Ricochets

[jon15 14]

Went rabbit shooting last night with the .22 (sub-sonics), when i missed, which happened too frequently I heard a high number of ricochets, thankful i was shooting into the base of the Downs, but it is still rather un-nerving to hear the wiz. The majority of the ground I shot on was stubble with the odd bit of cultivated land, not particularly stoney, but quite dry. Does anyone else have a similar problem and what if anything can be done about it? Is there much energy left in the bullet once it has ricocheted. Many thanks.

[JonathanL 4]

Went rabbit shooting last night with the .22 (sub-sonics), when i missed, which happened too frequently I heard a high number of ricochets, thankful i was shooting into the base of the Downs, but it is still rather un-nerving to hear the wiz. The majority of the ground I shot on was stubble with the odd bit of cultivated land, not particularly stoney, but quite dry. Does anyone else have a similar problem and what if anything can be done about it? Is there much energy left in the bullet once it has ricocheted. Many thanks.

 

There is likely to be considerable energy left in a ricocheting bullet. Might be worth getting something like a .223 with a light bullet which is far more likely to fragment on impact.

 

J.

[Leicester hunter 0]

Went rabbit shooting last night with the .22 (sub-sonics), when i missed, which happened too frequently I heard a high number of ricochets, thankful i was shooting into the base of the Downs, but it is still rather un-nerving to hear the wiz. The majority of the ground I shot on was stubble with the odd bit of cultivated land, not particularly stoney, but quite dry. Does anyone else have a similar problem and what if anything can be done about it? Is there much energy left in the bullet once it has ricocheted. Many thanks.

 

I have this same problem. Trying to increase the elevation of the shot as much as possible will help, but this is the main issue with .22rf. Basically its just a ball of lead skipping off the ground. (My land is all grass with very little stone, but still bounces like hell. Be interested to know how quickly the energy is expelled though.

[Malt 379]

Yep, heard plenty when I used to be the lamp man with my mate, and that was just shooting on fields..

[Leicester hunter 0]

Went rabbit shooting last night with the .22 (sub-sonics), when i missed, which happened too frequently I heard a high number of ricochets, thankful i was shooting into the base of the Downs, but it is still rather un-nerving to hear the wiz. The majority of the ground I shot on was stubble with the odd bit of cultivated land, not particularly stoney, but quite dry. Does anyone else have a similar problem and what if anything can be done about it? Is there much energy left in the bullet once it has ricocheted. Many thanks.

 

There is likely to be considerable energy left in a ricocheting bullet. Might be worth getting something like a .223 with a light bullet which is far more likely to fragment on impact.

 

J.

 

how about 17hmr? as i have this on my licence. noise is not really an issue.

Edited March 15, 2010 by Leicester hunter

[Guest dazzb]

you shouldnt have any with the hmr the bullet fragments on impact some people dont like this as it can leave shards in the meat

[bob.243 8,588]

Had a couple of zingers the other day whilst zeroing in my .17HMR I was using Federal V-Shok, like dazzb says, I thought they were supposed to fragment on impact.

It's my understandind that some FAO's would prefer you to have a 17HMR, rather than a .22LR, for this very reason as they are supposed to fragment on impact and not ricochet.

 

ATB.

[JonathanL 4]

Went rabbit shooting last night with the .22 (sub-sonics), when i missed, which happened too frequently I heard a high number of ricochets, thankful i was shooting into the base of the Downs, but it is still rather un-nerving to hear the wiz. The majority of the ground I shot on was stubble with the odd bit of cultivated land, not particularly stoney, but quite dry. Does anyone else have a similar problem and what if anything can be done about it? Is there much energy left in the bullet once it has ricocheted. Many thanks.

 

There is likely to be considerable energy left in a ricocheting bullet. Might be worth getting something like a .223 with a light bullet which is far more likely to fragment on impact.

 

J.

 

how about 17hmr? as i have this on my licence. noise is not really an issue.

 

Probably be a lot better.

 

J.

[RicW 67]

You say you were shooting on the Downs. Soils can be very deceptive, and the chalk soil of the Downs has a lot of flint inclusions, off which you are getting your riccochets. As stated, HMR should be a lot better.

 

Ric

[Guest dazzb]

Had a couple of zingers the other day whilst zeroing in my .17HMR I was using Federal V-Shok, like dazzb says, I thought they were supposed to fragment on impact.

It's my understandind that some FAO's would prefer you to have a 17HMR, rather than a .22LR, for this very reason as they are supposed to fragment on impact and not ricochet.

 

ATB.

 

 

You say you were shooting on the Downs. Soils can be very deceptive, and the chalk soil of the Downs has a lot of flint inclusions, off which you are getting your riccochets. As stated, HMR should be a lot better.

 

Ric

i can honestlt say i have never had a riccochet with hmr and ive used most ammo for it, but there is a 1st time for everything, as for .22 ive had them on all kinds of ground, i dont think you need to hit stone or flint to have one skid off the surface, i get them quite often by taking head shots, it's just a fact of life with the .22, you may be able to reduce the amount it happens but you will never stop it!!!!

[jamie g 17]

as long as your shooting into a bank which im sure you are it will be fine. if you feel abit iffy then dont shoot it in that ground and add hmr

[mangy1983 51]

I had this problem shooting the other day after having two ricochets out of five shots whilst shooting round my house. Needless to say I moved to a more open area as even though the houses round me are fairly spread out it unnerved me enough to go shooting out the back of my house were there are no houses nearby. I did a google search on this and read on some forum that a ricochet should not fly more than 200 yards from the original point of impact when firing with a rim firebut don't know if there is any truth in this.

cheers Callum

[Peter 0]

I think the problem is you can't predict the velocity of a ricochet or whether it is in one or several pieces, nether is the angle of the bullet after it has hit the ground prodictable. It all adds up to a big problem if you do't take your background into consideration before you pull the trigger.I would hate to rely on the 200yard rule given early, I can't say it wrong, I don't know, however I think it has got to be far less than the maximun range of a 22 bullet. This is something I would love to know, how much safe background do I need?

[mattydski 560]

Apparently CCI make fragmenting rounds for the .22lr to combat this, I have been trying to source these for land that I have this problem on. Until I get them, its no shooting on that land for me..

[Fidgety 8]

Apparently CCI make fragmenting rounds for the .22lr to combat this, I have been trying to source these for land that I have this problem on. Until I get them, its no shooting on that land for me..

These are subsonic fragmenting rounds - on back order apparently. I'm waiting too! Wonder how accurate they be?

 

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=1&loadNo=0074