.223 safety

session savage

Hi lads.
Got the new rifle today and am just wondering what .223's are like with ricochet.
I have only ever had a .22lr and always used sub sonics which would bounce off a cloud.
Am just wondering what .223's are like.
Obviously i'm not going to be doing anything stupid but as I'm zeroing the new gun tomorrow (weather permitting) I'm trying to decide the best location for this.

Any advice would be great. thanks.

Tackleberrywho

session savage wrote: »

Hi lads.
Got the new rifle today and am just wondering what .223's are like with ricochet.
I have only ever had a .22lr and always used sub sonics which would bounce off a cloud.
Am just wondering what .223's are like.
Obviously i'm not going to be doing anything stupid but as I'm zeroing the new gun tomorrow (weather permitting) I'm trying to decide the best location for this.

Any advice would be great. thanks.

Use soft hollow or Ballistic tipped, keep away from FMJ's and you will have no issues Ballistic tip almost vaporize on impact

session savage

Thanks Tack.
Means I can do the zeroing just out the back as I have a lovely hill for a backstop. Was thinking about going down to a quarry down the road a bit but its handier to stay here.

Cass

Any round has the possibility to ricochet. The .22lr would be among the worst as it lacks the power to break up on impact. The larger rounds can be somewhat safer as they carry enough impact energy to break up, but they can also richochet.

My only advice is know your rifle. Know your ability, and most importantly know your backstop/surroundings. If a shot looks "dodgey" then don't take it. If you are shooting in a "soft" ground area ricochets are slim, if you are shooting into a rock face then chances are higher. So make a judgement before pulling the trigger.

Always be aware, but do not overthink it, as you may "think" yourself out of a perfectly legit shot.


Happy hunting.

meathstevie

There's a couple of fairly simple things to keep in mind to prevent ricochets happening.

- select soft backstops, i.e. an earth bank, cutting bank in a bog, sand bags etc etc..this will allow a bullet to penetrate and transfer energy very quickly.

- try to shoot at as oblique an angle to your backstop as possible; i.e. don't go on your belly to shoot in a fairly flat field, use a fence post or shooting sticks or the likes for support. You increase the chance of a ricochet quite dramatically if the angle of impact on your back stop is small.

- as other folks have said, use frangible bullets, stuff that breaks up and or deforms easily on impact.

All in all your .223 will be a hell of a lot less likely to produce ricochets that a
.22lr which in my opinion is a right b'stard for ricochets.

session savage

As usual I erred on the side of caution and went to a quarry to zero the new Tikka.
Lads its some job. I'm so impressed with it. Brilliant accuracy. Straight away after zeroing i was shooting 1 1/2 inch groups at 150 yards with cheap wolf factory ammo.
Happy out.

Cass

Nothing better than getting a new rig and shooting well from the "off", especially with cheaper ammo because you know it can only do better with quality ammo.

Good luck with it.

It wasn't me!

Good stuff. I see the bolt is on the correct side as well. Proper order.

clivej

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Good stuff. I see the bolt is on the correct side as well. Proper order.

Am I correct I thinking that Right means correct and therefore left would mean wrong or incorrect. And then to follow on if using the "correct" hand is normal then to use any other hand, doh left, is sub-normal.
So by using this theory your interpretation of "Correct" is indeed incorrect :rolleyes:

Tackleberrywho

clivej wrote: »

Am I correct I thinking that Right means correct and therefore left would mean wrong or incorrect. And then to follow on if using the "correct" hand is normal then to use any other hand, doh left, is sub-normal.
So by using this theory your interpretation of "Correct" is indeed incorrect :rolleyes:

The left hand of God was Lucifer