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Posted On: 8/5/2021
By: alex b
A: Yes sir, I'm happy to say we have a selection of component bullets in stock:
luckygunner.com/reloading-supplies/bullets
Posted On: 8/4/2021
By: alex b
A: Thanks for reaching out Alex! That's an unusual question. To be very sure, there's a difference between a cartridge and a bullet: the cartridge is the entire unit of ammunition including its brass case and its bullet, whereas the bullet is just the projectile that comes out of the barrel following ignition.
If you intend to drill through the cartridge's case, then you had better be extremely careful – it is filled with explosive propellant that a drill could potentially ignite. It wouldn't launch the bullet, but it could injure you or start a fire. Furthermore, the cartridge would still have its primer, which is also explosive and not something I'd particularly want to wear around my neck. With enough exposure to sweat and humidity that primer will also corrode in time, which wouldn't make for a very nice piece of jewlery.
If you intend to remove this particular cartridge's bullet from the case to make a necklace, then its lead core would be exposed at the base. Exposed lead is also not something I would particularly want next to my face for extended periods of time. The pendant would also be pretty pointy.
So here's what I think. If you just want to make bullet necklaces without the included brass case (which would have made the pendant rather large to begin with), then you may be much happier just ordering component bullets:
luckygunner.com/reloading-supplies/bullets
These are bullets that have no case, primer or propellant. They're naked projectiles. They do contain lead, but I beleive a nice layer of clear jewler's lacquer could do a good job of containing the heavy metal. The 300 AAC Blackout bullets we have in stock would give you the same sort of rifle bullet look as this 5.56x45 ammo would have.
If you're able to safely extract the explosive propellant, then I also think this ammo would make a nice necklace:
luckygunner.com/9mm-115-grain-p-tac-xp-black-hills-20-rounds
The 9mm round is a little smaller (and also hasn't got a sharp, pointy tip). If you make a pendant with the whole cartridge, it will still have its primer, but at least the solid copper bullet wouldn't expose the wearer to any toxic lead.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Posted On: 7/6/2021
By: Angelo
A: Thanks for reaching out Angelo! It's suitable for either application. The magnetic 62 grain bullet is functionally identical to an FMJ on its exterior. However, the M855 bullet's steel penetrator tip enables it to reliably penetrate 1/8" thick sheet metal at ranges up to around 650 yards, and its ability to snap in half inside of soft tissue to track multiple wound channels makes it formidable indeed during a home defense scenario.
