Bullets are the kinetic projectiles that are shot from a gun barrel and are made of a variety of materials. The materials used to make bullets include copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber, wax, and alloys like cupronickel, tellurium copper, and brass. The blend of these materials determines how a bullet flies and functions. The following are some of the types of bullets and the materials used to make them:

• Lead: Lead was the original bullet material and is the most common. Early bullets were mono-metal bullets that were made entirely of pure lead. However, pure lead is soft, malleable, and has a low melting point. Today, bullets made only of pure lead are mostly used in low-velocity handgun cartridges. Over time, bullet manufacturers began to use lead alloys, adding tin and antimony to the lead to make it harder. Even today, with modern jacketed bullets, manufacturers adjust the hardness of the lead cores inside these jackets to control how these bullets react to impact and deformation.

• Copper: Copper is another common material used to make bullets. It is often used as a jacket material to cover the lead core of a bullet. Copper jackets help to prevent lead fouling in the barrel of a gun and improve the accuracy of the bullet.

• Steel: Steel is used to make bullets for armor-piercing and dangerous-game applications. Steel is also used for less-than-lethal projectiles.

• Polymer: Polymer bullets are made from lightweight materials like rubber, wax, wood, plastic, or lightweight metal. They are intended for short-range target work only because of their weight and low velocity.

• Alloys: Alloys like cupronickel, tellurium copper, and brass are used to make mono-metal bullets intended for deep penetration in big game animals and slender shaped very-low-drag projectiles for long-range shooting. Often these projectiles are turned on precision CNC lathes.

In conclusion, bullets are made of a variety of materials, and the choice of material depends on the intended use of the bullet.