Ever wonder what ammunition and its components look like internally? Fogammo.com cut these rounds in half to show you a perspective that you may not have seen before.

DISCLAIMER: Don’t try this at home. These models are for demonstration purposes only and were made by trained professionals.

223 Remington & 5.56 Nato

“To the naked eye the differences are nearly indistinguishable”

In the picture above: .223 rem on the LEFT, 5.56 Nato on the RIGHT.

• Bullet weight: 45 to 77 grains.
• Bullet style: Various
• Velocity: 2750 – 3750 fps
• Year Designed: 1964

This popular round was the first to be bifurcated, showing the base internal components of the popular cartridge. The process was as simple as using a hacksaw to bisect and a belt sander to polish. To the naked eye the differences are nearly indistinguishable aside from annealing of the .223, some people also say they can see the crimp in the primer pocket of the 5.56.

9mm Luger

“Some think the powder looks like worms or sticks”

PHOTO: 9mm Jacketed Hollow point and a cutaway.

• Bullet : 125 grain Sierra Jacketed Hollow Point
• Velocity: 1090 fps
• Year Designed: 1901 

.308 Winchester

“A different approach by only cutting the brass case and displaying the full bullet, primer and powder load”

PHOTO: .308 winchester rounds 

• Bullet: 168 grain Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail
• Velocity: 2750 fps
• Year Designed: 1952

This model took on a different approach by only cutting the brass case and displaying the full bullet, primer and powder load. A spec amount of powder was used to create the model powder form. An estimated 10% volume was added during the forming process, along with an undetermined amount of air pockets. This popular hunting round can also be seen as a rotating gif file from a previous post HERE. (Link) 

300 AAC Blackout

“The low amount of powder is due to the rounds subsonic capabilities of traveling below the speed of sound”

PHOTO: 300 AAC Blackout 220 Grain Jacketed Hollow point. 

• Bullet weight: 220 Grain Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail
• Bullet style: Hollow Point Boat tail
• Velocity: 1050 fps
• Year Designed: Early 1990’s

First designed for special operations groups needing more stopping power, for this model of the 300 BLK a Dremel tool was used to create a pie cut within the bullet and brass case. A measured amount of power was formed inside the case with super glue, which displays roughly 65% of spec charge. Ever popular with the use of a suppressor, the low amount of powder is due to the rounds subsonic capabilities of traveling below the speed of sound at 1126 feet per second.

45 ACP

“The round was first developed in for use in John M. Browning’s 1911 Automatic Colt Pistol”

PHOTO: Components of the 45 ACP on the LEFT, Bisection in the MIDDLE, unaltered round on the RIGHT.

• Bullet: 230 Grain Berries Bullets. Round Nose
• Velocity: 850 fps
• Year Designed: 1904

One of the most popular calibers of its time, the round was first developed in for use in John M. Browning’s 1911 Automatic Colt Pistol, and is still used today by shooters and military alike. Taking on the artistic eye of a still life photographer, this picture captures three different stages of the popular 45 ACP round. The powder your see spilling from the pie cut round is to represent the specifications as if the rounds were loaded properly and not cut in half.

50 BMG

“The round has proven its dominance in nearly every major conflict in the world for over one century.”

In comparison: .223 Rem 55 Hornady Grain FMJ on the LEFT, 50 BMG on the right.

• Bullet weight: 750 Grains
• Bullet style: FMJ
• Velocity: 2800 fps
• Year Introduced: Late 1910’s 

Last but most definably not least is the 50 Caliber BMG round. Infamous for it’s use in the M2 Machine gun and capable of reaching a maximum ballistic range of 7,000 meters. The round has proven its dominance in nearly every major conflict in the world for over one century. A typical round uses over 225 grains of powder. That’s almost 10 times the amount in a 5.56 NATO Round!

All of the cutaways lined up LEFT to RIGHT: 9mm JHP, 45 ACP, 300 AAC Blackout, 223 Rem, 308 Win, 50 BMG

EDIT: .308 Win changed to 2800F fps