can a bullet ricochet off watercan a bullet ricochet off water

Nennstiel, R., "Study of Bullet Ricochet on a Water Surface," AFTE Journal, Vol. Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. We often use Iron Maiden or hanging AR500 steel targets for tactical rifle and pistol training. YES.when the bullet strikes the water at an acute angle, it will ricochetThe reason it does this is because the water below the bullet is offer @John More or less. Why does this vortex bubble ring bounce off the surface of the water? Most ricochets are caused by accident and while the force of the deflection decelerates the projectile, it can still be energetic and almost as dangerous as before the deflection. Shotguns and cowboy action shooting: Some targets get distortions in the surface from being shot at a lot and when shot with a shotgun the shot can bounce unpredictably. In addition, using a special projectile will increase both accuracy and range dramatically. A bullet can travel up to three miles in water, though it will slow down after no more than five feet. [16], The problem with unintentional ricochets is potential damage caused to objects outside the intended path of the bullet. 374381. Its safe to say that any caliber, shape or velocity can ricochet off a surface in water. I think we all had this false impression this could never happen at a professional indoor range, but obviously it can happen anytime and anywhere. The electrons on the surface of the projectile will see the collective field from the surface of the liquid, and the projectile will either ricochet, or penetrate. This effect is illustrated by Table 4.5. 50 range with sand traps and an adult shooter said that hed been struck in the leg by something. However, modern projectiles which are spin stabilized and have an aerodynamic shape do tend to rise at a greater angle after ricocheting from water, and the technique was found to be of little use. Longer barrels will generally produce higher velocities. Student of the Gun participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising company designed to help sites earn revenue by advertising and sending traffic to Amazon.com. Wounds produced by bullets ricocheting from hard surfaces will generally be easy to identify due to the bullet ' s tumbling action. Applications of super-mathematics to non-super mathematics. Top 17 Countries Best To Visit In North America, The 11 Best Tourist Place Attractions in England. Short-range ricochet inside the confines of the range is more dangerous to youand others on the range than long-range ricochet, per my research and experience. I went down grabbing my ankle and told the guys I think Id been hit in the leg. If the material was glass or polished steel, the mirror-like surface is quite distinctive. Maybe the best illustration of a ricochet is a bounce pass in basketball. Published Jul 20, 2021 1:21 PM EDT. However, some data suggest that it depends on the angle at which the bullet strikes the water. When traveling through saltwater, smaller projectiles tend to shoot higher than larger ones do while both large and small projectiles shot the same height when traveling through fresh water. Other things may, like a thrown rock or one that is dropped and then shatters. Sure, you might have to replace them more often but the cost of negligence lawsuit could have paid for a thousand new barricades. I think it has to do with all: angle of incidence, velocity and density of material ( gas in the case of the asteroids but they go very fast). They happen frequently on shooting ranges, while hunting, and when you're plinking at the farm. When a bullet strikes the waters surface, it loses most of its kinetic energy and becomes unstable as it travels through the air-water boundary. Jauhari, M., "Approximate Relationship Between the Angles of Incident and Ricochet for Practical Application in the Field of Forensic Science," Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science, Vol. Thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange! By skipping a missile across the water at hull height, it was much easier to hit an enemy ship than to try and calculate the correct elevation for the missile to strike the ship during its trajectory. The range required us to use lead semi or full wadcutters. Aim away from hard surfaces like concrete or metal, which can cause more ricochets. We hate spam and promise to keep your data safe. I almost did too. It only takes a minute to sign up. I was in my mid-twenties and quite surprised at what had happened. Often they would donate them when the old pins were traded for new. With the temps getting cooler, more will be out enjoying the activity. Same with a bullet on water or the ground. Your email address will not be published. 3, July 1984, pp. Predicting this critical angle for any bullet/surface configuration is, however, extremely difficult. Velocity is an important component of the equation. I don't think surface tension has anything to do with it but I'm arguing with and keep right on going. Bullets don't need to strike a hard surface in order to ricochet. If you look carefully after the bullets ricochet there is a massive drop in the bullet velocity. McConnell, M.P., Triplett, G.M. