Exploding Bullets

GASCHECK · February 8, 2009, 07:07 PM

Shooters:
Decades ago I read an article in one of the gun magazines about a guy fabricating exploding bullets for use in a revolver. He took a large calibre lead bullet, .44 or .45 I guess and drilled it out deep enough to accept an unfired .22 short casing and powder. I no longer remember the particulars or the results. But it would seem far fetched. Upon impact, wouldn't the bullet be broken up so as not to allow the pressure of the burning powder to build up enough to do something? It's not like a high explosive that needs no confinement. Anybody ever hear of this kind of goings on? Bet that magazine's lawyers would have a fit if they printed something like that now!

Gascheck

Creature · February 8, 2009, 07:10 PM

Yep. Liquid mercury works better.

Scorch · February 8, 2009, 07:17 PM

I have seen several versions of this. A 22 Short or 22 hi-power blank is inserted into a bullet drilled to accept it. The idea was to have a round explode inside an animal, killing it instantly. Only problem is it doen't work. It works when you shoot against a rock or something hard, but animals aren't hard enough to set the round off. There were also some with a steel bearing in the nose of a HP filled with fulminate, but I don't want to be the one firing the gun.

GASCHECK · February 9, 2009, 12:18 AM

Creature:

Wouldn't the mercury start to dissolve the lead bullet? They use it to dissolve silver for tooth filling. Use 'em up quick?

Gascheck

**Mike Irwin** · February 9, 2009, 01:38 AM

No, not far fetched.

In the 1800s a company named Hoxie came out with bullets for "buffalo" rifles that accepted a .22 Short. The idea was to promote expansion.

B. Lahey · February 9, 2009, 01:43 AM

I read some gunrag story a long time ago about shooting gongs at relatively long ranges with a .45-70 and exploding ammo. The author said that some brand of HP ammunition for that caliber had a hollow point exactly the correct size for a .22 blank, and that the combo would give a small flash and bang effect when it hit the metal target.

Harmless fun, I guess.

brickeyee · February 9, 2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Wouldn't the mercury start to dissolve the lead bullet? They use it to dissolve silver for tooth filling.

Lead and silver both dissolve in mercury.
Add enough of either to the mercury and you will have a solid again.

ilbob · February 9, 2009, 11:10 AM

there used to be a brand of ammo sold that had a primer installed in the hollow of the HP bullet. was supposed to cause serious expansion. who knows if it worked or not.

noyes · February 9, 2009, 11:35 AM

Mercury Frangible Bullets ...........an old urban legend.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/newforum...ead.php?t=1349

http://anarchangel.blogspot.com/2006...cury-news.html

goodspeed(TPF) · February 9, 2009, 11:41 AM

"Exploding" is actually a misnomer for what you describe, as the bullets don't actually "explode". Their expansion is aided greatly by a pistol primer, a pistol primer on top of a small charge of powder, or as you have stated a .22 casing. Many tests have been done and pistol primers are actually quite reliable in aiding the expansion of the bullet at or above a certain velocity. Once again these bullets do NOT "explode" they EXPAND upon impact. You can expect roughly 5-15% more wounding due to the early/rapid expansion of said bullet. Check your local laws before trying any of this. -Goodspeed

wpcexpert · February 9, 2009, 10:07 PM

But I've made exploading arrows that are fun to shoot. Never tried them on a critter.

1. Old aluminum arrow (2413 perferably) with solid glue on knock end.
2. Pack all but last 6 inches or so with cotton balls.
3. Fill in 2 inches with epoxy
4. Fill remaining space with powder, ends up being about 100 grains dependant on powder.
5. Super glue 209 primer into end
6. super glue BB to primer.

Shoot into a canelope...KABOOM.

The 22 in the end of the bullet just kinda reminded me.

Maybe you could glue a sort of striker to the 22 to ensure it goes off.

