A car window was shattered today around noon by a 9mm bullet that ricocheted from the backstop area at the pistol range, over the firing line, and into the parking area fronting the pistol range. The bullet did not penetrate the safety glass and bounced under the adjacent car. It looked to be a 124gr FMJ. The bullet jacket was 100% intact, but showed heavy deformation from contact with basalt rock.

Shoot at only authorized targets.

Do not shoot at targets of opportunity on the rocky hill in back of the range.

Wear eye protection and a hat

Pistol range still open?

Range is still open as far as I know. Mike was writing up an accident report yesterday. and has the offending bullet.

How far do you think the bullet had to ricochet?

A 9mm bullet ricochet from the berm, over the roof of the pistol range and onto a parked car.

I just have a hard time believing that.

That's a hell of a lot of energy necessary for that.

What's more believable to me is that some kid picked up a bullet off the ground and threw it at a car.

I wasn't there so I don't know but that just seems more plausible to me.

Me too. On the siloutte side you never see stuff bouncing back. I never have.

A 9mm bullet ricochet from the berm, over the roof of the pistol range and onto a parked car.

I just have a hard time believing that.

That's a hell of a lot of energy necessary for that.

What's more believable to me is that some kid picked up a bullet off the ground and threw it at a car.

I wasn't there so I don't know but that just seems more plausible to me.

I agree. Maybe +P 9mm? Or some pissed off person.

There might have been a considerable rotational energy left, though, and, say, an edge of the rotating bullet caught the glass just right.

I had plausibility issues with it, too, though, when I first read the thread.  Did anyone report a ricochet "whang" when it happened?  Have the people present at the time been questioned?

Any pix of the broken/cracked glass?  Maybe the glass was just about ready to let go from stress-cracking when it got tapped by the bullet. 

Terry, 230RN

Are not most of the cars at a lower level than the shooters themselves? If the ricochet went over the range it had to be arcing over the range and on its way down which means it probably had little energy behind it. JMHO

Yeah, this sounds pretty bogus to me.

perhaps someone had a broken window and figured out a way to get it replaced for free. Hmmmm??

after speaking to some buddies it is possible

after speaking to some buddies it is possible

Anything is possible, but this story is just that... A story

We need an engineer to opine on the subject. My thought are that if you can throw a bullet from the top of the hill down to a car below and crack a window, not a whole lot of speed is required

Me too. On the siloutte side you never see stuff bouncing back. I never have.

Have you ever looked at the roof of the silhouette range. Many bullets and fragments up there. Ask any of the RO's about ricochet fragments.

The own

perhaps someone had a broken window and figured out a way to get it replaced for free. Hmmmm??

The owner of the car is a loong time bullseye shooter and will not file a claim. He doesn't want the range shut down either. He was an old guy 30 years ago when I first met him.

Are not most of the cars at a lower level than the shooters themselves? If the ricochet went over the range it had to be arcing over the range and on its way down which means it probably had little energy behind it. JMHO

This guy parks on the upper level when he can. Copper jacketed bullets are hard enough to  cause side safety glass to shatter without the glass breaking tips found on so called tactical knives. I've seen 300fps BBs break car window glass.

Anything is possible, but this story is just that... A story

And the moral of this "story" is....

Wear eye protection and a hat.

Be sure of your target and what is behind it.

I've seen 300fps BBs break car window glass.

Sounds like experience!

One bullet could have hit another bullet in the berm sending it flying up and over the roof. ?