3D printed bullets - Page 2

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 3D printed bullets (Page 2 of 2)

Posted: 10/25/2017 10:52:54 PM EDT

[#1]

OST

Posted: 10/26/2017 10:40:34 AM EDT

[#2]

I think the issue is the material more than the concept. ABS isn't a great material for this application. I don't think this idea is dead.

PET-G would be a better material than ABS and is about the same price. Nylon would be better, but is more expensive. I think Pet-G would at least be a step in the right direction.

A Gas check is also a good idea along with a few grains of trail boss.

Since you are worried about your break, is it removable? I don't think the materials we are talking about at nearly ANY velocity would come CLOSE to damaging a .50 cal muzzle break.

Posted: 10/26/2017 10:46:58 AM EDT

[#3]

May have been mentioned, but on a related note:

Has anyone thought about 3D printing bullet tips for large hollowpoints that woudln't normally feed in certain firearms?

Say you get your hands on a boat load of wide HP 30-30 bullets and want to use them to load for .300BLK AR.
3D print you a little forest of tiny plastic trees to break off and glue in the tips.

Posted: 10/26/2017 11:38:34 AM EDT

[#4]

The problem with the muzzle brake isn't the brake it's self, it's where the hell those little pieces are going to fly.

Have you ever been next to a .50 and got hit with unburnt grains of powder? They freakin hurt, especially when they hit you in the face!

Think what could happen if one of those bullets came apart and hit the muzzle brake with a bunch of women and kids standing around it? If you do shoot them, keep everyone behind the shooter.

Posted: 10/26/2017 8:07:13 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think the issue is the material more than the concept. ABS isn't a great material for this application. I don't think this idea is dead.

PET-G would be a better material than ABS and is about the same price. Nylon would be better, but is more expensive. I think Pet-G would at least be a step in the right direction.

A Gas check is also a good idea along with a few grains of trail boss.

Since you are worried about your break, is it removable? I don't think the materials we are talking about at nearly ANY velocity would come CLOSE to damaging a .50 cal muzzle break.

View Quote

I could remove it but I need special wrences to grip it and the torque it back on.

I doubt it will hurt the break but I am sure it will send pics all over the place

Posted: 10/26/2017 9:48:02 PM EDT

[#6]

What about turning some delrin or other solid round plastic bar into bullets on a lathe? A mini lathe would work great for that and could churn them out (use a diy shaper tool to do it in one operation), they'd be a lot more solid than a 3d print version. If there's no access to a lathe then use a mold and try casting different materials?

Posted: 1/2/2018 1:47:01 PM EDT

[#7]

Anyone consider coating them in something that won't melt, but will allow the rifling to catch instead of plastic

Posted: 1/2/2018 2:12:37 PM EDT

[#8]

They didn't really melt. The primers didn't have enough pressure to push them out. My concern is how fragile they are. They would snap at the case neck. Once in the barrel they are supported.

Posted: 1/2/2018 5:36:47 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
As I said in another post. I am looking for some cheep ways to allow children to shoot my 50.

I was thinking about plastic 3D bullets and just primer for propellant may work

Anyone try this or even know where I could find the 3D bullets?

View Quote

How about cast bullets from wheel weights with Trail Boss?

Posted: 1/2/2018 6:36:28 PM EDT

[#10]

I have used foam ear plugs out of it a few times but no accuracy.

What I intend to do here is make a very light load that could be fired in ones back yard with little noise or chance of damage to others property.

Posted: 1/2/2018 7:41:11 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

I gladly print you 5 to test if you want, as long as I get it in writing that you won't sue me if something goes wrong.

View Quote

Entirely cool thing of you to do!

Posted: 6/11/2018 6:40:57 PM EDT

[#12]

Any updates on this? I think the delrin idea is pretty good; that seems to hold up well when we use it.

I also wonder about a sabot'd round? We shot some projectiles (aluminum, as I recall) using a three piece printed sabot from ABS out of a 30mm cannon. It worked really well, except predicting how the sabots would come off. I also think maybe it was smooth bore?

Posted: 6/11/2018 8:13:14 PM EDT

[#13]

I haven't done anything more because of the expenses to others with making and shipping them to me. I don't have the knowledge or equipment to make the bullets.
As much as I would love to. I have ideas for projectile goe my 37 mm launcher.

They have 50bmg sabot rounds but are not good to shoot them trough a muzzle brake. They tend to open up and hit the baffles on the way out.

Posted: 6/11/2018 8:55:14 PM EDT

[#14]

I couldn't make out in your pics, but I'm assuming you have a single shot or one that you can load one at a time?

The only reason to keep the original bullet profile is looks, so why not stop where the profile starts to taper to the point. Sort of a modified wadcutter profile. Thicker = stronger

Idea two - reduce friction by narrowing the diameter overall but leaving 2-3 driving bands. One at the base, one a little further out (optional) and one that will wind up just inside the case.

Posted: 6/11/2018 8:56:16 PM EDT

[#15]

Well, I'm still game if you want me to make you another batch, at no cost of course. I like doing this type of stuff. I have some Taulman3D Bridge Nylon and I can print them laying down so that the layers are are going through the bullet instead of vertically like before. Just let me know.

Posted: 6/16/2018 12:52:52 PM EDT

[#16]

What about going to something like a driving band or a wasp waist, where only a small amount of the band is engaged by the rifling instead of the full length of the bullet?

Posted: 6/23/2018 5:14:39 PM EDT

[#17]

Talking to a friend who has done quite a bit of 3D printing, he thinks you should stick with the print orientation being with the bullets upright. He also suggest Ultem (sp?) as a potentially viable option.

Posted: 6/23/2018 8:12:19 PM EDT

[#18]

I have been giving the thought to adding a little powder like trail boss. But that really isn't a great idea. The size of the case alone is to big for light charges. You won't get reliable burn or pressure. Trail boss really needs to be slightly compressed to work it's best so I don't think small powder charges will work.

The 50 BMG primer is fairly hot it's self.

I am thinking maybe smaller bullet with two driving bans may work.
Maybe a dand right where the case neck sits and a little way up to keep it centered going down the long tube.

Could you do a cavity in the base to further reduce the bullets weight?

Posted: 6/26/2018 8:36:13 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
...
Could you do a cavity in the base to further reduce the bullets weight?

View Quote

My guesswork on this - if you have a 3d printed bullet built with a hollow base, the gas will be applying pressure to multiple layers of plastic. I'd be afraid one of the lower layers would separate from the upper layers and get left in the barrel. With a flat base, all the pressure is applied to the bottom layer.

If you're looking to drop weight, maybe do some honeycomb infill in the middle?

Posted: 6/26/2018 9:54:55 PM EDT

[#20]

Maybe a hollow bade then a disc that glued. To the bottom of the bullet.

That way it is still lighter but has the solid base for pressure.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 3D printed bullets (Page 2 of 2)

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