Reusing pellets from GK1 hitting steel plate!

[BlackICE]

I was testing a new 1/8" thick 6" steel plate target at 15 yards with a Huben GK1 using 10g .177 pellets at about 830 fps. More than 50% of them ricocheted back to me. Many times hitting my hands holding the gun. Very low impact like they were dropped on my hand from 2' away. Nevertheless I was wearing eye protection as a good safety practice. I doubt it would penetrate the eye but it wouldn't do it any favors. I picked up the pellets and most of them they looked as good as new under a 10X stereo microscope. Only a few had any signs of rifling marks or a blunted nose from hitting the steel plate. Just for kicks I reused them and they all hit the target once more!

I'm surprised of the lack of marks on the pellets they must be undersized for the GK1's barrel.

BTW I used some Dynomat like material on the backside of the plate and it reduces the sound significantly and stops the ringing.

 

[Kgphotos]

They were hitting steel at 830fps and they didn’t flatten out. That’s really odd. Are they lead pellets?
Kenny

 

[BlackICE]

Yes most were Hatsan Vortex pellets in a few were jsbs.

 

[SpreadLead]

I want to see videos. That's some impressive ricochet accuracy!

 

[airgunmike56]

I shoot GTO non lead pellets out of my 25 GKl V3 at wood and cloth filled boxes. I can not see any rifling marks on the shot pellets and it looks like you could use them again, I would not, I'm not that cheap yet, I don't care what the wife says,,, Just with my naked eyes it looks like they just came out of the pellet tin..
I shoot at 580 FPS at 10 to 30 yards ,
Mike

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

That's pretty wild that hitting steel at 15 yards around 730 fps and 12 pfe wouldn't do much damage to deform the lead. I'd bet the way the steel is hung and it's weight absorbs some of that energy, but also allowing some of it to ricochet back harmlessly.

 

[Richfromohio]

First off, i am thrilled to see that safty is first with you wearing safety glasses. I would bet its the Junk hard as rock Vortex pellets that are ricocheting. The so called lead they are made from is extremely hard. All the vortex pellets i have ever seen look like I made them in my garage with whatever was throwing together. The JSB's and H&N's are usually a soft lead alloy and can be crushed with your finger nail. My experience with JSB and H&N pellets shooting steel has always been good. No ricocheting but lead pellets paper thin after impact. I would stick with the JSB ,Air Arms, and H&N pellets only because of the soft lead. Crosman pellets are also a hard alloy lead. The metal plates that I am shooting are meant for firearms so it's thick steel.

 

[Arzrover]

VERY odd...
I shoot my 6 ft lb rifles at a steel target at 11 yards and the pellets ALWAYS flatten completely... sometimes no sign of rifling because they are so splattered. That's only 600 fps w 8 gn pellets.
Are you using 177 pellets in a 22 barrel?
Even at that, enough energy to bounce back 15 yards would definitely flatten a JSB...
Bob

 

[steve123]

VERY odd...
I shoot my 6 ft lb rifles at a steel target at 11 yards and the pellets ALWAYS flatten completely... sometimes no sign of rifling because they are so splattered. That's only 600 fps w 8 gn pellets.
Are you using 177 pellets in a 22 barrel?
Even at that, enough energy to bounce back 15 yards would definitely flatten a JSB...
Bob

So true.
I can't even imagine such a thing as the OP has stated. Even at 50 yards at arrival FPE of 3.3 fpe using JSB 8.4, on my round steel knockovers, which dissipates energy, the pellets wouldn't even come close to fitting back in the magazine because the head is flattened to 20-ish cal.