is it possible to drill through a bullet?

Question

if it is..HOW?

Answer 1

Probably not a good idea to try. The heat generated from the friction in the drill bit will most likely cause the gun powder inside the casing to explode.

Answer 2

Yes it is possible...but the way to do it is to find someone who reloads their own ammo. (Try asking around gun shops). They can either make a bullet without the powder in it or there is a bullet removal tool they use to safely remove a bullet from the cartridge without igniting the powder and then resintall the bullet without the powder.

It would probably be better to load a spent shell with the bullet so the primer can never be an issue as well.

Here is an example of one I've used.

Answer 3

If you are drilling through just the bullet, you should have no problems. The bullet is fairly soft. You will need to hold it still in a vice. I would start with a very small hole and then drill the actual size you want.

If you are looking to drill through an undischarged round, I would remove the bullet from the shell, tap out all the powder, replace the bullet and then drill.

Be careful!

Answer 4

Smiles and sighs... This is so much a question of "CAN I?"

The answer is,,,"CERTAINLY!"

Should you??? Not unless you've discharged/Fired the bullet and either replace the empty casing with a head, or just use the empty casing.

It's just brass, or a composite/allow...of course not at all difficult to drill through. If it isn't meant to be an adornment, worn on a chain around your neck, I have a thought to share. Many years ago my friend and I wanted to craft our own fireworks. HE had been involved with Boats and cars using C02 cartridges, and decided that they made excellent casings for waht he wanted to use as a mortar of sorts. The cartridge had been expended of its gas and he placed it in a vice in his basement. He then proceeded to stuff match heads into the drilled out opening,,, using a NAIL??? What the heck was he thinking? At a point, near the end of the process, he created what nature oftn does in a lightning storm, and after the noise faded; the smoke cleared; the vise was in shambles, two of his fingers were embedded in the adjacent OIL furnace. I happened to be out of the area at the time and herd it all.

I guess a question or two I might have is WHY? is this a Trophy issue? An EGO thing? A bonding thing in some type of CLUB/GANG???

In any of those examples I suggest there are issues that need to be explored in more depth than "can I drill through" no offense meant, or preaching here.

Answer 5

FIRST, you need to deactivate the bullet.
Purchase one of these:

https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/,DanaInfo=shop.rcbs.com+MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3677

DO NOT use one of these on a rim fire (.22, etc).

That will remove the projectile from the cartridge case. Then you can dump the powder.
To deactivate the primer, I load it into the chamber of a firearm of the same caliber and fire it.
I have never tried this, but I've heard you can clamp empty cartridge in a vise and hit the primer with a hammer and punch. It MIGHT be safe (not that I'd try it), as the primer is fairly low powered.
Once this is all done, drill hole, reinstall projectile into cartridge, and you're done.

Answer 6

why would you want to??? I really don't think it is a good idea because the heat you are generating when you drill may set the bullet off and that would be bad!!!!

Answer 7

If you're talking about a live round then it wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. If you're wanting to put it on a chain for a necklace or something then find someone that reloads bullets (check a local gun club or shooting range) and ask them to load you one without any powder and with a used primer. Be a shame for you to shoot yourself for no good reason.

Answer 8

pull the lead, dump the powder, fire the primer in a gun so it is not live, tap the lead back in...no danger to drill now

Answer 9

It is possible need to keep bit cool DO NOT HIT THE PRIMER Why in the world would you want to?

Answer 10

yes