Ricochets....:oops:

[phillips321]

Hi all,

We've all had dreaded ricochets, but what can we do to try and reduce the amount of them? Target rounds are the worst for it, along with 22lr. Are we going to be in a worse off place when we move away from lead?

Thanks in advance

 

[Pedro]

I suppose that the harder the bullet, the more there's a chance of a ricochet. Target rounds will mostly be used at ranges, where backstops are constructed to negate ricochets. As for other uses, I haven't heard of current users of non-lead bullets complaining of more ricochets than previously.

 

[Apthorpe]

I suppose that the harder the bullet, the more there's a chance of a ricochet. Target rounds will mostly be used at ranges, where backstops are constructed to negate ricochets. As for other uses, I haven't heard of current users of non-lead bullets complaining of more ricochets than previously.

Would they complain? I think that on the whole most people think "Sh!t!! That was bad. We won't be mentioning that shot to anyone" In fact, I am unsure that most people would even know if a supersonic bullet they fired ricocheted.

 

[Pedro]

Would they complain? I think that on the whole most people think "Sh!t!! That was bad. We won't be mentioning that shot to anyone" In fact, I am unsure that most people would even know if a supersonic bullet they fired ricocheted.

Good point.

 

[Triggermortis]

Wonder how non lead will perform in reduced sub-sonic loads?

 

[Steff]

For range use this is a non-topic. The bullets get caught in the sand. Ricochets simply don‘t exist.
During stalking monos, especially non-fragmenting models, CAN ricoquet off hard surfaces and even trees a little more than lead bullets. This has even been thoroughly examined by the German DEVA already 10 or more years ago. To be honest, the results were so divers, that I couldn‘t make anything out of it. Some forestry commissions, which had mad non-lead bullets mandatory actually made a draw-back when this discussion started in Germany. After the DEVA study was published, they all reintroduced the lead ban.
I‘ve been using monos for more than 15 years now. No unintended kills so far.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Some folk need to understand when to either forego the shot or leave the 22lr at home and deploy an air-rifle. One (1) in-the-field richocet is all any Rifleman should be permitted without serious questions being asked about their suitability to be let loose in the countryside with a firearm.

K

 

[Liveonce]

Some folk need to understand when to either forego the shot or leave the 22lr at home and deploy an air-rifle. One (1) in-the-field richocet is all any Rifleman should be permitted without serious questions being asked about their suitability to be let loose in the countryside with a firearm.

K

Think that is a little strict, a safe back stop is always key to taking any shot and I bet we have all had a ricochet from a .22lr subsonic out in the field, you cannot predict when it will happen, but I do chose not to use them when the ground is very dry and hard from lack of rain. Theory is they present little risk as they have lost a lot of velocity/energy and soon fall to earth but not a theory I want to put to the test to frequently. Yet to have a ricochet from my .17hornet but do occasionally need the silence of the .22 subsonic.

 

[gixer1]

Some folk need to understand when to either forego the shot or leave the 22lr at home and deploy an air-rifle. One (1) in-the-field richocet is all any Rifleman should be permitted without serious questions being asked about their suitability to be let loose in the countryside with a firearm.

K

If you haven’t had more than one ricochet you don’t shoot 22LR that often!

I would also argue that you will get ricochets with other calibers too it’s just that the velocity of the ricochet is different and so it’s much more noticeable with a 22LR. I have seen rangevideos with .30 cal ammunition and it’s clear to see the shots bouncing around all over the place!

also saw a .223 Tracer round on a maize field bounce like a ball one evening in Oklahoma.

Try shooting up in northern scotland where there are a lot of lumps of granite! Ricochets are common, you just need to ensure a good backstop or that the risk is reduced by the surroundings. As mentioned above the noise of a ricochet is usually an object inefficiently cutting air and so will be loosing velocity and energy rapidly.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Bullets only ricochet when we send them into surfaces they shouldnt be sent into.....
If the construction or calibre is more likely to ricochet pay more attention to your backstop

 

[Ade8mm]

Surely, just because you have never heard a ricochet, doesn't mean you have never had one, especially with Supersonic ammo?

I have heard .17HMR owners claim they never ever get ricochets due to the bullet being so frangible. How can they be so certain?

 

[gixer1]

Bullets only ricochet when we send them into surfaces they shouldnt be sent into.....
If the construction or calibre is more likely to ricochet pay more attention to your backstop

In that case - never shoot a deer again as the bullet can change direction drastically, exit the animal and hit “surfaces they shouldn’t be sent into”.....and plenty of bullets carry enough energy after hitting a target to kill.

standing at the bottom of a hill shooting at something halfway up it may result in a ricochet...but the risk must be assessed, the chances of the ricochet doing damage and passing the side of the hill is minimal and so as low as reasonably practical.

I’d love to know how all the folks using night vision/thermal are clarifying there isn’t a stone or hard ground behind....the answer is they are not - but they most likely know the ground and the backdrop and the risk is usually low.

regards,
Gixer

 

[75]

Bullets only ricochet when we send them into surfaces they shouldnt be sent into.....
If the construction or calibre is more likely to ricochet pay more attention to your backstop

I've had two (that I know of) with supersonic rounds. Both lead rather than non-toxic.

First was on a grassy, steep bank that I'd set a target up on and was shooting into (as we'd done dozens of times before). I would guarantee none of you would think twice about taking the shot. The 243 round whizzed off with that rather sickening sound. We never used that spot for checking zero again, just in case.

The second was into a solid peat bank on the moor. What could be safer than a nice soft peat backstop, eh?

 

[shakey jake]

ive heard bullets from 17 hmr, 22 rim fire, 223 and 243 all lead or cup and core, all ricochet all after going through an animal, super sonic whine is just the same as subsonic. only step you can make i think is to know whats behind the back stop, once you pull the trigger its too late to panic

 

[Dickie]

If you’re that worried take up golf.

 

[Whitester]

I never get ricochets using the 22 lr because I shoot into a safe back stop. I have had in the past but have learnt where not to use it. If you find you are getting them then I would say that your land is not suitable for the lr so maybe look at an air rifle . The hmr is possibly safer but I wouldn’t trust it not to bounce .

 

[markyw]

17s bounce too, but they are much lighter and more frangible and so (the pieces) bleed speed quicker. Or so I understand.

Mark

 

[VSS]

I never get ricochets using the 22 lr because I shoot into a safe back stop. I have had in the past but have learnt where not to use it. If you find you are getting them then I would say that your land is not suitable for the lr so maybe look at an air rifle . The hmr is possibly safer but I wouldn’t trust it not to bounce .

What do you shoot at with your 22lr? Only paper targets I guess, if you can be so sure that your backstop is going to be effective. I can't see any other way that you can claim that you never get ricochets.
I've had bullets ricochet off rabbits' heads before now, so the backstop was immaterial as the bullet never reached it.

(I also had a 270 bullet exit a deer at right angles to the direction it entered at. Again, the backstop wasn't much help in that situation).

 

[Whitester]

I mostly shoot rabbits with my lr and I make sure the back stop is good. Quite simply really . If you have a good chunk of earth behind your target then even your , quite frankly , unbelievable rabbit head ricochets should be fine

 

[gixer1]

I mostly shoot rabbits with my lr and I make sure the back stop is good. Quite simply really . If you have a good chunk of earth behind your target then even your , quite frankly , unbelievable rabbit head ricochets should be fine

You maybe haven’t shot that many rabbits with a 22LR if you haven’t had a ricochet off of a rabbits head...it’s not uncommon at all!

And even firing into grass you can have a ricochet.

someone mentioned one on a peat bank and I have no doubt that would happen.

regards.
Gixer