The bullet is a piece of ammunition that is shot using a gun, pistol or rifle. The invention of bullets revolutionized warfare. Today, bullets are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, depending on what purposes they are designed for. Bullets are made of different materials such as lead, jacketed lead (lead coated with steel or copper alloys), copper, steel and even bismuth and tungsten. A bullet has three parts: the tip or head, the ogive or body and the heel or base. Read ahead to know which are the different bullet types.
Different Types of Bullets
Bullets can be classified on the basis of their shapes, construction and the purpose for which they are used. Here you'll find a list of bullets under each category, along with a brief description of each.
Bullet Types Based On Construction
Construction refers to how the bullet is designed to behave after hitting the target. Bullets can be frangible, non-expanding or expanding.
Frangible Bullets
These bullets break into a number of small pieces on hitting the target. They do not pierce deep into the target and cause damage close to the surface. Used for shooting small animals.
Non-Expanding Bullets
These types of bullets neither break into pieces nor expand, on impact. Non-expanding bullets pierce the target and pass through the target, failing to kill it immediately. It is for this reason that non-expanding bullets are banned for use in hunting medium for large sized animals in the U.S.
Expanding Bullets
These bullets expand on hitting the target and come in wide varieties. These bullets are used for hunting large animals, as they cause immediate death of the animal. The purpose of using these bullets is to kill the animal as soon as possible by causing damage to organs such as the heart.
Bullet Types Based on Purpose
Bullets come in different shapes and sizes and each one is used for a different purpose. Let's have a look at the different purposes bullets are used for.
Target Bullets
Target bullets are meant to be used for shooting targets from a greater distance, due to which these bullets are designed such that they have a high level of accuracy. Due to this reason, close attention is paid to the weight and dimensional tolerances of these bullets. These bullets come in different shapes and with different tips. These are generally high velocity bullets that are fired at speeds that are anywhere around 2500 to 3500 feet per second. Some examples are Lapua Scenar and Hornady A-max. There are no legal restrictions on the purchase of these bullets.
Varmint Bullets
The purpose of these bullets is to shoot small game animals such as rabbits or small species of birds such as crows. These expanding bullets are so designed that they split into two on hitting the target. One needs special permission to purchase these bullets due to legal restrictions imposed on their purchase. Some examples of varmint bullets are Hornady V-max and 0.204 Ruger. These bullets are fired with velocities that reach around 3000-4000 feet per second.
Hunting Bullets
Like the varmint bullets, these bullets are also meant for hunting smaller animals like wild goats. However, these differ from the varmint bullets in the fact that these are designed to expand on hitting the target or game. This effect is termed as 'mushrooming'. It is also illegal to purchase these bullets without special permission. These bullets may be round or pointed in shape and their property of expanding on hitting leads to immediate death of the animal. These bullets can be fired at velocities ranging from 2000 feet to 3000 feet per second.
Premium Bullets
The purpose of these bullets is to shoot larger game animals and are similar to hunting bullets in all but one aspect: a thicker copper jacket and an additional solid section. These additional features ensure that the premium bullets don't split into pieces even after hitting hard targets. Classified under expanding bullets, it is illegal to purchase these bullets without a proper license. Nosler Partition is an example of premium bullets that are designed to hit the target with a velocity of 2000-3000 feet per second.
The GROM Bullet
Another type of expanding bullet, the GROM bullet is a product of the Serbian ammunition company Prvi Partizan. The unique feature of this bullet is its core made of soft lead, the shape of which gets altered on hitting the target causing the surrounding copper jacket to spread like flower petals. The velocity of the GROM bullet is anything between 2000-3000 feet per second. The purchase of these bullets are restricted.
The Naturalis Bullet
The problem with lead bullets such as the GROM bullet is that lead is a toxic metal and the residual lead from these bullets would adversely affect the environment in the long run. Thus came the need for bullets that did not have lead in them. This problem was solved by the Naturalis bullet that came with a polymer tip and was developed by the Finnish company Lapua. The velocity of the Naturalis bullet is anything between 2000 to 3000 feet. The purchase of the bullets are restricted.
Full Metal Jacket Bullets
Full metal jacket bullets are not suitable for shooting game. These bullets are used for loading military rifles and are the type of bullets allowed to be used during warfare where the use of expanding bullets is strictly prohibited. There are no restrictions on the purchase of these bullets.
Bullet Types Based on Shape
Now, finally let's have a look at the different shapes of bullets commonly used.
Flat Point Bullets
These bullets have a flat nose which means more lead exposed at the tip, which ensures better expansion.
Round Nose Bullets
These bullets have a round shaped nose that is blunt. These bullets are more inclined to travel in a straight line.
Spitzer Bullets
These bullets are characterized by a pointed nose and a flat base, which reduces air drag, thus increasing the velocity of the bullet. However, such a design is not suitable for expanding bullets.
Boat-tail Spitzer Bullets
The characteristic feature of these bullets are the pointed tip and the tapered base. The streamlined shape reduces air drag and makes these bullets the best choice for long range shooting.
