Norm Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Hawkeye_Joe, The statement about the 30-06 and .308 rounds were just guesses. Maybe they would just go straight through them. As for pistol rounds bouncing off of bowling pins, they did the day my friends were shooting them with .45 ACP. Remember, I said was there with them when they were shooting them; I just did not shoot at them myself. Maybe three or four out of about 100 rounds penetrated into the bowling pins. The pins had scars on them afterward. I didn't mean to get caught up in a "bowling pin war." http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif I'm no expert, so everyone will have to forgive me of my lack of expertise. I'm only telling you what I saw. The bowling ball was funny, but looking back, it was not a smart thing to do. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif I guess I hit it just right and almost all of the energy of that slug went into the ball. By the way it was an 8 pound Brunswick ball that the local bowl-o-rama let me have because it all beat up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted July 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Just got back from our shoot. We used (in addition to paper plates), 4 used bowling pins, 1 watermelon, and 3 round yellow melons about the size of cantalopes (I think they were "Canary Melons"). The yellow melons were a lot more fun than the watermelon, which just kept splitting into smaller and smaller pieces. The yellow guys exploded, and kept exploding even after several hits. I had shot bowling pins before with 9mm & .45, and never had any problems. All of the hits today were .45, and most didn't penetrate, just left a black circular ding. A few times they would split the thick plastic coating, and as more and more hits accumulated, the wood was beginning to splinter. I brought them home because they'll be good for a few more round next time. Thanks for the advice and debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Fox Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 We hold these truths to be self evident... not all bowling pins are created equally... Various pins are made to various standards. I've shot right thru pins with everything down to 9mm, I've also had pins that shrug off .308 like it was airsoft. It's entirely possible that a pin would ricochet .45acp. Is it probable? No. But entirely possible. I'd just reccomend keeping your distance and playing safe. Nobody wants an exploding milk jug head. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leid Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Guys, I HAVE BEEN HIT BY BULLETS THAT BOUNCED OFF OF BOWLING PINS.I have a collection of bullets that I have been hit with. One in my collection is a 115gr 9mm FMJ that bounced off of a bowling pin and hit me hard in the sternum, but did not penetrate. I shot bowling pin matches in the 70s & 80s and have shot thousands of rounds of 9mm, .357mag, .41mag, .44 mag, and .45ACP at bowling pins. The Second Chance body armor company promoted this game . A 3 ft wide table was set up at 25 ft. and the pin had to be knocked completely off the table to be considered a good "Hit". FMJ 9mm & occasionally .45ACP ball bounced back. So many people were hit that the table was covered in energy absorbing material, sometimes used body armor. If a pin was shattered, it was considered a "Hit". The only handguns that I ever saw shatter a pin, were .41 magnum and up. We learned a lot about bullet energy from shooting pin matches. The 9mm and the .357mag were totally lacking in energy. And this is what we observed on deer when shot with soft points or hollow points of the same caliber. Don't use FMJ ammo on hard targets, including bowling pins. The last time I was shot was by someone using FMJ 5.56 on a steel plate target, and it did penetrate. Another one for my growing collection. Carey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 OUCH!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Fox Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Yikes! No disrespect intended (honestly), but if you have a "collection of bullets you have been hit with" I think it is time to hang up the rifles and find a new hobby. Nobody should ever get shot, neverless get shot multiple times. Hobbies aren't worth dying for... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye_Joe Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 I think this is the best statement on the subject so far: QUOTE not all bowling pins are created equally... Holy Crap Batman... QUOTE I've also had pins that shrug off .308 like it was airsoft. Maybe they should start to cover APC's like the old 113 with the plastic off of old bowling pins. If I were the Second Chance Co. and people were being hit by richochets I would look for new targets. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif If I had a "collection" of rounds I'd been hit with .. I'd step back a lil more and show up at matches looking like a "bomb defuser" . http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif Hey Normie.. No problem.. you stated your case with respect for the people listening. You reported what you saw. I really have nothing against that...If we were talking over a campfire or the back yard BBQ we could call each other assholes and laugh it off.. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Old Christmas or holiday yard art is another favorite to explode! Sit the old plastic Santa up at 50 yards and go at it. You can pick them up at yard sales for 1-2 bucks each. Santa didn't bring you just what you wanted? Let him have it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Mike, Plastic Santa's! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif - funny!! What about a Santa full of Tannerite! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Clock radios seem to soak up .45s fairly well. Extra points if you hit snooze button at 30 yards! Really warm cans of unopened sodas have a neat effect also, but can be a little expensive. This is the only good use I know of for TAB soda. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Norm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Fox Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Hey, does anyone know about the legality of Tannerite explosive targets in Arizona? I'd love to try some out, but they won't even let us have sparklers here. I find it hard to believe these explosive targets would be legal... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/unsure.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balder Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 QUOTE (Hawkeye_Joe @ Jul 3 2004, 09:00 AM) Balder? I've shot 9MM through galvanized steel. I can see 32's and 45's maybe bouncing but not a 9MM I'm not saying it didn't happen but maybe you had a bowling pin with a flak jacket on.. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif Hawkeye_Joe I've also shot 9mm through all kinds of things; I was very surprised when Geco Ogival-Geschoss 7,5 g, LOT 06-DAG-77 came right back at me. I'm through with firing at bowling pins. Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyard4$ Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Hawkeye_Joe, Lets use a little common sense and logic here. A Buffalo is a heavy, almost immovable object made of meat, bones and fur. Try shooting a free standing penny with a Sharps, yeah you’ll probably put a dent in it but you won’t put a hole in it, if you could ever even find it after it was shot. Use the same logic on a bowling pin. That bullet isn’t going to always penetrate or just come to a dead stop and drop straight down when it hits the pin. It has to go somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter63a Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 QUOTE (junkyard4$ @ Jul 3 2004, 03:47 PM) That bullet isn’t going to always penetrate or just come to a dead stop and drop straight down when it hits the pin. It has to go somewhere. junkyard4$, I agree with you, from my experience of shooting at that 1/4" steel plate. It's really a crap shoot. Some of the FMJ rounds bounced off, some came to a dead stop in front of the target, but not one penetrated (hardly even dented the steel, just polished it a little)! