Most bullets made of lead alloy

Most bullets made of lead alloy

• Most bullets made of lead alloy

• High specific gravity
• Maximal mass
• Less effect of air resistance

• Bullet tips

• Pointed
• Round
• Flat
• Hollow

Low velocity bullets

• Low velocity bullets

• Made of low melting point lead alloys
• If fired from high velocity they melt, 2° to friction
• Deform
• Change missile ballistics

• High velocity bullets

• Coated or jacketed with a harder metal
• High temperature coating
• Less deformity when fired

Energy = ½ mv2

• Energy = ½ mv2

• Energy increases by the square of the velocity and linearly with the mass

• Velocity of missile is the most important factor determining amount of energy and subsequent tissue damage

Low velocity, less severe

• Low velocity, less severe

• Less than 1000 ft/sec
• Less than 230 grams

• High velocity, very destructive

• Greater than 2000 ft/sec
• Weight less than 150 grams

• Shotguns, very destructive at close range

• About 1200 ft/sec
• Weight up to 870 grams