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    $\begingroup$ Tensile versus compressive strength (or strength along different axis) could be a start. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 8, 2016 at 19:46
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    $\begingroup$ What kind of world you are building? What's their technology? Is there magic? How world physics differ from ours? In case of magic it can be as simple as "empathic" metal that only works in close proximity to the body, as for technological means, I don't have any good idea yet. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 8, 2016 at 19:57
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    $\begingroup$ @LorenPechtel I think the idea is that if it's strong and indestructible, it might be able to pierce itself. Like the adamantium bullets that punch through Wolverines skull at the end of the Origins movie. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 9, 2016 at 5:15
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    $\begingroup$ Won't that give you the Chinese parable about impenetrable shield and the all piercing spear (paradox)? $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 9, 2016 at 8:57
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    $\begingroup$ Sounds like General Product's hulls from Niven's Known Space universe. Niven worked around it simply by having the manufacturer produce the hulls in four standard shapes/sizes. Since the hulls are indestructible, the cannot be broken down and repurposed as bullets. (in one of the novels a group of humans did discover the secret of the hulls and found a way to break them down, but it's useless, once broken the hulls disintegrate to atomic vapor). $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 11, 2016 at 3:35