are fmj's ok?

jackh

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 18, 2008
683
1
College Station, TX
fmj's are so dang cheap, i can buy like 45 rounds of fmj for the same price as 20 win sierra ballistic silvertip at academy. are they ok to shoot down my new rifle? ppl have told me before that theyre dangerous because they ricochet so much, but i shoot targets from pretty far off at my ranch where nobodys around, so ricochet is not a big concern of mine. thanks
 
Re: are fmj's ok?

What kind of FMJs are you talking about? Knowing the bullet maker at least would be helpful, as well as what model-line of FMJ.

But to answer your generic question generically: FMJs work fine, can be plenty accurate, and if you aren't shooting steel within 100 yards or so I wouldn't worry much about ricochets.
 
Re: are fmj's ok?

When you say you aren't concerned about ricochet, you'd better mean your ranch allows for about 2 miles travel or so down-range from ricochet. I have personally been present when a 200gr Match King traveled 1.5 miles on a ricochet. The person who heard it buzz over their head downrange was none too pleased.

I've gotten to where I won't shoot anything but v-max's unless I have a backstop or am WAY out in the middle of nowhere.
 
Re: are fmj's ok?

I've had success with South African surplus 147gr FMJ's out of my TRG-22 out to 700yds. It's not very consistent but just for having fun plinking steel it's fine.

CMS