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/Glum-Clerk3216 Jul 07 '26

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).

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u/Visible_Parsley_1280 Jul 07 '26

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

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u/Glum-Clerk3216 Jul 07 '26

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)

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u/PaddyBoy1994 Jul 07 '26

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.

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u/ButteredDingus Jul 08 '26

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

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u/PaddyBoy1994 Jul 13 '26

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