Railroad Ties, Bulletproof Shooting Range Backstop?!

Published on October 20, 2020
Duration: 12:05

This video tests the effectiveness of railroad ties as a shooting range backstop. While they successfully stopped all tested handgun rounds, including .44 Magnum and 10mm, rifle rounds like 7.62x39 and .223 showed unpredictable behavior, with some penetrating or curving due to wood grain. The host concludes railroad ties are viable for handguns but require caution with high-velocity rifle fire.

Quick Summary

Railroad ties are effective for stopping handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum but show unpredictable performance with rifle calibers like 7.62x39 and .223 due to wood grain causing bullets to curve or yaw.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Railroad Tie Backstop Experiment
  2. 01:33Testing .22 LR and 9mm Rounds
  3. 02:43Testing .40 S&W and .357 Sig
  4. 03:40Testing 10mm and .44 Magnum
  5. 06:13Testing Rifle Rounds: 7.62x39 and .223
  6. 11:18Conclusion: Railroad Tie Backstop Effectiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

Are railroad ties effective as a shooting range backstop?

Railroad ties proved highly effective at stopping all tested handgun rounds, including powerful calibers like .44 Magnum. However, their performance with high-velocity rifle rounds like 7.62x39 and .223 was less predictable due to potential bullet curving or penetration.

What handgun calibers were tested against the railroad tie backstop?

The test included .22 LR, 9mm FMJ, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, 10mm, and .44 Magnum rounds fired from various handguns. All of these handgun calibers were successfully stopped by the railroad ties.

Do rifle rounds penetrate railroad tie backstops?

Yes, rifle rounds can be unpredictable. A 7.62x39 round penetrated the first tie, and a .223 round showed signs of curving or exiting the bottom. While a secondary wall stopped the 7.62x39, railroad ties alone may not be sufficient for all rifle calibers.

Why are railroad ties unpredictable with rifle rounds?

The wood grain in railroad ties can cause high-velocity rifle bullets to yaw, curve, or ricochet unpredictably. This makes them less reliable as a sole backstop for rifle fire compared to handgun rounds where penetration is less of an issue.

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