rjoy
Member
I wanted to pass this along to everyone to remind them to continue to be ever vigilant when it comes to being safe at the range. Two fellowshooters and I where shooting a friend's .500 and .44 at some bowling pins today. We had finished shooting with the .500 and had put it away and were kind of plinking away at the pins with his .44 loaded with light special loads with lead bullets. We were taking turns shooting at the pins which were placed about 20-25 yards away. We had two pins that were placed side by side at that distance with one pin about 15 feet to the left and slightly behind the other pin. One shooter was shooting while the other two of us were watching. What happened next was something that I still find hard to believe, but again is a very real reminder of how things can go very wrong in an instant. The shooter was shooting at the right hand bowling pin while we watched. At the shot, we saw the right pin fall, then immediately after, the left pin fall and this whizzing sound passing between myself and the other bystander and the sound of a bullet hitting the back wall of the shooting shed we were in. When we looked back, the bullet laid there on the floor of the shed about 3 feet behind us. We were aghast at the thought of what could have happened in that situation. Fortunately, the bullet missed all three of us, but I still shudder at the thought of what could have happened if that bullet would have hit one of us. That bullet made two right angle ricochets and came directly back at the shooters. It was reminiscent of a trick shot except we weren't doing any tricks here. When we later examined the bowling pins we saw that the bullet penetrated the pin on the very edge and exited to the left and completely glanced off the second pin without penetrating it all and came right back towards the shooters.
I just wanted to post this as a reminder that any kind of wierd thing can happen in this sport and that we should be ever mindful of safety when firing our firearms at all targets. I know I will not be shooting at bowling pins anymore. I hope this serves to make us all think a little more about safety.
Clayshooter
I just wanted to post this as a reminder that any kind of wierd thing can happen in this sport and that we should be ever mindful of safety when firing our firearms at all targets. I know I will not be shooting at bowling pins anymore. I hope this serves to make us all think a little more about safety.
Clayshooter