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How to Find If Ammo Has Steel Inside

Ammunition has gone through many changes over the decades. Ammunition is filled with either steel, lead or plastic. Determining the core filling in your ammunition takes an eye for detail and a working knowledge of ammunition history. Steel is commonly used in bullet manufacturing to help with the rising cost of other core materials and is primarily found in military ammunition. Steel is not only cheaper but also holds certain qualities such as armor-piercing capabilities. These bullets may be cased in copper, steel or aluminum.

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the country of origin for your ammunition by inspecting the casing. China and Russia are avid users of steel-core bullets. Each country has a copyright mark that is engraved into each bullet for identification purposes. For a list of engravings, look online at the "Mosin Ammo" website or other ammunition-dealer sites.
- 2
  Find the caliber of the ammunition. Ammunition caliber is commonly on the casing or the ammo packaging. Smaller calibers such as .22-caliber firearms are most likely filled with lead. Bullets made for the Soviet M43 are steel cores cased in steel or copper and containing a steel barrier between the casing and the core.
- 3
  Examine the size and shape of your ammo. Steel-cored ammunition has an elongated head, differing from the lead-filled, flathead ammo. Steel-cored ammo can be between 1 and 1 1/2 inches long.
- 4
  Apply a magnet to the side or bottom of the ammunition. Magnets are extremely sensitive to steel cores and will adhere to the bullet casing. This is only effective if your casing is made of copper or aluminum.

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