There was a phone call and a YouTube video that was shared with me.  This hidden danger is rarely spoken about and in my mind is so important.  I want to share with you things to keep you safe and those around you even though they may be miles away.

​Safety is something that gets a lot of attention in the shooting world and rightly so.  Safety briefs, range safety officers and coaches are all there to make the experience safe and enjoyable for the shooters.  But what about the other end of the range?

Ricochets are something I rarely hear talked about at local ranges.  Most shooters just assume the range is safe and that the bullets get absorbed into the dirt.  But what if they don’t?  Where does that bullet actually travel and what does it actually impact?

Knowing your target and what lies beyond it is a great rule, but what about what lies beside it?  Or above it?  Does anyone consider how far that round could potentially go?  Military ranges have a 1:1,000,000 rule which means that if all safety rules are followed the probability of a round escaping the range has to be greater than one in a million.

This sounds pretty unattainable for the local hunting and fishing club range, but you also have to consider the types of ammunition being fired.  Military ammunition is designed for penetration and will potentially present a higher ricochet threat than a self defense round or an open tip hollow point match round which will expand on impact.  These details matter. So, think about everything when you shoot, not just things you can see.  Your bullet selection plays a key role.  OTM, FMJ, Solids and Bonded Bullets all increase the odds of a ricochet.  What is more important that if your round leaves the range and hits something or worse yet, somebody.  You are responsible and liable.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility and considering the types of ammo and the location you are shooting is just as important as the rest.

An Amish girl hit in the head  and killed with a musket ball fired into the air at over 2 kilometers.  Keep in mind this was shot into the air, but was a musket ball.  Think about the high velocity rounds that we fire and how far they could travel.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amish-man-accidentally-killed-girl-in-horse-drawn-buggy-with-stray-gunshot-will-serve-30-days-in-jail/

I don't mean to criticize or put people for or against those in this video.  I am simply sharing it to show you want can happen, to display ricochets.  Both of these videos are eye popping and really give you an idea of what a bounced round looks like.  The tracer rounds show you the true danger to those down range and this can happen to many of the bullets listed above.  The sad part is most do not know it happens because they cannot see it or are even unaware of it.  The really sad part is, it could cost somebody their life.  And if it happens to be your round, you are 100% responsible.  

So, take all precautions when shooting. Be safe. Be cognizant of your ammo, surroundings and what may lie beyond your surroundings.