margun Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Prompted by another thread, what's people's thoughts on ricochet? Personally I've had a few from .22lr over years and thousands of rounds but no other calibre. Understand that other high velocity, noisier calibres might mask it with sound depending on range. For example a .22-250 or .243 might totally break up on impact and dissipate quick, or may partially fragment and send a large fragment flying for some distance. Not something that I've knowingly done. Ballistic properties will affect it like angle of impact, energy, target material, load etc. Specifically after people's experiences, knowledge on ricochet distance of different calibres, affects of different factors like soft/hard ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plonker Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) A fast,light for caliber varminting round will fragment a lot quicker. ie 17hmr,17 rem, or 22-250 shooting sub 50gr. A 22lr is a heavy slow lump of lead,almost like a bouncing bomb. dave Ps never had a ricochet off the 17hmr,17 remington,204 or 223 that I know of,but have heard the 22lr zing a few times. Edited February 27, 2016 by plonker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14Supersport04 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) I have had ricochets from even an air rifle. Anything could ricochet depending on the hardness or softness of the ground, the angle and i guess bullet type as well. I assume that a light weight ballistic tip Is less likely to ricochet than a heavy full metal jacket. We just have to hope that as long as we have a good backstop we will be alright. Anyway thats my thoughts and very basic knowledge. Atb, supersport Edited February 27, 2016 by 14Supersport04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear1cat Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 I have experienced it with air rifle, .22lr and shotgun. I have heard that steal shot is prone to this though never used it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 As I wrote in the other thread anything will ricochet given the right situation and 7.62x51 tracer out of a gpmg is very impressive at night going up off of the butts. The sound of it means that the bullet is tumbling and loosing speed and energy very very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 I have definately had a couple of ricochets of HMR, this was into the side of a hill while zeroing so it didnt go far but even over the sound of the round I could hear the whine of the ricochet. Admittedly I have had more with .22LR, a couple being as they exit a bunnies head and you do wince but HMR is not a panacea for avoiding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 As above, you cannot discount the hmr, or any small frangible bullet, from ricochets; they can and do happen. Normal rules regarding safe direction and back stops apply. That's the preachy bit of of the way... However, the tiny hmr pill is designed to fragment which it does 99% of the time on hitting a solid object, it's also the smallest of any projectile and due to its weight and coefficient, loses its energy relatively quickly. In the 7 years of shooting it, two or three times a week, I have only heard it ricochet twice. Yes, the crack could mask the whine of a ricochet but I don't think this is the case. Compared to my old 22lr, which tended to ricochet frequently in an evenings shooting, it is preferable. Also, a 22lr has a large, solid lead lump designed to deform and moves relatively slowly. I imagine it would carry more energy for longer when compared with the 17. I love the little hmr, it's a great bunny getter, but I'm frustrated by the inconsistencies in the cartridge. For this reason I've just purchased a 17 hornet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Had 1 ricochet from a .308 hit a stone behind a zero target awesome/scary noise went about 30 yds ,never <touch wood> had a .243 ricochet yet.Yes the stone did shatter ,if you want dumb n dangerous google .50cal ricochet ,them yanks sure know how to get it wrong atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) I always shoot from a vehicle and have had ricochets, I would have thought the odds would be greater shooting prone as the angle is shallower. Edited February 27, 2016 by la bala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 All rounds will bounce even highly fragile light fast bullets most aren't heard due muzzle blast but they happen. Just do the best you can with safe backstops etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 When I was setting up my quad bike rifle rest last year in was sighting the HMR in at around 50 meters on soft wheat stubble. I got the zing from several shots which surprised me and I did wonder if the bullets were throwing up stones or such like and maybe that was what the sound was rather than the bullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Hmr will ricochet sometimes badly An interesting fact is a test was carried out seeing how far you could get a 22 to ricochet it was approx 600 yards in the test but don't realy on this All guns can ricochet you consider it andake a call. In fairness there is so little extra you can give any firearm it's better not to - just