How to Make a Bullet Casing Pendant Necklace in 9 Easy Steps

I made this for myself, because I really like firearms, but would also make a cool piece of jewelry for non firearm enthusiasts, too.

Drill

Needle nose pliers

Drill-bits (1/16" and 1/8")

Sandpaper (2,000 grit)

Lighter

Paracord

Paracord awl

Thread

Needle

5.56 casing

.22 casing

Superglue

Scissors

NOTES: 5.56 casings are essentially the same as .223 casings, so either will work for this project. I use 5.56 for my necklace. You can get all of your casings online or from a shooting range.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. IF NOT FOLLOWED CORRECTLY, YOU WILL GET HURT.

Before you do anything with your casing, You need to insure that it is de-primed. The primer is the small "button" on the bottom of the casing. If there is a dent in the primer, it is safe to work on. If there is no dent in the primer, do not work on it. It will explode the primer if heat, friction or impact is introduced. If you have a casing with an unused primer, throw it away. The 5.56 casing will have a primer, but the .22 casing doesn't. If your .22 has an indent in the bottom rim of the casing, it is safe to work on.

Before working with casings, I suggest that you wash them in warm, soapy water. make sure to dry completely.

DO NOT DE-PRIME THE CASINGS YOURSELF. THEY ARE DE-PRIMED WHEN SHOT OUT OF A FIREARM.

Take your drill and lightly secure the casings in the drill until they can no longer manually rotate in the chuck. Take your sandpaper and wrap it over the casing. Lightly pull the trigger on the drill to polish the casing. Flip the casing around in the drill by loosening the chuck and repeat the polishing process with the other side of the casing. Do this only on the 5.56 casing. The casing on the left is polished, the right one is tarnished.

Drill a 1/8" hole in the bottom of the .22 casing by lightly clamping the casing with the pliers, and slowly increasing the drill speed, Until you have drilled all the way through the bottom.

Take your paracord, and melt one of the ends into a point, By heating it up, and rolling it between tour fingers. Careful, The nylon gets hot. The point allows it to fit into the awl. Screw the cord into the open end of the awl, Ensuring it is secure.

Take your awl end of the paracord, and find a spot on the paracord that, when closed, it forms a loop big enough for your head to pass through comfortably. This is where you will make the loop for your necklace. Insert the awl into the paracord, and about a half inch down, push the awl out of the paracord. Adjust the newly formed loop until it can fit on and off of your head. Trim off the excess end of the paracord that is sticking out from the paracord.

Take your needle and thread, and pass the thread through the eye of the needle. Tie the thread into a loop. Insert the needle into the area of the paracord with the other end of the paracord inside of it. Make a loop with the thread, and pull tight. Sew the paracord until you are confident the end of the paracord won't pull out.

Melt the free end of the paracord into a point, and insert it into the hole in the bottom of the .22 casing. pull the casing up to the area you just sewed, and cut off the excess paracord. Melt the end of the paracord, and press it against your pliers to create a flat spot. Pull this flat spot into the casing.

Take your superglue, and lightly put a vert small amount on the outside of the .22 casing. Insert the .22 casing into the hole in the 5.56 casing, and wipe off an excess glue. Let dry.

Your necklace is now done. Wear it as much as you like, I hope you had a fun time making it!