Most people will never get close to a firearm or ammunition in their entire life; most will never want to and I get it, that's their choice. Me...well, I've been very involved with firearms (and ammunition) for almost thirty four years; it's one of my hobbies, one among many and as such, I'm very comfortable with both.
I have thousands of rounds (another term for ammunition) at home each suited to the various calibres and firearms I own; all stored within the legal guidelines naturally. I have never disclosed how many firearms I have, what calibres or which companies have manufactured them. I do that on purpose as I don't want people to know, it's no one's business. They're all legal and registered and stored in accordance with my State's firearms Legislation so I've no issues there, I just don't feel inclined to advertise what I have; I've got some pretty cool firearms though and enjoy making them work.
The other day I made some new rounds, completed the last stage of making them, and did a post on it which you can see here if you like. While I had my camera out I also took the images in this post because...well, there's no reason really I guess. Just because I can.
I'll not write many words, as the images say enough I think. All of these pictures were taken inside in my lightbox with the exception of the one directly below which I took whilst reloading ammunition out in my workshop. Anyway, it's just a collection of pictures of ammunition sort of close up so take a scroll if you like.
This is the part where I suggest that if you have any comments or questions feel free to drop them below in the aptly named comments section and I'll get back at you when I can. I know these images aren't all that great which aligns perfectly with the fact I'm not a great photographer, but they give you a chance to get a little closer to something you may never see in real life.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default; tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind - galenkp
[All original and proudly AI free.]
Every image in this post is my own.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III was used to capture these images.
Hey KP!
What is the worst malfunction that you have ever had?
I think I had one of the worst possible ones at the range once.. the unfired round got wedged above my bolt carrier and I couldnt get it out for like 30 minutes.. ended up having to split it in half and basicaly pull it out in pieces .. was really scary.
when I got home.. I looked up on youtube, how to actually clear that malfunction.. and it made me feel like an idiot! haha!
Oh man, that's a good one, and when I say 'good' I mean bad. I hate taking ammo apart at the best of times but stuck in a rifle? Not ideal. I wonder if such a thing has ever gone badly? (Assuming it has at some stage.)
Good old YouTube though, makes fools of us all at some point I think.
I've not really had any bad ones I guess, just little annoying things, although I had a projectile stuck half way down the barrel of a .308 once. (Lack of sufficient powder). Ruined my day. I took it to a gunsmith and to this day wonder if the removal ruined the barrel. I ended up putting a Krieger barrel on it a year later...started clover-leafing where since the jammed projectile it had declined in accuracy.
That's about the worst malfunction, although there's been plenty of user-malfunctions! 😁
Yea.. I did it the cave man way.. it was dumb.
We've all done dumb things with firearms I guess, and in general. You got away with it and that's the most important thing. I'm too embarrassed to say the dumbest thing I've done with a firearm...it taught me a lesson though.
What is the purpose of the different tip materials?
Great question.
Bullets are resigned to do different things depending on their intended use.
For instance in hunting, a projectile will generally be designed to deform/expand quickly on impact with the intention to impart more energy to the target and do more damage which ultimately dispatches the animal more rapidly (and humanely). The different tips determines how much deformation and at what velocities the projectile deforms.
Similarly, in the military rounds are designed to do various things. The jacketed hollow point, for instance, is designed to deform/expand rapidly which makes it more effective and also helps reduce over-penetration, meaning the projectile is more likely to remain inside the target. It's no different to tank (and anti-tank) rounds having different tips and purposes.
In the case of the polymer tip you see here, it's generally done to make the tip (called the meplat) more uniform which improved ballistic coefficient. (BC); the better uniformity permits their flight is more predictable from one to the next.
In target shooting there's a projectile called a wad cutter, a flat-fronted projectile designed specifically to shoot at paper in target shooting on the range. It cuts a more precise hole permitting easier scoring in competitions. I've only ever shot them once or twice.
