Did I do something wrong?

[BigBlock]

Went out to the woods today to shoot my new .44 mag. I was shooting at some milk jugs full of water but hit the dirt in front of it. This apparently dug out a big rock, which came flying back at me and beaned me in the head. I had to go get stitches...I thought I had been shot at first. I wasn't wearing glasses (should have been) and it only missed my eye by half an inch.

Did I do something wrong here? Is it stupid to shoot things on the ground? Is there some precaution I should have taken? You guys don't wear helmets to go shooting do you? :banghead:

 

[chris in va]

Others will chime in with their own scoldings, but I *never* go to the range without ear and eye protection. Never.

You can certainly shoot stuff on the ground...most of us do...just take precautions. I'm guessing you were shooting at a fairly close distance, less than 20 yards?

Also wondering, have you taken a handgun safety class yet?

 

[theken206]

if there is one thing im fond of its my eyes, and I try to treat them as such.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

You learned a lesson. Don't shoot without eye protection. You'll never miss your eyes until you lose one. Other than that, it sounds like a freak occurance. Keep rule 4 in mind, modified slightly (be sure of your target, what's behind it, and what's around it or under it that might send #$*% back my way!)

 

[Elvishead]

44 Magnum+no eye protection? I think you answered your own question!

And wear a hat. That may have cushioned the blow also. That's why I put my bottle of Wild Turkey in two paper bags.

Nature's way my friend.....

 

[Geno]

BigBlock:

First and foremost I am glad that you are okay. It would be easy of most any of use to lapse into the same extent of false security as you did as shoot without protection.

I recently posted about a load that I created for Speer Hot Core, 90 grain hollow points, which said load would completely penetrate the steel plate that support the train track to the tie when hung at 100 yards.

The last time that I fired on one of those steel plates was from a benchrest @ 100 yards distance. The first 10 or so rounds fired flawlessly. On the final round however, the copper jacket "ricocheted" off of the steel plate, and returned from the target, through the air and smacked me square in the forehead which sufficient force as to leave a welt.

Upon viewing the target, I noted that the lead core was penetrating the target but the copper jackets were lodging in the steel, and were turned inside-out in the .277 caliber hole. All of the other copper jackets were still in the target with the exception of one.

My point, even distance between you and the target, and even having the target hanging 3 feet off of the ground is not sufficient assurance that no bad event will happen. With that, I started making certain that I never deploy and firearm without eye protection. A helmet? No, but a cap with bill, i.e. a baseball cap works miracles for the small stuff. I have since been struck numerous times by flying cases, etc, and have yet to be injured because of the eye protection and baseball cap.

Be safe,

Doc2005

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

+1 on the baseball cap, I try not to shoot without one. I've had hot brass land inbetween my face and eye protection without it.

 

[Eric F]

you'll shoot your eye out kid. ho ho ho

I have had steel from a decayed back stop come bach and knock the wind out of me. freak things happen there is little we can do about it. However taking the basic rules of safety is a must. hearing and eye protection are the basics.

 

[ceetee]

While shooting at an indoor range once, a little lady two lanes down managed somehow to punt one into the rafters. The copper jacket separated after hitting the steel rafter, and came flying back at my friend (he was in the lane next to her). Said copper pegged him square in the right lens of his glasses, leaving a nasty gouge, and an interesting story. If he hadn't been wearing the glasses, we'd be calling him "One-Eyed Jack" about now.




In before some one posts that video where the .50 BMG ricochets off the steel and you can hear it sizzling through the air back at the shooter...

 

[Packman]

Hats are good. I actually wear a cowboy hat, not a baseball cap. Keeps the sun off my neck, and it's saved me from the hot-brass dance more than once. The ones down the BACK of your shirt suck. It's nice to have a brim in back too.

 

[NG VI]

i've wondered whether or not i was setting myself up for that sort of thing before, good to know it's pretty uncommon and easy to mitigate, congrats on not losing any pieces

 

[22-rimfire]

Based on my shooting, it is pretty uncommon to have fragments or debris blow back at you. I do wear a hat, often a long sleeved shirt or jacket, hearing protection, and usually wear glasses. I'm glad nothing important got damaged like your eyes. The older you get the more you appreciate having good health, eyes that work, and mobility. It pays to protect these things when you are younger. Vist a hospital, it is truly sad to see all the young people who have permanently damaged themselves through accidents. Most accidents are preventable. But accidents still happen.

 

[JohnBT]

"Is it stupid to shoot things on the ground?"

I was taught as a youngster not to shoot at the ground because the bullet might hit a rock and go who knows where downrange. Downrange or over the next hill and hit someone or a house or a car or a cow. Having a reliable backstop is important - mountain, hill, clay bank, sand pit, something.

Of course, there were a lot of rocks around.

John

 

[chemist308]

Is it stupid to shoot things on the ground?

I too was taught not to shoot at the ground. However, that's not always practical (squirrel, rabbit, etc). I think the key here is not to shoot at things on the ground from 15 feet.

 

[elrod]

Anytime you propel an object at the speed of modern bullets, there is a chance of something entirely unexpected happening. The only way to eliminate the risk is not to fire the gun. This is akin to staying out of automobiles if you fear wrecks. If this is not practical, then do everything possible to mitigate possible damages, such as following the 4 (golden) rules, wearing a hat, eye protection, etc. After all, life itself is a risk!

 

[Big Boomer]

It doesn't matter where you shoot, eventually you will shoot the ground, there is this little thing called gravity...

 

[sacp81170a]

No thread about eye and ear protection is complete without this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABGIJwiGBc

 

[Mal H]

The point has been made long ago, but I can't resist adding my own ...

I wasn't wearing glasses (should have been) ...

Damn right, you should wear them!



As for shooting the ground, don't sweat it, it's going to happen. The results are unpredictable, and that's why ... (see my first exclamation).

 

[pdowg881]

Eyes and ears obviosly. And I know most ranges makes sure the berms don't have rock or anything hard in the backstop. But being out in the woods is a different story.

 

[yenchisks]

all i want for chrismas is a red ridder bb gun , you'll shot your eye out kid

 

[another okie]

A dirt berm is best. If you have a hill, check where the bullets are landing to see if there are a lot of rocks. Shooting into the ground is ok if the ground is soft and absorbs the bullets, but shooting up at an angle or into rocky soil is bad. By definition, a natural hill tends to be rocky and so is not a perfect backstop.

Every place is different - in some places there's nothing but rocks, in others there is nice soft dirt and pasture to shoot into.

 

[thorn726]

seems like this sorta falls into the "be sure of your target" rule .

 

[Superpsy]

holy cow, I can't believe I've never seen that ricochet video before. Thanks for posting.

I've only gone to the range once without eye protection. Never again! After firing I got a fleck of something hot stuck in my eye. I was scared I was going to lose my sight for a while (personal paranoia). Thankfully it cleared up after a few days. I never shoot without eye protection.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Was shooting a friends .357 revolver years ago and had a .38 special slug come back and crack me right on the ankle.... from a freakin bowling pin. I thought someone had hit me with a bat. Damn good COM shot on the pin though!

 

[TallPine]

Did I do something wrong?

Well, obviously you shot too low. Anticipating recoil, maybe?

Is it stupid to shoot things on the ground?

Not at all. Who knows ... you might strike oil and become a millionaire.