# Son found a bullet **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396 "2011-03-20T21:41:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/21 "2011-03-21T08:12:42Z")
The OP established that it’s not an empty casing, but is it just a bullet, or is it an unfired round of ammunition? Those two terms don’t mean the same thing, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/22 "2011-03-21T08:36:00Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The OP established that it’s not an empty casing, but is it just a bullet, or is it an unfired round of ammunition? Those two terms don’t mean the same thing, do they? “Bullet” technically only refers to the projectile (the thing that gets fired out of the barrel). “Cartridge” (or “Round”) refers to the entire, complete thing- case, primer, powder, and bullet; all present and correct. An empty casing on its own is exactly that- a “case”, or “brass”. If you want to get _super_ technical about it, there are people (I’m not one of them) who will argue that “Bullet” only refers to a _specific type_ of projectile, typically one with a rounded nose (like you see for use with Old West guns). Projectiles with a pointed tip (like most rifles cartridges use) are _Spitzers_, and hollowpoint projectiles are, well, self-explanatory. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/23 "2011-03-21T09:10:13Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > If you want to get _super_ technical about it, there are people (I’m not one of them) who will argue that “Bullet” only refers to a _specific type_ of projectile, typically one with a rounded nose (like you see for use with Old West guns). Projectiles with a pointed tip (like most rifles cartridges use) are _Spitzers_, and hollowpoint projectiles are, well, self-explanatory. Well, that’s well beyond nitpicking and halfway into OCD. None of the large ammo and reloading supply manufacturers call their projectiles anything but “bullets”. [Cite](http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/bullets), [cite](http://www.sierrabullets.com/), [cite](http://www.hornady.com/bullets), [cite](http://www.swiftbullets.com/), [cite](http://www.speer-bullets.com/) and [cite](http://www.nosler.com/). And another [cite](http://www.barnesbullets.com/). To the OP: A live round is no biggie (a bullet is even less, as has been pointed out by others, that’s just a slug of metal), but if you’re not able to destroy the evidence in a safe manner yourself (i.e. shooting it in a gun chambered for that cartridge), I’d hand it over to proper authorities for safe handling. An inventive 12-year-old might just lose half of his eyesight by doing fun things with it. ETA: The last paragraph is from experience. I’m quite amazed that only **one** of my then-buddies blew out one of his eyes playing with that stuff. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/24 "2011-03-21T09:24:33Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > It’s no big deal. I would actually praise your son for doing the right thing: finding an adult right away, not playing with it, and understanding that it is dangerous. > > I can’t count the random crap I see every day just walking around my neighborhood: > > 1. empty meth bags. > 2. used condoms. > 3. marijuana joint butts. > 4. broken glass, beer bottles, wine bottles, etc. > 5. knives. > > I haven’t seen a gun yet, but a bullet wouldn’t even make me pause. Damn, where do you live? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/25 "2011-03-21T09:35:04Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > Well, that’s well beyond nitpicking and halfway into OCD. None of the large ammo and reloading supply manufacturers call their projectiles anything but “bullets”. [Cite](http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/bullets), [cite](http://www.sierrabullets.com/), [cite](http://www.hornady.com/bullets), [cite](http://www.swiftbullets.com/), [cite](http://www.speer-bullets.com/) and [cite](http://www.nosler.com/). And another [cite](http://www.barnesbullets.com/). I’m not disagreeing with you, just mentioning that, given this board’s penchant for having people disagree with others for the sheer hell of it, if I didn’t mention there were people out there who did differentiate between different types of bullet, there’d be someone in here saying I had no idea what I was talking about because I didn’t mention it. Instead I do mention it, and get someone implying I don’t know what I’m talking about as a result. Le Sigh; I really don’t know why I bother sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/26 "2011-03-21T09:40:07Z")