Projectiles are a science and a lot of research goes into developing them and tip design is one area of focus. I could write a book (several I guess) and still leave things out so my examples above are not very comprehensive. Essentially though, different tips aid in flight and knockdown characteristics depending on their intended use.
Thanks for your great question.
Are those some of the ammo you use for culling the roos? They look interesting.
Indeed.
The 65CM is more of a long range round although I use it to hunt at closer ranges also. Mainly I use the .243 with the polymer tip 87gr Vmax projectile as pictured as it has a super fast velocity and hits hard on impact. The .223 is for small game like foxes although I've used it on kangaroos and deer, just at closer ranges like up to about 250m. I mostly look for head shots, especially with the smaller calibres as it's more humane.
Yeah, I bet that bigger bullets make the heads go boom by force of impact.
They cause more damage yes, that's what dispatches the animal quickly so there is no suffering. In a slaughterhouse where they kill animals for human consumption it's often not as humane. There's many videos on YouTube demonstrating what goes on in abattoirs however most are simply happy to eat the conveniently packed meat and are not willing to understand, or see, how it is processed.
Well, I get that point. I also remember there's a famous book about that. Can't remember the name. It's not so simple as that since there's not enough game everywhere to hunt for your food. And it's not legal in every country. Let alone the right to bear arms.
I respect that so much. It seems like so many gun-people in the US have this inner need to always be telling you about how many guns they own or showing off what they have. The culmination of this attitude seems to be these folks in open carry states who go to McDonalds with semi automatic machine guns dangling off their shoulder.
I don't like guns, as you know, but I can respect when people feel differently. If someone follows the law and is careful, then it's all good. But these people who just have to rub our faces in their guns... I don't like that.
Sorry, almost off on a rant.
I don't know anything about guns or ammo, but the shells in the second photo look very much like the shell I used to have from a WWII era plane. I'm sure the scale is different and those plane shells were probably much larger. I don't have it anymore nor do I remember the size exactly. Wish I still had it. My grandpa, who was a media in the war, took me to a plane show and bought me that shell. I seem to remember it had a hole drilled in it, maybe to drain all the gunpowder or whatever technical word you use for the stuff inside. Heh I'm showing my ignorance.
As always, great photos. I know you always like to mention that you are not a photographer, but you are doing a great job with all the macro photos you've been posting. The practice is obviously paying off.
Yeah, it's bonkers really, but then the world is full of examples of this with many other things. People want to show off.
I don't like guns either...well, not any more than I like a hammer, my 4x4, my hair brush...They're just a tool I use.
Spitfires used a .303 ammunition and Mustangs used a .50 cal. The .50 is much bigger than those I have pictured in this post and the .303 is about the same size as the larger round in this post.
My image below shows a .50 cal to the left (chain-link) and the 6.5mm CM as used in this post which is the one with the red and black markings (used to identify my brass as opposed to someone else's.) Next to that on the left is .308 and the others are 22.250, 9mm and .22 calibres. The .50 is about as long as my hand. I'm not saying these calibres are what was in all WWII planes because it wasn't, just two of them.
This is done to render it safe/unusable. I have a hand grenade with a hole drilled in for the same reason.
Thanks for all the information! I wish I still had that shell he bought me way back then. Ah well. As kids we misplace things that we want to have back as adults.
Great attitude!
I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find one online, they turn them into bottle openers and all sorts of things. But it won't be the same, I know.
Also, I don't actually have a hairbrush...my hair stays perfectly in place 24/7. Ok, not really, I use a comb. And now you know something you didn't know. 🤣
Man, so many comments I’m honestly tempted just to leave you the hell alone! But this one drew me, so I’ll do it anyway. I used to collect projectiles from the sand, hoping some day maybe I’d make some jewelry or something. .50 cal always looked the coolest to me, but I tended to prize .556 rounds above all, just because those small lead/copper rounds were rare finds in the hot sand. .762 was the natural “forgotten middle child” lol - .50 cal rounds in the other hand, in some areas, they seemed poke up like Tabasco peppers.
