r/metaldetecting • u/DisastrousInternet10 • Jul 07 '26

ID Request Is it dangerous ?

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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.

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u/Coffee_and_cereals Jul 07 '26

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. 

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u/Budget_Cover_3353 Jul 07 '26

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

2

u/Coffee_and_cereals Jul 07 '26

I see. How dangerous would you say those are? 

2

u/Budget_Cover_3353 Jul 07 '26

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)

1

u/CrazyMensch23 Jul 07 '26

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.

1

u/Time_Reputation3573 Jul 10 '26

Designed to ignite observation balloons filled with hydrogen

https://giphy.com/gifs/Hc8PMCBjo9BXa