Replicating 9x19 Israeli "Sky Marshal" bullet or "9mm Ladybug"

[daragans]

Couple month ago I ran into quite interesting bullet on AR15 website. Bullets cross-section.
Here is the description:
"9x19 "Sky Marshal"
9x19mm Israeli "Sky marshal" TZ - 1 -72. Brass cased, projectile is stainless steel balls in a resin matrix.
Developed as either a squeeze bore, were the round is broken up in the barrel of the pistol for a shot gun effect, or as a frangible that would break up on hard targets, but enter soft ones. It was rejected and eventually given the name "Sky Marshall" by a D. Dietz. Same time frame as the Israeli SSB (Salvo Squeeze Bore?) loads made by Colt. Not very accurate."


Up to a challenge. Whole idea of shooting steel balls in hard epoxy looks quite dangerous and barrel ruining idea. Decided to try lead pellets in plastic. Since I have injection molding machine it was easier to make mold, fill with bird shot and inject plastic. Coming out as 52 grain projectile.

Just loaded 50 of them, going to try next weekend.

 

[Wendell]

 

[daragans]

Wendell, Not sure what do mean that they would be best to shoot potatoes, but it was first attempt to create frangible airplane safe bullet.
I like it, lets call it "Ladybug bullet"

 

[Wendell]

If they are at least minute-of-potato, you'll be all set for whenever Transport Canada starts allowing us to carry loaded firearms onto a commercial aircraft.

 

[Bare]

Looking forward to the results. Neat looking projectile. 9mm ladybug

 

[daragans]

Thanks for your support Wendell, lets see how do they shoot. At least I tried to find out.

 

[Wendell]

I don't mean to be a Debbie-downer...this exotic bullet-making business isn't easy. (Watching TAOFLEDERMAUS has taught us that.)

I'm just saying that accuracy matters, especially in close quarters, so... if it shoots minute-of-potato, that might be good enough.

 

[daragans]

No problem at all, and I'm subscribed to that channel. Good one. And wait, 12G "Ladybug slug" is coming.

 

[Still alive]

Looks like a Gläser Safety Slug kind of idea.

 

[mbogo3]

Stays in a perp without punching a hole in the fuselage.

 

[yomomma]

Nice work. Sometimes some people dont get that you can have fun experimenting even if the project doesnt turn out.

 

[Auggie Doggie]

If the plastic is flexible, it may not break up the way a hard epoxy does. Only one way to find out!

Auggie D.

 

[Daver_II]

If yu would be so kind as to send me a couple of your rounds, I can use high speed to see what they are doing leaving the bore, and impacting targets.

 

[daragans]

Thanks for your offer Daver, I need to find load first.

 

[daragans]

Just a quick update. Finally had a chance to go shoot them. Average speed is 1350 fps. Those are shotshell rounds. Opening up when leaving barrel. I have 9 of #3 pellets in each right now, bullet is regular 115 grain form factor. Would be a surgeon nightmare at close shot. Half of them were stove pipe, need to adjust powder or bullet weight. Going to machine mold to 147 grain size. Should solve issues with cycling. With CCI shotshell 9 mm round at $1.2 US those are quite cheap to make.

 

[easyrider604]

Great concept for a bullet!

If it’s accurate enough, it could be a home defense projectile. In the US.

For here, where the law would rather you and your family suffer and die in a home invasion, you can show the ladybug bullets to the bad guys and hope they’d die laughing.

 

[xGeorge]

I guess smooth barrel better for this bullet.

 

[daragans]

Here are the new ones. One of the left has 13 pellets, 72.5 total bullet weight. Cycles perfectly.
Middle one has just one pellet at nose, 16.5 grain, doesn't cycle, but lots of fun to shoot as single shot. No recoil.
Right one is just the plastic, 13 grain weight. I shoot those with just primer. Around 300FPS and quiet. No deformation, I reload them up to 10 times.