Where did the shrapnel come from FN 510 Tactical

192 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by LoneWolf918, 9 d ago

LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · 17 d ago

Hey fellas,
I bought an FN 510 tactical and went out to shoot it for the first time yesterday. I had a paper target on this massive dead tree.
I was standing about 20 feet away and on the second shot (using full metal jackets) a piece of super hot shrapnel hit me on the lip.
I instantly thought maybe the bullet had a defect and when it came out of the barrel something came off of it and hit me? I just can’t imagine the tree not being a giant sponge and ricocheting back? (Side note: the target was at face level.)
The piece that “landed on me” did so with hardly any force at all. It literally just lightly landed on my lip.

I’m a little nervous now and not sure what to do or think about it. I would appreciate some feed back and what you all think it could have been?

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dennishoddy

· #2 · 17 d ago

Did you recover and inspect the brass from that round?
I’d have to think it wasn’t a ricochet, but something coming from the chamber when the action cycled.

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LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #3 · 17 d ago

dennishoddy said:
Did you recover and inspect the brass from that round?
I’d have to think it wasn’t a ricochet, but something coming from the chamber when the action cycled.

Like a dumbass no i didn’t. Going back out there to see though.
is this something you have heard of happening? You thinking possibly the casing?

Bullbuster

· #4 · 17 d ago

I’d avoid shooting at trees all together. I’m in agreement with Dennis on this something from the chamber during cycling.

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dennishoddy

· #5 · 17 d ago

LoneWolf918 said:
Like a dumbass no i didn’t. Going back out there to see though.
is this something you have heard of happening? You thinking possibly the casing?

Did you find what it was that landed on your lip?
I'm thinking it was unburned powder maybe? Wouldn't be unheard of for an extractor to remove a piece of the base which is why I wondered if you had inspected the spent brass.
I have an FN-509 that shoots like a dream.

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caliberbob

· #6 · 16 d ago

So my first thought is if it’s brand new? If there’s any cerakote or something like that, that could have flaked off while ejecting the brass? Maybe inspect inside the receiver? Just spitballing.

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LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #7 · 16 d ago

dennishoddy said:
Did you recover and inspect the brass from that round?
I’d have to think it wasn’t a ricochet, but something coming from the chamber when the action cycled.

Like a dumbass no i didn’t. Going back out there to see though.
is this something you have heard of happening? You thinking possibly thec

dennishoddy said:
Did you find what it was that landed on your lip?
I'm thinking it was unburned powder maybe? Wouldn't be unheard of for an extractor to remove a piece of the base which is why I wondered if you had inspected the spent brass.
I have an FN-509 that shoots like a dream.

no I did not find it unfortunately. It definitely felt like a small fragment. Can’t say I know what burning powder feels like but this felt like it had mass.

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LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #8 · 16 d ago

caliberbob said:
So my first thought is if it’s brand new? If there’s any cerakote or something like that, that could have flaked off while ejecting the brass? Maybe inspect inside the receiver? Just spitballing.

Thank you! I will double check! Yes this is brand new. First time firing it.

LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #9 · 16 d ago

Bullbuster said:
I’d avoid shooting at trees all together. I’m in agreement with Dennis on this something from the chamber during cycling.

I’ve always put my targets on the base of a dead tree if it was a round and shot. What’s wrong with that? Never heard anyone say it’s a bad idea.

dennishoddy

· #10 · 16 d ago

LoneWolf918 said:
I’ve always put my targets on the base of a dead tree if it was a round and shot. What’s wrong with that? Never heard anyone say it’s a bad idea.

I'm good with dead trees. When we first moved into our house in the country 30 some years ago, there was a big live tree that was about 60' tall and 3' diameter. It was pretty sick.
A year or so later a big wind storm came through and broke the tree off at about 4' high.
Right in the break, there were dozens of .22 bullets.
Evidently, the tree was used as a target base which weakened it.

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Bullbuster

· #11 · 16 d ago

LoneWolf918 said:
I’ve always put my targets on the base of a dead tree if it was a round and shot. What’s wrong with that? Never heard anyone say it’s a bad idea.

Dead trees will absorb the shot for sure. Live trees can kick fragments back. I’ve seen it happen several times and also been hit in the forehead by a 9mm frag that bounced back off a tree. We were at about 20y as when I got hit. I wasn’t even the shooter. It was an oak tree if I recall. But the other ones I’ve seen and heard bounce off and wiz back have been on various other trees as well.

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LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #12 · 9 d ago

dennishoddy said:
I'm good with dead trees. When we first moved into our house in the country 30 some years ago, there was a big live tree that was about 60' tall and 3' diameter. It was pretty sick.
A year or so later a big wind storm came through and broke the tree off at about 4' high.
Right in the break, there were dozens of .22 bullets.
Evidently, the tree was used as a target base which weakened it.

Ohhhh got ya!

LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #13 · 9 d ago

Bullbuster said:
Dead trees will absorb the shot for sure. Live trees can kick fragments back. I’ve seen it happen several times and also been hit in the forehead by a 9mm frag that bounced back off a tree. We were at about 20y as when I got hit. I wasn’t even the shooter. It was an oak tree if I recall. But the other ones I’ve seen and heard bounce off and wiz back have been on various other trees as well.

Yea I could see that happening for sure. Also don’t know what might be in the tree that the tree has grown over. Rocks, old barbed wire fence, etc. how bad did that fragment hurt? Lol leave a spot on you?

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Bullbuster

· #14 · 9 d ago

LoneWolf918 said:
Yea I could see that happening for sure. Also don’t know what might be in the tree that the tree has grown over. Rocks, old barbed wire fence, etc. how bad did that fragment hurt? Lol leave a spot on you?

It hit my hat just at the top of the bill where it’s sewn into the hat. Felt like a rock hit me. It did cut the hat some but not the skin. Had I not had the hat on I’m betting it would have messed me up bad. I’m sure it was copper jacketing that flew back when it mushroomed and splattered.
Just another reason why I always wear a hat and glasses when shooting.

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Bear Sits In The Woods

· #15 · 9 d ago

Safety first and then team work.

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LoneWolf918

Discussion Starter · #16 · 9 d ago

Bullbuster said:
It hit my hat just at the top of the bill where it’s sewn into the hat. Felt like a rock hit me. It did cut the hat some but not the skin. Had I not had the hat on I’m betting it would have messed me up bad. I’m sure it was copper jacketing that flew back when it mushroomed and splattered.
Just another reason why I always wear a hat and glasses when shooting.

It’s amazing the things many of us can look back on and think about moments that could have changed our life forever (like if that thing hit you in the eye), yet it turned out to just be a small wrinkle in our time line. Funny how life works.

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