RE: ... then frangible is the way to go. If not why not a pellet gun?
RE: If you are firing at 75 yards then frangible is the way to go. If not why not a pellet gun?
Funny you should mention that. I have several high power PCP air rifles, and have used them for this purpose. They also have the same ricochet issue, even with a very soft .22 or .25 caliber pellet traveling at around 800 fps.
I was trying to use a handgun instead so that I could just use a shoulder holster instead of hiking around in the woods/desert with a rifle in hand. And, it would let me get back into reloading now that I am getting closer to retirement and will have more time. I have a .357 carbine to use also if I want to try using light reloads.
I researched the frangible bullets and found that (as some here have mentioned) that they do not really break up unless they hit a very hard object (like steel). They are also very hard to find in .38 (easy in 9mm).
I think that I am going to try the standard wadcutter shape as some here suggested in hopes that the sharp shoulder will dig into the dirt. I may even try reversing the direction of a hollow based wadcutter to end up with an easily deformable bullet, but I doubt that the accuracy needed would be achievable. I may try something like the Hornady XTP hollow point also.
I agree that having a known backstop is absolutely necessary. If the ricochet issue does not get solved then I won't be continuing with this style of hunting in the desert.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and the interesting discussion,
Lorrin
RE: If you are firing at 75 yards then frangible is the way to go. If not why not a pellet gun?
Funny you should mention that. I have several high power PCP air rifles, and have used them for this purpose. They also have the same ricochet issue, even with a very soft .22 or .25 caliber pellet traveling at around 800 fps.
I was trying to use a handgun instead so that I could just use a shoulder holster instead of hiking around in the woods/desert with a rifle in hand. And, it would let me get back into reloading now that I am getting closer to retirement and will have more time. I have a .357 carbine to use also if I want to try using light reloads.
I researched the frangible bullets and found that (as some here have mentioned) that they do not really break up unless they hit a very hard object (like steel). They are also very hard to find in .38 (easy in 9mm).
I think that I am going to try the standard wadcutter shape as some here suggested in hopes that the sharp shoulder will dig into the dirt. I may even try reversing the direction of a hollow based wadcutter to end up with an easily deformable bullet, but I doubt that the accuracy needed would be achievable. I may try something like the Hornady XTP hollow point also.
I agree that having a known backstop is absolutely necessary. If the ricochet issue does not get solved then I won't be continuing with this style of hunting in the desert.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and the interesting discussion,
Lorrin
