bullet ricochet inside indoor range

[27hand]

Originally Posted by dunsho

i was at a indoor range, 25yrd. my bro was shooting a taurus pt24/7 pro 45 in the lane next to me and i saw a bullet ricochet* and landed about 4ft in front of me. i clearly saw the bullet flying in my direction, not at bullet speed, but still fast. it hit the floor about 4 feet in front of me. i didnt see or find where it had stopped.
i was surprised and a shocked and thought it was awesome. turned to tell my wife that was behind me, when a staff happened to walk by and asked me if i was sure, but he didn't do nothing. after that i shoot a few more rds but didn't feel comfortable so we left.

how often does that happen, sometimes see flatten lead but always assumed that it was swept there when they cleanned the range.

*i didnt see the actual ricochet just saw the flatten bullet fly towards me

John Farnam used to demonstrate pistol bullet reaction to level 2 body armor and you could see the bullets bounce off the piece of vest. The .223, however went through and through with about a 6" hole on the backside of about 4 phonebooks backing up the vest material.

When PeteG brought the rotating target lovingly called the "humiliator" to a groupshoot, you could see the bullets bounce off dependant on the angle of the steel as it swung back and forth while being hit.

One of the guys at the last Westie group shoot #24 got hit in the back and tore a small slice in his jacket (steel swingers or spring plates--I'm not sure which). I was at the shoot where a member took a fragment to the cheek and required stitches. He came back after the procedure and didn't even get a wounded shooter discount. I would have given him free bacon at the next shoot if i had the power to do so.

27hand

27hand

[dunsho]

bloomauto, it think it's the bullet since it was flatten and wasn't brass or copper color. i guess it'll be okay to go back to del val sport club. i like that range tho i'm not a member, too far. they let you bring your own ammo and they sell 9 for 13.00 a box, firingline is selling it for 18 plus tax.

[87th PVI]

I've only been to an indoor range once. I had been curious about them but I guess I was too cheap to "pay" for range time when I had always had a membership to a club (yeah I know you pay for that too, but you get way more than range time & I paid as much for an hour at the indoor range as I pay for a year to a club) or went to the public SGL range.
This past Valentines day, I took my wife & MadamRaven to the indoor range. It was a first for us all. We went there because due to work schedules, the only free time we all had together was at night.
While Madam was shooting the one time I saw a round come into the lighted area bouncing toward the firing line from behind the target. It landed just a little in front of & to the right of the target. It was the only one I saw out of all the rounds we fired over the hour we were there. We were the only ones there. I wasn't sure if it was one of ours or if it had been something that was dislodged by one of ours & just bounced into view, since it had so little energy.
I didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset the ladies but it made me wonder. I'm thinking Madam would have shrugged it off like I did, but my wife would've been out of there faster than a speeding bullet.
Afterward, my wife told me she's never going back to an indoor range. She will shoot outside anytime, but never indoors again unless she's defending her life.
She said she saw the bullets bouncing off the side wall, so she was nervous that someting was going to come back & hit us.
We were in the end lane, but I thought we were shooting straighter than that LOL.
She didn't like the smoke from the guns (maybe there was not proper ventilation at this particular range on this particular evening, like I said it's our only experience indoors.)

I liked the idea of being able to shoot even at night, but like I said, I'm so cheap, I'm content to stick to the clubs. I also save my brass, and the rules at the indoor place wanted me to let it lay... We were the only ones there, the floor was swept clean before we started shooting, so it was MY brass laying there, and I figured, what's he gonna do? kick me out? I'm done shooting & probably won't shoot here again so who cares, I'm getting MY brass that landed behind the firing line. So I gathered it up & on the way out the guy smiled at us, asked if we had fun & wished us a nice evening. So apparently it wasn't a big deal after all.
I had fun & I am glad I got to experience an indoor range at least that once, but I will stick to outdoor as much as I can.

Madam said she had fun and didn't have any complaints that she voiced to me.

[625]

Yea, this is pretty common depending on the target/backstop. I got hit twice at Targetmaster before they switched to the shredded rubber tire backstop. Once in the thigh, (that one stung a little) and once in the foot. I don't shoot at Targetmaster anymore. Dildos abound, plus their prices aren't as good as they once were.

[marinakorp]

Splash back is not uncommon.

Been stung a few times.

That is one of the the reasons why EYE protection is required.

[Xringshooter]

This is also why many indoor ranges now insist that people shoot frangible bullets because there is less chance of a major piece of lead or jacket that may come back at you. This also shows why ALL people, not just the one shooting at the moment, while in the shooting area of an indoor range should be wearing eye (and hearing ) protection.

[eells]

wow, i never really thought a ricochet would be an issue, unless you were shooting at something like granite

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by 27hand

I would have given him free bacon at the next shoot if i had the power to do so.

27hand

27hand

Wait! You pay for your Bacon?

You should chanrge the baconator for shooting on your plates

[mad8vskillz]

had the same exact thing happen to me yesterday (firing line inc. in south philly). got it in the leg and slug ended up in my pocket...
there were a bunch of people, so i had the lane all the way at the end.
i'm halfway through my second box of .45 when i feel something hit my upper left leg. pretty hard. like a paintball at close range that bounces. also feel a lot of heat coming from my left front pocket.
i'm thinking WTF lol, did i get shot, if i had that would hurt more wouldn't it?
holster the hk, reach in my pocket and find a 45 slug still hot as hell in my pocket. it's all mangled. as i step back i notice a bit more shrapnel fly into that lane. (this was definitely not 45 anymore)