Anyway I dig these closeups, it was often the striations that made my finds seem to tell unique stories of the paths they’d traveled.
Nicely done my friend! Also, I dig the new profile pic!
Yeah, there's one or two comment huh? It's ok, I invite them as connection here on Hive is what makes it interesting.
A collector of projectiles...Well, it makes sense that there's people like me who send them and those who collect them...I wonder if you ever created any jewellery pieces.
In respect of the calibres, I would have expected the 5.56 (military version of the .223) to be more common considering the popularity of the round in the States. (I assume you're in the States.) The .50cal would give you a lot to work with due to its size, but it'd be fairly heavy too. I love the 7.62 or .308 as it's referred to in civilian terms. A great shooter and you know, I made some jewellery our of an entire round, with no powder or primer in it of course. The rear view mirror of my 4x4 wears it. Lol.
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you made it. Thanks also for the remarks on my images. I actually just finished shooting natives (native plants gathered during my hike) in macro and am just about to look at the images. If I get something decent I'll share in a post.
Re: Profile picture...One must keep things fresh, mustn't one? Lol.
I agree, posting is cool for posterity and expression, and rewards are exciting, but engaging with other users is my favorite aspect of Hive.
I agree, 556 is more common in terms of availability for sure! I did both the sending and the collecting, I was with H Troop 1st Cav Regiment for two tours in the sand. The rarity of 556 was mostly because they’re so much hard to find :) When you could sneak down range at the NTC in Death Valley (after hours of course), there was a wealth of projectiles to be found. There were many opportunities also in the sands surrounding Baghdad, but the difficulty with that was getting the down time to wander among the dead Scorpions, although I did manage to salvage a few pieces from the area.
I did make jewelry, almost exclusively. Another thing I did was actually made a decorative dress for my AR, obviously not efficient to carry around in a real combat situation, but seeing a chain of recovered rounds wrapped around the stock and dangling - like feathers from a peace pipe - it sure looked cool :)
Anyway, yeah man, cool stuff! Thanks for the reply, I’ll be watching out for your next work :)
Hey mate, boots in the sandbox huh? Plenty of rounds back there, no doubt...some care had to be taken where you stepped whilst searching though?
That AR dress-up sounds cool, there was no issues up the chain with it?
Sorry for the latish reply, been busy hiking and stuff. Have a good weekend.
No issues, it was my own personal build. I was doing those 80/20 lowers for a while when I had regular access to a machine shop/end mill. Honestly, I felt it was one of the most beautiful rifles ever created, but alas I sold it to a friend during hard times and will probably never see it again.
No problem on the delay brother, I tend to be slow moving in that area myself just cuz I tend to respond in bursts, so I’ll only do it when I have time to field at least a couple - plus that’s awesome
You’re out there hiking and keeping it moving forward! I don’t get out much now cuz my children are young, although - fingers crossed - I’m supposed to be camping with some friends on a personal firing range in the PA region this coming weekend!
Have a great week!
Camping at a firing range and, I assume, some firing, sounds like a good way to go. Enjoy.
Thanks mate! …my car ended up not being able to get me there, so my wife and I had wonderful weekend with our kids instead. Not quite the same as shooting all day and sleeping in the dirt by a fire, but I gotta say, I’m counting my blessings!
I am new in the world of photography, my friend, which camera do you recommend that does not exceed 100 dollars since I live in Venezuela and I only earn 15 dollars every 7 days.
Man, this is a very difficult question for me to answer.
I'm in Australia where $100US equates to $150 which would not buy a person a camera, not even close. I have no clue what the situation with camera's over there is so don't think any recommendation I made would be relevant.
I assume you have a phone with a camera so maybe it's best to work with that for now?
don't know of an economic model you can buy?
My dad is a retired Police Officer. When he was still on the service, I got to see his issued gun in the house. Also watched him cleaned it several times.
These are great photos you have here.
