I have a question about ricochets and projectiles?

[that one guy]

I was reading that burro canyon thread and I got to thinking and have a lot of questions. Is it just steal core projectile ricocheting off a steel target that?s a fire hazard when shooting? Is all spam can/steel case ammo from com bloc country?s problematic with fire hazards? How far can a ricochet fly? When a range is worried about over penetration is that just rounds going through the steel target or tearing up the back stop? Please discuss.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1876996

[zinfull]

A person started a fire with copper hunting ammo at my range last year. Shooting steel with dry grass nearby.

[Fjold]

How far a ricochet travels will depend on the construction and weight of the bullet and the material of the target, the velocity of the bullet at impact and the angle of the target to projectile.

Worst case would probably a heavy steel bullet on a steel target with a high velocity (3500+ fps) at a very shallow angle (5-10 degrees up) and no backstop to catch it. In that case, the bullet will probably travel over a mile.

[NapalmCheese]

On ricochets: As Fjold pointed out there are a lot of variables. They CAN go a substantial distance. My buddy's truck got hit with a ricochet while we were beyond a berm. The jackasses shooting felt laying a steel target on the ground on the berm (i.e. at the angle or repose) was sufficient without understanding that they had just built a launch ramp for bullets.

I shoot CAS, ricochets are common. They are mitigated by using soft bullets, low velocity, and steel targets in good shap and angled towards the ground. Higher velocity, harder bullets, targets in poor shape, and not appropriately angled contribute to ricochets.

As for starting fires, I can attest that even slow moving soft lead impacting a steel target comes off the target glowing red hot and capable of starting fires.

[edgerly779]

There is a video of .50 bmg hitting steel plate at 100 yards and coming back and knocking earmuffs off the shooter. 2 inches right and dead puppy.

[hermosabeach]

We were night shooting and 45 ACP copper ball ammo was sparking when it hit rocks....

I did not believe copper would spark....


the bi metalic core is more likely to spark...



Ricochets normally don't fly high.... it really depends what they hit...


At several ranges I have seen IDIOTS shooting into the hillside... as a kid, we read about Metcalf range being closed as some idiot shot a cow up on the hill...


idiots are everywhere

[hermosabeach]

https://youtu.be/7tUW0cUkNv0?t=258

Watch video at 4:18 for Ricochet info

[JohnnyMtn]

Can?t speak for fire but ricochets happen. Probably more frequent than we think.

This is anecdotal but I got hit by my friends ricochet and it was a .22LR where the steel was 20 yards away. I was about 10 feet to his left and was loading a magazine when something hit my index finger causing it to bleed. Some pressure and a bandaid stopped the bleeding and the day continued. It was only about a day later that I realized I had something in my finger. With some utensils and alcohol, I was able to get out a small piece of lead from my finger. It happens.

[edgerly779]

^^ Great video old time fbi training.

[divingin]

Can?t speak for fire but ricochets happen. Probably more frequent than we think.

Not just direct ricochet's either.

Ranges that have steel at 45 degrees to deflect wayward shots downwards are culprits as well. Shots get deflected down into the old deformed bullets that have been trapped, and can send those quite a ways back towards the shooters.