strange holes in my targets

corey012778 · 10-19-2007, 02:33 PM

when I was sighting in my ml a few weeks ago, near one on my holes I saw a small pattern of line type holes in the target. I was fire some pellet to see if I like them, I did not. could of been unburned pellets pieces flying 50 yrds and hitting it?

I should of asked this when I did it. it just started really bothering me today.

cayugad · 10-19-2007, 02:48 PM

Was the target sitting against anything solid? Sometimes the bullet will pass through the target, hit something hard, explode and then fragments can bounce back into the target. Because of my steel trap I get this all the time. The projectiles splatter and then fly all over the place.

gt2003 · 10-19-2007, 08:16 PM

It could also be that the bullet was "tumbling" instead of spiraling and hitting the way it should. Think of a poorly thrown football that goes end over end instead of a spiral pattern and imagine the marks it would make on the target. Let us know what bullet you were shooting, out of what rifle as well as how many grains of what powder. Someone a lot more knowledgeable than me should be able to help

corey012778 · 10-19-2007, 10:57 PM

knight usak, 85 grs pryodex p and 2 pellets 240gr xtp with mag express sabots and 245 gr powerbelts. really just shooting for fun that day. I was using card board box leaning on a thin tree. I cut the tree down when I was shooting.

omg I just figured it out. within 10 mins of last shot before changing targets that tree went down. wood frags?? maybe

gt2003 · 10-20-2007, 07:52 PM

Hmmm, I dunno. Somehow i doubt you would get that pattern shooting through a cardboard box into the tree. Maybe if the target was simply pasted on the tree, but through a box, I doubt it. However, I am by no means a bullet expert. I have heard many times that a tumbling bullet will produce the effects you described. Get a box that will stand on its own and repeat exactly what you did before. If you get the same results you know its not the tree. Keep us updated. Thanks, Greg

Wilds · 10-20-2007, 08:16 PM

Best to clarify this....

I think gt2003 is thinking a "group" of shots that the holes are not round but "keyholed".

what corey is describing tho', in my mind, is a row of smaller fragment holes near the bullet hole....right?

Unburnt powder isn't going to travel 50 yards, I wouldn't think.....

One of my tests for load efficiency is actually looking for unburnt powder over a fresh fallen snow, or a bed sheet. It doesn't travel very far at all but then again I'm shooting real black and not those pellet things.

As suggested, if the target was against something hard, I'd say bullet spray back....on my steel targets the ground is literally dug up out in front from this.

I'd sooner say it was small wood fragments from the tree, but if you were using a cardboard box it would seem there would have to be two sets of "frag holes", one in the back of the box and one in the front where the target was hung, in a direct flight path of richochet.

Only hypothosis of course...

Pictures woulda been golden....................

corey012778 · 10-20-2007, 10:08 PM

I am working on the pics. but my scanner program is massing up and my cam sucks. I still have the box. I will check it. I am not planning on buying pellet, well not until wally world clears them out. I am not thinking it was the tree, it is not known for being strong.

corey012778 · 10-20-2007, 10:37 PM

got my scanner program to work