Pennies?!

[Grouchy Bear]

[sealocan]

Very interesting question


... that I don't have the answer to.



But it give me odd thought about in a long shtf situation and how with just 6 cuts with some metal snips would make a "mini-broadhead copper penny arrow head".

(and I wouldn't have to worry about using the better old pennies either.)

Two cuts to make the /\ shaped point at the top of the penny and then to u/v-shaped cuts into and at the bottom of the penny, to allow you to tie some cordage to whatever type of arrow shaft you're using.

Obviously not for big game but for rabbits, birds and squirrels and such.


Just my two cents worth.

[sonofeugene]

Are copper bullets pure copper?

[Grouchy Bear]

Very interesting question


... that I don't have the answer to.



But it give me odd thought about in a long shtf situation and how with just 6 cuts with some metal snips would make a "mini-broadhead copper penny arrow head".

(and I wouldn't have to worry about using the better old pennies either.)

Two cuts to make the /\ shaped point at the top of the penny and then to u/v-shaped cuts into and at the bottom of the penny, to allow you to tie some cordage to whatever type of arrow shaft you're using.

Obviously not for big game but for rabbits, birds and squirrels and such.


Just my two cents worth.

Are copper bullets pure copper?

I have no idea! Would like to know. Maybe someone can chime in.

[pacrat]

Interesting question, I did a bit of looking. https://www.livescience.com/32401-wh...y-made-of.html

1962 to 1982 pennies are alloyed as you said. Prior mintings also contained "tin and or nickle". IMHO, that alloy would be much too hard for bullets or jackets as the case may be.

Interestingly 95/5.... copper/zinc. Is actually a "brass" alloy. And has a rather prohibitively high melting temp of approx 2,000* F.

https://www.google.com/search?q=melting+temp+of+copper&oq=melting+temp+of+copper&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8764j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

So YES, IMO limited opinion, 95/5 % pennies could be cast into bullets. But would require a lot of heat.

[justMike]

pacrat said: "So YES, IMO limited opinion, 95/5 % pennies could be cast into bullets. But would require a lot of heat."


Maybe a decent plan if you're really set on observing the 'lead free' Calif. regulations during SHF scenario.
Sure easier ways to make your own boolits the traditional way though.

[rm1911]

[RobinGoodfellow]

Hard to Find

It is almost impossible to find pre-1982 pennies since the copper content is worth more than one cent.

[JagerDog]

I'd stash something other than pennies if I was trying to prepare for bullets being unobtanium.

[Grouchy Bear]

It is almost impossible to find pre-1982 pennies since the copper content is worth more than one cent.

[koehn,jim]

The problem I see is it would be easier to stash some lead. Most molds are designed to cast a bullet several thousands larger that the diameter of the barrel. You than size them to fit or fire them as is. Lead will size down without much trouble, copper wont. You might get some interesting pressure increases.

[Grouchy Bear]

The problem I see is it would be easier to stash some lead. Most molds are designed to cast a bullet several thousands larger that the diameter of the barrel. You than size them to fit or fire them as is. Lead will size down without much trouble, copper wont. You might get some interesting pressure increases.

Super helpful insight.

I wonder about the challenges faced by California hunters who hand load non-lead.

[rcslotcar]

Corbin used to have a jacket maker of 30 cal bullets from copper penny's.

[NapalmCheese]

Are copper bullets pure copper?

Barnes copper bullets are pure copper. Other copper bullets may also be pure copper. Some 'copper' bullets are actually gilding metal (GMX, E-Tip, etc.), the same thing 'copper' jackets are made from for most ammo (Swift notwithstanding).

Surprisingly enough, gilding metal is (drumroll please), 95% copper and 5% zinc.

Does anyone have experience making projectiles with such an alloy? I may be wrong, but I believe the hardness of a 95/5% alloy is greater than pure copper. Any ideas on how this would change ballistics?

I have no experience making projectiles from this, but it's obvious that many people (Hornady, Nosler, etc.) do. In fact Winchester marketed (maybe still does) a .30-30 round called the Super X 95/5 (https://winchester.com/Products/Ammu...per-X/X3030WLF). I'll bet you can guess the composition.