luodit

Luodit are the projectiles fired from firearms. In modern ammunition, a bullet consists of a lead core encased in a harder jacket, and is designed to be propelled by the cartridge's propellant. The Finnish word luoti means bullet; luodit is the plural.

Construction and design: Most bullets have a core (often lead) and a jacket (commonly copper or copper alloy). Some are lead-free, using solid copper or other materials. Bullet shapes include round-nose, ogive-pointed, boat-tail, and hollow-point. The jacket and core together influence expansion, penetration, and stability, while weight is determined by caliber and design.

Common types: Full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets have a continuous jacket; hollow-point (HP) bullets expand on impact; soft-point (SP) bullets are designed to expand gradually; wadcutter and semi-wadcutter are used for target shooting. Specialized variants include tracer, armor-piercing (AP), and frangible bullets.

Performance and regulation: Bullet performance is described by velocity, energy, caliber, and ballistic coefficient. Weights are measured in grains; common pistol bullets range roughly 80–160 grains, while rifle bullets span tens to hundreds of grains. Regulations vary by country and can cover manufacture, sale, and use of certain bullet types; environmental considerations include lead content and contamination.

History: Jacketed bullets emerged in the late 19th century to improve efficiency and penetration, replacing earlier pure-lead projectiles. Since then, bullet technology has diversified for hunting, sport shooting, and defense, with ongoing research into materials and design.