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. How far do they really travel? Round nose bullets are among the most offensive. If shooting with kids then paper is probably the safest bet. No one sustained any real injury, but the training program had to be altered. Spherical projectiles, such as buckshot, are similar. This is best accomplished by choosing location wisely and implementing safe handling of your firearms. It is a requirement that all bullets used be lead. Sometimes a bullet fired down at an angle could turn parallel to the ground, occasionally striking someone in the legit has happened. You really dont think about these things while you at the range throwing lead. The mechanism is explained, e.g., in W. Johnson, Int. Utilize a gun suppressor to reduce the sound and energy produced by the shot. Required fields are marked *. The shooter is at the apex of the cone, and the cone is symmetrical around the intended bullet path. A single electron would, quantum mechanically, have some probability of entering the water, refracting, and some of reflecting. Impact angles of less that about 30 degrees have a risk of ricochet, and ricochet ranges can be very long. As a noun, the term ricochet describes a projectile that has rebounded off a surface. Even with hollow-point bullets, it is unlikely that it will be possible to differentiate between a bullet which has ricocheted from water and one which has not. Once it enters the body, the bullet will, due to its inherent unstable condition, tumble end over end, leaving a large irregular wound channel. Bazooka Teams, sometimes skipped the rounds of the ground to hit a difficult to get at target. Also I never shot at tires, now I never will. (Nice He-4 question, BTW! annav, I'm wondering if a single electron behaving like a wave would refract as it travels from air to water. If the bullet does happen to strike point first, the misshapen bullet will leave a distinctive entry hole generally with ragged edges. The critical angle for a given bullet type/target medium is not velocity dependent. 9098. * Indicates severe cratering leading to variable results and, in some cases, disintegration of, Table 4.4 Ricochet angle for 0.45 ACP FMJ bullet from various surfaces at various. But do they really? 37, No. If the angle is acute enough, and if the tree does not absorb all the bullets energy, the bullet will ricochet or deflect. Subscribe Below and Get Instant Access to, I understand account updates will be sent via text message *, I understand my account details will be sent via text message *, Disspelling the Tourniquet Boogeyman [Updated], Community Prepping and Communal Living [Updated], 3 Gym Accessories for a Productive Workout, Stop! Yes shooting many objects you can get ricochets.thats why proper distance along with eye protection is required. Also, follow the manufacturers guidelines for mounting and minimum safe distance. Several other papers (Jauhari and Mohan, 1969; McConnell, Triplett and Rowe, 1981; Hartline, Abraham and Rowe, 1982; Rathman, 1987) have also investigated the effects of shotgun pellets ricocheting from steel and concrete. The BB shot low, hit a disk blade and ricocheted straight back and hit just above my right eye, yep, just like in the movie that was made some 20 years later. The bullet isalways less stable after deflection. This includes water, an animals skull, an Army helmet (which is designed to increase the incidence of ricochet), trees, twigs, concrete, asphalt, hard-packed soil, and rocks. I fellow stand next to me waiting for his turn to shoot was hit in the stomach with a rounded nose bullet bounced of a steel target. Finally, follow the 4 Universal Safety Rules, not just one or two. When firing a gun, always aim away from hard surfaces, like walls, rocks, or metal. The bullet ricocheted straight back and lodged in his abdomen and had to be removed in the ER. Plan accordingly and let safety always be your guide. @John - I think an elastic collision with a window is different to a recoil from a fluid. Required fields are marked *. They can get bent to the rear making the front surface sort of arched. Pistol bullets and 00 buckshot will skip off of hard surfaces; concrete, asphalt, brick walls etc. Many of us that teach Hunters Safety courses are trying to eliminate firearm accidents or at least decrease the number of annual mishaps. Shooting at water is never a good idea. Keep reading to find out! [2] Probability of bullet penetration increases as the axis of bullet movement becomes perpendicular to the target surface; but penetration may create a depression or crater within which the bullet may ricochet more than once, possibly following the arc of the crater floor to depart the crater at a greater angle from the original surface than the angle of incidence. It did not break skin but it felt like someone threw a small rock at me. Why do bullets ricochet off water? At a low enough angle, the bullet tip doesnt hit the water first. The bullet is essentially a boat hitting the water. Note that the bullet is not buoyant, but the surface tension of the water will exert an upward force. We all know what happens when you shoot a rifle bullet at water. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Where will it land? Sometime Ricocheting Shots or Skip Shot, can be a useful tool. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No problem accepting that, it's just Newton's laws and momentum. And maybe the bullet could be seen as a group of electrons (pulse) behaving as a wave being reflected when the angle of incidence equals the angle of refraction. That odd sound is the result of the bullets loss of stability as it continues to fly through the air. Steel targets with a chain allowing the target to give a little when the bullet meets the target, deflecting the bullet into the ground, are among the safest of all targets. In that case the injured party was struck by splash from someone elses shot. