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FMJ Question Saftey???

Mr. GunzMr. Gunz Member Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭
edited May 2007 in Ask the Experts
Ok...here's the story, today me, my friend, and his dad were shooting some steel targets (15-30+ feet). I was using 115 WWB FMJ ammo (9mm) and I started shooting, when I got done my friends arm was bleeding and he said it felt like someone hit him in the arm with a stick.

Just now he called me up and said that he has a 2X6mm peice of jacket in his arm (he got an X-ray), it's down to the bone...anyways did we just get unlucky or was it because of the FMJ ammo or were we too close or what?


I feel bad, I know we couldn't help it but it still sucks...anyways he wants to go shooting tommorow too, did this ever happen to any of you guys?
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PS: I posted this in the reloading forum and the Ask the Experts
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Comments

  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't know what you were shooting - 9mm, 40 cal or rifle - but I'd say 15 feet or so away from a steel target's too close.
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  • iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    So you've learned your lesson regarding always wearing eye and ear protection, even when you aren't actually shooting (someone else is) ...

    If you want to shoot steel or other reactive targets, buy commercial targets designed for whatever you are shooting 'em with and whatever distance.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    See post on question you have on competition Forum You could have been killed. Eye protection is not enough You were TOO close.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would NEVER shoot steel targets at less than 25 YARDS and only with soft lead bullets that close. 30 to 50 yards is OK for jacketed bullets.

    I am sorry your friend got hurt. May he have a fast recovery.
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  • Wehrmacht_45Wehrmacht_45 Member Posts: 3,377
    edited November -1
    Too close. There was an article about this not too long ago in one of the shoooting mags. The author showed jacket pieces ibedded in wood that was 10 feet from the target. Way too close and always buy commercial targets. I was shooting at some I bought that were supposed to be commercially made, they looked like it. However I am guessing they are not since I got a nice chunk of 38 special jacketing in my shoulder. I pulled it with a tweezers but it stung like a really bad wasp sting. I cut them up with a torch and sold them for scrap. I only use shoot and see targets now.
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  • givettegivette Member Posts: 10,886 ✭
    edited November -1
    I've seen tracers [night firing-Vietnam] ricochet at all angles, and at very high speed. Some returning to us. Get a few bales of hay from the farmer down the road, and shoot at them. Shooting at steel scares me. Just my thoughts. Joe
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  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    shooting FMJ's at a steel target sounds like a real dee da dee. Next time use soft
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  • akfanatikakfanatik Member Posts: 580 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dude...i cant believe you shot jaron, haha, thats terrible
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  • gotstolefromgotstolefrom Member Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You have had good replies....and you can always use a bit more safety.

    I had a FMJ 45 come out off a commercial bullet trap and into my station at a commercial range. It was very beat up, and wasn't going fast enough to do much damage, but it bothered me a bit. So, I mentioned it to one of the owners, he says "yea, that happens sometimes" [:(!]

    The rubber media at the bottom of the trap looks about 10% 'shiney'.
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