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Well, I got shot today.

25K views 107 replies 86 participants last post by  WAShooter 
#1 ·
I was at the range and some "tactical" guy next to me to the right starts blasting away with slugs out of a 12 gauge with no stock. All of a sudden I felt a "whack" in my right shin and stepped away from the lane. The woman in the stall next to me to the left did the same thing. Huge welt and some blood. I am sure Mr. "tactical" hit something that splintered the slug and sent shards to us two lucky folks. About two months ago a got muzzle swept by a girl with a loaded glock joking around with her boyfriend at the range. I'm thinking of becoming a monk.
There are some REAL idiots out there.
 
#3 ·
wow , I have seen these "tactical" people they can be fun to watch , dont get too close though!
 
#8 ·
I'm an RO on a very busy public range. We are talking 2500 to 4000 people shooting any given weekend. I can tell you it is insane. Yeah I got a piece of bullet jacket in the face last weekend. I'm not sure how or where it came from, but it happens.

Sorry you had this happen. Range time should both be fun and safe for everyone. You're fortunate not being hurt worse.
 
#9 ·
I didn't take any pictures of my leg because the incident just wasn't one I was interested ihn memorializing. I did not say anything to him other than asking him if he was shooting slugs and showing him my leg. I don't know why I didn't say more. Perhaps, it was because he looked like a dirt bag and had a 12 gauge. I like to think I have a pretty good rep with the operators of the range. I said plenty about him and his cap gun when I was leaving. I don't think his shotgun will be welcomed back.
 
#10 ·
I caught a piece of something in the hand a week or so ago while shooting next to some mall commando giving lessons one spot over. I didn't say a word but I did turn around and look at the RO and pointed to my hand but he was already standing behind him so something else must have already got his attention.

His buddy was like 0-fer 4 magazines but Gecko45 "showed him how to do it" by clearly hitting the full size silhouette at least two or three times from 7 yards after only a one or two 13 round, speed changed magazines from his Glock.

I should have asked him if I could borrow his body armor.

The jerk even stole one of my targets that I left on the bench behind me. I went out to get another one and told the guy at the counter the story and he said "Ya...I know exactly the guy you are talking about. Sorry".
 
#12 ·
About two months ago a got muzzle swept by a girl with a loaded glock joking around with her boyfriend at the range. I'm thinking of becoming a monk.
There are some REAL idiots out there.
Had a similar incident at the range in Mongo, IN. A guy and his son came to the range and it was obvious that neither one of them should've been handling a firearm. The guy wasn't being responsible as his son who was sitting at a picnic table loading a magazine for a 22lr bolt rifle. His son proceeded to insert the magazine, take the safety off, chamber a round, and sweep everybody at the range with his finger on the trigger. I guess stupidity is bliss. The moment his son had the rifle pointed in a safe direction I snatched it from him, cleared the chamber and let the DNR RO know what was going on. The guy had his 10/22 confiscated and both were banned from the range.
 
#72 ·
This actually happened to me while shooting with a buddy, 'cept it wasnt a little shard... It was a about 1/5 of a copper jacket from a handloaded +p+ .38 special and got me in on the shoulder. It actually embedded itself in the flesh pretty good with about half of it sticking out. I was standing next to him when it happened. His father chose mot to inform him that he used his .38 to practice his timing modification and severely f'd it up. It happened after 4 rounds were previously shot succesfully with no issue. Scared the crap out of me and my buddy. I might also add that my buddy's father was about 70 years old at the time and had never done any serious modifications to any gun before.

I was also peppered by birdshot about 2 months ago. While hunting for rabbit by another hunter who had no clue i was there. I dint know exactly how far away he was but i got a shower of steel shot to my back while i was walking the mile and a half hike back to my truck. It felt like i was attacked by a beehive. I was not injured but i gave the hunter some serious lip after giving the three shot distress signal with my .243. I gave the guy some serious lip about not shooting in the air towards roads and his excuse was that he didnt know where the roads were in the area so i just kept my cool and walked back to my truck.

About a week later, I took a ricochet to one of my learher belts from a 9mm about at about 50-75 yards from its original point of impact. This was in the same area that i got peppered, but this time from an 11 year old being taut firearms safety by his grandfather. I didnt get too mad but i definatly let the old man know that he needed to teach his kid about not shooting rocks... My entire right side of my hip was black and blue and still has a good bruize.

