Will Learn
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- May 7, 2006
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WOW
Boom Headshot - .50 style
- Thread starter George Hill
- Start date
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fletcher
Member
Looks, um, painful.
So did it bounce/deflect off the metal and come flying right back?
Had a jacket fly back at me the other day - I was surprised, to say the least.
So did it bounce/deflect off the metal and come flying right back?
Had a jacket fly back at me the other day - I was surprised, to say the least.
The thing to consider, that some may not know, and others here do, is that even M33 and M2 "Ball" ammo have a solid steel core. The difference between M33 Ball and M2 Armor Piercing is the material of steel used. Ball uses mild steel, and AP uses the hardened denser tungsten steel.
I have a picture here of various rounds. To the far left you will see a recovered jacket above a recovered mild steel M33 core (far left) and to that you will see a recovered M2 AP core.
I did not weigh them, but after years of handling I have no doubt they are both in the upper 400 to 500+ grain range as they make up the bulk of the bullet weight.
When he hit the steel target I am betting it shucked the thin jacket and sent the tumbling core back at him.
The tungten core has a vary sharp point that I doubt a sledge hammer could dull.
If it had hit him before stiking the ground, even though it went up and then came down in a slight arc instead of a dead straight line, he could have been injured or killed.
I have poured a lot of rounds into mild steel targets but always with a 90 degree impact. Seeing this on video is much more powerful than a discussion of what happened. I may rethink my safety and particularly the safety of others from now on when shooting like this.
I have a picture here of various rounds. To the far left you will see a recovered jacket above a recovered mild steel M33 core (far left) and to that you will see a recovered M2 AP core.
I did not weigh them, but after years of handling I have no doubt they are both in the upper 400 to 500+ grain range as they make up the bulk of the bullet weight.
When he hit the steel target I am betting it shucked the thin jacket and sent the tumbling core back at him.
The tungten core has a vary sharp point that I doubt a sledge hammer could dull.
If it had hit him before stiking the ground, even though it went up and then came down in a slight arc instead of a dead straight line, he could have been injured or killed.
I have poured a lot of rounds into mild steel targets but always with a 90 degree impact. Seeing this on video is much more powerful than a discussion of what happened. I may rethink my safety and particularly the safety of others from now on when shooting like this.
whitetiger7654
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- 234
I think I may be done with shooting steel. Only once I have felt a small splash back from bird shot. It wasn't coming hard enough though I barely felt it. But man I guess it's paper for me from now on.
blackhawk2000
member
Glad you are OK!
The speed can be better calculated by how long after it hit the ground, the muffs go flying.
I've been downrange while hunting, and my friend decided to target shoot his .45. He didn't know I was there, but I hit hit the dirt, and threw my orange hat as far as I could hoping he would see it. The sound was very similar, and I will never forget it. I was at least 100 yds away from him. He didn't think .45 would go that far without dropping into the dirt.
The speed can be better calculated by how long after it hit the ground, the muffs go flying.
I've been downrange while hunting, and my friend decided to target shoot his .45. He didn't know I was there, but I hit hit the dirt, and threw my orange hat as far as I could hoping he would see it. The sound was very similar, and I will never forget it. I was at least 100 yds away from him. He didn't think .45 would go that far without dropping into the dirt.
Don't let it freak you out. I've got thousands of rounds on steel. With normal calibers, at the recommended safe distance, you may pick up richochets and bits of jacket, but nothing bad.
.50 at 100? That doesn't fall into normal or recommended.
Glad you guys are okay. That's a great video.
sacp81170a
Member
"We ain't doin' that no more." Yup. 
George Hill
Member
Right Click and Save As.
Thumper
Member
Been hit with ricochets a lot, as I really like shooting steel. Once got a hole in my arm from a jacketed slug. Nothing like this, though.
Amazing, Willie. Ogre, thanks for sharing. Haven't been to your site in a coupla years.
Amazing, Willie. Ogre, thanks for sharing. Haven't been to your site in a coupla years.
