Bullet vs. Pellet — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
A bullet is a solid projectile for a gun, rifle, or other firearm, while a pellet is a small, often spherical projectile used in air guns, shotguns, or slingshots.
Difference Between Bullet and Pellet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bullets are traditionally made of metal such as lead or copper and are designed for use in firearms. They are the component of the cartridge that is expelled from the barrel when a gun is fired. Bullets vary in size and shape but are usually pointed or rounded at one end and flat at the base. On the other hand, pellets are often made of lead or steel and are commonly used in air rifles and shotguns. Unlike bullets, pellets are not part of a cartridge and are often spherical or oblong in shape.
In the context of firearms, a bullet is the projectile that is expelled from the barrel after a cartridge explodes. Bullets are designed to maximize speed, stability, and accuracy, and are used in a variety of firearms, from handguns to rifles. Pellets, conversely, do not contain an explosive charge and are typically fired using compressed air or gas, which is the case with air guns, or the force of a spring in the case of spring guns.
The design of a bullet is crucial for its purpose; for instance, hollow-point bullets are designed to expand upon impact, increasing the damage dealt to a target. Bullets can also be full metal jacket (FMJ), which are used for military and practice purposes due to their ability to maintain shape upon impact. Pellets, however, are usually designed for less forceful impact and lower velocity, making them more suitable for target shooting and small game hunting.
When discussing ammunition, bullets are often part of a larger cartridge, which also includes the gunpowder, a primer, and the casing. This is not the case for pellets, which are loaded individually into air rifles or shotguns. The size and weight of bullets are typically greater than that of pellets, resulting in a higher momentum and energy transfer on impact.
The terminology also differs in their application; bullets are associated with terms such as “caliber” and “ballistics,” which refer to the diameter of the bullet and the science of its behavior in flight, respectively. Pellets are often discussed with terms like “shot size” and “choke,” which pertain to the diameter of the pellets and the constriction at the end of a shotgun barrel to control the spread of the pellets.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A projectile for a firearm.
A small spherical projectile for air guns/shotguns.
Usage
Used with firearms like rifles and handguns.
Used with air guns, shotguns, and slingshots.
Composition
Typically made of lead or copper.
Often lead, steel, or plastic.
Propulsion
Propelled by gunpowder ignition in a cartridge.
Propelled by air, CO2, or a spring mechanism.
Purpose
Designed for precision, range, and penetration.
Designed for lower-velocity shooting, often in sport.
Compare with Definitions
Bullet
A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel. The term is from Middle French, originating as the diminutive of the word boulle (boullet), which means "small ball".
Pellet
A small, rounded, compressed object of matter.
The pellet stove uses compressed wood pellets for fuel.
Bullet
A small, typically conical object that is fired from a gun.
She found a spent bullet casing on the ground.
Pellet
A small, hard ball of any substance, often used as a projectile.
They used clay pellets in the ancient slingshot for hunting.
Bullet
A symbol (•) used in printed text, usually to signify items in a list.
He organized the features of the product in his presentation with bullet points.
Pellet
A small, rounded piece of medicine for swallowing whole.
The doctor prescribed vitamin pellets for daily consumption.
Bullet
A metal projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearm, typically cylindrical and pointed, and sometimes containing an explosive.
Pellet
A small, solid or densely packed ball or mass, as of food, wax, or medicine.
Bullet
A small symbol used to introduce each item in a list, for emphasis.
Pellet
A bullet or piece of small shot.
Bullet
A stick of lipstick (considered separately from the tube in which it is encased)
You can apply your lipstick straight from the bullet but I like to use a brush
Pellet
A stone ball, used as a catapult missile or a primitive cannonball.
Bullet
A usually metal projectile in the shape of a pointed cylinder or a ball that is expelled from a firearm, especially a rifle or handgun.
Pellet
To make or form into pellets.
Bullet
Such a projectile in a metal casing; a cartridge.
Pellet
To strike with pellets.
Bullet
An object resembling a projectile in shape, action, or effect.
Pellet
A small, compressed, hard chunk of matter.
A pellet of wood, paper, or ore
Bullet
(Printing) A heavy dot (·) used to highlight a particular passage.
Pellet
A lead projectile used as ammunition in rifled air guns.
Bullet
A projectile, usually of metal, shot from a gun at high speed.
Pellet
Compressed byproduct of digestion regurgitated by owls and many other birds of prey, which serves as a waste disposal mechanism for indigestible parts of food, such as fur and bones.
Bullet
(informal) An entire round of unfired ammunition for a firearm, including the projectile, the cartridge casing, the propellant charge, etc.
