Bullet Locks

Bullet Locks for Shutter Doors

Bullet locks are one of those products that people tend to search for only once they already need one — usually because the existing lock has snapped, seized, or been forced, and the shutter now can't be secured properly. They're not a product most people browse out of curiosity. So if you're here, you're most likely replacing a failed lock or specifying for a new installation, and the main questions are probably: what shape do I need, what size, and does the housing come with it?

The shape question comes first. Bullet locks are made in round and oval profiles, and the housing or cutout already in your shutter frame determines which you can fit. Round body locks — the Asec round body bullet lock and the ILS FDM004 — suit frames drilled or punched for a circular profile. Oval locks, including the ILS FDM005, the Tessi 6460, and the Viro 3331 and 3332 in brass, go into oval housings. Fitting the wrong profile into an existing frame means either the lock won't seat correctly or the housing won't retain it. If you're replacing like-for-like, match the shape of whatever came out.

The round face variants — the Asec round face bullet lock and the ILS FDM007 — present differently again, with a face plate sitting flush to the shutter surface rather than protruding as a barrel. The FDM007 is a practical choice if you're starting from scratch because it comes supplied with housing, removing one sourcing step.

The Tessi H75 snap-in bullet lock is worth calling out separately. The snap-in fitting suits certain shutter lath profiles where a conventional pressed-in or screwed housing isn't practical — it's the answer when a standard bullet lock keeps pulling through or won't retain properly in the curtain material.

On keying: most of these can be supplied keyed alike, which is the sensible option on any premises with more than one shutter. Managing separate keys for each roller shutter door lock across a shopfront or industrial unit creates unnecessary complication, and keyed alike replacement bullet locks for multiple shutters on the same premises is a common enough requirement that it's worth specifying upfront rather than dealing with it afterwards.

Cylinder security on bullet locks is modest by design — the application is about retaining the shutter in the closed position, not resisting sophisticated attack. For higher-risk premises, a bullet lock works best as part of a layered approach alongside a full roller shutter door lock or additional external security rather than as the sole means of securing the door.