Making projectiles from copper, not lead

[creet]

Hi,

I've been watching a few 'how it's made' videos and one was on copper bullets where it shows they just lathe a tip into a copper tube and ta da, bullets made.

I know a few guys here are in one trade or another with this kind of equipment, anyone had a go at making their own copper projectiles? Not casting lead ones?

I realise it's probably not cost effective, just curious if anyone's doing it for kicks.

[pajamatime]

I reckon a survivalist would be into this i bet! knowing how to do stuff like this would be wise.
we are taught only paranoid crazy people prepare and become self sufficient but in reality its really intelligent thing to train in.

[Chronos]

without wanting to bag the idea i'd be keen to see the video. you have to take a lot of this stuff with a grain of salt because it's general one persons "good idea"

i've searched youtube but can't find the video you speak off

commonly bullets are made using a copper jacket, filled with lead before final shaping and i doubt a bit of copper pipe by itself would perform any of the required functions of a bullet

Chronos

[creet]

G'day guys.

I can't remember where I saw the video TBH, it was actually a little while ago. Might have been a marketing video on a bullet website or something and not YouTube.

I will see if I can find it again.

[Vati]

There was a short article in this or the last issue of the SSAA magazine that said the US military will no longer be using lead bullets by 2019.

Apparently a bunch of alternatives to replace it are in the works - some solid copper and some with a different internal material.

[reddog]

There was a short article in this or the last issue of the SSAA magazine that said the US military will no longer be using lead bullets by 2019.

Apparently a bunch of alternatives to replace it are in the works - some solid copper and some with a different internal material.

Because lead is deadly lol

And the US are so worried how they leave the environment after a war

[ozfisher71]

One of the reasons for the US Military going away from lead may well be that there are no longer any lead smelters left in the USA.

[defau]

Because lead is deadly lol

And the US are so worried how they leave the environment after a war

Well, it would be rude to give people lead poisoning as well as blowing up their country.

No need to add insult to injury

[creet]

There was a bit more of this in SSAA mag the other week on 'next generation' projectiles.

More people taking up after Barnes etc. and going whole copper options instead.

We'll see what the future brings I guess.

[wrenchman]

Oz is right they have shut down smelters they can't ban the guns new gun control is make bullets cost to much or ban lead rounds because birds of prey get lead poison lol that's the reason they are trying .

[brisb]

I dunno, Barnes projectiles are all copper and they aren't that expensive are they? Thought they were about the same as Sierra etc.

Increased demand could even make things more competitive?

[wrenchman]

I agree but right now 22s are hard to come by and there is a ammo shortage for hand guns and rifles.

I haven't seen a box of 22s in a month and I bought them before that it was a year and there is no deals on ammo you buy what there is or you might not find it when need it later.

Shot gun rounds are still out there and they have not gone up to much.

[Bills Shed]

I thought that the ammo shortage was starting to ease in the USA.

Here is sounds odd as there is no drama getting ammo here.

On that note it is getting more expensive. It will not be long and the powers that be will class owning a firearm as a luxury and tax us for that too.

[wrenchman]

Just now starting to see rifle and hand gun rounds 22's are still hard to get target stuff for hand guns get bought up real fast.

Most places limit the amount of ammo you can buy reloading supply are hard to find right now still I just got a 300 left hand ruger for my son and went to get some brass could not find any.

I like shooting so I still have lots of hand gun rounds and 22's and most the rifle s I hunt with I would buy most my stuff in bulk now they won't sell it like that and most on line stuff don't have bulk rounds.

I would buy my hand gun rounds 1,000 at a time they were cheaper that way

[huccl]

I dunno, Barnes projectiles are all copper and they aren't that expensive are they? Thought they were about the same as Sierra etc.

No, they're not expensive. More or less par with plenty of other quality 'conventional' lead ammo.

Common stuff like Nosler Ballistics Tips are more expensive for example.

[Lorgar]

I agree but right now 22s are hard to come by and there is a ammo shortage for hand guns and rifles.

I always make sure to have at least 3 bricks of my 22 ammo as its taken 5-6 weeks in the past for my local dealer to get it in in the past.

Gotta make sure you've got enough to last through the droughts when they come.

[Vati]

It will not be long and the powers that be will class owning a firearm as a luxury and tax us for that too.

Hopefully we've got enough farmers that that nonsense never gets through.

[Techc]

No, they're not expensive. More or less par with plenty of other quality 'conventional' lead ammo.

TBH I'm not that worried about ammo cost going up much due to the lead thing...

Like you say, Barnes are a perfect example of making quality bullets on par with conventional prices.

The annoying bit will be developing loads again after the lead filled bullets we use are no longer available IMO.

[bluerob]

Trying to get your hands on handgun brass is very difficult at the moment.

Trying to get lead projectiles (there's no need for hollow points or exotic tips when shooting holes in paper) is also an interesting experience.

Trying to get your hands on brand new handguns is also a major issue with some importers also.

These are very strange days for some reason. I've heard many stories as to why there's a shortage, but, with such a demand in Australia, is it economically unviable for importers to ramp up their businesses?

[Tinked]

These are very strange days for some reason. I've heard many stories as to why there's a shortage, but, with such a demand in Australia, is it economically unviable for importers to ramp up their businesses?

I think the problem is on the other end. The US manufactures can sell it locally faster than they can make it, so there is nothing left for importers.

We need some more manufacturers here

[Aster]

Winchester have a factory here in Victoria.

Somewhere west of Melbourne there.

Not sure about any others.

[wrenchman]

I was talking to guys in Canada and they have said they have no problem getting ammunition.

I just can't import it and crossing the border is a pain in the butt to go get it.

[Khan]

Is it?

I thought you could pretty much walk in and out of Canada with your passport?

Aren't there just road crossings etc. to do it on?

[Berper]

You would have to declare the ammo though since technically you're importing it into the US from another country.

I expect that is where the problem is?

[wrenchman]

I can go over to Windsor but after 911 security sucks you can spend hours going back and forth.

We do have some real stupid laws here after 911. I can send shooting related stuff out but can't get it from out of the country, like gun barrels or ammo or any gun parts.

I don't no why but I can bring stuff back with me.

[Oldbloke]

Winchester is in Geelong.

I may be wrong but I think they only make 22 rimfire and 12g now. The rest is imported.

Can anyone confirm?

[Aster]

That could line up with what I saw.

They were only making and testing 22 ammo in the video I watched on Winchester here in Melbourne.

[Fry]

Always going to be cheaper to make the rifles in the states I guess and ship them instead of making them locally.

They must obviously be set up to do heaps more volume there which would make it more economical.

[MeccaOz]

I have heard of one mob in Australia who make bullets via a CNC machine , pretty sure it's copper. For the life of me I cant find the website again .. dammit.

[Octane]

Cool video of someone making a solid bullet on a CNC lathe here.