I didn’t mean to indicate that you didn’t know what you were talking about, and if my post could be interpreted that way, I apologize. My comment was directed towards the people (of whom you’re not one) who _will_ argue that “Bullet” only refers to a specific type of projectile. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/27 "2011-03-21T09:49:22Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > I didn’t mean to indicate that you didn’t know what you were talking about, and if my post could be interpreted that way, I apologize. My comment was directed towards the people (of whom you’re not one) who _will_ argue that “Bullet” only refers to a specific type of projectile. That’s OK; It’s just that providing over half a dozen linked cites against a fairly simple, off-hand observation just reads (to me, at least) as a form of saying **“WRONG! JUST BRIMMING OVER WITH WRONGABILITY! HERE’S THE ACTUAL ANSWER! DON’T LISTEN TO THAT OTHER PERSON BECAUSE THEY’RE WRONG!”**. I’m sure that’s not how you meant it to come across, of course, and it’s all good- just saying that even here, not everything needs to be treated as though it’s a component of a postgraduate thesis or dissertation. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/28 "2011-03-21T15:34:21Z")
I didn’t mean to spark off this argument - it just wasn’t clear to me exactly what it is the OP had found, and whether the concern was one of safety, or if it was a concern about handling something that might be criminal evidence, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/29 "2011-03-21T15:42:58Z")
It’s a complete, intact round as shown in the picture I linked (which isn’t the one I have but identical in appearance). Opinions seem to be evenly divided between “give it back” and “toss it in the trash”. I suppose I should err on the side of caution and drop on by the trooper’s house though not with any great concern. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/30 "2011-03-21T16:07:57Z")
I find it odd that a trooper would carry munitions in a manner where it could spill out. I’d take it back to him just so he knows it happened. If one fell out then there may be others which creates a dangerous situation with a lawn mower. I’d tell him this specifically so he realizes the potential risk. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/31 "2011-03-21T18:38:35Z")
You can drive your quail hunting buddies nuts by calling shotgun shells ‘bullets’. So of course, I call shotgun shells bullets. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/32 "2011-03-21T19:33:25Z")
You just brought back a childhood memory: I found a bullet near my house one time when I was a small child (I’d say somewhere in the 7-9 age range). I carefully picked it up, took it in the house, and gave it to my mom, proud of myself at how good and responsible I was being by turning it in rather than playing with it. I got spanked.:rolleyes: I don’t think I ever forgave my mom for that one, because she didn’t really communicate well with me _why_ was getting spanked and what I _should_ have done. It was weird, too, because Mom wasn’t usually that weird about stuff. That one set her off for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/33 "2011-03-22T00:49:36Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > You can drive your quail hunting buddies nuts by calling shotgun shells ‘bullets’. So of course, I call shotgun shells bullets. Isn’t that the real reason Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face? ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/34 "2011-03-22T01:40:23Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Isn’t that the real reason Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face? He did get his apology… ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/35 "2011-03-22T04:21:17Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > For the record, I don’t have any question that it’s a hollow point. It looks [just like this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Hollow_point.JPG). > > The hollow tip is what made my son think it was a used bullet since he has no idea what a hollow point is. Heh. When I was a kid a friend and I found a pocketful of .22 LR hollowpoints, and I thought the same thing. When I got home my dad corrected me on that one, and they phoned my friend’s parents to let them know that Andy also had a pocketful of live ammo. This caused some distress, as his mom hadn’t checked his pockets before washing his pants and throwing them in the dryer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/36 "2011-03-22T13:49:09Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I would just throw it away as well. It won’t go off in the trash or in a landfill either. As noted, you can buy boxes of them at Wal-Mart. It could be put through a compactor in the garbage truck and be crush against something hard which could cause it to go off. Low probability, but possible. I’d say disposing of it in trash is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/37 "2011-03-23T20:11:43Z")
You know, if you put a bullet in the furnace, it will explode… [/Cosby] ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/38 "2011-03-23T20:40:54Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > … Le Sigh; I really don’t know why I bother sometimes. Same reason we all do . . . because we CAN! Up next; Clip or Magazine[?](http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ClipMagazineLesson.jpg) 😃 CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396/39 "2011-03-23T20:42:54Z")
Your mother must be pretty low down for you to put a bullet in the furnace. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-found-a-bullet/575396.md?page=1)