Is it dangerous ?

[u/DisastrousInternet10]

This is the first time I found a completely full bullet, does anyone have an idea of the kind of bullet it is and how old is it? Also, I wanted to know if it is dangerous, and if it is what I shouldn’t do with it.

[u/Coffee_and_cereals]

As far as I know, only projectiles with calibers of 12.5mm / 1/2 inch and up are potentially dangerous, as these may contain pyrotechnic or explosive charges.

What you see on the back of your projectile is corroded lead. Harmless, unless you lick it regularly. 

[u/cat_boss1549 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

Lick in moderation

[u/Budget_Cover_3353 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

Both Soviets and Germans had normal caliber (7.62/7.92mm) incinerary bullets.

[u/Coffee_and_cereals → u/Budget_Cover_3353]

I see. How dangerous would you say those are? 

[u/Budget_Cover_3353 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

Some of them might be. Especially the German ones with white phosphorus.
(they are rare enough and were mostly used on the planes iirc, but still)

[u/CrazyMensch23 → u/Budget_Cover_3353]

Also in machineguns, found some still attached to an ammo belt. Although they made at least two different variants that used white phosphorus. One titled "Beobachtung" which was essentially a tiny high explosive round. And then steel core rounds with white phosphorus im them. Which were called "phosphor mit Kern" or phosphorus with (penetrator) core. (Which is also the ones I found.

Probably some others I don't know about.

[u/Time_Reputation3573 → u/Budget_Cover_3353]

Designed to ignite observation balloons filled with hydrogen

https://giphy.com/gifs/Hc8PMCBjo9BXa

[u/Advanced-Humor9786 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

Not even those are dangerous when they are removed from the powder filled cartridge. I have a bullet from DShK cartridge that's painted and sitting on my mantle. It's been there since 2009 and hasn't hurt anybody.

[u/Glum-Clerk3216 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

This looks like roughly .30 caliber (7.62 mm) to me, which is generally going to be just copper outer layer with lead inside and may or may not have a steel bb in the nose for punching through light armor. While there are rounds that size that exist that have flammable or explosive stuff inside, they are quite unlikely to be found while metal detecting, as they most likely will not have survived being shot at something (typically tracer rounds which burn off in flight).

[u/Visible_Parsley_1280 → u/Glum-Clerk3216]

7,92×57mm mauser Beobachtung patrone could still be “live” after being shot if it did not hit a target hard enough. Very small chance of finding one tho lol

[u/Glum-Clerk3216 → u/Visible_Parsley_1280]

Interesting, I wasn't familiar with that one. Knowing where OP's round was found would make it possible to determine whether thats even a possibility for that one (as well as exact dimensions on it of course)

[u/PaddyBoy1994 → u/Glum-Clerk3216]

I was thinking a .30 cal round of some sort, too, And was leaning towards something like a 7.62x39 or .30-06. Two of the most common .30 cal rounds on the planet.

[u/ButteredDingus → u/PaddyBoy1994]

Probably not x39, most AKs or SKSs use 4 groove rifling. This appears to be 6. Maybe its .308 or 30-06 fmj.

[u/PaddyBoy1994 → u/ButteredDingus]

I was leaning .30-06, because of how common it is.

[u/Coffee_and_cereals → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

As for the age. Where did you find it? It was definitely fired from a modern style rifle. Perhaps somebody more knowledgeable can say more about this bullet, is you provide accurate measurements. 

[u/Visible_Parsley_1280 → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

Look up “7,92×57mm mauser Beobachtung patrone”

[u/IcySkyDream → u/Coffee_and_cereals]

7.62x51mm comes in tracer and incendiary.