Traditionally, lead pellets contained which two elements?

Lead pellets have historically been composed of lead combined with other elements to enhance their performance. The two elements commonly found in traditional lead pellets are arsenic and antimony.

Arsenic is often added to lead in small amounts to improve hardness, which contributes to better performance in terms of maintaining shape and increasing the efficacy of penetration upon impact. Similarly, antimony is used for its ability to enhance hardness and density, which are crucial attributes for achieving accuracy and efficiency in ballistics.

The combination of these elements in the formulation of lead pellets helps optimize their ballistic properties, making arsenic and antimony notable choices in their composition. Understanding why these particular elements are used gives insight into the engineering and design considerations that go into ammunition production, emphasizing the importance of material science in advanced ballistics.