Talk:Monolithic bullet

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Monolithic vs lead

Latest comment: 9 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

The article feels as if the original author has got the wrong end of the stick. It continually compares monolithic bullets with lead bullets, as if they were inherently opposed - but this is a false dichotomy, because a monolithic bullet could potentially be made out of lead. The article should really compare monolithic bullets with jacketed projectiles. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 13:17, 18 October 2015 (UTC)Reply

Fundamental Flaw

An allusion to the notion that lead bullets must be jacketed permeates the entire article. For many years, practically every bullet was essentially monolithic and there was no natural utility for such reference. Jacketed bullets which prevailed in the late 1800's became dominant in many areas at some point throughout the 20th century, and the term "monolithic bullet" was developed in contemporary usage to distinguish a class of products that may be outwardly similar in appearance to jacketed projectiles. When a bullet with the appearance of copper is viewed, and one is informed that it is monolithic, then we understand it does not contain some other metal. There is a similar understanding for different materials whichever way a bullet is made.

Monolithic bullets are defined by unitary composition of a material that is consistent throughout the aspects of construction designed for terminal effect. Any suitable material can be used for a monolithic construction. It is just a practical matter of circumstance that when one sees a bullet casted from lead alloy, they don't need to be told it is monolithic because they already understand that it does not encase a copper core.

Essentially, the meaning could reference a composition of zinc, steel, aluminum, gilding metal, copper, lead, or some other material but not in combination unless uniformly infused as an alloy.

Bullets loaded within sabots that are discarded shortly after leaving the barrel are generally considered to be monolithic. The "ballistic tips" that are not meaningfully infused with a structure which remains partially intact upon impact may be similarly considered discardable by some and perhaps less so by others, on account of having no purpose by design immediately after the bullet has begun to expand.

Recommendation

Two solutions to fix the article

1. Refine the article so that it contains less nonsense by articulating universally relatable language. Steel-core and jacketed bullets are not monolithic, while unjacketed projectiles made from cast zinc or swaged lead could appropriately be considered among machined copper projectiles as monolithic.

2. If the properties of a material are the main concern, create a topic to the effect of "Lead-Free Bullets", and adjust content accordingly.

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