George Hill
Member
The video is on YouTube now and is being talked about on Digg.com.
I think some guys from here need to go over there and help educate the Liberals on Digg.
http://www.digg.com/videos/sports/Man_shoots_self_in_head_with_the_ricochet_from_a_50_rifle
I think some guys from here need to go over there and help educate the Liberals on Digg.
http://www.digg.com/videos/sports/Man_shoots_self_in_head_with_the_ricochet_from_a_50_rifle
plexreticle
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- Oct 8, 2006
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- 1,240
50 BMG is fun until someone loses an eye.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
And then it is just an exciting ride in an ambulance.
koja48
member
Willie ~ Whatever God you believe in, thank Him profusely. If you don't believe, find a God to your liking and START! I'm glad he's ok.
Father Knows Best
Member
Steel plates are generally safe targets if you use them right. They are safe up close with lead bullets, because the lead "splashes" on the target instead of bouncing off it. While you may still get hit with backsplatter (I have, many times), it will generally be just a fragment of the original bullet and won't do much damage. The worst I ever took was a fragment of a 250 gr .45 bullet that hit my just below my protective glasses and hit hard enough to cut my cheek. It just bled a little, though -- not even enough for a Band-Aid.
Angling the targets to direct splatter and ricochets down is good practice, but doesn't guaranty anything. Once the target has been shot even once, it starts to dimple. Before long, it's covered with pock marks and divots. Bullets and fragments come off in funny and unpredictable ways when they hit those. Also, many steel targets have mounting hardware (bolts, etc.) that protrude through the front of the target, and hitting those will cause odd ricochets.
I don't think I'd risk shooting steel with a rifle at anything less than 100 yards, and with a big mama like a .50BMG at anything less than 300 yards, especially after seeing that video. As my daddy always said, Only a fool learns from his mistakes -- a wise man learns from others' mistakes.
Angling the targets to direct splatter and ricochets down is good practice, but doesn't guaranty anything. Once the target has been shot even once, it starts to dimple. Before long, it's covered with pock marks and divots. Bullets and fragments come off in funny and unpredictable ways when they hit those. Also, many steel targets have mounting hardware (bolts, etc.) that protrude through the front of the target, and hitting those will cause odd ricochets.
I don't think I'd risk shooting steel with a rifle at anything less than 100 yards, and with a big mama like a .50BMG at anything less than 300 yards, especially after seeing that video. As my daddy always said, Only a fool learns from his mistakes -- a wise man learns from others' mistakes.
Alphazulu6
member
Yeah probably a good idea to pick a different target next time
Troutman
member
<<50 BMG is fun until someone loses an eye.>>
Here's what will take care of that problem
http://www.sunglasstent.com/gargoylesunglasses.html
Gargoyle Sunglasses and Eyewear...
Bullet Proof Eye Protection for Extreme Players
Here's what will take care of that problem
http://www.sunglasstent.com/gargoylesunglasses.html
Gargoyle Sunglasses and Eyewear...
Bullet Proof Eye Protection for Extreme Players
Frog48
Member
Wow, thats crazy. Glad everyone's OK.
Sniper X
Member
I calculate the velocity as exactly holey crap!
He's lucky, and dude who was shooting needs to keep the camera on the action...first rule of being a videograpehr....stay on the action!
He's lucky, and dude who was shooting needs to keep the camera on the action...first rule of being a videograpehr....stay on the action!
also I present these as some maybe not good ideas, not saying this is what the guys in the video did, but just to throw them out there
also this, I dont know what they were shooting at, but I figured I would just throw this out there for safety sake also. I used a pistol to diagram but even a rifle firing at long range could cause a reciprocal trajectory.
also this, I dont know what they were shooting at, but I figured I would just throw this out there for safety sake also. I used a pistol to diagram but even a rifle firing at long range could cause a reciprocal trajectory.
pdowg881
Member
We need a stories about things you shouldn't shoot at thread.
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