Wooden bullets, anyone ever make any?

[hydin]

Got a prop itch I need to scratch.

I have been thinking of putting together a few "monster slayer" kit ideas, and wooden bullets struck me as a fantastic update to crossbow bolts and arrows.

Yes, I know guns don't actually fire wooden bullets, or if they did it wouldn't work out well for the shooter or the bullet, but this is a sci fi replica board and in sci fi it should work :lol

Dunno much about wood working myself though, which is why I ask if anyone else tackled these.

Would they need to be varnished after being made? I was planning on cutting and carving down some wooden dowel rods from the local hardware store, but since I don't plan to carry these around outside I wasn't sure if they needed sealing.

Also thinking of some custom grenades, or a cutaway grenade, filled with wooden bb's

Any other ideas on what would be cool to add, or pointers on how to build/finish those items?

Thanks
Chris

 

[terryr]

I just goggled 'wooden bullets' and there are quite a few hits.

OUCH.

 

[micdavis]

We used to have wood tipped "blanks" in the CHG.

They fired wood slug from a regular load.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Are you talking about the vintage ball bullets?

If those are the ones you're talking about, I believe some arts and craft stores may have small spherical wood balls...The only thing you need to do is stain and varnish.

Im pretty sure Michaels has some.

 

[hydin]

Nah, I was leaning more towards .45s or .38s as the bullets.

I know wooden bullets were/are used for riot control, my "it wouldn't work" was more for "Hey, let's try to shoot that guy in the heart". While they are great for riot control (and it's what they are used for nowadays too I think) I was leaning more towards a hybrid bullet that has a metal projectile that leads into a wooden "spike" .

Hypothetical vampire killer bullet. I found a lot on google that were basically just carved down or sanded down blunt nosed ones, but they kinda.. looked "lacking" somehow. Not "mean" or just .. I guess they just didn't look like something I would shoot at a vampire if I was trying to kill one. They didn't look like they would do much damage to one.

Just thought this would be fun to try, but I still don't know anything about wood working itself, so the questions about varnish/finish are still very much open

Appreciate the feedback
Chris

 

[epilepticsquirl]

When I picture a Vampire Killer bullet, I imagine something like a .308. Maybe having the brass shell engraved with some ornate designs on it. For the business end of things I think maybe a dark cherry or mahogany color lacquered up so it's all shiny. Maybe even continue the engraving onto the bullet with a crucifix or something.

The key to a good finish with wood working, and just about true for everything else, is the preparation. I usually sand down to about a 300-400 grit, then stain. If working with a soft wood such as pine, you'll need a pre-stain conditioner to avoid blotching of the stain. After the stain is dry sand very lightly with a high grit like 800. Apply your lacquer/shellac. Let dry, sand again with a 500-600, apply, sand with 1000, then buff and polish. It's the same method I used on my Gladius sword from the custom weapon contest.

 

[DARTH SABER]

It wouldn't be that hard to make a .45. or 38. bullet out of wood and by hand.

I recently made some wooden stakes (which have a similar shape to modern bullets) by hand and it was alot easier than I thought.

Buy a piece of wooden rod that matches the diameterr of the bullet you want.
Get a very sharp utility knife and widdle the end to a cone shape. (probably take you about 5 minutes).

Use a file to round off the tip (or if youy want, keep the tip sharp for piercing the vampire skin).

Then draw a line in the bullet where you want the little lip on the base, and the step in the middle.

THen use the file to create the step and lip.

Once you're done use some sandpaper wrap it around the bullet and twist the rod in your hand to smooth out the imperfections.

Once you're done just cut the bullet off at the base of the lip, and sand the base.

 

[eltee]

Take a deep hollowpoint, drill it out to a spec that will accept a length of dowel. We have some custom rounds (.44 mag) where the "bullet" is a .22 cal brass casing turned backwards for minimal penetration and maximum expansion. I can easily see turning some wood on a lathe to fit inside the .22 cal. casing.