过程中被推入弹壳内。 这可能导致更高的压力射击，这可能是射击过程中的一个严重问题。
 An Alternative to Crimping

Ammunition sealants were originally developed to protect cartridges against water and other contaminants.
Historically, sealants have been asphalt-based (bitumen) and were heavily dosed with solvent to keep the
mixture’s viscosity low during application. Once applied, the sealant would need time to become tack-free
as the solvent evaporated. This evaporation of solvents resulted in toxic fumes that were potentially harmful
to the environment and to process engineers.

Hernon developed UV-curing sealants and ammunition sealing systems to modernize this process. Our
external ammunition sealants are 100 percent active with no solvents. This eliminates toxic fumes and
allows sealing systems to process ammunition continuously, creating efficiency gains over batch processing
methods.

While first developed to protect against water and other contaminants, it was later realized that the sealants
could be used to alter bullet pull strength. Using external ammunition sealant, pull strength is set by bonding
the projectile to the casing. Because sealants adhere to the casing and projectile with a defined shear
strength, ammunition manufacturers can essentially select the pull strength needed to separate the projectile
from the casing. If manufacturers would rather just seal the cartridge without otherwise changing the
properties of the assembly, they can use a sealant that does not measurably alter bullet pull strength.

Using an external sealant to set bullet pull strength can significantly improve ammunition performance
compared with crimping. How? Crimping a cartridge adds variables that can make bullet pull strength
inconsistent. The consistency and efficacy of the crimp is influenced by tool wear, machine
settings, cannelure depth, cannelure style, and other factors.

Because of these variables, it is common to suppress the mouth crimp for match-grade or sniper-grade
ammunition, since those cartridges are usually not fired with automatic weapons. Suppressing the mouth
crimp reduces the complexity of the cartridge, avoiding potential issues associated with crimping. The goal
is to produce an assembly with more consistent bullet pull strength.

However, unsuppressed crimping is necessary for most ammunition types and uses. External ammunition
sealants mask the variables associated with crimping, reducing their consequences and creating more
consistent bullet pull strengths.

Because of its low viscosity and wicking properties, the external ammunition sealant is distributed evenly
around the cartridge case mouth and base of the projectile. This even distribution results in uniform bullet
pull strength and a stable release and flight pattern for the bullet. This claim is evidenced by comparing the
standard deviation of bullet pull strength for sealed and unsealed cartridges. Results for sealed rounds have a
lower standard deviation. A lower standard deviation of bullet pull strength translates into more consistent
bullet velocities, a more reliable trajectory for each bullet, and ultimately a tighter (more precise) grouping
on the target.

External ammunition sealants can maximize bullet pull strength at almost 300 pounds. As bullet pull
strength increases, so does the pressure inside the ammunition casing prior to the bullet firing. This may be a
positive or a negative for ballistics engineers, depending on what they want to achieve. As a result,
ammunition sealants are available with a range of tested pull strengths.
Of course, many factors can affect the performance of ammunition, and individual results may vary based
upon the manufacturer and cartridge model. How an ammunition sealant is dispensed and cured can also
influence results. Changes in how much sealant is applied to the cartridge, the wavelength of ultraviolet
(UV) light used to cure the sealant, and the length and intensity of light exposure can all lead to variation in
bond strength. Each cartridge type should be tested individually to determine the exact effects. 

Dispensing and Curing Sealants

External ammunition sealants are applied with noncontact precision jet valves to the joint line of the
cartridge case mouth and bullet. They can also be applied to the primer cap. They are specially formulated to
exhibit very low viscosity and to wick around the case mouth and primer, resulting in a smooth, consistent
distribution of sealant. The sealants are then cured in place using an array of UV LED curing lights.

When exposed to UV light at the right wavelength and intensity, the sealants only need a few seconds to
cure. Further subsurface curing occurs anaerobically. After UV curing is completed, ammunition can be
handled, tested, packaged and shipped in minutes without ever leaving the assembly line.

Originally, the cost of automated ammunition sealing systems may have only made business sense for the
largest ammunition manufacturers. However, new smaller models have brought automated sealing, curing
and inspection equipment within reach of any manufacturer. Improvements in design have reduced machine
complexity and even the software and interface has become more intuitive.

解决方案

软件控制力测试系统

与口径尺寸匹配的专用夹具

标准楔形夹具和压缩夹具

好处

灵活的编程环境来实现不同的方法

使用可互换附件进行终极可重复测试

要求

制作弹药时，将弹丸放入弹壳中，并压接或密封到位。弹药筒的“颈部”具有自然张力，但压接/密
封剂在将弹丸保持在原位方面完成了大部分工作。它设定了拔出子弹所需的最小力量，并用于将弹
壳口锁定在子弹管内，从而防止卷曲跳跃和子弹回落。
子弹拉力是将子弹与弹壳分离所必需的力，是影响弹药性能的众多因素之一。这种力可能会有所不
同，具体取决于弹药的类型和大小，甚至在相同类型和口径的弹药筒之间也会有所不同。

由于可重复性是用户弹药体验的关键，弹道工程师孜孜不倦地工作，以生产能够一次又一次以相同
方式执行的可靠弹药。如果子弹周围的拉力强度不一致，这种变化通常会转化为不规则的弹道和弹
丸的撞击。

解决方案

领先的弹药制造商依靠 Mecmesin 拉力测试仪来检查其弹药的颈部张力/压接强度。主要兴趣是测量

将弹丸从外壳中拉出所需的力，以克服摩擦和压接特征。

弹壳的边缘固定在 C 形下部夹具内的插槽中，根据弹药口径定制，并连接到拉力测试仪的底座上。
然后将子弹固定在连接到称重传感器的楔形手柄中。测试以固定速率进行，以确保最佳的可重复性，
并且通过拉伸测试仪的软件将遇到的最大力记录为“拔弹力”。同样的测试仪，装有一个上压板探
头，还能够测量向下推弹体所需的座力，直到它滑回外壳中。

测验设备

MultiTest 软件控制的拉力测试仪；ILC-S 5000N 称重传感器；用于各种口径试样的专用下夹具和开

槽刀片；上杠杆操作楔形握把