Ricochet at the range

[Snowdog]

Hey, you just gave me an idea....

 

[HSMITH]

Back in the early 90's I was a range master conducting a qualifying shoot for the Navy when I was hit in the ribs with a 45 ACP ball riccochet. I was immediately behind the firing line when hit. I do not know how it made it back to me or what all it bounced off of, but it did have dirt and a shiny spot on it. The way some of those guys shot it would not be possible to know where it first struck something to riccochet in the first place. A report was filed, and the berm was rebuilt because of it. I am not aware of it happening to anyone else in my time at that base.

I had a small bruise, about the size of a 50 cent piece, for several days and a story for a lifetime. I still have the bullet somewhere around here. Things happen, be prepared.

 

[Fly320s]

I was hit in the back of my neck while facing down range and standing about twenty feet behind the shooters. The shooters were firing rifles (AR15s, IIRC) at knock-down steel plates placed 30 to 100 yards from the shooters.

The piece that hit me first bounced off the underside of the metal roof above me, then hit me in the back of the neck. It made me jump as well as leaving a tiny red mark on my skin.

Craziness.