kyska Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 Hi everyone, I've just been granted my FAC and am looking at buying a 17hmr very soon. Obviously I need to zero the rifle, which I'm allowed to do on the land. I have a secluded, pretty much wind free area down the side of some disused cow barns, the land is pretty flat behind it though. Do you think a large bale, the big square ton ones would be a sensible backstop? If not, I'll have to go to one of the more undulating fields and wait for a wind free day, which could be decades. Kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 perfect backstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 me personally wouldnt risk it on a bale,cant you get a few concrete blocks to put in front of bale,or a thick sheet of wood to destroy bullet before it hits bale?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 i woudln't risk a bale on it's down - how about some pallets in front to help break the bullet up, and some concrete slabs behind just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 I wouldn't use a bale alone. A bullet could easily just go clean through. If you don't believe me, go a shoot a £1 coin with your .17HMR and see what it does Best backstops are mud/sand banks. Trees are good, but you can kill them, so be careful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 Thanks guys, mixed response, I'll use the bale and find something to wedge it against with the matbro, as I've said its my first fac and I'm shocked it'll go through 3 foot of condensed hay! My god the rabbits won't like it much. It makes sense to have some ply or something to disrupt the round, and the bale 'should' absorb? Thanks chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 A big bale will be fine as a backstop for a HMR, no HMR round is going to go through one of those I've been using them for years. Be a hell of a hmr round to come out of the other side of one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 I used the round bales over the summer, not as a backstop but just to pin a target to. The bullet didn't penetrate all the way through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 a bale will stop the bullet but you need something fairly solid and flat that the round will mark to see where your bullets are going, a bit of 3/4 ply painted white will suffice and aim for your previous shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 If I am ever stuck for a decent back stop I use the folding army shovel I keep in the car and dig a small hole, using the spoil banked up behind the hole for a back stop. I place the actual target in the hole when ever I can. I have used hay bales many times, and never had a shot go through yet, but if you are worried just stick another bale behind it. Cooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I would be quite happy using a large bale as a safe backstop for 17HMR or even 22LR Scud missile.. it aint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Thanks guys, just to clarify, these are the great big square bales, the ones you need a loader to lift, I suppose if I use it end on I have 10 foot or so of hay to get through! Thanks a lot, appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 1 ton bale from its end is a good back stop for small bore rifles, just put a sheet of 1/2" ply in front to pin your target to, this will take a lot of the energy out of the round, the bale will see to the rest.. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poorwullie Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Minor point but check with whoever is going to feed the bale once you are finished with it as they may not be too happy about giving stock feed with a high metal content. Mike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Minor point but check with whoever is going to feed the bale once you are finished with it as they may not be too happy about giving stock feed with a high metal content. Mike... Not minor point,, major point. Good thinking Mike. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 Very much so - cattle have a long tongue and "scoop" up loose food such as hay or grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 No worries, its uneatable hay, got wet and goes that nasty grey colour, the cattle are pedigree herefords, so they won't be getting that, its ready to be burnt really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 thats even better than straw then as a backstop, I do wonder about people who think a HMR will go through a metre of very tightly packed straw or hay. If they did they'd be using them in Afghanistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 i don't think it would. But i would still rather not risk shooting without a solid backstop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 i don't think it would. But i would still rather not risk shooting without a solid backstop. I'm getting worried, really would a HMR round go through 10 feet of compressed wet hay?? What have I bought? I'm talking about the huge cubes of hay, needed a matbro/JCB loader to lift, a ton wet I would think, maybe more, end on with a 4 square foot target, with 10 feet of backstop. I'm not being pedantic, but what more would I need?...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) You would need nothing more. A HMR stands about as much chance of going through that as my 6.5 does of going through the earth and hitting a Kangaroo in Australia !!. I rather think some HMR users get a little carried away with the power of this little round or have never seen a big hay bale. Edited November 18, 2009 by CharlieT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 not that we think it would not suffice,but better safe than sorry,and besides,what harm would it be to stick ya target to a piece of ply first??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 not that we think it would not suffice,but better safe than sorry,and besides,what harm would it be to stick ya target to a piece of ply first??? I've took that on board (excuse the pun), I've just got confused over the type of backstop I need, I won't have a bale of hay behind every rabbit I shoot. Don't get me wrong, I'm just worried, I even said in another topic of mine I'm actually a bit scared of the rifle now! Ply and a ton of hay it is..... Thanks for all the input guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 thats even better than straw then as a backstop, I do wonder about people who think a HMR will go through a metre of very tightly packed straw or hay. If they did they'd be using them in Afghanistan. Not a bad idea Al4x, After the ammo is light so soldiers could carry loads of it, and everyone knows it is perfectly flat for 4000 yards and could still kill a bison at twice that range. And We would be able to buy NATO issue ammo cheaply Plus's all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 (edited) i don't think it would. But i would still rather not risk shooting without a solid backstop. I'd suggest its actually better than a solid backstop as you would never get a ricochet from a stone and will absorb the energy far better. They'll also stop a lot of centrefire rounds as well but thats a different discussion. Obviously you wouldn't put it on the brow of a hill etc but on flat ground and shooting down into it they are very effective. Oh and MC great idea actually i reckon if they did use them and were allowed the ballistic tipped bullets they would certainly upset the enemy Edited November 19, 2009 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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