Ricochet

:For other uses of the term ricochet, see Ricochet (disambiguation).

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A ricochet is a rebound, bounce or skip off of a surface, particularly in the case of a projectile. Ricochets are one of the main dangers of shooting because after bouncing off an object the bullet that ricochets poses an unpredictable and serious danger to bystanders, animals, objects, or even the person who fired the shot. Ricochets are often more common with low power calibres such as .22 or .177 calibre which can have trouble penetrating some materials, though it is important to note that a ricochet can occur with any calibre. Anecdotal evidence describes an incident where a bullet which penetrated a 3 inch steel pipe came back to the shooter. In this case, the lead portion went though the pipe, shedding the copper jacket, returning to the shooter's leg. This is a rare occurrence, however.

Related Topics:
Projectile - .22 - .177 calibre

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