Excellent, seems like you've had a little exposure to firearms. I'm sure he would have imparted how important firearm safety is.
Thanks for your comment. It's appreciated.
Yes he did shared to me and to my siblings how important firearm safety is.
You're very welcome!
Wonderful pictures, I liked all of them but... if I have to choose 5 and 9 are the ones that caught my attention the most. That focus is amazing!
I love the subject, I don't know why but I love it! Thanks @galenkp 😀
Those two are good huh? I enjoyed taking these shots, something different to do with ammunition for a change, other than shooting them in guns I mean.
Hahahahaha and the one with the hand too hahahaha
I like to look at the detail of the photos, those little things that you can't see with the naked eye.
Congratulations!
Interesting. I've dealed with firearms before but never knew powder could look like little pellets. Maybe I'm just used to the classic black powder.
Blackpowder began to be phased out in the 1860's and was replaced with gun cotton and other nitrocellulose forms of accelerant. It's called smokeless powder as when it combusts it is almost totally gas making it more effective as a propellant.
So...you've had experience with black powder firearms from the mid 1800's? I have too actually: The Winchester 1873 rifle and the Colt single-action Army revolver to name two. Here's one I had some time with below. Which firearms were you shooting in your block powder experiences?
Unless you reload your own ammunition you'd have no reason to know what powder looks like, so I'm not surprised.
I know nothing about powder, as you can imagine 🤣 Maybe I used the wrong term to describe the powder I saw (it didn't look like pellets, but more like something from a firecracker). Oldest weapon I handled was a Winchester Model 1866 from around 1872; Brazil bought some of those after the Brazil-Paraguay war, but soon discovered they were not suited for the army. Unfortunately we don't have it anymore, only a more modern version in 357 and another bolt action in regular 38 (same ammo as the 38 revolver).
I used to have a Henry lever action in .38 Special. It was ok but didn't have the range I needed so I sold it. Wasn't too bad to shoot.
They are fun! Just like those .22 LR bolt action. The 44 Winchester is quite a punch, though I've heard from more experienced guys that the 357 is better for hunting (wild boars in our case)
Coincidently, I also posted a macro shots post today but my nature macro shots come nowhere close to the sharp, crisp shots of bullets I think! kudos on your photography skill too though you claim you are not a good photographer - very modest of you to say that I think!
Cheers!@galenkp Wow - those are some precise macro shots. I love guns but unfortunately, live in a country where carrying a firearm is not all that easy or encouraged. After I managed to do some decent grouping with a 0.22 Winchester during my college days, I was hooked and love to read about guns but have never been able to pursue it as a hobby. I shoot with a camera instead 😀. I love the shot showing the gunpowder pellets - it intrigued me and I read up your other post to find out that it is something called ADI AR2209. Having never seen the insides of bullets before, I somehow had the impression that the explosive is actually in powder form. Will certainly read up more on this.
Thanks for your comment on my pictures, I appreciate it.
There's so many people with an interest in firearms but no ability to explore that interest which I think is quite disappointing. Guns aren't bad, although some of the people who have them are. I guess it's like cars...some people will get drunk and drive causing harm, thousands of deaths each year, but that doesn't make cars bad, or those who drive them...just the ones that do the wrong thing.
I hope you get to experience some firearms sometimes, and in the mean time you can always research. Let me know if you're looking for something in particular, I might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Thanks again for your comment, I really appreciate it.
Yes - you are right Guns, or anything for that matter, can be a double edged sword (lol - am talking about guns with sword metaphor!!😂)
I am about to take voluntary retirement and will look for any shooting ranges etc. or clubs I can join. They are scarce in my country but will try to find something.
Will of course keep reading. Thanks for your offer of support in steering me in the right direction. Will certainly ask for guidance as needed.
Cheers.
All the best with your firearms journey, and well done on your retirement, that's a big milestone.
Oh the images are great... While some would love having ammunition at home I'm grateful I don't. I'd probably be in jail by now had I had any...