And recently i was shooting an abandoned hippie school bus on my buddies property with a .17 hmr to test its penetration onetal just for fun and hit the trailer hitch by accident... The copper jacket flew back and hit my neck. It didnt even leave a welt thank god. That one was completely my fault...

And to the op, glad to hear you werent seriously injured. That could have been much worse. Just glad to hear that you didnt need to be hospitalized for shrapnel or anything...
 
#14 ·
You didn't get shot. You got some splash back. When you get shot you are going to know it. Being shot means you bleed and a probable visit to the hospital.
It is right there with being struck as opposed to being hit with great force and resulting in physical damage and or incapacitation.
 
#81 · (Edited)
This.................I got shot in the early 90's at almost point blank with a .38Spl and had alot more than a welt. A guy had an AD that caught me just below my knee and stopped under my skin above my ankle. It was the most intense burning sensation I have ever experienced and yes, it hurt, alot. I was very angry. Luckily a paramedic was in the building and came to my assistance because I was bleeding all over the floor.

At the hospital the took out and handed me a perfectly expanded PMC Starfire +P bullet that looked just like the ads back in the day. The recovery sucked as putting my 6'2" 195 pound frame on that leg was not a good time. That said I left the ER on crutches and was back framing houses in 7 days, on alot of Vicodin....I did get quite a rep at work for being a tough SOB. especiallythe day we were lifting walls and I started to bleed out again when I popped the stiches.

Lesson learned: situational awareness, body armor at the range (would not have helped my leg but would hate to have taken that one in the chest), try to control your anger, easy for the guys with no bullet in them to say. (cops had a talk with me about that, hey like I said I was angry, and armed.) And finally, the .38 +P while not my choice is no slouch at close range, those things will can make you dead even with a periferal hit if you catch an artery. Luckilly I did nit take it in the vitals and had no interest in giving up the ghost. The only reminder I have now are the in and out hole scars and occasionally its a bit tender in the cold and tingles sometimes.

I have a buddy that was a Ranger with 3 trips to Nam, hes got 3 still in him and parts missing including his ear who makes me look like a big ***** so I dont get to ballsy on how tough I am , this guy is 100% american badass. Gotta have perspective.

Not to crap all over the OP, but I am going too, if it bounces off or gives you a little cut you aint been shot......I get annoyed with these threads off bb's hitting guys, bouncebacks from .25 or .22 shorts, etc, etc. I have had way worse than that at work with nailgun hit thru my hand, stepping on 3" framing nails coming out the top of my shoe, hit it head by falling lumber and ladder collapses. And thats just job related abuse, stuff happens, and most where when I was not paying adequate attenion......again situational awareness boys, it can save ur bacon.....And yes, I am getting to old to be doing carpetry now after 23 years....

Surmon over, be careful out there boys, stuff can hurt you.
 
#21 ·
Hi Mike-

I know I wasn't shot but this wasn't the typical ricochet from a pistol cartridge either. It was a BIG hunk of a slug that left a lasting impression.

Regards,

D.
 
#17 ·
Am I paranoid for buying a VIP kevlar vest for when I am at the range? I haven't worn it yet but it seems the range is getting busier. Every now and then I see a new face that has little to no experience with little to no understanding of basic firearm safety.

RO are only present on weekends (sometimes).

Thoughts?
 
#23 ·
yup there are some nuts out there but not only at a range. Getting shot sucks but trying to get well hurts like h---. years ago I got shot driving down main st. in my home town. 2am, 35 remington thru the car door , steel panel , bucket seat , and into the left side of me. spent 10 days in the hospital. Now that hurts, especially with a heavy duty clutch in my 69 camaro that had to be used with the left leg. guess I just have a magnetic personality to attrack flying objects LOL
 
#25 ·
Sorry about your accident. I know a lot of people don't like to shoot at Indoor Ranges, but at least for the one I go to, there are concrete block walls separating each lane and they are deep enough that I can stand entirely within the enclosures when I am shooting.

Last time I went to an outdoor range, I was on the "Pistol and Rimfire" line and the ROs let someone shooting a .223 set up just to the left of me and I was constantly getting hit by hot empties coming my way. Very distracting, but at least none were high enough to hit me in the face.
 
