Removing FMJ core

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MattRidge

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Hi,

I'll need to remove the lead core of FMJ bullet for a project (which will not involve any firearm per-se) and keep the jacket only.

Right now, I'm thinking about putting the bullets in a Lee furnace / casting pot, wait for the core to liquefy (outside), and retrieve the jacket. The only constraint I have is to have a more or less intact outer jacket face. Do you think of any other way of doing this ?

Thanks.
 
What are you doing exactly? Telling us that may get you something far better than mucking around with bullets.
Mind you, lead isn't hard to melt, but holding a bullet while doing it might be.
 
I've done it with jacketed 9mm bullets, just put the bullet base down on wire mesh or a finned heatsink. Then use a blow torch to melt the lead out.

If your careful enough you could use pliers and hold the bullet while melting the lead.


I did it just for fun then made some blank 9mm loads, well not really blanks as the jacket shot out but you get the idea.
 
Put your bullet in your lead melting pot, the copper jacket is much lighter than lead and will "float" on the melted lead, then just remove from the surface. ;)

If you use a old bullet and the copper has some patina on it there will be less chance of the lead "tinning" the copper and have lead sticking to the jacket.
 
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You thinking of shooting 'em? You'd have a pointy tube with an open end.
A bullet fired into a snow bank will not be in said snow bank. Bullets penetrate. Penetration in loose sand, for example, is 5 inches from 25 meters.
 
sunray said:
You thinking of shooting 'em? You'd have a pointy tube with an open end.
A bullet fired into a snow bank will not be in said snow bank. Bullets penetrate. Penetration in loose sand, for example, is 5 inches from 25 meters.
Click to expand...

True, but most of the "magic bullets" that I have found on ranges were fired in the winter and recovered intact on the surface of the ground when the snow melted. That said, I don't know how far they skidded through the snow before coming to a stop.
 
sunray said:
You thinking of shooting 'em? You'd have a pointy tube with an open end.
A bullet fired into a snow bank will not be in said snow bank. Bullets penetrate. Penetration in loose sand, for example, is 5 inches from 25 meters.
Click to expand...

I found 2 12 gauge box's of bullet's/boolit's I fired thru the winter when I went to have a look where the thickest snow bank was.
 
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