Can the naked eye see a bullet?

**Steeltown** · December 31st, 2008, 10:03 PM

The last time my son and I were at the range we noticed that when the person next to us was shooting (.45 ACP) we could see a very quick bronze streak which appeared to be the bullet going down range. Is this possible? My first thought was that it must be the muzzle flash but it was too far from the barrel.

**Pa. Patriot** · December 31st, 2008, 10:11 PM

Yes, possible. Correct angle and lighting.

**gf45acp** · December 31st, 2008, 10:13 PM

Depends on the size of the bullet, the velocity, and the contrast of the bullet to the background. And of course how good your eyes are.
When my eyes where younger I could see BB's at 500fps.
Could the shooter have been using old tracers that where not to bright?
Perhaps very low power reloads?

**edstephan** · December 31st, 2008, 10:14 PM

Depending your position. Yes When we shoot High Power I often can see the bullet from my M14 or M1 Garand drop into the 200yd target. .45acp's you can really see drop in at a 25-50yd target
Ed

**Gary in Pennsylvania** · December 31st, 2008, 10:14 PM

If it's a 155mm HE round coming out of an M-109 Self Propelled Howitzer it can!

**General Geoff** · December 31st, 2008, 10:16 PM

It's usually an issue of illumination and contrast. You can easily see a tracer round, the only reason you don't usually see a normal bullet is because it's not reflecting enough light back at your eye to be noticeable against most backgrounds.

**27hand** · December 31st, 2008, 11:26 PM

Yes , you can.

I was standing behind a guy shooting a 45-70 and could see the bullet going downrange.

I have stood behind the line of a night/low light class and could see bullets going downrange as the handheld light reflected off the bullet bases.

27

**Statkowski** · December 31st, 2008, 11:30 PM

Saw one or two 16-inch rounds from the U.S.S. New Jersey enroute to their destination. Didn't want to be on the receiving end.

**knight0334** · December 31st, 2008, 11:44 PM

I can see slower slugs like cowboy 45lc, 45acp, 38spl and a few others, given the right lighting. Any faster than them I cant.

**reichebrown** · January 1st, 2009, 12:00 AM

We practice for IDPA under the lights at my local club. With the flood lights at our back and the light loads people use you can see the back of the bullet clear as day while it is in flight.