#48 · (Edited)
Last time I went to an outdoor range, I was on the "Pistol and Rimfire" line and the ROs let someone shooting a .223 set up just to the left of me and I was constantly getting hit by hot empties coming my way. Very distracting, but at least none were high enough to hit me in the face.
Reminds me of a LONG time ago.

I wasn't as old and responsible as I am now.

Was at a buddies farm doing some shooting and sighting in.

One of his other buddies steps up to the left of me and without warning or checking anything starts firing dropping hot brass on me, one of which went down my shirt collar. He laughed about it, thinking it was funny. There was 160 acres of ground so he didn't have to be right up beside me, or could easily have stepped to the right of me.

So a few minutes later, he was bent over with his plumbers crack showing and I fired 6 quick rounds with the Taurus .38spl I had at the time, and then dropped all 6 of the hot empties down his plumbers crack and dropped another speedloader into the pistol and shut the gate.:rofl:

When the guy got done hopping around and yelling I very plainly pointed out that turn about was fair play and that he'd asked for it.:D

I then packed up and told my buddy the landowner that I'd just as soon never shoot with that idiot on the place and left.

There's always foolish idiots out there and they're always a danger.
 
#27 ·
Obviously shotgun slugs shouldn't be allowed at indoor ranges, at least this one. Getting hit by a slug that's bounced back is much worse than by a 148 gr. wadcutter. Slugs can be dangerous even at outdoor ranges depending on type of target and distance. Bounceback has to taken into account.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Guilty as Charged....

There was a range incident where I was one of THOSE guys. I was participating at an action shooting event at an indoor range. The course of fire involved carrying a briefcase while on the move. Obviously, you have to think whenever in the presence or firearms, even more so on a hot range.

The flow of adrenaline while trying to remember the course of fire resulted in me not doing that for a split second. With my weapon in my left hand and the briefcase in my right hand, I moved to the second firing station with natural arm swing.

That resulted in my muzzle sweeping just about everybody behind me waiting for their turn and got me immediately called out for a severe ass chewing. I deserved it and said so. I was mortified at what I had done and of the potential consequences.

I often wonder what everybody thought about that incident but you can bet its something I'll never do again.

It does not feel good to look like a jackass.
 
#30 ·
This is why we wear eye protection. It's not for ejecting shells. This isn't that out of the ordinary. My range has sound absorbing material on the walls behind the shooters, and it's all peppered and torn up from stuff bouncing off the steel over the years. Just curious, if 12 ga tactical guy was shooting in a safe direction, why some of the hate towards him in the comments? I've gotten hit w/ hot lead in the ankles more than once. Learned the hard way not to pick it up w/ bare hands. :)
 
#31 ·
The range is twenty-five yards and the back-stop is sand. Lots and lots of sand. I am almost positive "Mr. Tactical" hit the ceiling and that the pieces came back from some operating equipment in the ceiling. I'm pretty sure it happened when he was doing one of his no-stock "tactical" reloads with a quick follow-up shot.....that hit the ceiling. I've gotten tagged with pieces of jacket before, some to the face, no big deal. A big piece of hot slug moving as fast as this is another matter. If it was going about another 50-100 fps I'm pretty sure I'd have been in the emergency room. Spot was bleeding again earlier today.
 
#32 ·
I have never witnessed any incidents at my range but I have heard plenty of tales. When the RO's catch it they will try and educate first. If that does not seem to work they take there card and gate key.
One guy was allowing his 2 boys (like (10-12 y/o) play shoot at one another while he was shooting targets. They were using his very reel guns. RO explained the problem to him (as if he should have to) the guy said its ok they are not loaded. He was escorted off the property. IMO they should have also contacted CPS.
Glad your recovering. Dont let guys doing crap like that keep you from the range. Consult the RSO and get to the bottom of it. He may have just needed a little education. How did the woman next to you fair?
 
#33 ·
I shot at an outdoor state range in TN on highway 421 a few times. It got so crazy out there, I carried to defend myself. That is no joke my friends.

Trap shooting from the first picnic table, John Dillinger on second, tacticool tool "sniper" (200 meters) on the third and a Germen guy with a WAY overloaded mussel loader on the end. Also, people shooting pistols a mag a second at the first target - 25 yards - unable to hit the paper.

NO RO... NO CHANGE
 
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