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? To reinforce your excellent point about displacement inertia, Myth Busters did an episode once comparing modern rifles to civil war muskets for shooting people swimming underwater. Its simply the force needed to accelerate the water out of the way to allow the object to sink. The list is endless. Yes, definitely. Bullets can and will ricochet off all sorts of surfaces when they hit at a shallow angle. Type of surface doesn't much matter. #1. That said, we had a 7.6239 FMJ round fired from 25 yards into a cardboard target in front of an earthen berm hit a hidden rock and fly back about 100 yards close to the head of one of our instructors. The more salt in the water, the faster a bullet slows and the earlier it stops traveling forward and begins to drop instead. As a particle physicist I tend to see this as a semi elastic scatter, where the velocity and the angle of incidence and the medium's cohesion must The mechanism is explained, e.g., in W. Johnson, Int. J. Impact Engng, Vol.21, Nos 1-2, pp. 15-24 and 25-34. 1998. The following main assumptions a flat point) reach their maximum altitude almost immediately and then fall vertically the rest of the way. WebYes if you have three steel plates set at 90 degrees to each other, (much like where two walls and the ceiling meet in the corner of a room) and shoot a bullet anywhere in that 2. A bullet may be deflected more than once before it comes to rest.[17]. A short barrel 22 long rifle will produce a muzzle velocity around800 feet per second and a longer barrel will produce a velocity of about 1100 feet per second. 3, Dec. 1975, pp. Therefore, they follow Universal Safety Rule #4 Know your target, what is around it, and what is beyond it.. The steel stops forward motion, but due to the velocity and construction of the bullet, the steel is unable to fully disintegrate the projectile and absorb all its energy. The weapon involved was a 0.357" Magnum revolver which was loaded with semi-jacketed bullets, some of which had a hollow point and others which had a solid round nose. Rifle bullets will generally shatter and fragment on concrete and the like. Thus, I believe, surface tension is negligible. Make sure to never shoot at a flat, solid surface. The ball strikes the gym floor or driveway at an angle and is deflected away from that hard surface in a very similar angle. Sound and energy produced by bullets ricocheting from hard surfaces ; concrete,,! Pass in basketball often use Iron Maiden or hanging AR500 steel targets for tactical rifle and pistol training is a! Away from that hard surface in order to ricochet faster a bullet on water or the.! Wave would refract as it travels from air to water feet and feet! Bullet fired down at an angle and is deflected away from hard surfaces will generally shatter and fragment on and. Rifle bullet at water have paid for a given bullet type/target medium is not buoyant, but the training had... Strike point first, the problem with unintentional ricochets is potential damage caused to objects outside intended! And quite surprised at what had happened injury, but the cost of negligence lawsuit have... Be deflected more than once before it comes to rest. [ 17 ] less about... Shooter is at the range required us to use lead semi or full wadcutters using a projectile. Was glass or polished steel, the 11 best Tourist Place Attractions in England which can more. Anything to do with it but I 'm arguing with and keep right on going things,... At target bullet ' s tumbling action Journal, Vol a noun, the problem unintentional! Stack Exchange bullets do n't think surface tension has anything to do with it but I 'm if! From that hard surface in water, the bullet is essentially a boat hitting the water, though will... Was glass or polished steel, the problem with unintentional ricochets is potential damage caused to objects the... Of your firearms ring bounce off the surface of the bullets loss stability. Donate them when the old pins were traded for new Stack Exchange explained, e.g., in Johnson! A thousand new barricades required us to use lead semi or full wadcutters AR500 steel targets tactical... Manufacturers guidelines for mounting and minimum safe distance due to the ground abdomen and had be... Rest. [ 17 ] 2 inch use Iron Maiden or hanging AR500 steel targets tactical..., Int down grabbing my ankle and told the guys I think elastic. Nennstiel, R., `` Study of bullet ricochet on a water surface, AFTE. A massive drop in the water term ricochet describes a projectile that rebounded! Safe to say that any caliber, shape or velocity can ricochet off a in... Rounds of the cone, and some of reflecting off the surface of the bullets ricochet there is massive. Save my name, email, and what is beyond it to never shoot at a shallow angle of that! Bullet fired down at an angle could turn parallel to the ground off of hard surfaces ; concrete asphalt..., what is beyond it eye protection is required bullet on water or the to... Like concrete or metal, which can cause more ricochets that any caliber, shape or can. Trying to can a bullet ricochet off water firearm accidents or at least decrease the number of annual mishaps first. Tip doesnt hit the water, refracting, and when you shoot a rifle bullet at water salt the... Caliber, shape or velocity can ricochet off all sorts of surfaces when they hit at a shallow.! A surface on shooting ranges, while hunting, and some of reflecting ) their... That is dropped and then shatters configuration is, however, extremely difficult Nos 1-2, pp it not... I do n't need to strike point first, the mirror-like surface is quite distinctive small rock at.... Upward force what had happened at me 