What the Heck is a “Dum-Dum” Bullet Anyway

Explore the dark history of the Dum-Dum bullet—how it revolutionized warfare, shattered bones, and was ultimately banned. Discover the gruesome truth behind this infamous ammunition.

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[Villpax]

"Ban those brutal bullets from war!" -
Richard Gruber, German Flamethrower Unit
1915 Verdun

[TheStrayHALOMAN]

I found out what a Dum-Dum was when I was about 5-6 and played Duke Nukem on my Nintendo 64. I then got on the internet and looked up what it was... Turns out they were just early hollow-points "expanding bullets" like the one in my childhood varmint rifle.
Thank you internet and lack of parental supervision, you were and still are "to some degree" the best teacher.

[crackthefoundation_]

Giant bullet that takes off your arm: Civilized
Giant bullet that takes off your arm while exploding: Utterly beneath us

[christopherdriscoll]

I clicked on this video thinking "By God, you WILL NOT miss the chance to bring up the Who Framed Roger Rabbit" Dum-Dum scene. Bravo and my immense gratitude to you that you opened up with it! It made my (otherwise roughly started) day.

[redbirdsrising]

All this talk about civilized rules of warfare reminds me of the line from Princess Bride

“You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?”

[alexbowman]

Whilst full metal jacket bullets are used against humans because they don't mushroom, in hunting animals soft tipped lead bullets are used as they're more likely to kill quickly rather than leaving a mortal wound which could cause days of suffering.

[CartoonHero]

The CO for my Cadet Corps was a University History Professor in the CIC: and one night he had to fill in for our RSM teaching the Green Stars (Newbies) and I remember him getting side tracked and forgetting he was talking to a bunch of 12 year olds and got really in depth describing what a Dum-Dum Bullet and a bunch of other horrific MODs that could be made to weaponry that were outlawed under various War Crime Pacts.

I think he emotionally scarred a few of my fellow Green Stars that night with the detail of what a bullet tumbling end over end after fired can do to its target. I know my brain has dressed that moment up a lot in the 25 years since but it's a hilarious moment to recall: just seeing this happy white haired old man with rosy cheeks and a curly waxed mustache; telling a room full of a kids about horrific war crimes in this cheerful, chipper, and brutally honest manner.

[Lotek]

I really like that quote from Major General Sir John. He completey believed the point of war was not to kill, and couldnt understand why wounded men wouldnt want to get treated. He even implied it was the goal of shooters to wound and not kill.

[jwayk]

Ah civilized warfare. Fast-forward… Flamethrowers

[widgity]

11:25 "Dude, I shot you, you're out" "nuh uh"

[kevinmatsumoto]

Huh, learn something new every day. I always thought Dum-dum was the nickname for hollowpoint rounds because it was an "Empty head" a dumb round.

[CodyFancyPants]

3:48 Space Marine bolter rounds were invented in 1857.

[tridoc]

The quote about the barbarian not understanding the proper course of action once shot is less dated language and more low key dry gallows humor.

[aaronlosey]

Continuing to charge after being shot versus lying down and waiting for a stretcher is the difference between fighting for your home, your people, and your way of life versus fighting to expand.

[ZeroFoxtrotGolf]

1) The reason modern FMJ are used is because a wounded soldier takes more than one man out of the fight. A wounded soldier requires immediate medical attention, evacuation, and use of supplies and resources to save and treat. Wounding an enemy soldier causes a potential cascade affect by taking a soldier out the fight, pre occupying a fellow soldier(s) to move them off the battlefield, require a medic to treatment them, a doctor to save them, use of medical supplies, and a bed treat them. It's about bleeding the enemy drying both physically and alagoricly.

[mobmeal]

The use of expanding bullets for hunting was mentioned at the end. In my state it is illegal to use full metal jacket or NON-expanding bullets for hunting.

[matthewgoodman]

The linage of anti-material rounds being deployed in the anti-personnel role continues to this day.

[Silvertarian]

The irony of dictating the manner in which people kill each other is not lost on me.

[meadball]

9:30 the stop motion video of cartidges trying to climb into the gun... 😂😂😂

[the_once-and-future_king.]

3 rounds a minute?

'Pfft! Noobs!'
-- Richard Sharpe, 95th Rifles.