Pellet
(heraldry) A roundel sable (black circular spot).
Bullet
Ammunition for a sling or slingshot which has been manufactured for such use.
Pellet
One of the short conductive tubes in a Pelletron particle accelerator.
Bullet
(typography) A printed symbol in the form of a solid circle, “•”, often used to mark items in a list.
Pellet
To form into pellets.
Bullet
A large scheduled repayment of the principal of a loan; a balloon payment.
Pellet
To strike with pellets.
Bullet
A rejection letter, as for employment, admission to a school or a competition.
John's not going to any of his top schools; he got a bullet from the last of them yesterday.
Pellet
A little ball; as, a pellet of wax on paper.
Bullet
(slang) One year of prison time.
Pellet
A bullet; a ball for firearms.
As swift as a pellet out of a gun.
Bullet
(slang) An ace (the playing card).
Pellet
To form into small balls; to pelletize.
Bullet
(figuratively) Anything that is projected extremely fast.
Pellet
A small sphere
Bullet
(in attributive use) Very fast speedy.
Bullet train; bullet chess
Pellet
A solid missile discharged from a firearm;
The shot buzzed past his ear
Bullet
Chess played at an extremely fast time control, with one minute given to each player. (bullet chess)
Pellet
A small ball, typically made of lead, shot from an air rifle or shotgun.
He loaded pellets into his shotgun for the target practice session.
Bullet
(fishing) A plumb or sinker.
Pellet
An individual mass of a material used in manufacturing or processing.
The factory molded plastic pellets into various toys.
Bullet
The heavy projectile thrown in a game of road bowling.
Bullet
(Australia) A roughly bullet-shaped sweet consisting of a cylinder of liquorice covered in chocolate.
Bullet
(obsolete) A small ball.
Bullet
(obsolete) A cannonball.
Bullet
(obsolete) The fetlock of a horse.
Bullet
A notation used on pop music charts to indicate that a song is climbing in the rankings.
Bullet
A young or little bull; a male calf.
Bullet
To draw attention to (text) by, or as if by, placing a graphic bullet in front of it.
Bullet
To speed, like a bullet.
Their debut started slow, but bulleted to number six in its fourth week.
Bullet
To make a shot, especially with great speed.
He bulleted a header for his first score of the season.
Bullet
A small ball.
Bullet
A missile, usually of lead, and round or elongated in form, to be discharged from a rifle, musket, pistol, or other small firearm.
Bullet
A cannon ball.
A ship before Greenwich . . . shot off her ordnance, one piece being charged with a bullet of stone.
Bullet
The fetlock of a horse.
Bullet
A projectile that is fired from a gun
Bullet
A high-speed passenger train
Bullet
(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;
He swung late on the fastball
He showed batters nothing but smoke
Bullet
A metal projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearm.
The hunter loaded a bullet into his rifle before taking aim.
Bullet
In informal usage, something that moves very fast.
The car was speeding down the highway like a bullet.
Common Curiosities
What are pellets commonly used for?
Pellets are used for shooting sports, hunting small game, and pest control.
Are bullets and pellets interchangeable?
No, bullets and pellets are designed for different types of weapons and purposes.
What materials are bullets made from?
Bullets are often made from lead, copper, or a composite of metals.
Can you use pellets in a gun designed for bullets?
No, pellets are for air rifles, shotguns, and slingshots, not for firearms that shoot bullets.
What is a bullet cartridge?
A bullet cartridge is an assembly that includes a bullet, casing, powder, and primer.
What does "caliber" mean for bullets?
"Caliber" refers to the diameter of a bullet or the internal diameter of a gun barrel.
What sizes do pellets come in?
Pellets come in various sizes and shapes, often designated by numbers or letters.
What is a bullet?
A bullet is a metallic projectile fired from a firearm.
What is the main difference in propulsion between a bullet and a pellet?
Bullets are propelled by the explosion of gunpowder, while pellets are usually fired by compressed air or gas.
Can the terms bullet and pellet be used metaphorically?
Yes, both can be used metaphorically to describe something that is fast or direct.
Are pellets less dangerous than bullets?
Generally, pellets are less lethal than bullets but can still cause serious injury.
Can both bullets and pellets be used for hunting?
Yes, but bullets are typically used for larger game, and pellets for smaller game.
Are there environmental concerns associated with bullets and pellets?
Yes, lead pollution is a concern with both, leading to alternatives like steel or biodegradable pellets.
Is a BB a bullet or a pellet?
A BB is a type of pellet, often spherical, used in BB guns.
Do bullets and pellets have the same level of accuracy?
Accuracy can vary, but bullets are generally designed for higher precision than pellets.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