Thanks, they came out pretty well really. There's only so many ways one can photograph ammunition I guess. I don't know what the firearms laws are in Romania, but there's no point having ammunition without firearms I guess. I'm sure if you had both, you'd be responsible with them though. Most firearms owners are.
I'm not very responsible unfortunately...
I'm glad you don't have firearms then.
I would like to try a few of them at some point. I have a neighbor who's a hunter, maybe he'll teach some time...
If he's anything like me, he'll have to know you're responsible first. Maybe he won't care whether you are or not prior to putting a loaded firearm into your hands. I urge you to give it a try if you get the chance though, most find it to be a good experience.
by the looks of it.. you own atleat 2 rifles ; )
Lol, yeah at least. Some handguns and shotguns also..a few more rifles. Maybe more than a few.
People being squeamish about guns usually results in them being a huge danger to themselves and others when they finally do get to/ have to handle one.
Knowing how the rounds work goes a long way towards safety too.
I'd like to think people who don't know anything about guns don't manage to get anywhere near them. I find gamers are the worst, total nutbags! They think that playing a video game actually gives them skills or understanding and that is simply not the case; it's bonkers that people think they're actually getting an understanding in that way.
The only exception to that rule is VR. I handle firearms in my job and the details in certain games blow my mind.
I play a game called Onward and you can actually hold the bolt back on certain rifles and check clear. Completely unnecessary for the game, I think the developers were just flexing.
Oh...that game must make people experts. Hurrah!
That was sarcasm. I found that line of yours a very odd comment.
I got into guns and ammunition because many of my family members are police officers.
The truth is that I am fascinated by how guns have evolved over the years and how they work, because I am a person who likes to question many things such as how easy it is to disassemble a bullet to see the powder or what the different types of tips, like the orange one, are for.
Firearms and all the processes around them, can be interesting for sure. It's kept me engaged for well over 30 years.
Pretty cool all these arms have been registered..maybe someday I wanna see you go hunting
Here's me hunting in the snow.
The World need Peace not Piece we humans destroyed the Whole World with War
All of them is because of Power just to make others slaves of them
Guau uno simplemente no tiene la oportunidad de ver tan de cerca y todos los detalles de las balas y creo que si llega esa oportunidad puede ser en un momento muy agradable. Realmente son piezas increíbles de la tecnología y pueden servir tanto para dañar como para proteger.
Sorry, I don't speak Spanish, or read it.
You're going to have a lot of experiences with firearms and ammunition since you've been into it for thrifty four years.
That's a lot!!!
Yeah.
I'm also in those people who never ever close to these firearms 🙂
Yeah, there's a few out there; I'm not one of them.
Yes of course i know
que buena foto amigo lo felicito
If I understood Spanish, I would know what this means. I don't though.
very nice photo friend I congratulate you
Oh cool, English; now that I can read.
Thanks mate, I appreciate your kind words. I had a bit of fun shooting these rounds with my camera, but it's more fun shooting them with my guns.
In my country we don't use guns, only the military and the police, the government banned them years ago.
Yeah, so only the criminals have them: the police and government.
That's right.
Ok, sooooo - first of all, I owe you an apology because I made flippant jokes about your firearm usage, and secondly I have to say that these photos are almost porn like, LOLZ!!!!! Yeah, I know... I am sorry!!! But it had to be said!!! I, unlike you - am not at ALL a firearms person (not that I have anything against them) just that I have no experience nor exposure to them, but your captures are enough to make anybody want to take up your sport...!!!
You said you can't paint, but DARN @galenkp you definitely can take photos! and I am in awe of the intricacy and precision involved in creating just one bullet.
Impressed!!!!
Sometimes I get lucky with my camera, thankfully it's a good one so counters my bad form.
I suppose that would help, yes.
Oh great, you served. I assume for a year Well done mate, #respect.
How did you go on the range? Were you accurate?
Ah ok, so you didn't serve for long then.