what do I do with a 22 long rife bullet that did not fire

[Kevin]

A bullet in the head would do well for you

[Andy Asberry]

When I was a kid many years ago, we would stick 22 shells in the mud by stock tanks. Back off a ways and shoot them with BB guns. The cases would go singing. I don't know if they split. I never found one.

Perhaps in an open fire they just lay there but with a half inch of mud acting as a barrel, they go flying.

[Zyp]

You can use a "bullet puller." It's a simple device used by [reloaders.] It consists of a hammer that at one end has a compression fitting where you insert the bullet. By 'hammering' the tool, the bullet is separated from it's casing without firing, thus rendering the bullet harmless.

[zxcvbob]

Don't use an inertia bullet puller with rimfire cartridges. It could set them off. (works great with centerfire)

I use two pairs of diagonal-cutter pliers to pull the bullets out of .22 duds to melt them down later.

Bob

[Jim2009]

You don't need a "tightly fitting compression chamber" at all. I've seen a .22 shell thrown down on a cement floor, it landed just right, blew off and shot a hole in the ceiling.

Cheers, Jim

[Jim Elbrecht]

Was the ceiling 1 foot high and made of tissue paper? Jim

[Kuskokwim]

And then you woke up and realized that it was a dream.

[Bert Byfield]

Many gun people are "reloaders" who assemble their own shells. These people would know how to disassemble a bad one.

[TimR]

With a .22 you can usually get the bullet out without any tools.

Just stick the lead end into the muzzle of a .22, twist and pull, you can almost always bend it apart just with your fingers.