What is with the FMJ bans

[DocRDS]

Ranges have a lot of dumb rules--one of my least favorite is local to Dallas Area--Full Metal Jacket Ammo is banned on many rifle ranges.

Does anyone have any insight into why this is a thing? It seems to be insurance related, but beyond that all I get is heresay and rumor

 

[JMGlasgow]

I think it has to do with the potential for FMJ rounds to be steel core and sparking on impact.

 

[Maggot]

I think it has to do with the potential for FMJ rounds to be steel core and sparking on impact.

And tearing stuff up if you're shooting steel.

 

[JbBooks]

Ricochets? Maybe.

 

[Jrb572]

I’ve been told it ricochets easily. I do not know if that is true.

 

[roostercogburn98]

Cause it’s the devil, and only belongs in combat. Not our peaceful ranges and streets

 

[10ring'r]

I think, it's pertaining to the 62gr. "penetrator" rounds (m855), due to the first post above (JMGlasgow). Mac

 

[Srikaleak]

I know at a certain outdoor Dallas range the excuse they gave me was that using volume fmj against the berm would slowly hollow out the berm and punch through. Behind the rifle lanes is where the shotgun area was. Apparently hollowpoint/softpoint projectiles fragment quicker and doesn't transfer energy through the berm like fmj does.

 

[Redmanss]

FMJ doesn't ricochet any more or less than OTM, the only difference between the two is which way the jacketing is applied, from the nose or the tail. Anything else is pure myth.

Steel core is the main reason if they have steel downrange or if it's an indoor range. If it's a blanket FMJ ban, its because their shooting members have been assholes or idiots in the past and still shot 62gr or 149gr at their steel. Even still, a warm loaded .22-250 with OTM will lay more waste to 100yd targets than any AR wtih green tip.

I know at a certain outdoor Dallas range the excuse they gave me was that using volume fmj against the berm would slowly hollow out the berm and punch through. Behind the rifle lanes is where the shotgun area was. Apparently hollowpoint/softpoint projectiles fragment quicker and doesn't transfer energy through the berm like fmj does.

Sounds like a range I would never set foot on, shotgunners downrange of the rifle impact berm?!? If they shot a twilight course with tracers, the shotgun range would be shut down permanently after they saw how many still tumble over the berm. Berms mitigate, but never eliminate SDZs.

And FFS, it's like $300/day or less to rent a skid steer or backhoe to put the dirt back...

 

[chevy_man]

FMJ doesn't ricochet any more or less than OTM, the only difference between the two is which way the jacketing is applied, from the nose or the tail. Anything else is pure myth.

Steel core is the main reason if they have steel downrange or if it's an indoor range. If it's a blanket FMJ ban, its because their shooting members have been assholes or idiots in the past and still shot 62gr or 149gr at their steel. Even still, a warm loaded .22-250 with OTM will lay more waste to 100yd targets than any AR wtih green tip.


Sounds like a range I would never set foot on, shotgunners downrange of the rifle impact berm?!? If they shot a twilight course with tracers, the shotgun range would be shut down permanently after they saw how many still tumble over the berm. Berms mitigate, but never eliminate SDZs.

And FFS, it's like $300/day or less to rent a skid steer or backhoe to put the dirt back...

We have a sporting clays range behind our pistol range. We close the pistol range because of that concern, but the reality is the berm height and natural terrain wouldn't allow anything to hit. If you shoot over the berm it's landing in the hill 1/2 mile away, and we find all the drops from fragments off the steel within the first 100 yards.

If course, we have to close the high power range, in the next draw, because someone could possibly have a ricochet that changes direction 180* 2+ times.

Sometimes the physics make sense while the feelings is fuck that.

 

[Redmanss]

We have a sporting clays range behind our pistol range. We close the pistol range because of that concern, but the reality is the berm height and natural terrain wouldn't allow anything to hit. If you shoot over the berm it's landing in the hill 1/2 mile away, and we find all the drops from fragments off the steel within the first 100 yards.

If course, we have to close the high power range, in the next draw, because someone could possibly have a ricochet that changes direction 180* 2+ times.

Sometimes the physics make sense while the feelings is fuck that.

It’s not fragments or misses that get you, it’s the tumblers after they hit the berm and go anywhere and everywhere while still at a harmful to lethal velocity. Again, a berm and terrain mitigates a Surface Danger Zone (SDZ), but never eliminates. Everything down range inside the range fan is at risk, the mitigation level to acceptable risk is the real question and the answer falls on heavy shoulders.

Good for them shutting down the far range, that’s the smart decision to make. Outside of those in uniform it’s a recreational sport, not life or death, and we all need to remember that.

 

[myronman3]

anyone who has seen tracers after sunset has a whole ‘nother level of understanding of what bullets can do after they hit something.

 

[Hateca]

I think it has to do with the potential for FMJ rounds to be steel core and sparking on impact.

Got news for you hollow and soft point will spark or hot spawl just as well as FMJ has nothing to do with steel core.

 

[Doc68]

anyone who has seen tracers after sunset has a whole ‘nother level of understanding of what bullets can do after they hit something.

They are so pretty

Doc

 

[_Windrider_]

anyone who has seen tracers after sunset has a whole ‘nother level of understanding of what bullets can do after they hit something.

I love tracers at night as much as I love the smell of napalm in the morning or the fresh scent of DU rounds after the air strike from an A10 that just got called in.

 

[EddieNFL]

I think it has to do with the potential for FMJ rounds to be steel core and sparking on impact.

Don't know who had that original thought, but they have never shot in the dark.

 

[EddieNFL]

anyone who has seen tracers after sunset has a whole ‘nother level of understanding of what bullets can do after they hit something.

...and will never again believe the myth of "flat-shooting" calibers.

 

[OldSalty2]

Bo-ing...

 

[roostercogburn98]

Seems like they all go straight to me?

 

[Gommer]

We have a sporting clays range behind our pistol range. We close the pistol range because of that concern, but the reality is the berm height and natural terrain wouldn't allow anything to hit. If you shoot over the berm it's landing in the hill 1/2 mile away, and we find all the drops from fragments off the steel within the first 100 yards.

If course, we have to close the high power range, in the next draw, because someone could possibly have a ricochet that changes direction 180* 2+ times.

Sometimes the physics make sense while the feelings is fuck that.

I worked at a firearms manufacturing company a long time ago. The test fire range was behind the building, shooting directly away from the building.

One day a group of us were out front smoking when a ricochet from the range in back zipped over the building and went through the hood of a car I was learning against.

This was also a good 30-40 degree deflection, went over a roof, and came in hard at a steep angle as the car was literally parked a few feet from the building.

I’ve seen a LOT of ricochets in my life but that was the craziest. Poor Debbie’s old shitty blue car... lol