500 Posts!!!! WOOHOO

HAMMER1DOWN · February 10, 2009, 01:11 AM

I to have made exploding arrows but differently,

Aluminum Arrow
A 6 inch piece of carbon arrow that will slide into the aluminum one
glue some aluminum foil in one end of the carbon arrow piece, then fill with black powder top with shotgun primer and tape a bb onto the primer and fire away.

noyes · February 10, 2009, 01:50 AM

i would delete that

February 8, 2009, 07:07 PM	#1
GASCHECK Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Posts: 218	Exploding Bullets Shooters: Decades ago I read an article in one of the gun magazines about a guy fabricating exploding bullets for use in a revolver. He took a large calibre lead bullet, .44 or .45 I guess and drilled it out deep enough to accept an unfired .22 short casing and powder. I no longer remember the particulars or the results. But it would seem far fetched. Upon impact, wouldn't the bullet be broken up so as not to allow the pressure of the burning powder to build up enough to do something? It's not like a high explosive that needs no confinement. Anybody ever hear of this kind of goings on? Bet that magazine's lawyers would have a fit if they printed something like that now! Gascheck

February 8, 2009, 07:10 PM	#2
Creature Junior member Join Date: April 8, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,769	Far fetched? Yep. Liquid mercury works better.

February 8, 2009, 07:17 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I have seen several versions of this. A 22 Short or 22 hi-power blank is inserted into a bullet drilled to accept it. The idea was to have a round explode inside an animal, killing it instantly. Only problem is it doen't work. It works when you shoot against a rock or something hard, but animals aren't hard enough to set the round off. There were also some with a steel bearing in the nose of a HP filled with fulminate, but I don't want to be the one firing the gun. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 9, 2009, 11:41 AM	#10
goodspeed(TPF) Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: WI Posts: 1,162	"Exploding" is actually a misnomer for what you describe, as the bullets don't actually "explode". Their expansion is aided greatly by a pistol primer, a pistol primer on top of a small charge of powder, or as you have stated a .22 casing. Many tests have been done and pistol primers are actually quite reliable in aiding the expansion of the bullet at or above a certain velocity. Once again these bullets do NOT "explode" they EXPAND upon impact. You can expect roughly 5-15% more wounding due to the early/rapid expansion of said bullet. Check your local laws before trying any of this. -Goodspeed Last edited by goodspeed(TPF); February 9, 2009 at 01:14 PM.

February 9, 2009, 10:07 PM	#11
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	Not to hijack But I've made exploading arrows that are fun to shoot. Never tried them on a critter. 1. Old aluminum arrow (2413 perferably) with solid glue on knock end. 2. Pack all but last 6 inches or so with cotton balls. 3. Fill in 2 inches with epoxy 4. Fill remaining space with powder, ends up being about 100 grains dependant on powder. 5. Super glue 209 primer into end 6. super glue BB to primer. Shoot into a canelope...KABOOM. The 22 in the end of the bullet just kinda reminded me. Maybe you could glue a sort of striker to the 22 to ensure it goes off. 500 Posts!!!! WOOHOO

February 9, 2009, 12:18 AM	#4
GASCHECK Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Posts: 218	Creature: Wouldn't the mercury start to dissolve the lead bullet? They use it to dissolve silver for tooth filling. Use 'em up quick? Gascheck

February 9, 2009, 01:38 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,431	No, not far fetched. In the 1800s a company named Hoxie came out with bullets for "buffalo" rifles that accepted a .22 Short. The idea was to promote expansion.

February 9, 2009, 01:43 AM	#6
B. Lahey Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,857	I read some gunrag story a long time ago about shooting gongs at relatively long ranges with a .45-70 and exploding ammo. The author said that some brand of HP ammunition for that caliber had a hollow point exactly the correct size for a .22 blank, and that the combo would give a small flash and bang effect when it hit the metal target. Harmless fun, I guess.

February 9, 2009, 11:10 AM	#8
ilbob Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2006 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 515	there used to be a brand of ammo sold that had a primer installed in the hollow of the HP bullet. was supposed to cause serious expansion. who knows if it worked or not.

February 9, 2009, 11:35 AM	#9
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,032	Mercury Frangible Bullets ...........an old urban legend. http://www.theboxotruth.com/newforum...ead.php?t=1349 http://anarchangel.blogspot.com/2006...cury-news.html

February 10, 2009, 01:11 AM	#12
HAMMER1DOWN Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Location: Close Enough to Canada to say "EH!!"... MT Posts: 418	I to have made exploding arrows but differently, Aluminum Arrow A 6 inch piece of carbon arrow that will slide into the aluminum one glue some aluminum foil in one end of the carbon arrow piece, then fill with black powder top with shotgun primer and tape a bb onto the primer and fire away. Last edited by HAMMER1DOWN; February 11, 2009 at 08:02 PM.

February 10, 2009, 01:50 AM	#13
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,032	i would delete that Last edited by noyes; February 10, 2009 at 02:14 AM.