BULLETS

BULLET - A projectile propelled from a firearm. A metallic or non-metallic cylindrical  projectile. Originated
from French word “boulette” a small ball. In common police parlane,  a bullet may be called “slug” which is
a colloquial term. 
PROJECTILE – is a metallic and non-metallic body usually referred to as a bullet that is  completely
dependent upon an outside from its power. 
Under the definition, the term may also include projectiles propelled from shotguns 
although strictly speaking these projectiles designed for shotguns are called “shot”, “slug”  or pellets. In a
layman’s viewpoint, a projectile fired form a firearm is a called slug,  although what we actually mean is a
“bullet”. 

MODERN CONCEPT 
BULLET in its modern concept or sense has become to mean primarily a  projectile propelled
from a rifled firearm which is cylindrical in shape. 

TYPES OF BULLETS  

ARMOR – PIERCING BULLET is a pointed, flat base bullet with a gliding  metal jacket.
The core is of pointed, boat-tailed shape and is made of hardened  tungsten, chrome steel and
has a backend tip. Used to penetrate armored card  and vehicles.  

TRACER BULLET these bullets when fired, emit a bright red flame from  their base,
thereby showing the gunner by the trace of flame, the path as well as  the striking point of the
bullet, the flame continuing to burn and trace for about 600  yards. These are intended primarily
for machine gun use and can be seen day or  night. The point of the bullet colored red is for
identification. These are used only  in military service, and were never sold to individuals. Should
an individual obtain  one or more of these cartridges, he should at once return it to military control
or  else dispose of these by throwing into a deep river or lake, as they exceedingly  dangerous to
have around. These should never be “monkeyed” with, and  particularly not attempt should be
made to unload them for examination, as these  may ignite and cause exceedingly serious burns
or fire. The ingredients used in  tracer and igniter mixtures are confidential. 

INCENDIARY BULLET – are similar in construction to tracer bullet, but the  composition
contained in the cavity burns fiercely on impact with a very hot flame 
which will quite reliably ignite anything that the bullet strikes. For identification  purposes the
incendiary bullet has a light blue color. The same precautions should  observed as with tracer
cartridges. 

DUM-DUM BULLETS – this word and type of bullet were invented by British  Ordinance
force stationed at their arsenal at Dum-Dum India. The British army  were engaged in extensive
Pumitive expedition on the Northwest Frontier of India,  fighting against Afghan and Pathan
tribesmen. It soon developed that such a full  jacketed bullet was of no practical effect against
primitive natures. So, the English  made some of these bullet jacket. These are now known ad
Hollow point bullet  and soft point bullet. 

GAS CHECK BULLET – to prevent the melting of the base, lead bullets  intended to be
fired at higher velocity have their gases protected with a small  copper cups. The bullet is cast
with a slightly tape-ring base, and the copper gas  check is then pressed lightly on the bore; the
cup remaining on the bullet when it  is fired. 

WAD CUTTER BULLET – a cylindrical bullet design having a sharp  shouldered nose
intended to cut target paper clearly to facilitate east and accurate  scoring. 
 WAX BULLET – a bullet made from paraffin and other was preparation  usually used for
short range indoor target shooting. 

A. CLASSIFICATION OF BULLETS ACCORDING TO MECHANINCAL  CONSTRUCTION 

1. Lead Bullets – those which are made of lead or alloy of this metals such  as lead, tin and
antimony. 

- are used in almost all revolver ammunition and in some low and medium  powder rifle
cartridges 
- are produced in automatic swedging machines from extruded wire  containing the
proper percentages of tin and antimony for hardening 

2. Jacketed Bullets – those with a core of lead alloy covered a jacket of  harder metal such as
guiding metal and copper zinc. 

- are used for automatic pistol ammunition and medium and high powder  rifle ammunition. 
- most frequently met within crime and simple cupro-nickel or gliding metal  envelop covering
lead cores fired from automatic pistols. The most  common are those from the blowback .
25ACP, .32 ACP, .330 ACP,  9mm luger, .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) and several
types of high 
velocity 30s. These are all made automatically by swedging a cup of  metal around a
lead core. 

✓ Copper plated steel maybe used instead of gliding metal for the jacket  caliber .45 – jacket
of metal patch made of cupro nickel or gliding metal. ✓ If jacket bullets are used in revolvers,
the gun barrel will be loosened or  destroyed. 

Purposes of the jacket: 

1. Keep the bullet intact and from not breaking up when it strikes the target. 2. Prevent
damage while in the weapon 
3. Control expansion 

B. TYPES OF BULLETS ACCORDING TO SHAPE 

1. Pointed bullet 
2. Round Nose bullet 
3. Wad Cutter bullet 
4. Semi – Wad Cutter bullet 
5. Boat Tailed bullet 
C. COMMON BULLET TYPES 

1. Solid lead point 

2. Solid hollow point 
3. Solid paper patch 
4. Metal cased 
5. Soft point 
6. Metal cased hollow point 
7. Metal point 
8. Rifled slug 
9. Glycer type bullet 
10.Quadraximum 
D. PURPOSES OF BULLETS 

1. .38 – disability purposes 

2. .45 – knocking power – subduing a maniac or amok 
3. M16 – fatal effects 
4. Garand and Carbine – penetration and long-range shooting
E. TYPES OF BULLETS ACCORDING TO USE: 

1. Ball Bullets – have soft cores and are used against personnel. 

2. Armor Piercing Bullet – have hardened steel cores and are fired against  vehicles, weapons and
armored targets in general. 

3. Tracer Bullets – contains compound usually similar to barium nitrates which is  set on fire when
the bullet is projected. The flash of this smoke from this burning  permits the fight of the bullet to
be seen. 

4. Incendiary Bullets – contains a mixture such as phosphorous or other  materials, that can be set
on fire by impact. They are used against target that  will burn readily such as aircraft. 

5. Explosives Bullets – contains a high charge of high explosive and because of  their small size. It
is difficult to make a fuse tat will work reliably in small arms  ammunition. For this reason, the use
of high explosive bullets is usually limited  to 20mm and above.