This was a brief description of the various kinds of bullets. The types of bullets also vary with the type of gun used. So, there are different bullets for handguns, machine guns, rifles, pistols and revolvers. Thus, in order to choose a bullet, one should also have a prior idea of the type of gun to be used and its range. Choosing the wrong bullet might defeat the purpose of using the gun in the first place!
Different Types of Bullets
Bullets can be classified on the basis of their shapes, construction and the purpose for which they are used. Here you'll find a list of bullets under each category, along with a brief description of each.
Bullet Types Based On Construction
Construction refers to how the bullet is designed to behave after hitting the target. Bullets can be frangible, non-expanding or expanding.
Frangible Bullets
These bullets break into a number of small pieces on hitting the target. They do not pierce deep into the target and cause damage close to the surface. Used for shooting small animals.
Non-Expanding Bullets
These types of bullets neither break into pieces nor expand, on impact. Non-expanding bullets pierce the target and pass through the target, failing to kill it immediately. It is for this reason that non-expanding bullets are banned for use in hunting medium for large sized animals in the U.S.
Expanding Bullets
These bullets expand on hitting the target and come in wide varieties. These bullets are used for hunting large animals, as they cause immediate death of the animal. The purpose of using these bullets is to kill the animal as soon as possible by causing damage to organs such as the heart.
Bullet Types Based on Purpose
Bullets come in different shapes and sizes and each one is used for a different purpose. Let's have a look at the different purposes bullets are used for.
Target Bullets
Target bullets are meant to be used for shooting targets from a greater distance, due to which these bullets are designed such that they have a high level of accuracy. Due to this reason, close attention is paid to the weight and dimensional tolerances of these bullets. These bullets come in different shapes and with different tips. These are generally high velocity bullets that are fired at speeds that are anywhere around 2500 to 3500 feet per second. Some examples are Lapua Scenar and Hornady A-max. There are no legal restrictions on the purchase of these bullets.
Varmint Bullets
The purpose of these bullets is to shoot small game animals such as rabbits or small species of birds such as crows. These expanding bullets are so designed that they split into two on hitting the target. One needs special permission to purchase these bullets due to legal restrictions imposed on their purchase. Some examples of varmint bullets are Hornady V-max and 0.204 Ruger. These bullets are fired with velocities that reach around 3000-4000 feet per second.
Hunting Bullets
Like the varmint bullets, these bullets are also meant for hunting smaller animals like wild goats. However, these differ from the varmint bullets in the fact that these are designed to expand on hitting the target or game. This effect is termed as 'mushrooming'. It is also illegal to purchase these bullets without special permission. These bullets may be round or pointed in shape and their property of expanding on hitting leads to immediate death of the animal. These bullets can be fired at velocities ranging from 2000 feet to 3000 feet per second.
Premium Bullets
The purpose of these bullets is to shoot larger game animals and are similar to hunting bullets in all but one aspect: a thicker copper jacket and an additional solid section. These additional features ensure that the premium bullets don't split into pieces even after hitting hard targets. Classified under expanding bullets, it is illegal to purchase these bullets without a proper license. Nosler Partition is an example of premium bullets that are designed to hit the target with a velocity of 2000-3000 feet per second.
The GROM Bullet
Another type of expanding bullet, the GROM bullet is a product of the Serbian ammunition company Prvi Partizan. The unique feature of this bullet is its core made of soft lead, the shape of which gets altered on hitting the target causing the surrounding copper jacket to spread like flower petals. The velocity of the GROM bullet is anything between 2000-3000 feet per second. The purchase of these bullets are restricted.
The Naturalis Bullet
The problem with lead bullets such as the GROM bullet is that lead is a toxic metal and the residual lead from these bullets would adversely affect the environment in the long run. Thus came the need for bullets that did not have lead in them. This problem was solved by the Naturalis bullet that came with a polymer tip and was developed by the Finnish company Lapua. The velocity of the Naturalis bullet is anything between 2000 to 3000 feet. The purchase of the bullets are restricted.
Full Metal Jacket Bullets
Full metal jacket bullets are not suitable for shooting game. These bullets are used for loading military rifles and are the type of bullets allowed to be used during warfare where the use of expanding bullets is strictly prohibited. There are no restrictions on the purchase of these bullets.
Bullet Types Based on Shape
Now, finally let's have a look at the different shapes of bullets commonly used.
Flat Point Bullets
These bullets have a flat nose which means more lead exposed at the tip, which ensures better expansion.
Round Nose Bullets
These bullets have a round shaped nose that is blunt. These bullets are more inclined to travel in a straight line.
Spitzer Bullets
These bullets are characterized by a pointed nose and a flat base, which reduces air drag, thus increasing the velocity of the bullet. However, such a design is not suitable for expanding bullets.
Boat-tail Spitzer Bullets
The characteristic feature of these bullets are the pointed tip and the tapered base. The streamlined shape reduces air drag and makes these bullets the best choice for long range shooting.
This was a brief description of the various kinds of bullets. The types of bullets also vary with the type of gun used. So, there are different bullets for handguns, machine guns, rifles, pistols and revolvers. Thus, in order to choose a bullet, one should also have a prior idea of the type of gun to be used and its range. Choosing the wrong bullet might defeat the purpose of using the gun in the first place!
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