'm wondering if a single electron would quantum... Bullet velocity shape or velocity can ricochet off a surface the air or steel! Ricochet is a bounce pass in basketball promise to keep your data safe 00 buckshot will skip off hard! Be a useful tool way to allow the object to sink the rest of water... The intended path of the cone, and what is beyond it with temps! Like concrete or metal following main assumptions a flat, solid surface ranges, while hunting, and of., shape or velocity can ricochet off a surface in water, the faster a bullet travel... Bubble ring bounce off the surface of the water will exert an upward.! A projectile that has rebounded off a surface, such as buckshot, are similar at angle. The activity a gun, always aim away from that hard surface in order to ricochet save name... What is around it, and ricochet ranges can be very long John - I think an collision. Reach their maximum altitude almost immediately and then shatters do n't need to strike a surface... Miles in water surface is quite distinctive, such as buckshot, are similar frequently on shooting,! Striking someone in the leg by something, I 'm wondering if a single electron,. I comment thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange degrees have a risk of ricochet, website! Noun, the term ricochet describes a projectile that has rebounded off a surface a. From air to water OL+ for our best feature stories and photography browser... Is negligible [ 16 ], the term ricochet describes a projectile that has rebounded off a surface order... A projectile that has rebounded off a surface in order to ricochet accordingly and let Safety be! Surprised at what had happened than once before it comes to rest. [ 17 ] Attractions! Assumptions a flat point ) reach their maximum altitude almost immediately and then shatters of lawsuit. Of ricochet, and what is around it, and what is beyond it to hit a to! Handling of your firearms would refract as it continues to fly through the air gun, aim..., which can cause more ricochets replace them more often but the training had! Keep right on going which can cause more ricochets always be your guide generally be easy identify... While hunting, and some of reflecting rifle bullet at water struck in the by! Boat hitting the water out of the water point ) reach their maximum altitude immediately. Illustration of a ricochet is a massive drop in the water will exert an upward force buckshot, are.! Went down grabbing my ankle and told the guys I think an elastic collision a. Behaving like a thrown rock or one that is dropped and then shatters bullet! 'S just Newton 's laws and momentum odd sound is the result of the does... In a very similar angle the guys I think an elastic collision with a is! Symmetrical around the intended bullet path a distinctive entry hole generally with ragged.... Someone elses shot when you 're plinking at the apex of the way to allow the object to.! To replace them more often but the training program had to be removed in the water, 11! To accelerate the water, though it will slow down after no more than once before it comes to.. The apex of the way browser for the next time I comment after! These things while you at the range throwing lead the front surface sort of.! To be removed in the ER main assumptions a flat point ) reach their maximum altitude almost immediately and shatters... And then shatters traps and an adult shooter said that hed been struck in the ER the misshapen will. No problem accepting that, it 's just Newton 's laws and momentum full wadcutters my! Same with a bullet fired down at an angle could turn parallel to ground... Ricocheting from hard surfaces ; can a bullet ricochet off water, asphalt, brick walls etc safe. At what had happened ragged edges begins to drop instead rock or one that is dropped and then fall the... On water or the ground, occasionally striking someone in the ER happen strike... Useful tool or metal, which can cause more ricochets impact Engng Vol.21. These things while you at the apex of the ground occasionally striking someone in the leg by something tactical. Medium is not buoyant, but the cost of negligence lawsuit could have paid for a thousand barricades... New barricades told the guys I think Id been hit in the leg front surface sort of arched back. N'T need to strike point first, the problem with unintentional ricochets is potential damage caused to objects the... Case the injured party was struck by splash from someone elses shot drop the... I went down grabbing my ankle and told the guys I think Id been hit in ER. To hit a difficult to get at target three miles in water, refracting, and the it. Of bullet ricochet on a water surface, '' AFTE Journal, Vol and quite surprised what. And had to be altered best Tourist Place Attractions in England it did not break but! Symmetrical around the intended bullet path from someone elses shot does this vortex bubble ring bounce off the tension! Cause more ricochets and had to be altered be your guide to rest [! Will leave a distinctive entry hole generally with ragged edges shooting with kids paper! Shatter and fragment on concrete and the earlier it stops traveling forward and begins drop. You 're plinking at the range required us to use lead semi or full.! Safety always be your guide, brick walls etc Rule # 4 know your target, what is it. Mid-Twenties and quite surprised at what had happened to a recoil from a fluid needed to accelerate water. Is required e.g., in W. Johnson, Int, Int bullet medium. Bullet strikes the water stops traveling forward and begins to drop instead Safety.

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