Help me ID this

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 07/12/2019 at 20:31 • Filed to: None

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I can’t remember if I made a whole post about it or not, but someone shot a hole in my roof some time ago. The guy directly behind us owns about 10 acres, so I’m thinking the shot probably came from someone taking pot shots at the neighbor’s house on the other side of him. From what we can tell, people have sold crack out of that house in the past. Someone taking shots at it doesn’t surprise me.

Anyway, I repaired the hole and went on with life. Until today, that is. My son was in the attic this morning and he found the bullet!

Here’s the question. Can anyone identify the caliber and probable weapon?

E90M3 > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 20:56

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Got a caliper? Check the diameter, that'll tell you the caliber.

Urambo Tauro > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 20:56

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Hmm...

Nope, sorry. Another dead end.

Maxima Speed > E90M3 07/12/2019 at 21:05

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Came her to say this. If not, use a ruler and measure diameter.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 21:16

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It’s short and stubby so it came from a pistol. Once you measure the diameter then we will know my guess is around a .40.

OPPOsaurus WRX > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 21:19

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Cops could.  I bet they would find it really interesting. Aube the barrel signature is already on thier database.  Bases on what you've said it wouldn't surprise me.

DipodomysDeserti > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/12/2019 at 21:48

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Nah. Not that you can differentiate a 1mm difference in diameter via an internet pic, but .40 S&W FMJ bullets are almost always flat nosed in order to allow for maximum bullet weight and feed reliability. ( The .40 S&W is a necked down 10mm meant to fit in a 9mm sized pistol.)

- I’ve owned a handful of .40s and 9s and used to load my own rounds

subexpression > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 21:49

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Bullet s hape looks like a 9mm to me , but yeah if you want to know the calibre you start with the diameter.

DipodomysDeserti > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 21:50

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A measurement would tell you the round. Based on bullet shape I’m guessing 9mm. Probably a 9mm NATO as the 9x18 rounds are generally more rounded.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > DipodomysDeserti 07/12/2019 at 22:13

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The .40 is a shortened 10mm, not necked down. Not very many pistol cartridges are necked down, thought the .357 SIG is pretty close to a .40 necked down to accept a .355 caliber bullet.

But yeah, most .40’s use a conical flat nose b ullet where most 9mm’s are round nose, and this appears to be a 9mm. The look is right for a 9, the length appears about right,  and it is the most common centerfire pistol round.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/12/2019 at 22:20

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The shape is right for a 9mm, and the size is pretty close by eyeball. If you have a precise scale you could weigh it and that would probably tell you. Most 9mm FMJ is 115 grains or 7.5 grams. Unless you’re a reloader or coffee snob though you probably don’t have a scale that measures in either grains or to the tenth of a gram. Otherwise measure it with calipers, a 9mm bullet would be .355”, but that’s before getting deformed by the rifling and the impact. It would still be pretty close to that though.

DipodomysDeserti > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 07/12/2019 at 22:42

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That is correct. It’s been a long day. 9x25 Dillon for your time.

TheRealBicycleBuck > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/12/2019 at 22:45

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I had that thought too. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > E90M3 07/12/2019 at 22:47

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I don’t have a caliper, but I think I can convince my son to grab a better ruler. I’m stuck  in Houston for the weekend....

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > DipodomysDeserti 07/12/2019 at 23:40

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Just read the Wikipedia on that one. Definitely an oddball cartridge developed for a niche use.   

GLiddy > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/13/2019 at 01:26

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My SWAG is that it’s a 9mm. I’ve been shooting casually for 30 odd years and that’s what I’d guess. Looking at the bullet against the ruler, it seems each square is 1/8" (ruler is 1" wide I’m guessing) and judging that the tip of the round seems to be 1 square wide, and it drops off on the right in 1 square, I assume the the other bit to the left is 1 square, we quickly get 3 x .125 = .375".

So, I don’t think its any larger than that, so its not a .40 or .45. 9mm is about .355" so I’m going to stick with that, plus it is a round that is often found in full metal jacket form and is ubiquitous and cheap. I’d even guess that you are looking at a 115gr bullet as that is extremely common and it just looks like that bullet shape to me.  What fired it?  Not a clue.