Check out this bullethole

[ROCK-IT3]

This is from my Mosin Nagant 91/30 7.62x54R

[IMG][/IMG]

I don't know if the bullet tumbled right out of the barrel (if so, what would cause that?), or if it ricocheted off the ground. The bottom if the target was only a few inches off of the ground, and I was shooting offhand standing, and I'm still trying to get used to the recoil. This seems like the most probable explanation.

Anyway, I just thought it was kinda cool the way it made a perfect profile of the bullet.

[SlimShady]

That's a keyhole. I suppose it could have been caused by a ricochet from the ground although if that were the case I'd have expected to see a lot of other smaller "shrapnel" type holes from the bits of dirt and stones that would have kicked up with it as well.......at least that's what happens when I hit too low in front of a target anyway.

Another possibility is that your barrel is shot out and isn't stabilizing the rounds, or that you are using a round too heavy for that barrel twist rate.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

[LorDiego01]

"Holy Keyholing bullet flight, BATMAN!"

[Dredly]

i would think if it hit the dirt first that it would have deformed the bullet a little bit.

[Willtallica]

bullets are pretty damn fragile: the only way I know that a bullet can retain its shape after impact is what it falls from the sky hitting the ground at terminal velocity or when the bullets is fired from a gun into a bullet catcher.

i saw a keyhole, from a 308 g3 once, and i was mystified.

[Rauswaffen]

That is strange, get yourself a bore light and take a good look at the rifling. Check the barrel crown as well. I'm no expert, but a strange shooting mosin makes me sad.

Mosins can stabilize rounds up past 203gr no problem. It looks like you are shooting your run-of-the-mill surplus stuff. What is it 147,180,203?

[CarolinaGuy]

I always wondered what it would look like if century Arms made Mosins.

[Rauswaffen]

I always wondered what it would look like if century Arms made Mosins.

Hahaha. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[PennsyPlinker]

I always wondered what it would look like if century Arms made Mosins.

I got a few keyholes like the one in the OP with my Century Arms WASR-10, but only a few, and they were long ago. I have no idea why I got them. Most recently I was shooting it at 50 yds with a red dot. Add in my not so good eyes, and I was still keeping the group under 4". I know my WASR is not the highest quality gun out there, or even the highest in AK land, but it works, and it works well, and I am sure it will do what I need it to do should the need ever arise.

[WhiteShadow]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "Keyhole"?