The bullets for a rifle or handgun are commonly made out of:

• A. lead
• B. copper
• C. brass
• D. steel

Answer: (A)

The main idea is why a dense, workable metal is chosen to be the main material of bullets. Lead is used because it’s very dense, so a bullet can deliver a lot of energy to the target without needing a lot of material. It’s also soft and easy to shape, which makes it cheap and straightforward to manufacture bullets with consistent size and performance. That combination—high density, ease of forming, and low cost—has made lead the standard material for bullets for a long time. In many bullets you’ll see a lead core surrounded by a copper jacket to improve performance and reduce barrel wear, but the primary material that gives bullets their essential characteristics is lead. Other metals like copper, brass, or steel are used in other parts of ammunition or for special purposes, not as the general bullet material.