shoot them all the same Good backstop, safe backdrop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Here you go. RICK O'SHAY Another nutter but it is quite an interesting watch. BUT dont do this >> I have known ricochets on our 22 indoor rifle range when the lead builds up in the butts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 How far would a .22 ricochet travel? I tried to look it up but only found questions rather than proper answers. Would it be just a few hundred yards max or is it off into the yonder somewhere? Usually a few hundred yards wouldn't matter to me but sending them off randomly at 1000yards would be much different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) How far would a .22 ricochet travel? I tried to look it up but only found questions rather than proper answers. Would it be just a few hundred yards max or is it off into the yonder somewhere? Usually a few hundred yards wouldn't matter to me but sending them off randomly at 1000yards would be much different. It would be impossible to say because there are so many variables. Every shot would be different. Although it might sound dramatic it can't go that far because of the deformation of the bullet and the aerodynamics of the form. If you shoot a 22rf across a dry field with the gun horizontally parallel to the ground, the bullet will strike the ground out around 100>>150 yards away. The 22lr isn't very streamlined from the start and if a high level of its energy is taken by impacting an object then it is deformed and tumbling it ain't going to the moon anytime soon. Some geekoid must have done some research on this. Meanwhile we could just not worry about it and enjoy being out on patrol with the hound. After all I've never heard of any incident of something or someone getting hit by a ricochet. Edited February 28, 2016 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 How far would a .22 ricochet travel? I tried to look it up but only found questions rather than proper answers. Would it be just a few hundred yards max or is it off into the yonder somewhere? Usually a few hundred yards wouldn't matter to me but sending them off randomly at 1000yards would be much different. In a ricochet? Or maximum range at 33 degrees The former was tested but can't be relied upon as 600 yards max The latter will depend on conditions and if the round tumbles. Let's just say don't shoot it without a backstop or incredibly safe backdrop ( they can exist) We hear 22 ricochet as it's a well mangled lump of soft unjavketed lead Generally we don't hear ricochets in flight from jacketed bullets traveling way faster - think on that a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I have seen it with 12g slug visually kicking up dirt for 100s of meters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I know someone that was hit by a .22 ricochet. It hurt but didn't break the skin, but I think a thick coat had something to do with that. As I recall it was fairly close range too (sub 20yds) I myself had a ricochet that hit an unoccupied mobile home. It broke the skin on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I can't use a lr on the farm, almost every shot screams off, the hmr is not without fault, zeroing once I had about 2 in 10 screamed, with witnesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I can't use a lr on the farm, almost every shot screams off, the hmr is not without fault, zeroing once I had about 2 in 10 screamed, with witnesses. Don't worry about it. Take no notice of it. Carry on shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Don't worry about it. Take no notice of it. Carry on shooting. I do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 600 yrds my *** . A sub with 100 ft lbs at the muzzle . Would lose a massive ammount of that on the first impact . The remander thats left in a spinning bullet would be naff all if any 100 yrs futher on . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I know someone that was hit by a .22 ricochet. It hurt but didn't break the skin, but I think a thick coat had something to do with that. As I recall it was fairly close range too (sub 20yds) I myself had a ricochet that hit an unoccupied mobile home. It broke the skin on that! There was a case years ago in Scotland I think it was Blair Atholl Guy shot at something in a tree the 22 bounced off the tree and hit a guy picnicking in the eye and killed him I think it was a good few hundred yards away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 600 yrds my *** . A sub with 100 ft lbs at the muzzle . Would lose a massive ammount of that on the first impact . The remander thats left in a spinning bullet would be naff all if any 100 yrs futher on . It's incalculable but the tests were real and involved serious kit All ricochets are unpredictable by thier nature A stone can skim a long way on water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) It's incalculable but the tests were real and involved serious kit All ricochets are unpredictable by thier nature A stone can skim a long way on water Maybe so grasshopper . But 600 yrds ? Have you got a link to these tests? Edited February 28, 2016 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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