Would bowling pins stand up to .223 FMJ rounds OK???

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Would bowling pins stand up to .223 FMJ rounds OK???

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:11:18 PM EDT

I've heard of people using these before but wanted to know how they stand up to .223 FMJ at say 50 yards and out. A local place shut down their bowling alley a few years ago and I was going to see if they had any pins left they would sell me.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:12:29 PM EDT

[#1]

They stand up quite well to any round below .30-06 in my experience.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:13:33 PM EDT

[#2]

They will most likely GIVE them to you.

But ricochets off of bowling pins are bad medicine unless you have a proper set-up at your range.

We can't shoot them at the range I frequent.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:13:55 PM EDT

[#3]

Bowling Pins work great. They hold up quite well to multiple hits from 5.56.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:14:16 PM EDT

[#4]

yup, i've got some i've taken to the range at least 5 times still in great condition. i shoot them from 25-100 yards

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:15:08 PM EDT

[#5]

One simple word, no. After hitting one a couple of time all you have left is a bunch of toothpicks. But on the bright side - they are a lot of fun to shoot! What is that saying, A bad day_______ is still better than a good day at work. I think this saying applies. I usually hit them with anything I have at hand when I am at an open range. 357 is a lot of fun to shoot at pins with.

On the other hand, the bowling balls are great to shoot at. You do need to be careful with them, but it gives you a greaat feeling when you hit them just right and they split.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:17:16 PM EDT

[#6]

It's not very exciting to hit a pin with 223/556.

Most time it will wiggle just a tiny bit and not even fall down.

After you've shot it a bunch of times you can go pick it up and find that it's full of splinters.

Want to knock a pin hard?

45 colt. 255gr wide metplat lead bullet at 900-100fps.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:19:46 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
They will most likely GIVE them to you.

But ricochets off of bowling pins are bad medicine unless you have a proper set-up at your range.

We can't shoot them at the range I frequent.

Same here. We shot them one day at the range and noted that there wasn't the damage we expected. A club officer told us not to shoot them anymore because of ricochets. I imagine a blunt heavy bullet like a 45-70 might splinter them. I don't know. I think the 55 grain fmj just glances off.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:19:46 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
One simple word, no. After hitting one a couple of time all you have left is a bunch of toothpicks. .

mine haven't been that way at all.
i've shot them with .22, .223, 5.56, 9mm...each has prob. been hit around 30-40 times, and they are still in great condition...

the only ricochet prob. we've had is with a silenced .22 pistol

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:19:49 PM EDT

[#9]

I’m a member of a Club where old bowling pins are used quite extensively. Both for regularly held pistol shoots (mainly) and long range rifle shooting. As the pins are made out of wood, they make excellent targets, no worry of ricochets.
Hit ‘em and they go down. Plus they are not easy to hit beyond 200 yards. They are Excellent training tools.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:22:41 PM EDT

[#10]

They are fun to hang from trees, hit it once and the fun starts.

Moving targets are
alot more fun then things that just lay around

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:40:03 PM EDT

[#11]

I agree with Phil.

When you shoot a bowling pin with 5.56 the bullet passes through the pin so easily that often the pin does not even wobble. It is hard to tell if you are hitting it or missing it.

If you really want to mess a pin up, use .44 magnum.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:45:23 PM EDT

[#12]

This thread reminded me that I left my box of pins at home and now I'm 6 hours away for the next 2 months...

Damn college...

- BUCC_Guy

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:51:41 PM EDT

[#13]

depends on the ammo. S&B 5.56 zips right through them at 75yds. Often, wont even knock them over.

Posted: 8/18/2004 6:54:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I agree with Phil.

When you shoot a bowling pin with 5.56 the bullet passes through the pin so easily that often the pin does not even wobble. It is hard to tell if you are hitting it or missing it.

If you really want to mess a pin up, use .44 magnum.

The first bowling Pin I ever shot ,I used a Glock 20. I filled up 1 full cap magazine, and when it was empty there wasnt anything left to shoot. Short range session. Sold the Glock before shooting it again (right after I regained feeling in my hand - that thing kicked TOO much for me).

Posted: 8/18/2004 7:02:55 PM EDT

[#15]

Thanks for the info guys. Have to go ask them if they have any pins left over. If the .223 doesn't do much to them a 230gr FMJ out of my 1911 should

Posted: 8/19/2004 1:22:11 AM EDT

[#16]

relatively square hit by anything from rifles including cowboy loads enters, military rounds tend to penetrate. Mine have lasted about 4-5 trips.

I hang mine from 2x4 sawhorses with cheap rope. You can see them move or spin some from just about any hit. And since they are hangin instead of sitting on top, you don't have to get the pin boy to run out after every shot.

(how many of you remember pin boys?)

Posted: 8/19/2004 1:32:41 AM EDT

[#17]

.308 tears them up pretty good though.

Posted: 8/19/2004 1:41:44 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Plus they are not easy to hit beyond 200 yards. They are Excellent training tools.

i disagree. i put one down at 300yds a couple weeks ago. took me 2 shots to get it though.

Posted: 8/19/2004 3:27:01 AM EDT

[#19]

We use bowling pins all the time for FDCC shoots. They hold up very well. Many times, especailly after being shot up some, they won't go down with the first hit. We experimented with clay pigeons as well and oddly and many occasions, they would not break with a .223 hit. You'd get nice neat holes but no shatter.

Posted: 8/19/2004 3:47:44 AM EDT

[#20]

For some fun, put a couple in the freezer for a good long while.

Then take a shot.

Posted: 8/19/2004 3:49:06 AM EDT

[#21]

Set them up at 500 yards.

It is Great Prarie Dog practice (similar size), and you can find out just how good you and your rifle are!

Usually takes 1-2 "spotter shots" depending on wind and conditions, but once you are dialed, you'd be amazed how well a Good AR can shoot (4/5 @ 500)!

Posted: 8/19/2004 5:08:53 AM EDT

[#22]

A few friends and I shot several at about 30 yards with handguns (22LR, 9mm, 45, 44mag) and a Ruger 10/22.

That was the most fun I've ever had shooting. By the time we were done, the pins were just scattered splinters. The pumpkins fared even worse.

Posted: 8/19/2004 5:46:38 AM EDT

[#23]

.50 BMG makes a mess of them! 5.56 hardly does any damage...

Spooky

Posted: 8/19/2004 6:36:30 AM EDT

[#24]

I am pistol range chair at our gun club. We shoot bowling pins weekly, each wed night.

Any centerfire round will go into a pin. Some .22 LRs will bounce off if you hit too far to the sides, but I have never seen one come back.

We do not allow shotguns to shoot pins with any size smaller (higher number) then #4, those will bounce back. #8 always bounces back.

5.56s will usually go through the pins, and it usually knocks them down. .308 and 30/06 always goes through the pins, and always knocks them down.

Center fire handgun (unless .44 mag and above) and shotgun do not go through, but always knock them over.

.22LRs will knock them down unless the pins are old and have been shot a lot.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Would bowling pins stand up to .223 FMJ rounds OK???

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