Limiting ricochets

[Griffo13]

Hi there

What steps are you all taking to limit ricochets for 22lr. Anything additional to the usual “best practices”? Been using cci segmented hollow points to try and mitigate potential ricochets.

I often end up grabbing the sub 12 air rifle instead of the 22lr, especially when it’s been really dry and the ground is particularly hard.

I know ricochets happen, always will, but keen to know others views, even if people are dead against using 22lr

Thanks !

 

[Smellydog]

I tie a piece of string to the bullet

 

[FISH BOY]

Stopped using my rimmy .22 on flat arable years ago.

Use a .17 HMR instead. Noisier yes, but better range and I believe far safer.

 

[Hambone]

Stopped using my rimmy .22 on flat arable years ago.

Use a .17 HMR instead. Noisier yes, but better range and I believe far safer.

Unless you use the 20g HMR ammo! I've found it worse for ricochets than .22

 

[Griffo13]

Stopped using my rimmy .22 on flat arable years ago.

Use a .17 HMR instead. Noisier yes, but better range and I believe far safer.

Thanks for that. Always had the idea of 17hmr in my mind, but convinced myself I don’t need one. I have sub12 air, 22lr, 223, 243, 300win and shotgun, so assumed I had something to cover all…. Maybe not

 

[User00056]

I've never let it worry me. Sure they'll ricochet under the right (wrong?) conditions, but just choose your shot carefully and it'll go a long way to mitigating any risk. It's not as though the countryside is filled with people limping with .22 holes in their leg, after all

 

[Bo Diddley]

Indeed ^^^^ . Are there many instances of completely innocent parties being wounded by stray bullets of any kind

 

[Griffo13]

I've never let it worry me. Sure they'll ricochet under the right (wrong?) conditions, but just choose your shot carefully and it'll go a long way to mitigating any risk. It's not as though the countryside is filled with people limping with .22 holes in their leg, after all

Oh I agree, the actual chances are slim of a ricochet actually doing anything… however when you do everything you can and still hear that little zing of into the distance, it still makes you sick to your stomach !

 

[FISH BOY]

Unless you use the 20g HMR ammo! I've found it worse for ricochets than .22

Yes 20gr CCIs.

Can’t say that in thousands of rounds I have ever heard the scary sound of a ricochet with an HMR - unlike a .22 rimmy which is pretty much guaranteed.

Thanks for that. Always had the idea of 17hmr in my mind, but convinced myself I don’t need one. I have sub12 air, 22lr, 223, 243, 300win and shotgun, so assumed I had something to cover all…. Maybe not

HMR is a deadly for open and flat to 100m - like friggin laser. My rimmy is now designated for practice and high seat squirrel control in the woods over feeders.

 

[Griffo13]

Indeed ^^^^ . Are there many instances of completely innocent parties being wounded by stray bullets of any kind

Think there has been a few, however they may be urban legends within the shooting community..

 

[Smellydog]

Oh I agree, the actual chances are slim of a ricochet actually doing anything… however when you do everything you can and still hear that little zing of into the distance, it still makes you sick to your stomach !

Does it, might need to visit a doctor.
I like hearing them. It's like the old movies.
Peeeeeowwwwe, pervvvvvvverrr......oops sorry, need a bowl?

 

[Griffo13]

Yes 20gr CCIs.

Can’t say that in thousands of rounds I have ever heard the scary sound of a ricochet with an HMR - unlike a .22 rimmy which is pretty much guaranteed.



HMR is a deadly for open and flat to 100m - like friggin laser. My rimmy is now designated for practice and high seat squirrel control in the woods over feeders.

Interesting… I have used my 243 for rabbits ( I know it’s a bit overkill ) but I feel like the chances are near on non existent with the 243 due to it having so much velocity that rounds just explode on impact, even on flat, hard ground.

Maybe i need a fac air rifle. Nothing crazy, but maybe a .177 running 20ftlbs. Surely that covers “almost” anything the 22lr would be doing but without the risks of ricocheting.

Anything else I’ll pull out the 300 win mag

 

[Smellydog]

So when you use the winmag on a deer and you find an exit hole do you feel cold and clammey, need to lie down and elevate your feet?

 

[Bo Diddley]

Maybe i need a fac air rifle. Nothing crazy, but maybe a .177 running 20ftlbs

Fac air is very handy. I'll probably get a bit of flack for saying this but .177 fac is not the best choice, go for .22, maybe something that will shoot slugs as well if needed. My 1st choice would be an AGT Vulcan 3 synthetic in.22 or .25

 

[Smellydog]

Fac air is very handy. I'll probably get a bit of flack for saying this but .177 fac is not the best choice, go for .22, maybe something that will shoot slugs as well if needed. My 1st choice would be an AGT Vulcan 3 synthetic in.22 or .25

Yeah but wait...they zing too

 

[User00056]

Oh I agree, the actual chances are slim of a ricochet actually doing anything… however when you do everything you can and still hear that little zing of into the distance, it still makes you sick to your stomach !

It's the ones you don't hear that would be the ones to worry about.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Yeah but wait...they zing too

I've even had Diablo pellets Rick O'Shay... call me cavalier but I tend not to worry , I've not got a .22lr any more, but back in the day I used mine for everything (and I mean everything)

 

[Smellydog]

I once shot a rabbit at 50yds or so with a 22.
The bullet exited the rabbits head and hit the turf. It then screamed it's last 20yds into an old pheasant feeder made from a steel 50gal drum. It made a tiny dent!
I went back soon after with an air rifle and shot at the feeder. The air rifle pellet made a similar dent to the bullet!

To the author, if a bullet is screaming after hitting something it is losing its energy very very quickly. An awful lot of energy is now being converted to heat and noise. It's generally why you don't hear them for very long!

 

[Griffo13]

I once shot a rabbit at 50yds or so with a 22.
The bullet exited the rabbits head and hit the turf. It then screamed it's last 20yds into an old pheasant feeder made from a steel 50gal drum. It made a tiny dent!
I went back soon after with an air rifle and shot at the feeder. The air rifle pellet made a similar dent to the bullet!

To the author, if a bullet is screaming after hitting something it is losing its energy very very quickly. An awful lot of energy is now being converted to heat and noise. It's generally why you don't hear them for very long!

Thanks for the insight, I get what you’re saying. It was more just a conversation around what others people views and ideas are. Always keen to take on board additional experiences from people.

Oh and the 300win, it’s on my open ticket, but it’s mostly used for target shooting. Maybe one day on the deers…

 

[Bo Diddley]

We need @Bowland blades opinion on this.. he knows about this stuff...