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif It is almost like playing Russian roulette. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif It would be infinitely safer to shoot at tannerite, watermellons, etc. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif Regards, Walter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 That Barry Mantilow record was fun- but it was a mess to clean up http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 PhilOhio, How about a .300 Winchester Magnum?! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45wheelgun Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 I prefer large pink grapefruits as they are about the size of a small childs head and when they explode, they spray small chunks of "brainlike" pink matterial.....but then again...I am sick and twisted. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted July 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Phil, your observations about the "self-healing" vinyl on the pins intrigued me, so I did a little "autopsy." You're right, those little black circles conceal bullet holes. In fact, I have several bulges (sans black circles) that look like the beginnings of exits wounds. Just a little more kinetic energy would have enable the bullets to exit completely. I'm not sure whether the bulges are the result of .45 acp or M1 carbine, so I'll try to get some fresh pins and continue my forensic studies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Yep, I was starting to worry about you guys that think a .45 or 9mm "bounces" off a bowling pin. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif I've been shooting them for years and they eventually get really torn up. I mean, all they are are wood and plastic. .308? .30-06? Hah!!! They make mincemeat out of pins and bowling balls. If you shoot steel it is wise to keep a good distance and have the plate or whatever angled for deflection away from the line. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balder Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Still, I have experienced .32, .45 and 9mm ricocheting off bowling pins. Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye_Joe Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Balder, I think that richochet is the wrong word.. I think it's more like re-directed.. I think that when the pin spins the bullet is also spun around and re-directed.... I just don't see these rounds bounding off of plastic and wood like has been stated here..especially when shot with a .308 or 30.06.... Junkyard, QUOTE Lets use a little common sense and logic here. Yes, lets do that.. a Buffalo is a large heavy object made of flesh, bone and gristle..a penny is made of copper..but weighs nearly nothing in comparision to either a buffalo or a bowling pin..a bowling pin is made of wood and plastic, usually, but is fairly heavy because of it's intended use. It has mass, a buffalo has mass..the penny has no mass to speak of.. I'm not Newton but I think the laws of resting objects staying at rest applies here...a penny will move more with the round hitting it, if it is a large relatively slow moving like a 50-70, for it has very little mass to keep it at rest...a bowling pin and a buffalo will remain at rest as the bullet passes through the outer covering/skin because they have a specific gravity that allows them to remain at rest as this happens.... Now as the pin turns can it not be that the spin put on the pin by the force of the bullet strike makes the bullet turn along with the pin and the exit could make the bullet return toward the shooter or off to some angle that would make it look as if it has bounced off???? Also a Buffalo herd moves at the speed of the slowest member of the herd...predators catch and kill off these slower/weaker animals and in doing so increases the speed and efficiency of the herd. As we all know alchohol kills brain cells but, as with the buffalo, it kills off the slower weaker brain cells first making the brain a faster more efficient organ..this is why you always feel a lil smarter after a couple of beers...... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyard4$ Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 QUOTE Now as the pin turns can it not be that the spin put on the pin by the force of the bullet strike makes the bullet turn along with the pin and the exit could make the bullet return toward the shooter or off to some angle that would make it look as if it has bounced off???? Hawkeye_Joe, There you go, weather the bullet is bouncing off of the pin or it is "re-directed" it could still come back at you. Is a "re-directed" bullet safer than a bounced bullet? If anyone here has been hit with a "re-directed" bullet let us know, does it hurt? Yeah, I guess a bowling pin and a buffalo are pretty much the same thing, one is 5 pounds and the other is 2,000 pounds, that's only 400 times heavier. Next time I go bowling I’ll just take the Sharps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye_Joe Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 QUOTE I guess a bowling pin and a buffalo are pretty much the same thing, You have a knack for missing the point don't you ? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/huh.gif I'll tell you this.. I don't want to be hit by any of the three ( buffalo, penny, bowling pin) dropped off the Empire State Building..(or by 40 foot tall apes either).....Oh but which one would hit the pavement first??? Gunner, Would you try a .308 on one for me and see if the holes are just closed on both sides?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyard4$ Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Hawkeye_Joe, Missing the point? My original point was that I know it to be unsafe to shoot bowling pins because a bullet can come back at you weather it is bounced back or "re-directed" back at you. That's my point and you even agreed when you said a bullet could be "re-directed" when shot at a bowling pin. There is more than enough people that agreed that it doesn't need to be discussed any further. All I wanted to do was to try and prevent innocent people from getting shot, then I get a bunch of you saying it is safe and even promoting it. Do you not care if you or anyone else gets shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balder Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 I rest my case. Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 How close to these pins have you guys shot for it to be unsafe? We always kept around 30 to 50 yds and have never experienced ricochets , redirections or anything that would be considered unsafe. Are you guys shooting them outside up north where they would be frozen and much harder to penetrate? I'm just trying to understand why several of you have had bad experiences, when we've been doing this for years and never had it happen. Matter of fact the only redirection I personally ever had was from a .380 auto that hit a rock and came straight back. It was in bright daylight and I actually not only saw it, but I stopped with my gloved hand trying to protect myself. Put a bit of a knot in my palm but no broken skin or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now