Would Swallowing a Bullet Kill You?

Humans eating game killed using lead ammunition generally avoid swallowing shot or bullets and dietary lead exposure from this source has been considered low. Recent evidence illustrates that lead bullets fragment on impact, leaving small lead particles widely distributed in game tissues.

What would happen if you swallowed a bullet?

Objects that contain a lot of lead (such as bullets, buckshot, fishing weights and sinkers, and some toys) also can cause problems if swallowed. Lead poisoning may cause behavior changes, lack of energy, or headaches. If you think someone has swallowed an object with a lot of lead: Do not cause (induce) vomiting.

Can you get lead poisoning from eating a bullet?

Novin added that “there has never been a documented case of lead poisoning among humans who have eaten game harvested with traditional ammunition.” New research, however, has shown that eating venison and other game can substantially raise the amounts of lead in human bodies.