What Type Of Ammo Is Safe To Shoot In The Woods?

Status
Not open for further replies.

ATTHECROSS

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2017
Messages
43
Hello All -

I just was blessed with the opportunity to move from southern CA to northern AZ. I am SO thankful to be here! Anyway, coming from CA you could only really shoot at ranges or in the desert so sparks/fires were not an issue of concern. Now I am able to shoot in the woods but I want to make sure that I don't make any sparks when shooting that could potentially start a fire. I know that bi-metal rounds, such as WOLF are an issue, but when bullets are copper jacketed is that safe or what kind of rounds do I need to be using?

Thanks for the help

FYI.... planning to shoot paper, metal gongs, etc.
 
If I was in a tinder box, I would not use:
Bi-metal jacketed bullets,
Bullets with steel penetrators,
Tracers,
Or Dragon Breath shotguns shells.

Stones can spark just like steel plates.

Some shot indicators, like Tannerite, can be used in public land but not in State or National forests.
Tannerite is endothermic, it takes in heat for the reaction. However, the compression of the atmosphere around it can create enough heat to ignite tinder. And then hurl it into the forest...:what:

While in the forest, please refrain from placing targets on the trees.
Dirt berms are good backers, trees not so much.
And they give their life to be bad at it...

I have taken as many as four, three inch Poplar trees in one akwardly angled shot across a chronograph with my Desert Eagle.
Yes, I did catch it for their destruction. But it was neat to blow over the chrono and watch the saplings sort of melt over to one side. One fell straight down and stood there.:)
But those were my trees. The "King's" trees probably wouldn't be as funny.
 
Don't use tracers! I was shooting at a National Guard Range and the Reservists on the range to the right were shooting their SAWS with tracers. They were just rocking and rolling. They also set the woods on fire, as the area was in a drought. Base Fire Trucks arrived and people were running around like ants. Range Control kicked all of us off, but thankfully, we could prove that we, civilians, had not been firing tracers, because, the military chain of command will blame anyone but their buds.
 
If any bullet hits the right object you'll get sparks. If conditions are dry enough it is possible to ignite a fire. Use your head, and don't shoot when conditions are extremely dry and pay attention to your backstop.
 
AZ has enough open public land, you should be able to find a nice box canyon or similar backstop that isn't loaded with dry tinder material.
 
Last edited:
I put a fire extinguisher in the back of the Jeep on occasion. Also useful if the truck exhaust sets dry grass on fire. Haven't needed it yet, but good to have if a small fire did start.
 
You are using your head by asking the question. Unless you have a lot of land, like miles of woods behind the point of impact/ricochet, you should have a proper back stop to shoot against, then it won’t matter what bullet you use.
 
Don't shoot rocky backstops.

Don't shoot with steel core.

Don't shoot in red flag dry conditions.
 
Stick with FMJ and HP ammo. Shooting does cause fires.

Northern AZ gets wicked hot and dry. Be dang careful during those times.
 
Last edited:
Don't use tracers! I was shooting at a National Guard Range and the Reservists on the range to the right were shooting their SAWS with tracers. They were just rocking and rolling. They also set the woods on fire, as the area was in a drought. Base Fire Trucks arrived and people were running around like ants. Range Control kicked all of us off, but thankfully, we could prove that we, civilians, had not been firing tracers, because, the military chain of command will blame anyone but their buds.

Unfortunately they don’t have a choice. Every fifth round in the 250 round pre belted and boxed drum is a tracer. I’m sure they would be happy to let you and your buds rebelt it all with green tip.
 
If a magnet can move loose ammo,chances are there is steel. Don't shoot it.
Not
shooting tracers is just common sense.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top