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I'm thinking it's probably got more to do with ricochet characteristics of high velocity rounds, irrespective of muzzle energy.

There have been very recent problems with .22 ricochets from Melville, though gut instinct tells me that was down to poor stopbutt maintenance rather than any inherent flaw.

I also learned (by watching!) at the Falling Plates that .303" will bounce up a helluva distance if you fire it into the range floor from 175yds.

Gaz wrote:I'm thinking it's probably got more to do with ricochet characteristics of high velocity rounds, irrespective of muzzle energy.

There have been very recent problems with .22 ricochets from Melville, though gut instinct tells me that was down to poor stopbutt maintenance rather than any inherent flaw.

I also learned (by watching!) at the Falling Plates that .303" will bounce up a helluva distance if you fire it into the range floor from 175yds.

I guess you've not shot .17HMR then? It is a very light bullet at 17 grains, is very fragile and designed to expand explosively. Shoot it in heavy rain and it will break up on hitting a raindrop and not reach the target. Twigs, then you might as well give up. They probably have the lowest possibility of ricochet than any other bullet. A factor even the Police acknowledge versus .22 when considering licences for vermin control. If .17HMR bullets hit anything they shatter rather than ricochet. If that is considered the problem with .17HMR on Melville then it is complete misinformation. Not in the slightest comparable with a heavy strongly constructed FMJ .303 bullet.

ColinR wrote:

Gaz wrote:I'm thinking it's probably got more to do with ricochet characteristics of high velocity rounds, irrespective of muzzle energy.

There have been very recent problems with .22 ricochets from Melville, though gut instinct tells me that was down to poor stopbutt maintenance rather than any inherent flaw.

I also learned (by watching!) at the Falling Plates that .303" will bounce up a helluva distance if you fire it into the range floor from 175yds.

I guess you've not shot .17HMR then? It is a very light bullet at 17 grains, is very fragile and designed to expand explosively. Shoot it in heavy rain and it will break up on hitting a raindrop and not reach the target. Twigs, then you might as well give up. They probably have the lowest possibility of ricochet than any other bullet. A factor even the Police acknowledge versus .22 when considering licences for vermin control. If a .17HMR bullets hit anything they shatter rather than ricochet. If that is considered the problem with .17HMR on Melville then it is complete misinformation. Not in the slightest comparable with a heavy strongly constructed FMJ .303 bullet.

I doubt there's much demand for hmr use on Melville anyway, it's a varmint round & has no target shooting use afaik, besides why would you want to shoot it @ 25 & 50?

.223/5.56 on the other hand is a different matter, being able to practice the 50 & 25 yard stages of the CSR UCM would be a godsend.

Airbrush wrote:

ColinR wrote:

Gaz wrote:I'm thinking it's probably got more to do with ricochet characteristics of high velocity rounds, irrespective of muzzle energy.

There have been very recent problems with .22 ricochets from Melville, though gut instinct tells me that was down to poor stopbutt maintenance rather than any inherent flaw.

I also learned (by watching!) at the Falling Plates that .303" will bounce up a helluva distance if you fire it into the range floor from 175yds.

I guess you've not shot .17HMR then? It is a very light bullet at 17 grains, is very fragile and designed to expand explosively. Shoot it in heavy rain and it will break up on hitting a raindrop and not reach the target. Twigs, then you might as well give up. They probably have the lowest possibility of ricochet than any other bullet. A factor even the Police acknowledge versus .22 when considering licences for vermin control. If a .17HMR bullets hit anything they shatter rather than ricochet. If that is considered the problem with .17HMR on Melville then it is complete misinformation. Not in the slightest comparable with a heavy strongly constructed FMJ .303 bullet.

I doubt there's much demand for hmr use on Melville anyway, it's a varmint round & has no target shooting use afaik, besides why would you want to shoot it @ 25 & 50?

.223/5.56 on the other hand is a different matter, being able to practice the 50 & 25 yard stages of the CSR UCM would be a godsend.

Sure its a hunting round but why should that exclude it? There are many calibres shot at Bisley that are not designed for target use, but they are nonetheless accommodated. I shoot vermin with .17HMR but I'd like to practice on a range and for zeroing. One would assume if you get approval for 5.56 then there would be no reason to prevent the use of .17HMR, so good luck with that.

Sure its a hunting round but why should that exclude it? There are many calibres shot at Bisley that are not designed for target use, but they are nonetheless accommodated. I shoot vermin with .17HMR but I'd like to practice on a range and for zeroing. One would assume if you get approval for 5.56 then there would be no reason to prevent the use of .17HMR, so good luck with that.[/quote]

Let's hope so, you could always shoot it on Century & SS.

Airbrush wrote:Let's hope so, you could always shoot it on Century & SS.

So much simpler on Melville with no need for markers

ColinR wrote:

Airbrush wrote:Let's hope so, you could always shoot it on Century & SS.

So much simpler on Melville with no need for markers

I use shoot n c targets, even with little holes you can still see poi @ 100

Maybe I am missing something here, but don't both Century and SS require markers so what is the benefit of using shoot n see targets on these ranges. Never thought of shooting 100 on Century, usually only at 300 and 600 with a marker - are there walk up targets at 100? That's the benefit of Melville being able to mark and patch targets yourself. I have to admit I am fundamentally a full bore shooter with rimfire use being restricted to occasional zeroing and changes in ammunition/equipment in connection with vermin shooting, hence the purpose of this post and need for readily accessed target range for .17HMR which I usually zero at 50 yards - same as my .22LR.

I guess my main gripe is that as an NRA member I cannot shoot .17HMR on the most suitable range due to some bureaucratic inconsistency.

Colin - The 100 yard range on Short Siberia has fixed benches and shelter - You can walk round the target sheds (only adding a few minutes) to the butts and put up as many small targets you want on the large target faces...perfect for zeroing and group testing.

Dougan wrote:Colin - The 100 yard range on Short Siberia has fixed benches and shelter - You can walk round the target sheds (only adding a few minutes) to the butts and put up as many small targets you want on the large target faces...perfect for zeroing and group testing.

Yep same goes for Century, shoot n c's, scope or spotting scope, bino's & jobs a good un.

Interesting that you zero your hmr @ 50 Colin, I thought the most common zero was 100?