Injection-Molded Polymer And Copper Rounds — Take A Look At Ruger’s New Line Of Self-Defense Ammunition

Copper and polymer bullets spun into a unique pattern promising a faster muzzle velocity, better wound channels, and reduced ricochet… That’s the most recent product of a partnership between Ruger® and PolyCase with the release of their ARX® line of ammunition.

PolyCase has already released this new line of ammunition to go alongside their other offerings such as the Inceptor® RNP™, Inceptor® TNP™ and the Inceptor® Firefly®.

The ARX®, according to PolyCase’s most recent press release, was designed as an injection-molded solution for shooters looking for a lighter weight, faster bullet that still created grisly wound channels.

The ARX® 9mm round, for example, touts itself as 74 grain ammunition with a muzzle velocity of 1,530 feet per second (466 m/s).  Compare that to a pretty good standard JHP+P like Remmington’s Golden Saber that flies at 1,180 feet per second and packing 124 grain — wow.  According to the Press Release, it’s a round that’s looking to break in deep to the self-defense ammunition market.  Promising great penetration against soft targets and a wound channel better than a classic JHP design, can the ARX® supplant an old favorite?

PolyCase alleges that their ARX® line of self-defense ammunition largely sidesteps many of the issues plaguing hollow points.  In particular, the issue of relying upon the expansion of the bullet to achieve a terminal effect in the target is something that has been called a detractor to the traditional JHP on many occasions.

It also avoids the issue of jamming up the feed or failing to feed.

At present, PolyCase’s ARX® ammunition is sold under the Ruger® brand in the following calibers:

• .380 Auto
• 9mm Luger
• .40 S&W
• .45 Auto
• .458 SOCOM
• .50 Beowulf

It appears they plan on expanding their offering to include .357 Sig, .38 Spl, and .223 Remmington relatively soon.

PolyCase has also produced some interesting injection-molded ball rounds such as the Inceptor® RNP™.  The Inceptor® RNP™ was designed to take the place of traditional full metal jacket pistol rounds.  It stops immediately when it strikes a hard surface such as steel or concrete but still retains good penetration on soft targets.  PolyCase appears to have made this round to act as a training round for their other injection-molded polymer/copper rounds that have a similar weight and flight pattern.  So, when training with the Inceptor® RNP™, it should be an easy transition to go from that to the ARX®.

One of the major things of note is that any shooter who considers transitioning to this line of ammunition should probably take some range time to weigh the differences.  We haven’t gotten our hands on any just yet but if when we do, we’ll be sure to discuss if we noticed any big difference.