3D Bullets

[Johnch]

I find myself wanting to do some practicing shooting my 357 mag , 9MM or 45 Colt ect
But due to headaches ( NASTY HEADACHES sometimes )

Sometimes the headaches will get somewhat better at 2 AM
But I would still like to practice

So as I was reading posts I had a thought
I already have a bullet trap in the basement
But loud noise can set off migraines
I got to thinking that maybe I could 3D print plastic bullets
Like a 180 gr sized plastic bullet for the 357 mag
Load them with a really small amount of powder
Like a grain or 2 of Bullseye

Then I could practice with low cost and lower noise
I also figure I should be able to reuse the plastic bullets a number of times if I use layers of cloth in the bullet trap


So questions
Think it would work ?
If so , what filament would you use ?
Do you think the plastic bullets would leave melted plastic in the bore ?

I have PLA+ in the printer right now

John

[Froogal]

I once took a primer that I thought was a dud, laid it on the sidewalk and hit it with a hammer. I WON'T do that again. WOW! That primer was NOT a dud. My ears rang for about a week.

[Walter Laich]

years ago someone made plastic cases and "bullets" and used a large pistol primer to set the projectile down range

to reload them, push the primer out by hand, insert a new one, and push the bullet into the case. Bullets were reusable, at least for a while. They were noisy to be sure.

think they were for 38/357 guns

speer still has them
bullet: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8510.html
cases out of stock right now: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8515.html

[Walter Laich]

just checked again and other suppliers have them, too

[TribunusSanGeorgii]

Modern day wax bullets?

If I was going to try it, I would use just a primer w/o powder.

Practically speaking however, I 3D print and i think there are probably better options.

I've heard of using a hot glue gun to "injection mold" glue bullets using normal bullet molds. That is what I would try first.

[Delkal]

years ago someone made plastic cases and "bullets" and used a large pistol primer to set the projectile down range

to reload them, push the primer out by hand, insert a new one, and push the bullet into the case. Bullets were reusable, at least for a while. They were noisy to be sure.

think they were for 38/357 guns

speer still has them
bullet: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8510.html
cases out of stock right now: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8515.html

I had some similar plastic bullets in the mid 90's. You would push them into a regular case and only use a primer. But you did need to enlarge the primer flash hole and keep the brass separate. Its been a long time but I shot them in my basement with a home made wooden trap and they were only mediocre accuracy wise so they were best used for practicing a draw. Eventually I didn't want the lead in the primers polluting my basement with a toddler in the house so I tossed them.

If anyone is looking for practice check out the Airsoft pistols. I have a 1911 and it is the exact size and function and even recoils every shot. They make versions of just about all of the popular rifles and pistols. I haven't looked at revolvers though.

[steve urquell]

There's a huge thread on here about using hot glue boolits "gloolits" Link below.


https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...t-glue-boolits

[Barry54]

I’ve tested minuscule powder charges with lead projectiles. A long barrel is key to getting low noise. A case with less powder space is preferred. And a fast powder.

22 short in a 24” or longer barrel for example.

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/arcane2.html

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...n-9mm-subsonic

[deltaenterprizes]

Speer makes plastic bullets and cases in 38 & 44!

[sierra1911]

Another option is wax bullets with cases modified to use 209 shotgun primers. C and R Wax Bullets sells bullets for $35 per thousand and modified brass cases for $37 per fifty. Both prices include domestic shipping.

Their website, http://candrwax.com, says that the 209 primers with wax bullets are about as loud as 22LR.

[rockrat]

CCI used to make "Red Jets", a wax/plastic filament bullet back in the 60's and 70's that used just a primer. I still have some. There was an article in a shooting mag back then that used the Red Jets with a hefty load of Bullseye powder for over 2000fps.
Would shred a pop can at 10 ft but only dent it at 30ft, velocity dropped off so quickly. Don't know if they would even travel 100ft, but might sting a bit if they did. I remember "quick draw" practice with them at about 8 ft when a tarantula walked by my targets!!! What the heck, had to try, so out came the Blackhawk and at the shot, the tarantula disappeared. Found one leg, but that was it.
They were kind of like shooting one of the 30 carbine Blackhawks, not much recoil, but one heck of a fireball.

[Johnch]

Thanks
Sorry for the slow reply
But I have had a BAD few days and needed the GOOD Meds to not make more than 1 ER Visit

I started printing 20 3D bullets this morning
They would be about 300 gr 44 cal bullets
I also plan on trying what would be 500 gr .460 dia bullets for the BFR in 45/70

I will try them and see how they shoot with just primers

John

[jdgabbard]

Depending on what you're shooting when it comes to filament type you might be able to get away with just a primer in the case. It might be worth running them through a sizer die to clean them up. Say, .357". We're not worried about creating back pressure as much as we are with them easily slipping down the barrel with very little pressure.

Hot glue bullets seem to be a little more preferable for these types of things, as they tend to be somewhat reusable. Where I see ABS/PLA and not being resuable. Nylon might work ok... But who knows for sure.

Either way, if you try printing these out I'd probably do 4-5 bottom layers minimum in order to prevent the primer from blowing the bases out of the bullet.

[15meter]

Gas checked 3D printed boolits a solution to disintegrating base?

[jdgabbard]

It would probably just add more resistance, and might not let just a primer push them out. In my mind it would be preferable to have just a primer launch them. But you'd need a taper crimp instead of a strong roll crimp... Probably have to toy with it a little...

[Sig]

years ago someone made plastic cases and "bullets" and used a large pistol primer to set the projectile down range

to reload them, push the primer out by hand, insert a new one, and push the bullet into the case. Bullets were reusable, at least for a while. They were noisy to be sure.

think they were for 38/357 guns

speer still has them
bullet: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8510.html
cases out of stock right now: https://www.speer.com/bullets/plasti...s/19-8515.html

John,
I have the above in 38/357. They are yours for the cost of shipping. I'll check in a little bit to see how many I have. I can't see myself ever using these again with the cost of primers.