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Photos courtesy of Liberty Ammunition FIREARMS TRENDS Lead-free 9mm Civil Defense rounds from Liberty Ammunition are made from nickel-plated copper with a nickel plated brass cartridge case. Point of impact Lead free ammunition continues to penetrate law enforcement protocol. But is it ready for regular rotation? By Sara Scullin "L ead-free" continues to be a buzz word in conversations about ammunition. California was the first state to ban lead in hunting ammo in October, 2013, citing risks to wildlife and hunter health. While law enforcement agencies continue to struggle with shortages, 6 Law Enforcement Technology manufacturers are looking to alternative materials like copper, steel, tungsten, and nickel to replace lead. In some cases leadfree is linked to better performance and cleaner firearms. As these products continue their timely evolution, agencies are looking at things like performance, safety and cost before diving in. January 2014 www.officer.com Construction and performance Chad Thompson is North Carolina Justice Academy's (NCJA) course coordinator and firearms instructor. When agencies are looking to purchase ammunition for training or patrol, Thompson recommends they seek out what is known as "ballistic equivalent" ammo to circum-