Orthonym
Member
NRA Instructor, I think you have it!
I believe it may be a function of (OTBE) velocity. Fred Barnes mentions in "Cartridges of the World" , (referring to the 41 Short Derringer Rimfire),
" The 41 rimfire Short is so under-powered as to be worthless for anything but rats, mice, or sparrows at short range. Fired from the average derringer at a tree or hard object 15 to 25 yards away, the bullet will often bounce back and land at your feet."
My own experience: I had a moderately high-velocity air rifle pellet bounce off from a plywood backstop 20 feet away and sting me a good one just above my eybrow.
I betcha nobody has this sort of problem with high-velocity bullets because
A.One tends to shoot at things farther away; and
B.High-velocity projectiles tend to go to pieces on the spot.
I believe it may be a function of (OTBE) velocity. Fred Barnes mentions in "Cartridges of the World" , (referring to the 41 Short Derringer Rimfire),
" The 41 rimfire Short is so under-powered as to be worthless for anything but rats, mice, or sparrows at short range. Fired from the average derringer at a tree or hard object 15 to 25 yards away, the bullet will often bounce back and land at your feet."
My own experience: I had a moderately high-velocity air rifle pellet bounce off from a plywood backstop 20 feet away and sting me a good one just above my eybrow.
I betcha nobody has this sort of problem with high-velocity bullets because
A.One tends to shoot at things farther away; and
B.High-velocity projectiles tend to go to pieces on the spot.